April 1st, 2019, 08:56 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
Smoker advice
Hello everyone,
I have just about completed my latest project, which I will make another thread for with pics, and my job just gave me a fat raise. This leaves me with extra $ in the "Bike" budget and since I have 2 V twins, it would be smart to stick with the same engine layout for the next purchase. Some of you know how incredible my little wife is and she has just authorized me to purchase a 250 2 stroke! My limited knowledge of these bikes has led me to desire an NSR250 Honda. What I would ask of the vast Ninjette community would be: #1 What year NSR, #2 Would Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki be better and why, #3 What else am I missing? My plan is to register and use it on the street mostly but there is no way I will not bring it out onto the track also. I am over 200LBS so I know that I will need to lose weight to fully appreciate what they have to offer and I know they are smaller than the Ninja 250 but I have 2 other bikes so its not going to be my only ride. I have rebuilt many smokers, anything from dirtbike singles, Yamaha 2 cyl and even a Kawai Water Buffalo triple so maint is not an issue. I now have a nice version of my original dream bike-Ducati 916-My 999 and next will be the final bike I have lusted after the 250 Twin street bike. I appreciate any feed back anyone may have on these bikes as I have only read about them and looked at a few in real life but never owned/rode one. I have the info for the company in NJ that imports them from Japan but I want as much info as possible before I call and put them on the hunt for my new toy. Thank you for your replies Ant |
3 out of 3 members found this post helpful. |
April 1st, 2019, 09:37 AM | #2 |
Fighting Texas Aggie '05
Name: Neil
Location: Hutto, TX
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '07 ZX6R, '08 Versys, '09 250R Track, '93 F2/F3 Track Posts: A lot.
|
I have nothing to add other than extreme jealousy lol
__________________________________________________
Keep it rubber side down and enjoy the ride Get healthy - Get Fit - Change Your Life Click Here Or PM Me To Find More - Advocare |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
April 1st, 2019, 10:28 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
|
|
April 2nd, 2019, 10:01 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
I had RZ350 for while at university. It was such fun bike, practically rip your arms off after 9K-rpms when powerband kicked in. Awesome power-to-weight ratio and it handled like magic in mountains.
NSR250 more refined and civilised. Better suspension with more adjustment options. Avoid later years wih crippled engine due to gentlemen's agreement between manufacturers. This was due to changing ignition maps with different smart-card. Not sure how easy it is to find an earlier smart-card and cloning it. There's also Aprilia RS250, but haven't had any experience with that one. |
|
April 3rd, 2019, 06:39 AM | #5 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
I'm a Kawasaki triples guy, but the Yamaha twins are great bikes too. If you're set on a 250, there are certainly faster bikes than the Kawasaki 250 triple (S1). It was an underbored 350 that was built for the European (and possibly other) market when they had the tiered licensing.
Other more esoteric 250 2-strokes like Danno mentioned can be scary-fast, but that stuff gets expensive. I agree about the RZ350 being a fun bike, and they're still excellent street bikes. I got to ride a friend's RZ at Deals Gap a couple years ago and got a nice profile photo out of it. |
|
April 3rd, 2019, 09:45 PM | #6 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
A new guy on the triples board just posted this:
http://www.kawi2strokes.com/forum/vi...0375431#unread |
|
April 4th, 2019, 02:30 AM | #7 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
|
|
April 4th, 2019, 06:21 AM | #8 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
|
|
April 4th, 2019, 02:07 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
One thing to consider in getting smoker is parts availability due to age and liquidity of market. Bikes like NSRs and RGVs were popular in Japan in '90s, but supply of replacement and maintenance parts has dwindled over the decades. Even if you're able to do maintenance yourself, where are you going to find replacement barrels and rings? My brother has to wait month to get parts for his VFR400RR to be shipped from Japan, and that was more popular bike than smokers.
I recommending sourcing and pricing out maintenance parts for next 10-yrs along with purchase price of bike. The most popular and most-supported 2-stroke engine currently is Banshee engine based upon old RD/RZ350 engine. Plentiful number of aftermarket vendors for maintenance and upgrade parts. You can even build a complete engine from scratch using aftermarket parts. |
|
April 4th, 2019, 02:22 PM | #10 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
|
If I'm not mistaken, the Aprilia RS250 uses a Suzuki engine similar to the RGV, so there may be more parts available for that engine than the others.
How'd you like to get parts for this? A couple more I ran across recently at Road America - ^ My first street bike was one just like this. My buddy's Bultaco Metralla, my Derbi GPR, and the Bimota V Due at a large local cycle gathering last year. |
|
April 7th, 2019, 01:46 PM | #11 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
I am really leaning toward the Honda because ot is the smallest physically and I hope once I get it home my wife will fall in love with it and I can get another - possibly a TZ250R. I will get to try out the Honda and decide if it is right for my fat ass or I can opt for the Suzuki as it is bigger and has more power stock. |
|
|
April 7th, 2019, 09:21 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Don't know if you remember company in '80s that did same thing. Didn't end very well...
But.. enjoy it to max while you can! |
|
April 8th, 2019, 08:23 AM | #13 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
I dont claim to be an expert or even know that what they claim is true. The Cycle World article stated that because the bikes are now over 20 years old that they can be legally imported. I have not yet begun to look into this to see what the actual deal comes down to, but I am going to find out. I have wanted a TZ or NSR since I was young and did not have the $$$. I settled for a Yamaha FZ 750 fully clapped out. Now I have the budget and I will see if I can make one appear. I hope that what they printed is true as it would make it possible for an average guy like me to have a GP replica bike that has been nearly unobtainable till now. I dont know if I will ever actuall have the bike I want but I am going to try. I still have my 2 other bikes so there is nothing to lose looking into what is available. |
|
|
April 10th, 2019, 08:36 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
Thanks for the info so far, but I am still looking for anyone who may have ridden a couple of these bikes to let me know what they think. There may not be many people that have even seen these bikes in person, never mind have ridden more than one, in America but maybe in Europe or Asia? We have begun house hunting already but not much of what we want out there. Hope to have an update soon
Ant |
|
April 12th, 2019, 07:07 AM | #15 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
|
|
April 29th, 2019, 09:44 AM | #16 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ant
Location: Wooster
Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ducati 999 2012 Ninja 250r Ducati748 Yellow finally running 2003 SV650 S (SOLD) Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
When it comes to the RZ350/400, I like them and even considered a mint Kenney Robberts Yellow and black RZ350 race replica @$9999. What I really want is one of the unobtainium NSR/TZR/RGV V-twin 250 2 stroke GP replicas that I lusted after in my younger years. I have been planning on transplanting a 250 dirt bike 2 stroke into a Ninja 250 for some time but now I want the real thing. I hope things work out so I can get it this year but I may have to wait till next spring to begin the hunt for one. |
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
May 1st, 2019, 12:06 PM | #17 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
|
My advice to most smokers is quit now, and to non smokers never start lol
__________________________________________________
|
|
May 1st, 2019, 12:20 PM | #18 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
|
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
May 1st, 2019, 12:42 PM | #19 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
|
Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
May 9th, 2019, 08:26 AM | #20 |
Fogwalker
Name: Jeff
Location: Western NC
Join Date: Mar 2015 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250 "Matilda" Posts: 124
|
Glad to see people still interested in smokers. They were my mainstay back when I began riding and later when I raced. A YSR or NSR50, 80, or 125 will teach you a ton on the track. My third bike was a hopped-up RD-350. It was stolen and I still miss it.
If it was in the budget, I'd be looking for an RZ-350. It was the pinnacle of what's been offered here in the US as far as two-strokes go. Disable the oil injection pump and premix the fuel and you're good to go! Ride on, J~
__________________________________________________
Take care of new riders, for we were them, and they will be us. Y. Hong 2004 |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Hi all, looking for advice.... | revolt_randy | New Members | 9 | September 18th, 2018 03:57 PM |
Looking for advice | Supernam | Ninjettes At Speed | 28 | December 14th, 2015 01:01 PM |
Need advice !!!' | Kiid-_-Buru | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Farkles | 9 | May 20th, 2015 06:44 AM |
Could this be the one?!... Advice please | Prime | General Motorcycling Discussion | 4 | June 9th, 2011 02:39 PM |
need some advice | tinng321 | Off-Topic | 12 | July 29th, 2009 06:44 AM |
|
|