Since motorbike magazines exist, bikes have been put at tests and compared against each other, to help potential buyers in making the right choice for them. Today, the bike shops in some countries organize a couple of events in spring time, where they give the possibility to ride motorbikes of different brands in one single place…and all this is for free (so, cheaper than buying a paper magazine). By riding the bikes of your wishes, one after the other one and on the same stretch of road, you can appreciate their real differences. In technical terms, this is called “benchmarking”. Every year (with the exception of 2013, as somebody decided I shouldn’t ride for a while to learn how to drive slower next time), I do join all of these events in Switzerland where I live. They represent the ultimate bike reviews for a non professional in the industry. I hope that this form of marketing will be adopted in each country where you are. Now, as I mentioned in the beginning, if we exclude the “live” riding comparison experience, the only ways we have to compare bikes we’d like to buy,would be one or more of the following:
1) look for a magazine (paper or digital that is) that is publishing exactly the comparison we are looking for.
2) check the technical specs of the 2 bikes we are comparing. Confront horsepower/weight ratios, dimensions, reported performance, etc.
3) use our personal taste in terms of style and look at as many pictures as we can find (these are never enough).
4) walk to the nearest dealer of each brand and look at the bike for real, seat on it and talk to the “impartial” sales rep. On your way out, collect a brochure.
5) spend the rest of the week watching over and over those brochures and technical specs on the last page. Go on youtube to remember yourself how these bikes sound. Remember what others said about the models you dream of.
6) if the bikes are not new models and you don’t have a collection of motorbike magazines of the last 20 years at hand, nor Google library has yet included all bike magazines of all the world and all years, simply visit RareSportBikesForSale and do your search here 🙂
Today’s old style comparison is about 2 exciting small capacity super-sports. Before proceeding to the comparison, you need to know that they don’t make these any more !
So off we go: 1997 Kawasaki ZXR 400 (4 cylinder, 4 stroke) vs. 1992 Suzuki RGV 250 Gamma (2 cylinder, 2 stroke). Both bikes are available on eBay in Germany, see links at the bottom of the page.
Kawasaki ZXR 400:
This late 400 Kawa ZXR model is undoubtedly in top conditions, hence the starting price set around 3000 EUR:
A few words from the seller:
Hello everybody, check out my beautiful and well-kept ZXR for sale, the bike is in very good condition.
The miles are real and verifiable, history booklet available.
Last year the carburetor has been overhauled.
New air filter, spark plugs in year 2012.New Brembo front and rear.
How you can see in the photos, there are two brand new tires of the brand Metzler M5 too.
Have serviced it last year in October, with oil filter, the oil has a mileage between 200 and 300 km.
Have fun bidding.
Suzuki RGV 250 Gamma:
This Gamma is not in the same conditions, clearly more used. Apart form the vibration stoppers at the end of the handlebars and the polished frame, it looks in original trim which is always good and rare for these models. The bike is yours with a mere 1900 EUR !
Let’s hear it from the seller:
Very well preserved RGV 250 VJ22B to sell
The RGV is deregistered since Dec. 2000 final approval to Jan 2003, but in good condition.
Relatively low mileage of 18539km. Original engine.
Marks on the trim on the left and right but not broken (see pictures).
New oil change, battery, carburetor cleaned, jumps to …
! Please note that it is not a beginner bike!– Trade Motorcycle possible –
Must see BEFORE bidding if possible and ask BEFORE motorcycle questions.
PLEASE no fun bidding!Private sale: no guarantee, no warranty, no returns!
Phone 0176 / 61,565,405
If you made up your choice, then click on the appropriate link below:
Kawasaki ZXR 400 (Germany) at a starting price of 3050 EUR
Suzuki RGV 250 (Germany) at a starting price of 1900 EUR
Claudio
Would love to take a ride on the ZXR, looks like good collectible, the gamma is priced right, it was near I would take a look.