The Aprilia RS250 was my introduction to the quarter-liter two-stroke sportbike class. I didn’t even get into motorcycles until the late 1990s, by which time two strokes were completely gone from the sportbike scene here in the US. But, as an avid reader of the British biking magazines, I saw them mentioned time and again…
For the Suzuki RGV250’s last few model years, Suzuki gave the popular machines a thorough redesign, with updated fairings and a brand-new 70-degree v-twin replacing the long serving 90-degree mill that helped make the bikes famous. In most trims, they were choked down to around 40 horsepower. But a limited number of Lucky Strike liveried…
Pity the US-based two-stroke fan. Few models were ever officially imported into the US, and those that did hit our shores only lasted for a couple of years. And while we should be happy we ever got them at all, vitally missing were the hard-edged smokers and the big bore machines. Casting eyes northward, we…
Hmmmm. A grey-market two stroke. I doubt anyone on this site will complain, as these illicit smokers have been in our DNA and part of our regularly scheduled programming since the beginning. And if you are going to collect something deliciously rare, why not opt for colors and livery that are slightly less common? Thus,…
Update 11.3.2018: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc By the time the early 1990s rolled around, four-stroke performance motorcycles like Suzuki’s GSX-R750 had gotten more powerful, more refined, and much heavier. Seriously, the GSX-R1100 of 1993 weighed in at 560lbs wet! Luckily, two stroke sportbikes at least remained pretty svelte. Although…
Update 8.7.2018: The seller has updated us that this bike is now sold. Congratulations to both parties! -dc The growing popularity of grey market two strokes among collectors has meant that the skittish little rippers are much easier to find these days than they were even 18 months ago. They’re all over eBay, and entire…
Update 7.3.2018: Last seen in November of 2016, this 0 mile 2004 Aprilia RS250 is available for sale again on eBay with a buy-it-now of $14k. The previous auction ended and as commentors on this post noted it was for sale elsewhere for $15k at that time. Good luck to buyers and seller in 2018!…
Update 9.14.2018: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc Representing maybe the only way to smoke, be cool and rep Lucky Strike, this 1997 Suzuki RGV250V is one of just 120 export-model RGVs in Kevin Schwantz-aping Lucky Strike graphics. The export models got smaller rear sprockets, different airbox lids and exhaust cans…
