Bike’s like Aprilia’s high-strung RS250 two-stroke is really this website’s raison d’être: specifications that speak to an almost single-minded pursuit of speed, race-bred bodywork, rarity, and an exotic nameplate. The icing on the cake is that the RS250 is relatively attainable, if you are willing to accept the compromises inherent in such a focused design.
Powered by a modified RGV250 two-stroke v-twin tuned to about 60hp, with a dry weight of about 300lbs, the bike featured powerful brakes, a beautifully-sculpted “banana” swingarm, and virtually unlimited cornering-clearance. Power was typical two-stroke all-or-nothing and guaranteed intimate rider involvement if any sort of progress was required.
This example is even more single-minded in that it makes no pretense of being road-legal. That may frustrate some, but the RS250 makes a pretty poor roadbike and the purity-of-purpose is appealing: the bike looks especially sharp with those fairings uncluttered by signals or a headlight, and with the waspish tail unmarred by tail lamp or plate.
From the original eBay listing: 2002 Aprilia RS250 for Sale
This bike is in very good condition has been sitting in the living room for most of its life. Track ready and prepped by Steve Biganski. If your looking for a dependable 2-stroke this is the one for you!
Hm… Well if it’s been sitting in a living room most of its life, I’m not sure how dependable we can expect it to be…
The Buy It Now for this RS250 is set at $6,500 which seems on the high side for an untitled bike, but this does appear to be in spotless condition from what I can see, although I’d request a few more detailed before anteing up that kind of cash. The question is: will the next owner want to risk this unmolested machine on track?
Here’s hoping the answer is “yes.”
-tad
I would be concerned about the crankshaft seals on any 2-stroke engine that has sat unused for several years.
In 2015, $6,500 for a light weight 250 2 stroke track bike here in the US that is not a total basket case is not such a bad price.
It remains to be seen how aggressive the bidding will get near the end of the auction – but I expect the auction to be ended early as someone will just offer the seller an amount and the deal will be closed.
I have never liked the ‘Prilla RS250 style, preferring the less swoopy 250 2 strokes profiles of the TZR, early RGV, KR-1 and NS/NSR’s. But in the end it is still a 250 smoker, what’s not to love??
RC45: my favorite is actually the early Aprilia RS250, which looks a bit closer to the bikes you mention. And sr88: I was confused by the listing. On one hand it sounds like it is more for display, on the other, those wheels/tires look like they’ve seen plenty of track use… So maybe it just gets used infrequently?
I like the Isle of Man mural on the wall!
if I had the scratch id offer him 6 k today and see what happens, maybe the tax man will be kind next year
shad short on scratch after buying that dodgy RG500 lol!
For that price…it’s the perfect trackday weapon. Just got to paint it in Super Sic colors