Kawasaki ZZ-R250 vs. Aprilia RS125

Hi Guys,
Well, I thought I'd just about made up my mind and was about to go in
and buy myself a Kawasaki ZZ-R250 when I was browsing used bikes on the net.
I saw an Aprilia RS125 which looks absolutely awesome! and apparently
learner legal. Just wondering if any of you guys know much about the RS125
as there isn't alot of information about it on the internet. Although,
having said that, the reviews I have read sound like it's a worthy machine.

Is the bike any good (i.e. reliable, safe, fast, does great wheelies )?
Is it expensive (to buy and to run)?
Is it going to be a wiser investment for a learner then a ZZ-R250?
Any thoughts on any maintenance issues? (from what I've read it doesn't
particularly like cold mornings but that may be wrong, you guys probably
know more)
Fuel capacity is only 13 litres (compared to 18 for the ZZR) does this mean
I'll be running out alot faster then on the ZZR250 or will the
weight/enginesize compensate for this?

Any feed back will be much appreciated.

John Smith 1882

 

Wheelies from a 125cc road registered bike?
Yeah, it'll do wheelies about as well as the average mountain bike - you
have to use skill and not power to bounce the wheel up and keep it there.

BTW - why the F is someone who doesn't even know what these bikes are
asking about wheelies. You not going to live very long!!!

Aprilia. Yup. Plan on new pistons and clutch every 10,000kms, with a new
bottom end every few. It'll also cost more to get a decent one to start
with - probably about 50% more.

Nope. No way in hell.

Nope. The RS has a smaller tank and will use more km/litre.

If you want a fun "toy" buy the RS125.

If you want a reliable, cheap to run commuter bike buy the zzr.
(or buy something else cause kawasukkis, well, ....)

I own an RS250 and it's an absolute hoot and I love it to death, but
it's just a toy. If I could only have one bike it wouldn't be the RS.
Something about the need to release the clutch at ~11,000rpm at every
set of lights too to get off the line fast prevents me from calling it a
good commuter. (maybe that's why the clutches don't last)
I have _real_ bikes to get around town on.

Do love my 2-strokes though

 

Either would be a mistake, IMHO. You will make an error of judgement
and drop the bike. This is inevitable. When you do you'll wipe out a
$2,000+ fairing (the Aprilia will be more expensive). Don't try to be a
gun racer with your first bike, save that for your second or third. Get
a bike without a fairing first, so you can see the road properly.

--
Cheers

Andrew

<--- Remove The NO and SPAM When Replying --->

 

That last bit was a joke. Note: the reliable, safe bit. They were my main
concerns (and my wife's main concerns I might add)

 

Oh, okay. Buy a GPX250 then. Or a ZZR250, which is the same thing
in curvy pyjamas.

Hell, why not buy two?

-----sharks

 

Is the bike any good (i.e. reliable, safe, fast, does great wheelies )?
Good for what? it is no learners bike. Peaky, FUKIN expensive to
repair are a few points.

not a fuckin chance.

Search for the old thread by some young dude that bought one and
crashed it rebuilt it and it blew up, he sold it on ebay fucked.

It will drink it if you give it shit.

 

John,
Go check out www.ninja250.com
I have a ex250 and its a great bike. You can go on that websight and
find out anything you want to know about that 250. Theres a few members
on there that own the zzr250 and you can ask them what they think of
theres. Everyone here in the states wishes we could get one of those
bikes. They are much better looking that the ones we get here.
Regards,
Redshad

 

WTF?

GB

 

LOL...Thats what I was thinking.

Redshad

 

Andrew must be remarkably short.


BTH

 

I've had my license for three years and had the ZZR 250 all that time. Only
now am I just starting to look for something else. It has been fantastic. I
go riding with friends,one other has a ZZR250 also.The friend on the GSXR750
has trouble keeping up with us through the bends.Admittedly we have to keep
the revs up pretty high but hey....these bikes actually work well and you
can flick them around easily. It just just gets annoying when you ride at
the back behind the big bikes whilst on the long stretches and you realise
that you run out of puff after 100kph

 

That why you have to kick there ass in the twisties..LMAO..Then they
have to worry about catching you.
Redshad

 

paging smee and the RSPCA, donkey abuse in row 3/


it's ARSE

 

I'm rather short and never had an issue with the GPX

And WTF would you be doing looking at the road under the bike while
riding anyway ?

JL

 

It's a 2 stroke 125 race replica, it is NOT a good learner bike. They're
a way cool little bit of kit but the list of better first bikes is long.

No it won't be cheap to maintain, no it won't be cheap to run, yes it
has a small fuel tank, that's because you won't be able to ride more
than 200K before you will desperately want to get off.

Yes, a second learner legal bike after you're Ps test by all means if
you have plenty of money, yes it will be fun once you've got a hang of
the basics, yes they are an absolute scream through a tight windy road.

Buy the ZZR or a GPX, you can't kill them with an axe, learner friendly
easy to handle, quite capable if you get up them, more than quick enouhg
to lose your licence on without being a complete handful

JL

 

Well, you know - when you're pulling those mad 4km long wheelies (on your
learner bike, as you do...), its easier to see the road ahead on an
unfaired bike.

My suggestion is move to Victoria where the RS250 is still learner legal...

;-)

big

 

Yeah, what he said, *UNLESS* when you look at the RS125 you _really really_
want it...

There's buying a sensible bike, which is always a good idea, and then
there's bikes that you just _need_ to own... If you _need_ to own an RS125,
it will manage as a learner bike, you won't be the first or last person to
learn to ride on one, but don't pretend its a good idea...

big (who'd hate to spend a year riding a ZZR250 wishing I was on an RS125)

 

I resemble that remark.

GB (who spent a year riding a ZZR250 wishing I was on a CBRRRRRR)

 

and now you feel the need to punish the ZZR for the bad experience by
leaving it locked in a closet for the past 1.5 years.......

 

Yeah I recall that disconcerting moment the first time I rode a faired
bike (cousin's VF1000).

JL