Name: Aprilia RS250 2000
Brand: Aprilia

Aprilia

Aprilia RS250 2000

During my four-year-tenure at Motorcycle News I've managed to weasel out of three Dumb &amp; Dumber tours, no thanks to the boss, or my fellow workmates mind you. But as the shortest and coldest period of the Aussie winter approached for the fourth time my list of excuses became far and few between and I found myself bent, folded and moulded behind the bars of an Aprilia RS250 ready for the three-day sojourn that lay ahead. With 50-plus rear-wheel horsepower hiding within a narrow 2000rpm powerband, the RS is a 250cc two-stroke race replica designed to scream around a racetrack for 14 laps, not 1400km over some of the most treacherous, gravel-covered, ice-laced, moss-festering, police-infested, potholed roads imaginable. It was going to simply be a case of survive... But my initial fears soon evaporated as the kms slid beneath the RS's Dunlops. Aprilia's RGV-powered 250 first made its debut in Europe in 1994, but it wasn't until 1999 that the Italian spent its first full year on the Aussie market. And though the engine is primarily a reed-valved Suzuki 90-degree, V-twin, rather than the rotary-valved format of the GP machine, it has over the years received a little Latin love. The major differences between it and the Suzuki RGV250 include new expansion chambers and mufflers, Aprilia-fettled cylinder-heads, and modified cylinders with redesigned exhaust power-valves. Then there's the RS-spec igniter, different jetting and a higher 12.0:1 compression ratio. When AMCN compared the two on the dyno the RGV actually came up trumps by two horsepower - topping out at 56ps at 10,500rpm. But it's the build-up of power where the RS is the clear winner, producing more from 8200rpm right through to 10,000rpm, with the biggest variation being eight horsepower at 9600rpm. Keep the 250's tacho hovering in this range and it was actually a sweet thing to spend time and distance aboard. The RS's torque is even more impressive, in 250 terms at least - 4.0kg-m at 9600rpm compared to the 3.9kg-m the RGV produces 600rpm further up the rev range. But it wasn't only the power delivery that surprised on Dumb &amp; Dumber IV. The Italian-designed chassis can also take a fair share of the credit for making the RS250 far easier to live with than I would have expected. The twin-spar alloy frame, fully-adjustable 41mm-diameter inverted forks and well-calibrated rear suspension have a balance that offers stability as well as a relatively compliant ride over bumps. This is achieved with a 25-degree rake, which mimics the RGV, 15mm shorter wheelbase (1365mm) and 140kg claimed dry weight. And not even a single tank slapper - at least not for me anyway... The Brembo stoppers offered oh so much feel in the demanding mountain conditions, while ground clearance will never be a concern. Where the Aprilia won my respect was the room it offered behind the bars and the increased comfort which came with that - yeah, I'm amazed at that statement too. The RS offers more leg room, a slightly longer reach to the bars, and less of the head-down bum-up stance than the RGV250, and after three days it was appreciated, as was the protection from the weather provided by the RS250Õs fairing. This was a huge plus when the air temp dropped and the rest of the crew were confronted with a blizzard-like blast. Add to that a cockpit that you could play a Sony PlayStation on and you're too preoccupied to notice that your arse has gone numb. It's these little things that make the Aprilia a nice bike to live with day to day - although trying to kickstart the thing in a ton of winter gear did wear a little thin by day two. For the $11,990 asking price you're getting a great deal of licence losing performance, Italian quality and a bike that, considering its size, is actually quite comfortable. Plus, as the esteemed one has said before, you can always tour on a sportsbike, but it's hard to sport on a touring bike. However, I must thank Bracksy for the fact that I didn't have to take into consideration the 300km mundane return trip southwards along the Hume Highway... that may have changed my opinion. Martin Port, Ellen DewarENGINE
Engine type: Liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin two-stroke, crankcase reed-valve induction; Bore x stroke: 56mm x 50.6mm; Displacement: 249cc; Compression Ratio: 12(+/- 0.7):1; Ignition: CDI; Carburation: 2 x Mikuni 34mm flatslide; Starting system: Kick; Lubrication system: CCIS oil-injection. TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed, constant mesh; Primary drive: Gear; Clutch: Wet, multi-plate; Final drive: Chain. CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEARFrame type: Inclined alloy double beam, with thin wall shell structure; Rake: 25; Trail: Not given; Wheelbase: 1365mm; Front suspension: 41mm-diam forks, adjustable rebound and compression damping,120mm travel; Rear suspension: Fully-adjustable single shock, 130mm wheel travel; Front/rear wheels: Five-spoke alloy rims 3.50 x 17 front, 4.50 x 17 rear; Front/rear tyres: Dunlop D207 Sportmax,120/60ZR17 front, 150/60ZR17 rear; Front brake: Twin 298mm Brembo steel discs with four-piston calipers; Rear brake: Single 220mm steel disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper.DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Dry weight (claimed): 140kg; Seat height (claimed): 810mm; Oil capacity: Not given; Fuel capacity: 19.5lt; Fuel consumption: 13.0km/lt. PERFORMANCE
Maximum power (claimed): Not given; Rear wheel power: 54ps at 10,200rpm; Maximum torque (claimed): Not given; Rear wheel torque: 4.0kg-m at 9600rpm; Top speed: 205kmh. MISCELLANEOUS
Test bike supplied by: John Sample Automotive, Milperra, NSW; Recommended retail price: $11,990 plus ORC; Warranty: 24 mths/unlimited km; Colour options: Black, red/blue. 


Aprilia RS250 2000

Tags