I’m moving to Taichung (Taizhong) in August and as soon as the ARC situation settles itself, I’m going to buy a used motorcycle.
I’d like to avoid the registration hassles that a 250cc bike brings, so it’s gonna be smaller than that. I’m looking for the best torque possible under 250cc, so it appears that a 2-stroke bike will fit the bill.
What make and model 2-strokes are out there in used bike shops?
I’ve seen the Yamaha RZR or RXZ recommended, but what other options do I have? Or perhaps a well engineered 4-stroke that’s not too heavy?
I think your best bet would be a Honda/Kymco NSR150. (Sometimes they have a Honda badge, sometimes a Kymco one). They’re 2-strokes and pretty fast. The engines are delicate though so have to take care when you’re buying. One disadvantage is the riding position – nearly a racing crouch, so not that comfortable for long distances. But they seem like fun bikes.
RZRs and RZXs were nice bikes but most of them are on their last legs now. I don’t think parts are being produced anymore. If you bought one you’d spend a lot of time getting stuff fixed.
Given your desire for power I don’t think you’d be satisfied with a 4-stroke. The Yamaha FZs and FZRs are solid but a bit overweight.
2-strokes are all about bhp in very narrow power bands, so unless you want to go racing or enjoy constantly changing gear I couldn’t recommend any 2-stroke. But if you do intend to go racing then it would be hard not to recommend the Aprillia 250. Or if you want a trials bike, yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/ … /yz250.jsp
They might not be the most relaxing of bikes but they are rideable. Both Michael J Botti and Poagao seem to have had a lot of fun on theirs. Michael in particular has been round Taiwan with passenger and luggage on his 135 2-stroke.
[quote=“hexuan”]…if you do intend to go racing then it would be hard not to recommend the Aprillia 250. Or if you want a trials bike, yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/ … /yz250.jsp
Unfortunately, 2-strokes are being phased out in Taiwan, and I’ll be the first to admit that my old smoke-blower is not the most environmentally friendly beast on the road…
The Kymco or NSR as Joesax mentioned, is the last of the under 150cc performance 2-strokes. They run about 80,000NT new and can be had for 25-40K in the used department. If you are over 175cm tall it will feel very small though, and with a split seat you won’t be carrying anyone with any degree of comfort. Also, the front forks and mono-shock are sprung for an Asian rider of 55kg or so, making it a bit spongy for us big foreigners. From what I hear this bike will be phased out over the next 2 years in favor of the piddly performing 4-stroke 250s.
However, if the zest for cheap performance is a must, then the NSR 150 is by far the best bang for the buck…Even in stock form it tops out at an impressive 105mph/170km. After-market products abound for the NSR, and with some engine work and a decent pipe, it can be made to exceed 200kph…
I’d love to recommend my 135cc Yamaha two-stroke, but as Joesax mentioned earlier, it’s been out of production for many years and parts are getting tough to find.
If you are moving into the city you might want to consider a scooter though…
yes yes yes… Aprilia RS 250, the last glorious 2 stroke to be dropped from Aprilia’s books due to pressure from the tree hugger Eurocrats… goes like stink, brakes, handles, fires you out of corners like you’re a GP hero on crack…
available in Taichung, second hand, fully legal, probably abused, probably in the region on NT$300,000 + … pricey, and a risky buy, but on the upside you get to pretend you’re Max Biaggi everytime you nip down to the 7-11…
The Aprillia is availible in Taoyuan as well, and in days past, used a cylinder sleeve to fall into the sub 150cc range…Back then, the bike sold for about 160,000NT and was a stellar performer even with it’s curtailed displacement.
Again, probably not the most efficient commuter, but for mountain jaunts…Would be my first choice as well :lovestruck:
Yeah, the Aprilia is schweet. Parts are bloody expensive though
The NSR has about the best bang/buck ratio. The motor is pretty strong in stock form but isn’t easy to rebuild well. The ignition advance curve is pretty aggressive and overbores make it ping unless you work the head to drop the compression a little. Add to this the fact that the overbore pistons you get in Taiwan are awful. Wiseco made a forged piston for the NSR which is excellent. The device is a bit too complex for the average local mechanic; water cooling, exhaust valve system with computers and servos, and that’s where the rep for fragility comes from. The carburation is also very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, dirty fuel and so on, so they have good days and bad days even when healthy. You’d need to luck out once getting a good used one, and luck out again finding a wrench who really knows the bike. As Micheal points out, the suspension is flimsy and not up to 2-up use or fast solo riding with a heavy pilot. If you’re bigger you might still be better off with the FZ150 just for it’s better brakes and suspension. It’s possible to fit SRV250 internals into the FZ/FZR150 quite cheaply. The stroker motor buzzes a bit, but it’s torquey for what it is.
I’m convinced that the Honda/Kymco NSR is the best torque for my NTD. But, it’s a matter of style. I’ll definitely give the NSR a test spin, but I’m leaving behind a chopped HD fatboy with 16" ape hangers, so it’s quite a swing in the opposite direction.
I’ve been checking out yahoo taiwan’s auction site and have come across a little beast that seems about right. Suzuki’s 雄獅, xiong shi.
Those are real antiques, though they produced them until the mid 90s I think. Very popular with the retro set. Disc-valve 2-stroke single, makes a lot of smoke, low-revving Ostfront survivor. Rather agricultural.
Maybe the old KY 150 Custom would suit you. Chopper kind of thing, but pretty light. 150cc 1 cyl, pushrod 2V, very reliable, decent lowend torque (though it’s no Harley!)
Another posssibilty is to buy an NSR and then search for parts off one of the older models…Before 1994 I believe, they came with a standard seat you could actually use. You’ll need the plastic panels and the seat itself, an easy bolt-on application.
My main argument with the Suzuki is the lack of decent brakes…Any thing with drums on the front would make me very nervous.
Find the older seat, change the mono-shock and fork oil. A decent tank bag, maybe a removable box in the back, and you are styling…
The sidepanels are the same, just remove the extra trim parts. The seat is different (of course), so is the tail-light. There is a bolt-on subframe to be removed, and two brackets for that on the seat rails have to be ground off before the older dualseat will fit on. Should take a half hour.
[quote=“Michael J Botti”]My main argument with the Suzuki is the lack of decent brakes…Any thing with drums on the front would make me very nervous.[/quote]I used to have a Yamaha SR150, which had front and rear drums. They were actually alright and had some progression. But yes, discs are much better. And as the old Suzukis and Kawasakis are fashionable they’re overpriced for what you get. For the OP it does seem that the NSR’s the thing.
[quote=“Michael J Botti”]They haven’t made a bike yet I’d dump my RZX for…[/quote]Well, I’ve had the chance to try Michael’s RZX now and it is a whole lot of fun. Very light, flickable, nice strong pull even up hills and surprisingly the power band is fairly wide. Many of the RZXs/RZRs are falling to pieces now but this one’s in good condition. Still wouldn’t recommend buying one now but I will say that if you already have one and a few spare parts tucked away you’re a lucky guy.
My FZ has a much heavier, more solid feel. Its suspension and frame are better than the RZX’s. It’s also slightly better for carrying a passenger, although the RZX’s saddle is fine. For acceleration, top speed, flickability and outright grin-on-the-face factor, however, the RZX is a definite winner.
I’m not sure my neighbors shared your exuberance, but fortunately, there are louder RZR’s in my neighborhood. The wide powerband comes from retaining the stock pipe, but I keep my speed-pipe around in case the serious need for spirited mountain romping arises…
I noticed that Jeremy’s Bike Farm has several sitting out front…Anyone know if they are for sale?
If you could find an RZX/RZR in the same condition as mine I’d say grab it…Although not as fast or sophisticated as the NSR, they are more user friendly/comfortable.
Joe, happy you enjoyed it…Hopefully, you can try it again on the Northern Cross Island highway…
Do they make a 2-stroke trials bike similar to the Yamaha DT ? The DT was a very useable bike and quick enough. It would even go round corners with road tyres on. Comfortable riding position for taller chaps. I reckon one in reasonable nick could be tarted up for little money. They were built to be abused and even an elderly one could be sorted.
Yeah! First bike I had in Taiwan was a DT. They’re almost impossible to get parts for now though, and the engines are weak. It isn’t too hard to graft a newer motor into a DT, but cycle parts are still thin on the ground, and electrical stuff too. I built a couple of hybrid DTs with RZX motors and I’ve seen one with an RG125 Suzuki in it too. These days I’d try to get my hands on an Aprillia or something, if those nazis at the EPA allowed them in…
I’ve noticed a few DTs around still. A couple of them looked to be in pretty nice condition. Still, if the parts aren’t available any more there’d be no point in buying one.
In the UK and presumably in other countries as well, there are companies that specialise in producing parts for old motorbikes. When the original manufacturer gets rid of the machine tools, these companies buy them up and continue to produce parts, on a small scale. My brother fixed up his 1972 Triumph 250 using parts from these companies.
yes yes yes… Aprilia RS 250, the last glorious 2 stroke to be dropped from Aprilia’s books due to pressure from the tree hugger Eurocrats… goes like stink, brakes, handles, fires you out of corners like you’re a GP hero on crack…
