Aprilia RS250 (1998 - 2003) review

The ultimate two-stroke race rep. Awesome handling and with a mental two-stroke powerband.
It's an all or nothing racer, you can't pop down the shops on it!

Introduced in late 1994, The RS250 was a real alternative to the dwindling base of race-inspired stroker 250s. Then in 1998 it had a cosmetic revamp to look more like the RS250 from GPs. Since then it's simply matched the paint jobs of the official Aprilia teams - which is why ours looks so trick in  an official West Honda Pons paintwork, normally found on NSR500s..? Still, sod authenticity when it looks this good.

And just how good does 52bhp feel? In a bike only weighing 145kg, as good as ever. Big revs off the lights, slip the hell outta the clutch, spin her up to 9,000rpm and off she goes. Then as quick as it started, it's over until you snick in the next gear. Fantastic fun and incredibly useful for improving your overall riding. If all you've ever ridden is a 140bhp Japanese four-cylinder, get a go on one of these. Ridden properly they'll run rings around most things and when you haven't got any midrange to fall back on, you really learn about shifting gear and using the power.

SPECS  - APRILIA
TYPE - SUPERSPORTS
PRODUCTION DATE - 2002
PRICE NEW - £5499
ENGINE CAPACITY - 249cc
POWER - 63.4bhp@10,159rpm
TORQUE - 32.5lb.ft@9924rpm   
WEIGHT - 140kg
SEAT HEIGHT - 810mm   
FUEL CAPACITY - N/A   
TOP SPEED  - N/A   
0-60 - n/a
TANK RANGE - N/A