My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
Was going through some old photos, thought I'd share my little uns - I just missed out on the 250 learner period, my first bike was a GP100 in 1987, loved it. In 1988 there seemed to be loads of 250's going cheap, my first RD250LC I paid £250 quid for, decent ones go for about £5K now (I woudn't say they were "worth" £5K, but its a sellers market for nostalgia inducing bikes).
Then, the CB250RS, nice and light and a Honda of course, but felt a bit tame after the 2 stroke screamer:
So back to the Elsie's, this one a Grey import RZ250LC, minter:
The the last, and best, another import, a TZR250 - loved it. Bought with no headlight or fairing and various bits missing, I built it up and rode it madly everywhere - then I lent it to a mate for a MAG stand who promptly smashed it on the way home. I didn't have the heart to rebuild it and sold it to a cousin.
Then, the CB250RS, nice and light and a Honda of course, but felt a bit tame after the 2 stroke screamer:
So back to the Elsie's, this one a Grey import RZ250LC, minter:
The the last, and best, another import, a TZR250 - loved it. Bought with no headlight or fairing and various bits missing, I built it up and rode it madly everywhere - then I lent it to a mate for a MAG stand who promptly smashed it on the way home. I didn't have the heart to rebuild it and sold it to a cousin.
I'm so unlucky that if there is such a thing as re-incarnation I'll come back as me!
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
Wow a nice bit of nostalgia there Mav
Great to see the photo's of your old 250cc bikes I wish I had photo's of mine,
Chris.
Great to see the photo's of your old 250cc bikes I wish I had photo's of mine,
Chris.
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
The 80's were the dogs nuts, glad I grew up then (well some would say I am not grown up now, but that's a different story).
I managed a 200x5 Suzuki, a superdream 400 Honda, then a 350lC before going heavyweight with a GS1000S ice cream van.
I managed a 200x5 Suzuki, a superdream 400 Honda, then a 350lC before going heavyweight with a GS1000S ice cream van.
AMcQ
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
lovely looking bikes.. i done my test on a RD250 aircooled,ace bars and microns on it i must have looked a tw@ with L plates on it lol.. the 80s were clean brilliant
2 days after passing my test on the RD i turned it over in third gear impressing a bunch of young ladies at the bus stop. ahh the pain of it
2 days after passing my test on the RD i turned it over in third gear impressing a bunch of young ladies at the bus stop. ahh the pain of it
the older i get,the faster i was
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
Here's the only 250 I've ever owned!
- lloydie
- Posts: 20923
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- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
I had one of these back in 1997-2000 .
I brought it from the breakers yard in 15 boxes for £300 .
Spent the first few months building the engine up with new pistons and stuff . Got it running and passed it’s mot .
That thing was nuts , I had only had a rd125 before that so the power band was crazy .
I crashed it in 2000 into the side of a Ford escort estate as it just pulled out the junction on me .
The bike was trashed and I was messed up . Took me six years to get back on two wheels after that .
Think I sold it back to the same braker for £80 !
I brought it from the breakers yard in 15 boxes for £300 .
Spent the first few months building the engine up with new pistons and stuff . Got it running and passed it’s mot .
That thing was nuts , I had only had a rd125 before that so the power band was crazy .
I crashed it in 2000 into the side of a Ford escort estate as it just pulled out the junction on me .
The bike was trashed and I was messed up . Took me six years to get back on two wheels after that .
Think I sold it back to the same braker for £80 !
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
sexy little Gamma there Lloydie....... I can only imagine how small it looked with you on it!
AMcQ
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
I to missed the 250 L bikes.. Started off with a DT80...
Passed test & the first bigger bike I bought was a IT175 !
Then had KH250, X7, LC250...
Many moons & a few 4 strokes later...
RG250 MkIII...
I did however work in a bike shop for a bit so got to have a go on a fair few other stink wheels as well... RG & RD 500's...TDR, RGV's TZR's...
Passed test & the first bigger bike I bought was a IT175 !
Then had KH250, X7, LC250...
Many moons & a few 4 strokes later...
RG250 MkIII...
I did however work in a bike shop for a bit so got to have a go on a fair few other stink wheels as well... RG & RD 500's...TDR, RGV's TZR's...
Making up since 2007, sometimes it's true...Honest...
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
A bit of LC ProAm action from the 80s
https://youtu.be/pgGz00VTKgQ
https://youtu.be/pgGz00VTKgQ
AMcQ
- freeridenick
- Posts: 1591
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Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
I wish I'd gotten into bikes earlier. A mate had a RD125 in Kenny Roberts colours around then. Great bike apparently and properly quick. I didn't know him until after he'd crashed it and smashed up his femur. I'd love to find one and build a replica for him. I'm not sure how pleased he'd be though
- lloydie
- Posts: 20923
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
Just pop round with a bat and smash his femur ! No need to find a replicafreeridenick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:19 pm I wish I'd gotten into bikes earlier. A mate had a RD125 in Kenny Roberts colours around then. Great bike apparently and properly quick. I didn't know him until after he'd crashed it and smashed up his femur. I'd love to find one and build a replica for him. I'm not sure how pleased he'd be though
- Pete.L
- Forum Health And Safety Officer
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Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
That would remind himlloydie wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 7:48 amJust pop round with a bat and smash his femur ! No need to find a replicafreeridenick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:19 pm I wish I'd gotten into bikes earlier. A mate had a RD125 in Kenny Roberts colours around then. Great bike apparently and properly quick. I didn't know him until after he'd crashed it and smashed up his femur. I'd love to find one and build a replica for him. I'm not sure how pleased he'd be though
I think the bike option is far kinder though...and memories of pain are easier to to handle than the real thing
My new ride is a bit of a Howler and I love to make her Squeal
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
Why not just ask Kenny Roberts to spray up another one?
He's not riding much these days, so could probably do with the money.
He's not riding much these days, so could probably do with the money.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
Re: My Quarter-Litre Bikes of old
I only had one 250, with a progression from 125 to 250 to 400...
My CB250RS was a decent little bike and enabled me to win the university MC club's economy run at 145mpg (yes I was trying; I think slipstreaming in the blue clouds behind a fellow rider's GT750 2-stroke helped!).
My CB250RS was a decent little bike and enabled me to win the university MC club's economy run at 145mpg (yes I was trying; I think slipstreaming in the blue clouds behind a fellow rider's GT750 2-stroke helped!).
2017 MT-10SP, 2019 Vespa Primavera 150