Mort Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 My boy (15) has been doing track days for 2 years now and he's doing great. He loves it and we have great days out together. He's my ultimate track day buddy. He loves mechanics and how the bike works and my garage is kept cleaner than I could ever manage. At the moment he's growing at a ridiculous rate so we've decided to move on. Its a tricky job moving from his existing bike to something little bigger but not too big. He needed more power we wanted something not too heavy so he could focus on corner speed (something he's getting very good at). I was chatting to a guy at a trackday a couple of months back who had a Aprilia RS250. Next thing this chap offers him a ride on his bike. I was a bit nervous as its a big jump from 35bhp to near 70 but it went well and we've been on the hunt for one ever since. So we found this one and bought it today. Its a bit of a gamble because I haven't actually seen the bike (its in Christchurch NZ and I'm in Auckland) but we'll see. There are lots of 250/400 4 strokes and other 2 strokes around but I think these are the best. Proper adjustable suspension, brembo brakes. Really nice polished alloy frame. 130kg with 70BHP. Low mileage (9800kms). Arrow pipes so it'll sound good. The best 2 stroke 250 ever made I think. Actually I cant wait to ride this myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Fantastic bikes, those. I remember them being launched - Aprilia were suddenly a brand to be taken seriously. Amazed you can do track days over there at that age - I'm pretty sure you have to have a road licence to to them in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 In the UK you can do a trackday with an ACU race licence too. He uses the equivalent here. Not come across an age limit myself in the UK. I've seen kids as young as 10 ride here. Some are really quick too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Ahhh, I don't do bike days - but remember I always need my licence for car days. Can't recall anyone under 17 driving at a car day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Very nice. He must be a very happy chappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 The joys of two stroke bikes. He'll have a ball with the RS250 - I still look at those and RGV's on eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) Its arrived. It was quite dirty when we got it but underneath was fine. The engine sounds OK but didnt idle well (carbs need a clean). The bike is a 2001 and has done 10,000 ks. We're doing a full end to end service to get it up to scratch. Tyres, forks, brakes, all fluids, carbs off. Exhausts repainted, convert to pre-mix etc etc Quite a mission. From that perspective its perfect because he likes working on bikes. I just supervise... Lovely bike to have though. Very neat. Edited August 29, 2013 by Mort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Fantastic bikes... a proper race bike made road legal. Saw an RGV250 the other day and it sent me back (eek!) 20 years to my early biking days. Nothing quite like a 2-stroke. Have fun getting it all sorted together, what a great way to spend quality time with your son 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Just thought I'd add an update. Put quite a bit of work in to the bike over the past 2 weeks. It cleaned up nice. New tyres. Brakes stripped and cleaned up. Carbs and power valves done. Brake fluid, gearbox oil. Coolant changed (Discovered some idiot poured 2 stroke oil in the coolant res.). Really impressed with the overall condition of the bike. Authentic and unmolested. Took it for a 100 mile blast on Sunday. Really blown away by it. First time I've ridden a two stroke sports bike. I've always had 200+kg sports bikes so to ride something like this really takes some re-calibration. Its plenty fast enough for the road but the way it handles is brilliant. So agile and quick to turn. You can turn so late and fast. For the first half of the ride I was turning way too early and correcting several times. Such a sweet bike though. A real joy to ride. We're booked for a track day on the 21st so looking forward to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thanks for the update, really looks clean as a whistle ! I learnt and found my feet on 2-stroke bikes. The smell of Castrol-R, the power-band, the nimbleness.... ahhhh those were the days. Hope you both enjoy the track day on the 21st Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Looks sorted and sounds like it goes as well as it looks. Bonus Dad points awarded ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted September 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 First trackday with the bike was on Saturday. Got the bike well set up for him. New tyres and tyre warmers. He was fast straight off the bat. Previously he was doing 1:35s at this track. He dropped that to about 1:24 or less which I found pretty amazing. Almost at my pace but he was actually faster because his corner speed and late braking meant he could pick off other riders (and me) at will. It wasn't all good though. In the last session of the day it started to rain. A fact which he just ignored and he continued to fearlessly ride at the same pace. I was following but couldn't get by to slow him down a bit. The powerband kicked in on a damp patch and he went down. He wasn't hurt but he was a bit upset. The bike was a scratched a bit but proved to be very crash resilient. (Wish all fairings were made like this) So a lesson was learned there. In all, a great day. I'm blown away by his riding. I knew one day he would be faster than me. I just didnt expect that day to be so soon. A vid of the crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 So a lesson was learned there. A hard lesson, He appears to be on the gas nice and early but he doesn't seem to stand the bike up at all when he does so. I guess on lower powered bikes it doesn't matter but getting the fat part on the ground will definitely make a difference as the power increases. Having said that I know my current road tyres reckon you have a bigger contact patch when leaned over than when up right but I guess it depends how far you go. Glad he's ok. Did he have a chance to get back on and put it to the back of his head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 Oops. He was flying along before the slide! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted September 23, 2013 Report Share Posted September 23, 2013 Good news is that he is okay and that he has learned something from the crash. Some father and son time coming up in the garage putting things back where they should be and getting all the gravel/dirt out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Just thought I'd add an update. Summer of course down here so track day season is full on. Bike and rider going well. His lap times are getting quite good now and would do well in the F3 class here. Small improvements here and there would see him near the top. He fancies a go at racing (which is a big financial commitment for me) but he's equally happy trackdaying. I've just ordered a new Nitron custom made rear shock for him which should make a difference as the existing one is not great... Had a good time at a day organised by Honda the other week. Arron Slight (ex Superbike rider) was there to help out.. and had a few good scraps with Dylan.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Wow. Impressive! I love to see kids doing stuff like this. I think it gives them something to really get their teeth stuck into and a sense of competition and pride. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Great stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Wow. Impressive! I love to see kids doing stuff like this. I think it gives them something to really get their teeth stuck into and a sense of competition and pride. This. His riding is coming along brilliantly. At this rate you'll be packing him off to Spain in 18 months time 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) This week I finally finished my son's Aprilia RS250 to with some graphics. Other mods include : - Nitron Rear 2 way shock. - Ohlins steering damper - Arrow Carbon pipes - Wossner single ring pistons - Tyga rear sets Sadly it has to be sold as my garage is full and he's moved on to a 600 now so there's not much chance it will be used again. Such a brilliant little bike though... Anyway, a few pics... His new bike at the track last week... Edited March 12, 2015 by Mort 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Great stuff - how's he finding the shift to the 600? If you weren't in NZ I'd have the Ape off you just to have in the garage next to the RSV4 - the wife would love that * runs off to investigate freight charges and associated import taxes * ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Great stuff - how's he finding the shift to the 600? If you weren't in NZ I'd have the Ape off you just to have in the garage next to the RSV4 - the wife would love that * runs off to investigate freight charges and associated import taxes * ........... Its all about the smile James... he was finding the 250 hard to push on. Its a peaky little bugger with low weight and snapper power which wasnt helped by the fact that he is 50kgs wet through. When I ride my ...er...inertia... calms it down and its joyful but for him its like riding a superbike. The 600 is altogether a smoother proposition....easy power more weight more stability and the smiles are back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 That makes sense - the difference in the power delivery characteristics must be monumental. I imagine my frame might have the same calming effect on the 250 Oh my, shipping is only circa £600. Must stop thinking about how cool the garage would look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted March 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 Calm down .... have patience.... the RSV4 will be with you soon.... £600 is a bargain... the reason its interesting is cos there's a steady flow of bikes in NZ which are an absolute steal which are worth far more in UK ....RC30s etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) I could start an Aprilia history of sports bike collection That is interesting re the cost of bikes there. The old two strokes are going bonkers price wise at the moment - RGV's etc. But an RC30 would be very special indeed Edited March 13, 2015 by Busby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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