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Difference between revisions of "Aprilia RS250"
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{{Infobox Motorcycle | {{Infobox Motorcycle | ||
|name = Aprilia RS250 | |name = Aprilia RS250 | ||
|image = [[File:Aprilia RS250 94.jpg|Aprilia RS250 94]] | |image = [[File:Aprilia RS250 94.jpg|200px|Aprilia RS250 94]] | ||
|aka = | |aka = | ||
|manufacturer = [[Aprilia]] | |manufacturer = [[Aprilia]] | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
|competition = | |competition = | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''RS250''' is that increasingly rare item: a current [[two-stroke]] production roadbike. Emissions legislation worldwide has made the large-capacity two-stroke engine a thing of the past, with its poor fuel consumption and excessively dirty exhaust emissions. | |||
But [[Aprilia]]'s RS250 continues to provide some of the purest motorcycling performance available. The heart of the bike is a rather outdated engine, [[Suzuki RGV250|Suzuki's RGV250]] motor, first seen in 1989. It's a [[V-twin]] two-stroke, with several advanced power-boosting features, including guillotine-type power valves, electronically-controlled 34mm [[Mikuni]] flat-slide [[carburetors]] and ceramic-coated cylinders. | |||
Aprilia modified the RGV's exhaust and intake systems to produce a power increase to 52kW (70bhp) at the crankshaft, equivalent to 280bhp/litre: the highest specific power output of any current production roadgoing motorcycle. | |||
The rest of the bike is more than capable of handling this impressive power figure. A twin-spar aluminium frame provides super-stiff handling, and the fully-adjustable Showa upside-down front forks and rear [[monoshock]] allow a wide range of adjustment for any track or road situation. Wide sports tyres provide amazing grip, and the front twin Brembo four-piston calipers offer superlative stopping power, especially for a bike weighing just 140kg (2241b). | |||
While the RS250's engine is based around a design that's more than a decade old, the styling is undoubtedly modern. A banana-style upswept aluminium swingarm and twin side-mounted exhausts pay tribute to the Grand Prix technology behind the RS, as well as providing a unique look. | |||
Since Suzuki discontinued its RGV250, the RS250 has been unique in its class. The closest rivals to this mini-racebike are the four-cylinder 400cc four stroke machines like [[Honda VFR400|Honda's VFR400]] and [[Kawasaki ZXR400|Kawasaki's ZXR400]]. But these heavier machines can't provide the ultimate cornering experience of the RS250, nor the exhilaration of the 250's screaming two*troke acceleration. | |||
==Specifications== | ==Specifications== | ||
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| Top Speed||209.5 km/h | | Top Speed||209.5 km/h | ||
|} | |} | ||
==1997== | |||
[[File:Aprilia RS250 97-4.jpg|left|thumb|Aprilia RS250 97-4]] | |||
{{clear}} | |||
==2000== | ==2000== | ||
[[Image:2000-Aprilia-RS250-Black-5192-0.jpg|left|thumb|2000 Aprilia RS250 in Black]] | [[Image:2000-Aprilia-RS250-Black-5192-0.jpg|left|thumb|2000 Aprilia RS250 in Black]] | ||