Aprilia 250

I'm looking for a trackday bike and I was wondering if anyone knows of a new or very clean used Aprilia RS250 still sitting on a dealer's showroom floor. If so, could you post the dealer's info for me?

Try this, last time I was in there they had a new 2000 rs250 it is in the santa cruz location http://www.motoitaliano.com/index.htm
nate

I got this email from a friend today - the seller is a service manager at a BMW & Ducati dealership in NC. email me and I will get you the contact info. 322@teamworm.net

Cup Bike for sale

1999, purchased new in 2001

1921 miles
Arrow pipes
complete race kit (6 sprockets/rear stand/fork springs/ride height tool/service manual)
tires with one track day on them
three podium finishes, but mostly used for the occassional track day
one low side (no frame/fork damage, cosmetic to right side fairing)

asking $5200

I know Nichols (http://www.nicholsmfg.com/, phone: +1-408-945-0911) has one for sale on its floor with almost no miles and with a bunch of race mods already made. The bike is ready for the track. It looks really good. I know Nichol's is not a dealer but it may be worth a call to Jim Davis at Nichols. A lot of people on the Ducati boards will speak highly of their dealing with Nichols. If I were in the market for a track-only Aprilia 250, I would take a good look at this bike and talk to Jim about it.

check this also http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/

Why not get a used TZ250? If it's for track days only then that's the way to go, IMHO. I looked at Aprilias when I was shopping and ended up with my '95 TZ. They're cheaper, make more power and have a lot of parts available for them, given their overwhelimng popularity in the now defunct AMA 250 series. Also, if you're looking for a tuner, you're far more likely to find someone knowledable in the Yamaha than the 'Priller. Anyway, good luck on your search. Whichever one you go with will be an absolute blast to ride!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eddie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I got this email from a friend today - the seller is a service manager at a BMW & Ducati dealership in NC. email me and I will get you the contact info. 322@teamworm.net

Cup Bike for sale

1999, purchased new in 2001

1921 miles
Arrow pipes
complete race kit (6 sprockets/rear stand/fork springs/ride height tool/service manual)
tires with one track day on them
three podium finishes, but mostly used for the occassional track day
one low side (no frame/fork damage, cosmetic to right side fairing)

asking $5200

</TD></TR></TABLE>

For that price you can get a late-90's/early-2000's Yamaha that would run circles around it. Aprilias can be great 2-smokers but expect to drop twice the $$$ into it.

Try the classifieds section of http://www.tz250.com. I came across this one on the second page and it looks awesome for $4,500.00.


Modified by Mashuri at 5:12 PM 12/3/2004

the Aprilia uses a RGV250Gamma engine is a street bike engine you dont have to rebuild after a couple of races or what ever is the period for rebuild on a TZ250 or RS250.... I think this is a big differene if you are looking just for trackdays.

I second Alex's mention of the no-mileage clean one at Nichols. I know that Jim's got it up for sale (408)945-0911.

As for the Aprilia vs. the Yamahas - if you want to ride, get the Aprilia. If you want to spend 90% of your track day wrenching (changing jets, etc) then get the Yamaha. The Aprilia doesn't run on the edge, like a race TZ, but it also is a "gas, oil, and go" bike...and very occasionally you'll need tires. With the TZ, you'll spend all your time wrenching.

Forget about the Aprilla and the TZ, just get an SV650. For the price and reliablity, the worlds best track bike.

Isn't the internet awesome? Thanks for all the info everyone. So far I've contacted a guy about an RS on the Aprilia forum that looks real good. I've sent emails to Nichols and the guy at Ducati BMW in Carolina and haven't heard back. I also found an 04 RS with no miles, just 25 miles from my house that might be a great deal.
As for alternate choices, I agree that the SV would be an awesome choice and would be super reliable. I will grab a clean SV in a heartbeat if I see one. SV track bikes (or future track bikes) are easy to find, so I didn't bother asking on here if anyone knew where I could get one!
As for a TZ or Honda GP bike, I'd love to have one, but I think I'd go quicker on the Aprilia for now... and I know it would make for more relaxing trackday fun. I just did my first trackday after being off racetracks for over 25 years. I need to just concentrate on smoothness and consistency for now.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Buckelew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I second Alex's mention of the no-mileage clean one at Nichols. I know that Jim's got it up for sale (408)945-0911.

As for the Aprilia vs. the Yamahas - if you want to ride, get the Aprilia. If you want to spend 90% of your track day wrenching (changing jets, etc) then get the Yamaha. The Aprilia doesn't run on the edge, like a race TZ, but it also is a "gas, oil, and go" bike...and very occasionally you'll need tires. With the TZ, you'll spend all your time wrenching.

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Then why get a 2-smoke at all? Why not get the aforementioned SV650 or an R6 and have a ton more reliability than the RS? 999, I understand where you're coming from but keep in mind that even an RS250 will be much higher maintenance than a good Japanese 4-stroker. Given that you're just getting back into the swing of things, the Sv sounds like an even more logical choice. Yes, a TZ is an on-the-edge thoroughbred but I think it (and others like it) is the real reason to go 2-stroke in the first place. Once you ride one there's no substitute.

The biggest reason that I'm going fro the Aprilia is that I think it really suits my current skill/fitness level and also is well suited to Jennings where I will be using it for trackdays. I don't mind doing some maintenance, but don't want to have to worry about doing much at the track.
I agree that an SV would be great, I just haven't seen any super clean ones for sale from sources that I trust.
If all goes well, and my skills improve, it is my plan to find a nice GP bike next year if I'm ready.

I started doing trackdays with a 93 NSR250 the engine was bulletproof and was much more fun than any other little bike i ever had!!!

I have owned a supersport SV650 and R6, and a Honda RS250 and Honda RS125. I have also ridden an Aprilia RS250 both on the street and on the track.

I think that the Aprilia is a great trackday bike. It doesn’t have the high maintenance and costs of a GP bike, it is easier on tires then a 600+ cc inline four, and it is way more exciting to ride then a SV.

A trackday is all about having fun and riding to your personal limits – no need to worry about which bike is most competitive in your particular class. The Aprilia is light, easy to work on and get parts for, more exotic then a normal commuter streetbike like the SV and has enough power to scare you without being so overpowered that you can’t perfect your technique.

Plus it looks really cool and makes the right sounds and since they are not as competitive in their classes anymore, they are still pretty cheap but at the same time they are also holding their value more then the SV and R6. They seemed to have leveled off at between $4500 and $5500 depending on their condition and spares kit.

Thanks for all the tips and leads guys. I bought an RS250 Aprilia yesterday. I am really happy, and I got a great deal. It's a 2004 with 3 miles, and I got about $2000 off the new price, plus fork mods, new boots and new gloves.

post pictures....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 999 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the tips and leads guys. I bought an RS250 Aprilia yesterday. I am really happy, and I got a great deal. It's a 2004 with 3 miles, and I got about $2000 off the new price, plus fork mods, new boots and new gloves. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Cool! Im looking for one also.. I think you motivated me more than I already was.. Damn you!!!!!!

Im from Melbourne Beach by the way, miss it.

yeah... Get a worn out old POS TZ that only runs right for 10 minutes every year.

You morons are living in the stone age. The RS is so much more ridable... because it runs.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 900CR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah... Get a worn out old POS TZ that only runs right for 10 minutes every year.

You morons are living in the stone age. The RS is so much more ridable... because it runs. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I take that as a personal attack...

If you personally picked out a TZ and couldn't get it to run 10 minutes then that only reflects on your ability to properly select and maintain a motorcycle. If you haven't owned one then, well, you're just talking out your ass and should shut your hole.

I've had my TZ for 2 years and the only problem it has had at a track day was when my co-owner low-sided it at CA Speedway (we were back on track within an hour though). Why? Well, I made sure to pick out one that had a FULLY documented history (it cost me about $500 more but well worth it) and plenty of track-specific documentation for settings. Yes, the pre-track day prep is more detailed but...have you ridden a TZ250 and RS250 back-to-back? I have. The extra maintenance is more than worth it, IMHO. Now go read a book and learn how to work on a bike, numbnuts...