Hello all from a newbie!

Please let me briefly introduce myself as this is my first post: my name is Dario, I live in Madrid (Spain) and, how not, I am a petrol head.

I am planning to visit Japan shortly for 3 weeks approx. and am looking for some good advice for various purposes.

This may sound somewhat weird, but is it reasonable thinking of buying a second hand bike there (and arranging to ship it to Europe)?

Does anyone know about any shop willing to ship their used bikes overseas? Any previous experiences will be very appreciated.
Do you know of any shop website apart from goobike.com?

I am unsure if that could be really worth it instead of looking for a grey import in UK, any feedback?

I already have 2 Suzuki RGVs and I am thinking about getting an NSR 250.
I know this might not be the right forum to ask, but can I actually expect a noticeable difference between my Suzukis and a NSR? Please be honest here

Among NSRs, what versions (MC code) are the preferred? I guess it's more a matter of personal taste, but some general info about pros and cons of each evolution will help.

Also, any info about parts shops/ bike wreckers in Japan? How hard is getting stuff out of the country? How does the jap postal service work?

I hope these are not too many questions!
Thank you very much in advance,

Dario (joker)

Hi Dario, and welcome.

You pose some interesting questions, and I'm sure you will get numerous replies.

There are some great bargains to be had in Japan, but shipping costs and arrangements can be prohibitive for one-offs and low volume. I reckon you will be better off buying a bike already imported into the EU, and maybe like you say, the UK. I believe transfering the registration between EU countries isn't too difficult, and that for a while you can even use a foreign registration (possibly 6~12 months?).

In my opinion the MC21 is the best model to go for. Many parts are still readily available, and support is exceptional for a 15 year old 2-stroke! They are also easily delimted and derestricted. The MC28 is a great looking bike, and many prefer the trick parts like the digital display and Pro-Arm, but the initial purchase price is around £1000 (at least!) higher the the equivallent MC21 model, and delimiting and drestriction is both more expensive and less productive!

The MC18's are a cracking bike, but parts are getting scarcer all the time, and many new parts are discontinued. The MC18 is starting to look a little dated now too, but that can add to it's charm if that's what you are after. Power-wise, there is nothing between the MC18 and MC21 for the best part. In full race trim the MC21 will win out, but for 99% of the population, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference.

A number of the owners here have owned RGV's, and most wouldn't ever go back! I'm one of them! As an officially supported UK model, RGV's (and KR1S) were hard to beat, but as a motorcycle the NSR tramps it! The build quality is far superior, and the motor is in a whole different league. Not until the RGV VJ23 did Suzuki up their game to the build-quality level of Honda (and Yamaha), maybe even surpassing it, but by then it was too late.

Although most of the 250's produce similar power once delimited/derestricted (read the GT Performance Proddy 250 Leader Board thread), the NSR has the greatest potential utilising stock parts, and the smoothest power delivery. This makes some of the other makes "feel" deceptively quicker due to their steep power curves.

For the majority though, it comes down to personal preference regarding the looks. I think the MC21, 3XV and VJ23 all look like they mean business, but look into the cost and time involved to make them "go", and there is no contest! Try getting a reliable 65hp out of the 3XV and VJ23... You can do it with the NSR with a soldering iron, a hole cutter, and some careful port-matching, and all with standard engine parts - 60+hp with just the soldering iron and a hole cutter!!

If you go ahead and buy an NSR, I will be interested to hear what you think of it compared to your RGV's once you've delimited it! Even in stadard form though, I think you will be impressed! It seems that the RGV die-hards dismiss all other marques without ever even trying them, but those that have ventured from the Suzuki path seldom go back!!

Hopefully our F250 Racer will prove itself next season, depending on how fast our rider turns out to be! It should be one of the more reliable bikes out there though, I am confident of that!
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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Dario,

Ohio,

Have you contacted Jamie at Jamie's NSR Page? He may be willing to counsel you as he lives in Japan.

Sayonara
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If the rats eat my wiring one more time....

nsr's often come up for sale in the U.k. and it has to be cheaper and easier to import one from here. Where abouts in Madrid are you? I drove through the mountains just North of Madrid last year and i would have killed to have been on my nsr!

Sorry for the hijack...

I've sort of been trying to persuade StephenRC45 to take a trundle down that way, as it's cheaper to get a ferry to France or Spain than it is to Ireland!! Would you be interested in that Paul?
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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I w ould. My parents live in Spain...
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NSR300R - Why did i ever have a 250...

Basic ferry (for motorcycle) for 4 nights at the end of April is about £130pp...

When is a good time to go weather-wise? I'm thinking spring or autumn, else it will be too hot!
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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I have an uncle who lives in mid Spain...
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MC21SP Plaything
BMW F800GS Bumblebee
Triumph 9551 Daytona Big boys toy
FJ1100 Sporting relic
GTS1000 oddball

It look's like were off to sunny Spain then,Wouldn't it be good to go around the date of a GP.Dont the Spanish love 2 stroke GP rep bike's ?? We should pull a bit of a crowd.
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Harley Davidson is the worlds most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the harmful side effect of horsepower.

So who's going to bring the service van?!
_________________
Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

Please keep all responses to Forum posts on the Forum so that others may benefit.

Please DO NOT PM me for technical advice. My time is precious, and you will probably receive a faster response on the Forum anyway.

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I did think about that .I wonder if a film crew from Men & Motors would be intrested in making a program like the one they did about some boy's on Harley's going to some Harley bash in Spain
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Harley Davidson is the worlds most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the harmful side effect of horsepower.

SOD THAT I'm not wearing lace up leathers with tassels and growing a beard for anyone

I more I think about it the more I think this could be a plan.
The first GP of the year is usually in Spain around April.
We could contact Dorna to say a Group of 250 race rep's will be riding from England to the Spanish GP and we could try to get people to sponsor us and give the money to Riders for Health then that should get Dorna interested so we might get into the GP for nothing.
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Harley Davidson is the worlds most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the harmful side effect of horsepower.

I would be up for it! Was the £130 ferry the Plymouth to Santander? I havent seen to much of north spain but I think its quite mountainous, a bit like Wales but without as much rain. Its a bit cooler as well so summer might be good.

jeff350lc wrote:SOD THAT I'm not wearing lace up leathers with tassels and growing a beard for anyone

I don`t know,,,, if you fitted ape hangers & turned your rearsets around, you could dig out the tassely leather chaps & stuff!
Some German pointy helmets & a group name & you`re there,,, Black Widows?.....Maybe?