I currently have a nice 88 Suzuki RGV with 18,000 km on the clock. It is quite fast and has never been worked on.

The question is I can grab a NSR MC21 with abt 12k on the clock and would this bike be more reliable in the long term than the Suzuki ? I read alot about catastrophic power valve failures and cracked frames with the RGVs and wondered if I should just sell it and go for the NSR ? Are there any nasty issues with the NSR ?

Thanks
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RGV250 CBR250R

No.
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MC21SP Plaything
BMW F800GS Bumblebee
Triumph 9551 Daytona Big boys toy
FJ1100 Sporting relic
GTS1000 oddball

What he said
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Harley Davidson is the worlds most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the harmful side effect of horsepower.

If this is a serious post, I think you'd be better off selling the RGV and buying a 4 stroke. If you want a bike just to ride and not get involved too much with, er, 'maintenance', then you probably shouldnt be considering relativley highly tuned and highly strung 2 strokes at all.

Having said that, beyond normal, expected servicing and maintenace any of the 250 race rep strokers are relatively reliable if left stock, but where's the fun in that?

Wb

Biggest issue by far with the NSR USED TO BE fried PGM's (ECU's).

Once the problem was diagnosed, it's almost unheard of one burning out. When it does happen, it's usually a first-time poster here asking about it! Anyone who's read NSR-WORLD.COM (or NSR250.COM in the past) will know how to prevent PGM failure with basic periodic maintenance!

The only other problems stem from "home tuning" where the "tuner" is armed with just enough information to cause mechanical disaster!

In standard (delimited) form, at 60-ish hp, the NSR should be totally reliable, requiring as wb says, standard 2-stroke road-bike maintenance.

One thing the NSR can never fail from is RC (power) Valve failure like the RGV. It is impossible for the Valves to fail and interfere mechanically with any other internal moving part. The Honda motor is a far superior design, and shares many features (and in some states of tune) many parts with one of the most successful GP motors of all time.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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I used to own an RGV250, ran it for around 6000 miles. Never any problems with the power valves, but it did melt a piston. That was my fault, being young and foolish, ran it on cheaper semi-synthetic oil - oh dear! Other than that, it never missed a beat. It was always at WOT because I was riding with mates on GSXR / ZXR 750s at the time. Didn't do any home tuning though, probably what saved me from more destruction
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

i had my first 21 sp and an m model rgv at the same time and the nsr was loads better but both good bikes one of my mates had his rgv for years with no problams but my brother had 2 kr1s 1 brand new 1 second hand and the new 1 was the most unreliable so he got rid for a pepsi rg 500
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

Yeah, I know of a number of standard RGV's that seem to have gone on and on forever, and suffered more than their fair share of careless abuse! I also sent a barrel to Bob Farnham who swore blind he could repair it, to be told on the phone "that's the most comprehensively destroyed 2-stroke barrel I have ever seen! You'll be needing a new one of them!".

Once upon a time the RGV & KR1S were the bikes to have in the UK, purely for the official support, but there's no excuse now with loads of companies supporting the NSR. The TZR still remains poorly supported outside of Japan, which is a shame, as the Honda and Yamaha are vastly superior bikes in my opinion.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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i agree you only have to see them all together in the flesh to realise it but i would still like to own a sp version of them all
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

Even when I had the RGV at 19 y/o, I always lusted after the NSR.
Riding the NSR now, and what I remember of the RGV, the Honda seems to have a wider powerband, and perhaps a better torque spread. My extra weight now doesn't help the performance though I also recall the TZR Reverse Cylinder SP being quite a trick Jap only 250 back at that time.
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

few years ago one of my mates had a reverse cylinder with race chambers on and it sounded fantastic but spent more time being mended than ridden
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

I'd have a Reverse Seizure over an RGV any day of the week, but it would have to be a Mk2 SP. I'd take a 3XV SPR over either of them though, but never trade the NSR for anything.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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yes im a fan of the 3xv tzr its the only 2 stroke 250 me or my mates have never owned but like you will never get rid of my sp
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ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

Is this a TZR 3XV SP? Looks pretty trick. What the hell was I saying about the TZR Reverse 'Seizure' (didn't they used to run very hot with the engine config?). Still the NSR is No.1 for me, but respect also to the Yammy, RGV's don't even get close do they!
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

Yes, except that's an SPR! The 3XV has even more model varieties than the NSR... Top spec is the RC SUGO, equivalent to F3 NSR.
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NSR300R - Why did i ever have a 250...