1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Is a RS125 still worth it?

Discussion in '2-Stroke Machines' started by definitely not a cat, Aug 31, 2020.

  1. Senna

    Senna Well-Known Member

    Do any of you 125 guys happen to have a spreadsheet or document detailing the annual costs to run a GP bike? I was going to work on one myself based on the service intervals the manual recommends, but it'd be nice if someone had one handy.
     
  2. sbk1198

    sbk1198 Well-Known Member

    Where do you even find parts for these GP bikes? It's a pain and expensive just to get the bikes, and I know you can't walk over to the parts guy at the track and buy rear sets, clip-ons, or various other parts for them like you can with production bikes. They are definitely cool bikes, they're just not feasible for most club racers. Purpose built race bikes....need a purpose built race team too. Higher cost, less parts availability, higher maintenance, small (hard to fit on for the average american lol), and there are like 3 people who race them so grids are always going to be small unless you run up a class.
     
  3. Senna

    Senna Well-Known Member

    There are shops like RS Cycles that specialize in them. Parts are available, but it’s not going to be stuff you’ll find in the paddock. I always pack a good chunk of my own spares, though, so that wouldn’t be too different for me.

    The grid size issue is a bigger problem. The 125 doesn’t appear to have much of a presence in AHRMA. CCS Moto3 is basically SB300 part 2 now.
     
  4. nigel smith

    nigel smith Well-Known Member

    I always brought a B bike when we were running the 125. That might seem expensive, but when you add up the overall cost of a race weekend, regardless of actual track time, it's good insurance.
     
    dave3593 and Senna like this.
  5. joec

    joec brace yourself

    There was a time going back 15 years that I remember everyone I knew seemed to have one. Club racing.. At the time they were super cheap to get. And more than likely there were a few in the paddock and peeps you could get parts from. Now I feel like it's unusual to see an rs or tz a year. I've always wanted one but the prices are really getting up there.
     
    Senna likes this.
  6. sbk1198

    sbk1198 Well-Known Member

    Moto 3 class in CCS is mostly ninja 400s now, who obviously win those races though now that Tyler Scott doesn't race the NSF250 anymore. Occasionally Ralph Starapoli shows up with his NSF250 and wins the Moto 3 races, but even he on that bike had nothing for Rocco Landers at NJMP last weekend.
     
    sharky nrk and Senna like this.
  7. xTomKx

    xTomKx Well-Known Member

    It all depends who shows up. From what I gathered best lap at NJMP on a 125 is 1.27 vs 1.29 for Rocco.
     
  8. sbk1198

    sbk1198 Well-Known Member

    Who's done a 1:27 on a 125 at NJMP and when?
     
  9. britx303

    britx303 Boomstick Butcher…..

    Was wondering the same thing. Not saying it wasn’t done..........but damn that’s moving. I’m just not small enough for a 125........otherwise I’d love one
     
  10. sbk1198

    sbk1198 Well-Known Member

    The best I've seen from a GP-like bike there was Tyler Scott when he ran a 1:29.0 last year but that was on a NSF250. Still crazy fast!
     
  11. xTomKx

    xTomKx Well-Known Member

    Not sure who but it was back in the USGPRU days. You may be able to find out if you do some research.
     
    sbk1198 likes this.
  12. sbk1198

    sbk1198 Well-Known Member

    Found an RRW article and also CCS/ASRA records. Looks like Jake Lewis has the record for 125GP there with a 1:28.7 and it stood since 2010.
     
    xTomKx likes this.
  13. DonTZ125

    DonTZ125 Purveyor of Neat Toys

    The ergos on the -'94 RS125 were significantly changed with the '95+ models, becoming much roomier for tall fat guys. The TZs were even more accomodating. There's a pic of a 6'2" 220lb guy on a TZ125 to the left of this post; I never did try a Honda.
     
    Super Dave likes this.
  14. k_cotter

    k_cotter Well-Known Member

    For what it's worth, I have to admit to being skeptical of the hype around the RS125. I am 6'2 180 lbs, and spend most of my time on a nearly 200hp Aprilia Superbike.
    And then.....the cop-car nutjobs successfully convinced me to fold my lanky ass onto one of these little things this past weekend. End result....the world is a different place now.
    First lap was wobbly and boggy, but as soon as I started to even get close to being in the right gear at the right time, my biggest difficulty was catching my breath, from literally laughing my ass off in my helmet. After racing and riding on track for 15 plus years, it has been a long time since I felt that pure joy that this sport can generate. This little thing brought it out.

    The corner speed you can carry on these things feels impossible, the "feel" that these chassis' put into you as a rider is incredible, and every lap you realize just how much faster the bike could actually be going through the corner, so next time around you do...Just to realize the same thing again.

    Yes, it was uncomfortable on the knees, and difficult to unweight the bars being as tall as I am, but you forget about that pretty quickly once you get the thing on the pipe and start handing out servings of humble pie to the panigales and the like mid corner, never to see them come by again on the straight. Tbh, I spent the rest of the two days on a little bike. Didn't even want to get back on the RSV4.

    Keith
     
  15. knedragon29

    knedragon29 Well-Known Member

    The one thing these little bikes would always do is laugh their ass off at me when I finished a race/session and say , Thats All You Got ?!?!?! … the 250 would laugh harder :crackup:. Nothing like a 2-stroke going full song no matter what cc it is :rock:
     
  16. tgold

    tgold Well-Known Member

    ^^^^^This!^^^^^
    Exactly what the bike said to me when I got to ride an RS250!
     
  17. k_cotter

    k_cotter Well-Known Member

    First time riding a RS125: September 2020
    First time owning a RS125: November 2020

    It was that much fun.
     
  18. tett

    tett Well-Known Member

    Congratulations. Now... we just need definitely-not-a-cat to get on one.
     
  19. matt2491

    matt2491 Well-Known Member

     
  20. knedragon29

    knedragon29 Well-Known Member

    First time riding a RS125: September 2020
    First time crashing a RS125: September 2020
    First time owning a RS125: November 2020

    That escalated quickly !
     

Share This Page