I'm looking for a bike to begin with and it seems like 250cc's is the way to go.

I'm currently looking at the Aprilla rs250 and the Honda nsr250. Both are race only bikes, but I've seen many of them reg'ed with plates. How did they do that? and how hard would it be for me to do the same? I'd really love to drive one of these around rather than something heavier and more powerful such as a r6 during my beginner stages.

On a side note: the nsr250 roughly weighs about 300lbs... now im about 5'11 and 160 lbs. I can bench about 300 or so. So is it nearly impossibel for me to down these lightweights?

 

I know theres a special kinda registration you can get for them, just can't think of it right off. you will have to meet all the rules and regulations and I think have it checked by a state ref. Just go to the DMV and ask.

...ANYONE can drop a bike, if your talk about coming to a stop ....just lose your balance a little bit and you'll go right on over with it..

 

and just remember ...these 250's your talking about are 2-strokes....meaning you will have to rebuild the engine constantly to keep them running good.

and have you thought about insurance? I don;t think youd be able to get full coverage seeing that these are grey imports AND race bikes...just another thing to think about.

 

The ones you saw with plates were probably grey imports from Japan or Europe, where they're legal. I've ridden the Aprilia, albeit on a race track, and don't think it would make a particularly good streetbike, though it is an excellent racebike. For one thing, you have really slip the clutch to get moving...first gear is good for almost 60mph wound out. It's also a 2-stroke, with the frequent maintenance requirements that involves. I wouldn't recommend them for a beginner unless you're very familiar with 2-strokes in the first place.

As for the falling-down bit...what you can bench makes little difference on a bike. I can pick up my 235-lb CR250, but it can (and has) tossed me off a number of times, both on and offroad.

 

thanks for the info guys, i had a feeling a race bike would have some downside.

 

The Aprillia RS is outstanding and fully road legal over in the UK, not sure about the US though. The NSR is difficult to source and when supplied from Japan has a restriction kit that only an HRC loom will sort. Very trick, very exclusive, very nice.