Aprilia RS250: A true GP experience

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Bike Reviews

By JeffWare - 10 March 2022

Words: Jeff Ware Photos: Jeff Ware, Dave Herdman (action)

When it comes to race replicas, the Aprilia RS250 is the King. Sure, two-stroke fans like me love RGVs, NSRs, KR-1Ss, TZRs… but when the RS250 came out straight off the back of Max Biaggi’s 1996 World 250 Grand Prix title on the factory RSW250 and the likes of Loris Capirossi and Tetsuya Harada’s heroics in 1997 and 1998, it was a dream come true for red-blooded two-stroke fans. The RGV suddenly seemed so archaic and the Aprilia so stylish and decked out – Brembo brakes, Sachs suspension, real GP chassis… and looks to kill.

Bodywork exact copy of Max Biaggi’s 1996 grand prix machine

The chassis of the RS250 is a direct copy of the 1996 winning RSW250. Lightweight and with radical geometry the RS250 is razor-sharp and completely track/twisties focussed. The Brembo brakes are incredibly powerful and the Sachs suspension stiff. The huge banana swingarm and wide Brembo wheels make the chassis feel stiff and unforgiving and despite its boy racer size and lack of impressive numbers on paper, the RS250 is no bike for a novice. It’ll lap 1:42 at Eastern Creek in expert hands and on a tighter circuit will out-pace most four-stroke road bikes.

The RS250 has doubled in used value in the past five years.

The engine is basically surplus Suzuki RGV250 re-hashed by Rotax with slightly revised heads, pistons, porting and electronics. There’s no go below 8500rpm and it’s hard work to stay in the sweet spot between 9000rpm and 11,500rpm but very rewarding. The gearbox is agricultural and clunky and the gap from first to second is huge on the RS but the rest of the ratios are not bad. Shortening gearing for the street is the go.

Such timeless style that only Aprilia could come up with, the RS250 looks like a real GP bike.

Not many bikes will match the RS250 for pure old-fashioned thrills on a twisty road. Many will want for more power on a long track but corner speed is more exciting than acceleration. Braking on the RS250 is also another level up from most modern sportsbikes and overall the grin factor is 10/10.

GP RSW250 replica perimeter beam frame with huge polished banana swingarm.

Tyre choice is limited these days but soft Dunlops and Bridgestones are still available and the bike still looks modern today. It will also become a collector in years to come.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Worn powervalve mechanism. Misaligned pulley adjustment marks are a strong indication. Walk away…

Scored barrels or pistons. Pull the expansion chambers off and shine a torch up the exhaust ports to check condition.