hi i have been trying to find a kawasaki kr1s to buy its a 250 two stroke twin race rep from 89-96 i have tryed a few websites but come up with nothing, then i noticed that there were no two stroke sport bikes at all no tzr250,rd350,rgv250,kr1s.Now should i just try harder(and where) or did they not import these models here.

cheers

Two stroke engines emit too many exhaust fumes to fulfill the norms for new bikes (at the moment EURO 3 equivalent) so you're limited to the second hand market. The two stroke engines on Swiss roads are mostly 50ccm bikes.

Maybe one of our motorcycle buffs can recommend you similar 4 stroke engine models?

I guess there could be a number of contributing factors towards there not being many of these bikes on the market. They where a bit of a niche bike at the time, only really popular in countries that had the 250cc restriction for first year riders at the time (no idea if Switzerland was one of those countries, or even is now.)

Also, 2 stroke engines never did last as long as a 4 stroke. These bikes where particularly highly strung, reducing engine life further, and particularly prone to being thrashed to death.

Another factor would also be that these bikes where very difficult to ride (but a lot of fun) but usually ended up in the hands of young, inexperience riders leading to a lot of them ending their lives wrapped around trees.

Combine these factors together, along with the rapid decline in popularity of all 2 stroke bikes in the last decade would make these a very rare beast. But I am sure I have seen a couple of them around since I have been in Switzerland.

Ahhhhhh, but there was nothing like the distinctive, sweet smell of Castrol TTS to get the adreneline pumping. Nothing like the nasty stuff they used to put in lawnmowers and low performance scooters.

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If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space. But I'm greedy and like my space.

Not quite what you are looking for, but shows hope that they are out there...

http://www.motoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Mo...&page=8&row=16

you are right on all counts peaky engines with short lifes,ridden by care free(careless) youth.I crashed one when i was 20 but i still loved it and fancyed carving up the swiss mountain with the wail of two stroke
and blue haze.Not sure my swiss neigbours will like it but will be a good lesson for them.

I had a couple of rides on an RGV250, the Pepsi version. Incredibly fun bike. My 190cm, 100kg frame knocked 10-20kph off the top speed. But gun it from the lights and the front wheel would be reaching for the sky and didn't want to come back down again.

Awesome!

Always wanted to take an old RZ500 for a blast. Powerful, agressive motor with dubious handling and brakes from what I heard.

Actually, a cool story from a guy I met who owned an RZ500. Remember how the 2 strokes could just stop for absolutely no reason. He was on the highway from Darwin down to Katherine in the north of Australia, cruising on at about 220kph. Suddenly the bike just dies so he pulls onto the side of the road. Kicks it over and it starts again first go. He takes off gently not sure what just happens, and around the next bend comes across a herd of buffalo blocking the whole road. He reckons if the engine hadn't cut out at that exact moment he wouldn't have been standing there telling me the story.

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If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space. But I'm greedy and like my space.

i found and contacted the local "Zweitaktfahrer" club and got this response.