Nice piece of work Aaron. Takes me back to 1984, Kure, Japan, where I purchased a new RG250 Gamma and rode it almost every day for two years (weather allowing) on the twisties along Hiroshima Bay and up into the coastal mountains. Despite owning many other bikes throughout my life, including a Ducati Super Sport, this was my all time favorite. Fabulous bike!
WoW Timothy, that is a huge story. What were you doing in Japan all that time? Did you have that Ducati SS over there? Thanks for watching May have to do an interview with you? Let me know Cheers Bruce
@@TwistgripTales Hi Bruce, I am afraid it wouldn’t be a very compelling interview :). I was an Army Captain stationed at Akizuki Army Ammunition Depot on the island of Eta Jima in Hiroshima Bay between 1984 and 1986. An avid motorcyclist, I decided (with permission of my wife, Jane…bless her soul) to purchase a brand new RG250 Gamma. I think the dealer, a young Japanese fellow from Kure, Japan where we lived, was more excited about this sale than I was. Likely because he understood what I was buying and after my first couple of hours on the bike, so did I. Wow, what a mind blowing experience, but despite its massive acceleration and power (provided one kept it in the power band), it was so well mannered and controllable with the dual disk front brakes and stiff box aluminum frame and swing arm. Only my 2000 Ducati 750 SS was similar in handling and braking. Anyway, I’ve many great memories with my Suzuki Gamma “production racer .”
I recall Suzuki's RG250 Gamma was a particularly nice handling bike to ride, if shortlived in terms of its production run and limited in ground clearance by bias ply tyre rims compared with the later RGV and KR-1's radial rim and tyre advantages. It released into my (AU) market about 18 months before before its RG500 Gamma sibling and was a contemporary of Kawasaki's street KR. It wasn't until circa 1986 when Suzuki incorporated their AEC PV system into that RG that it really shone though, and I got to ride one. Very pretty looking bike too as well as relatively comfortable. Love to have one in my collection now.
A great period in time for bikes was the 250 GP reps. The vj21 was what I raced in the uk forgotten era class in the mid 2000's. the frame was strong enough for a 600 motor and the front brakes were the same as on the flag ship gsxr1100 of the time!! mix that up with a modern radial master cylinder and one finger at 100mph was enough to lift the back wheel off the floor. lifting the std 45bhp to mid 60's was quite straightforward and a great handling bike was an easy way to start track racing :-)
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your insights and experience of the VJ in it's designed purpose - the track. Prody racers for sure. Feel free to share the video and what would you like us to feature. We are looking for the immediate VJ competition machines. Cheers Bruce n Lachlan
Built as a track bike. 60hp A fair dinkum missile. Having the coolest rocket on the block comes at a cost. Short trips only. Welcome to Twistgrip Tales
I have my old RGV same year but blue and white , classic race colours of Suzuki, one day I will restore it and get it running, I love the old 2 strokes.
In 1989 it was my 2nd year out of school, I managed to buy my first road bike which was a 2nd hand Yamaha TZR 250 which at the time was the ducks nuts. I was riding back from the Gold Coast to Brisbane when I spotted for the first time ever a Red and White Colour scheme and a Pepsi livery’s and instantly fell out of love with my 3 month old TZR. I went home, organised a loan for the difference, traded in my TZR and all up paid $6k for the RGV K (RJ21)which had 1800km on it and was owned by Aust Production Rider Rob Leissengang who wanted the incoming L model, so the thing was very well set up, the jetting was reduced by 10% which gave it a much bigger top end and it would pull strong to 12,000rpm and sign off at 12500. The trade off was a drop in torque in the mid range. A mate of mine bought a L model after riding my bike, interesting that the L had s2mm bigger carbs, my mates L had more mid range and ran out of breath at 10500rpm, my mates L had factory jetting. I really wished I never had to sell that bike😪
That's a great tale of a magic factory prodfy racer. I hope you don't mind if I share your story. There are always decisions in life that we'd have a different take on hind sight BUT it is all sliding doors. Really appreciate your time to tell this Is there any one person or machine you'd like us to track down and feature? Tell your friends share us around There is a lot more to come Cheers Bruce n Lachlan A father n son team Twistgrip Tales R Us
Well I sold my RGV in 1992, haven’t ridden again til March this year, when I purchased a brand spankers 2020 Tuono Factory, it only took three corners and it felt like I hadn’t stopped riding. 😍
Back in the day, the 250cc two strokes like this RGV250 were learner legal as well as first 12 months licenced M/C riding restriction legal (Provisional licence aka P plate in AU). It wasn't until some time in the mid 1990s that the learner and first year restriction shifted to HP rather than capacity, with an approved list of acceptable motorcycles from which the high performance 250cc two strokes were not an approved type prohibiting youngsters from legally riding them during that period. Although I was long off any restriction myself, a young collegue who I was mentoring at the time (1987) surprised me turning up on a brand spanking new just released Kawasaki KR-1 250 as his second bike three months or so after getting his initial motorcycle licence. Also a V twin in the same style, appearing about 12 months after Yamaha's TZR250 came to the AU market, the KR-1 preceded the RGV250 into the Australian market by about 9 to 12 months as I recall. I had thought the K was the initial VJ21 model imported and released in AU in late 1988, but read somewhere there was actually a J? In any case I recall the K & L models among the initial models seen on AU roads. At the time, my primary ride was an 1985 Suzuki RG500 Gamma. I rode his KR-1 on several occasions and was so impressed with it, I lusted after one myself very nearly buying the improved KR-1S when they released. These were very different in every handling and power respect from the former RD250LC or RZ250 or RG250 Gamma and KR250 I'd ridden, all of which which were parallel twins and no slouches in their own right compared with the KH, RD and T/GS respective brand air cooled series I'd ridden a decade earlier. More than a decade after the release of the RGV, having lusted after one for that aeon I added a final export production model brand new RGV250T to my stable. In competent hands, they are extremely fast, but have to be ridden at the edge of their envelope to exploit their performance. This is what makes them particularly dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced or low skill riders, as things can get easily pear shaped very quickly with no margin for error. They are much harder to ride in the sense in that they require exceptionally high skill to ride with high corner speeds consistently at the top of their envelope safely in complete control than the RG500 Gamma which no doubt to the surprise of many I can attest after having owned and ridden my RG now for 38 years and RGV for 23. I still have them both. The RG500 geometry is the far more forgiving handler in all configs in particular, and its power delivery and traction easier to manage despite the outright brute power of its engine. I love them both but it's fair to say I'm kinda' glad the RGV250 wasn't around when I was first riding as I'd probably have ended up dead or seriously injured given how deep the combo of its motor, frame and suspension performance will enable you to easily go before a noob would reaslise not only they're in over their head, but there at 180-200+kph! Near new with me aboard (an older fatter 74kg back when I got the RGV) my absolutely stock RGV250T maxxed out at 212kph through the test radar on the straight flat in virtually nil wind. Their acceleration to 170kph is practically linear, so they get there very quickly. Lubbly jubbly pocket rockets.
@@TwistgripTales I knew/and knew of, a significant number of kids seriously injured and killed riding the RGV250 as a first or second bike long before they had the prerequisite skill to. I think I mentioned it previously, a very easy bike to get in deep over one's ability head fast requiring commensurately greater managment, skill and knowledge to ride it at the edge of its envelope which is where one has to to extract that stunning performance from it, but where things can go pear shaped so easily and instantly. Not counting the 'orrible '70's KH series with nowhere near the performance nor handling of the later liquid cooled mid through late 1980s 250cc two strokes, only two stroke in class I rode even more ragged edge in that respect was Kawaski's magnificent KR-1S. Just as beautiful a bike, but overall Suzuki made a better motorcycle in their RGV, especially as it developed despite the KR-1S being slightly faster and a machine of magnificence in its own right. Eventually like other similar low capacity machines such as Kawasaki's KR-1 & -1S and Yamaha's TZR, in my country they were placed on a non-approved Learner Motorcycle list. I can say in alll honesty, I'm glad they weren't around in that vulnerable and dangerous first 18 months of my riding when I was seldom not riding a motorcycle in my leisure or commuting time, or due their looks alone I'd surely have been tempted to buy one with a high probability of some form of 'undesirable outcome'.
Subjective of course, but to my eyes the best looking RGV of the entire series production run until internationasl export ceased was the M suffix variant in Lucky Strike GP replica livery with its contentious banana arm swingarm which also coincided with the initial mounting of dual pipes on the right hand side. Also first to feature upside down forks if I recall accurately? That bike looked sex on wheels.
It was my very first bike also. Once I read that learner riders should stsy well clear of these, I just had to get one. Loved it so much and wish I still had it.
Wonderful presentation from someone with real knowledge of the iconic era. I have 2 RS250s (VJ22s) and have been considering selling one of late....after watching this...perhaps not...
Thanks for watching Unknown. Iconic bikes and we will never see the likes of them again. Suzuki VJ, Honda NSR, Yamaha YZ and the Kawasaki KR all of an amazing era. Stay tuned as we are tracking down all of these pocket rockets to feature Cheers Bruce n Lachlan
If you don't have to due financial or life circumstance, storage constraints, then don't. Despite pressure from the missus over the decades, I have never sold either my RG500 Gamma or RGV250T and won't. She can sell them after I'm gone.
It is actually about 150kg not 130kg. The frame on the vj21 will not brake the vj22 has problems though. Here in Germany I get all the parts for my vj22 for the vj21 I hardly get any... dry clutch was only on the SP or a kit. Carbs are 32mm on vj21 and 34mm on the vj22. Also they are quite far away from any professional racing. The next thing nobody knows there are just a handfull parts that are the same on the vj21 and vj22. everything is different. But nice looking vj21!
Production racing was very popular through the ‘80’s and bikes needed to be straight off the production line. That’s why these bikes were so amazing in the day and so powerful and learner approved 250cc
Magazine dyno readings are always “enthusiastic”. Let’s say 60hp stock and mods take it up from there. Another subscriber has his modified for drag racing and claims over 120hp on methanol That’s a lot in a bike so light. Thanks for watching Please feel free to suggest a bike for us to review Cheers Bruce
@@TwistgripTales Sorry braddah, I wasn't very clear. I didnt buy it although I wanted too. I'd get killed on it quick fast and in a hurry. It is still in the shop as far as I know. I didnt go inside to ask about it, but at that price I am certain that it is not a replica.
@@casualguy3938 check out the vin or frame n engine number. I believe these badges models are the same engine specs. They are all boy racer super cool machines I’d just buy it and have a lot of fun. Cheers Bruce
Top video.
I have the vj22 model,
The vj21 was the 1st bike I dreamed of owning
Congratulations Lisa, a pretty special race bike. That will never be built again Thanks for sharing. Cheers Bruce
Sorry MrRGV addressed my comment to the wrong person. Should have been you. Sorry
Nice piece of work Aaron. Takes me back to 1984, Kure, Japan, where I purchased a new RG250 Gamma and rode it almost every day for two years (weather allowing) on the twisties along Hiroshima Bay and up into the coastal mountains. Despite owning many other bikes throughout my life, including a Ducati Super Sport, this was my all time favorite. Fabulous bike!
WoW Timothy, that is a huge story. What were you doing in Japan all that time? Did you have that Ducati SS over there? Thanks for watching
May have to do an interview with you? Let me know
Cheers Bruce
@@TwistgripTales Hi Bruce, I am afraid it wouldn’t be a very compelling interview :). I was an Army Captain stationed at Akizuki Army Ammunition Depot on the island of Eta Jima in Hiroshima Bay between 1984 and 1986. An avid motorcyclist, I decided (with permission of my wife, Jane…bless her soul) to purchase a brand new RG250 Gamma. I think the dealer, a young Japanese fellow from Kure, Japan where we lived, was more excited about this sale than I was. Likely because he understood what I was buying and after my first couple of hours on the bike, so did I. Wow, what a mind blowing experience, but despite its massive acceleration and power (provided one kept it in the power band), it was so well mannered and controllable with the dual disk front brakes and stiff box aluminum frame and swing arm. Only my 2000 Ducati 750 SS was similar in handling and braking. Anyway, I’ve many great memories with my Suzuki Gamma “production racer .”
I recall Suzuki's RG250 Gamma was a particularly nice handling bike to ride, if shortlived in terms of its production run and limited in ground clearance by bias ply tyre rims compared with the later RGV and KR-1's radial rim and tyre advantages. It released into my (AU) market about 18 months before before its RG500 Gamma sibling and was a contemporary of Kawasaki's street KR. It wasn't until circa 1986 when Suzuki incorporated their AEC PV system into that RG that it really shone though, and I got to ride one. Very pretty looking bike too as well as relatively comfortable. Love to have one in my collection now.
A great period in time for bikes was the 250 GP reps. The vj21 was what I raced in the uk forgotten era class in the mid 2000's. the frame was strong enough for a 600 motor and the front brakes were the same as on the flag ship gsxr1100 of the time!! mix that up with a modern radial master cylinder and one finger at 100mph was enough to lift the back wheel off the floor. lifting the std 45bhp to mid 60's was quite straightforward and a great handling bike was an easy way to start track racing :-)
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your insights and experience of the VJ in it's designed purpose - the track. Prody racers for sure. Feel free to share the video and what would you like us to feature. We are looking for the immediate VJ competition machines. Cheers Bruce n Lachlan
Great track bike, a pain to ride on the street, no bottom end
Built as a track bike. 60hp A fair dinkum missile. Having the coolest rocket on the block comes at a cost. Short trips only. Welcome to Twistgrip Tales
Thanks for the video all my mates had one and I got one as soon as I could.
Now it's collecting dust and I'd like to rebuild it one day. 🤞🏾
Truely a collectors bike Henry Get it restored and get it out there
I have my old RGV same year but blue and white , classic race colours of Suzuki, one day I will restore it and get it running, I love the old 2 strokes.
In 1989 it was my 2nd year out of school, I managed to buy my first road bike which was a 2nd hand Yamaha TZR 250 which at the time was the ducks nuts. I was riding back from the Gold Coast to Brisbane when I spotted for the first time ever a Red and White Colour scheme and a Pepsi livery’s and instantly fell out of love with my 3 month old TZR. I went home, organised a loan for the difference, traded in my TZR and all up paid $6k for the RGV K (RJ21)which had 1800km on it and was owned by Aust Production Rider Rob Leissengang who wanted the incoming L model, so the thing was very well set up, the jetting was reduced by 10% which gave it a much bigger top end and it would pull strong to 12,000rpm and sign off at 12500. The trade off was a drop in torque in the mid range. A mate of mine bought a L model after riding my bike, interesting that the L had s2mm bigger carbs, my mates L had more mid range and ran out of breath at 10500rpm, my mates L had factory jetting. I really wished I never had to sell that bike😪
That's a great tale of a magic factory prodfy racer. I hope you don't mind if I share your story. There are always decisions in life that we'd have a different take on hind sight BUT it is all sliding doors.
Really appreciate your time to tell this
Is there any one person or machine you'd like us to track down and feature?
Tell your friends share us around
There is a lot more to come
Cheers Bruce n Lachlan
A father n son team
Twistgrip Tales R Us
Well I sold my RGV in 1992, haven’t ridden again til March this year, when I purchased a brand spankers 2020 Tuono Factory, it only took three corners and it felt like I hadn’t stopped riding. 😍
Back in the day, the 250cc two strokes like this RGV250 were learner legal as well as first 12 months licenced M/C riding restriction legal (Provisional licence aka P plate in AU). It wasn't until some time in the mid 1990s that the learner and first year restriction shifted to HP rather than capacity, with an approved list of acceptable motorcycles from which the high performance 250cc two strokes were not an approved type prohibiting youngsters from legally riding them during that period. Although I was long off any restriction myself, a young collegue who I was mentoring at the time (1987) surprised me turning up on a brand spanking new just released Kawasaki KR-1 250 as his second bike three months or so after getting his initial motorcycle licence. Also a V twin in the same style, appearing about 12 months after Yamaha's TZR250 came to the AU market, the KR-1 preceded the RGV250 into the Australian market by about 9 to 12 months as I recall.
I had thought the K was the initial VJ21 model imported and released in AU in late 1988, but read somewhere there was actually a J? In any case I recall the K & L models among the initial models seen on AU roads. At the time, my primary ride was an 1985 Suzuki RG500 Gamma. I rode his KR-1 on several occasions and was so impressed with it, I lusted after one myself very nearly buying the improved KR-1S when they released. These were very different in every handling and power respect from the former RD250LC or RZ250 or RG250 Gamma and KR250 I'd ridden, all of which which were parallel twins and no slouches in their own right compared with the KH, RD and T/GS respective brand air cooled series I'd ridden a decade earlier.
More than a decade after the release of the RGV, having lusted after one for that aeon I added a final export production model brand new RGV250T to my stable. In competent hands, they are extremely fast, but have to be ridden at the edge of their envelope to exploit their performance. This is what makes them particularly dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced or low skill riders, as things can get easily pear shaped very quickly with no margin for error. They are much harder to ride in the sense in that they require exceptionally high skill to ride with high corner speeds consistently at the top of their envelope safely in complete control than the RG500 Gamma which no doubt to the surprise of many I can attest after having owned and ridden my RG now for 38 years and RGV for 23. I still have them both.
The RG500 geometry is the far more forgiving handler in all configs in particular, and its power delivery and traction easier to manage despite the outright brute power of its engine. I love them both but it's fair to say I'm kinda' glad the RGV250 wasn't around when I was first riding as I'd probably have ended up dead or seriously injured given how deep the combo of its motor, frame and suspension performance will enable you to easily go before a noob would reaslise not only they're in over their head, but there at 180-200+kph! Near new with me aboard (an older fatter 74kg back when I got the RGV) my absolutely stock RGV250T maxxed out at 212kph through the test radar on the straight flat in virtually nil wind. Their acceleration to 170kph is practically linear, so they get there very quickly. Lubbly jubbly pocket rockets.
Extraordinary that they were learner legal ballistic missiles
Great machines and serious racers
@@TwistgripTales I knew/and knew of, a significant number of kids seriously injured and killed riding the RGV250 as a first or second bike long before they had the prerequisite skill to.
I think I mentioned it previously, a very easy bike to get in deep over one's ability head fast requiring commensurately greater managment, skill and knowledge to ride it at the edge of its envelope which is where one has to to extract that stunning performance from it, but where things can go pear shaped so easily and instantly.
Not counting the 'orrible '70's KH series with nowhere near the performance nor handling of the later liquid cooled mid through late 1980s 250cc two strokes, only two stroke in class I rode even more ragged edge in that respect was Kawaski's magnificent KR-1S. Just as beautiful a bike, but overall Suzuki made a better motorcycle in their RGV, especially as it developed despite the KR-1S being slightly faster and a machine of magnificence in its own right.
Eventually like other similar low capacity machines such as Kawasaki's KR-1 & -1S and Yamaha's TZR, in my country they were placed on a non-approved Learner Motorcycle list.
I can say in alll honesty, I'm glad they weren't around in that vulnerable and dangerous first 18 months of my riding when I was seldom not riding a motorcycle in my leisure or commuting time, or due their looks alone I'd surely have been tempted to buy one with a high probability of some form of 'undesirable outcome'.
Subjective of course, but to my eyes the best looking RGV of the entire series production run until internationasl export ceased was the M suffix variant in Lucky Strike GP replica livery with its contentious banana arm swingarm which also coincided with the initial mounting of dual pipes on the right hand side. Also first to feature upside down forks if I recall accurately? That bike looked sex on wheels.
An amazing machine for its time Even today. Thanks Blytonian
My first bike was the pepsi RGV. It was an 88 that I bought in 91 for $5000 with 7000km on it. Many great memories, very much regret selling it.
It was my very first bike also. Once I read that learner riders should stsy well clear of these, I just had to get one. Loved it so much and wish I still had it.
I have the 89 vj21 Pepsi signature model, she's a lil rough but still runs
A magic machine for sure and will never be seen again. Ride her and enjoy. Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing Cheers Bruce
Thank you for this video! So little info on the RGV’s
Wonderful presentation from someone with real knowledge of the iconic era. I have 2 RS250s (VJ22s) and have been considering selling one of late....after watching this...perhaps not...
Thanks for watching Unknown.
Iconic bikes and we will never see the likes of them again. Suzuki VJ, Honda NSR, Yamaha YZ and the Kawasaki KR all of an amazing era. Stay tuned as we are tracking down all of these pocket rockets to feature
Cheers Bruce n Lachlan
If you don't have to due financial or life circumstance, storage constraints, then don't. Despite pressure from the missus over the decades, I have never sold either my RG500 Gamma or RGV250T and won't. She can sell them after I'm gone.
Point of order. It wasn’t Moto GP during the 2-stroke era. The top class was 500GP.
Thanks beer monster Appreciate your feedback Please keep me honest
Cheers Bruce
My dream bike 🥺
Thanks for watching
If you have any other dream bike let me know and we’ll track them down. Have a great 2022
12PM 28 DAYS
Thanks for watching Lizzie. Do you own anRGV own have one on your shopping list?
Great restoration, how did you restore the frame?
It is actually about 150kg not 130kg. The frame on the vj21 will not brake the vj22 has problems though. Here in Germany I get all the parts for my vj22 for the vj21 I hardly get any... dry clutch was only on the SP or a kit. Carbs are 32mm on vj21 and 34mm on the vj22. Also they are quite far away from any professional racing. The next thing nobody knows there are just a handfull parts that are the same on the vj21 and vj22. everything is different.
But nice looking vj21!
32 mm Mikuni Carburettors on 88/89 models, replaced with 34 mm models with single air bleed on 1990 model
How can it be a production racer if it has lights? Is it a race replica?
Production racing was very popular through the ‘80’s and bikes needed to be straight off the production line. That’s why these bikes were so amazing in the day and so powerful and learner approved 250cc
Dyno that bike and if it produces 80 ponies, I'll eat my hat.
Magazine dyno readings are always “enthusiastic”. Let’s say 60hp stock and mods take it up from there. Another subscriber has his modified for drag racing and claims over 120hp on methanol That’s a lot in a bike so light. Thanks for watching Please feel free to suggest a bike for us to review
Cheers Bruce
I found 1 of these in a local bike shop for ¥2,000,000 about a month ago.
WoW that seems pretty reasonable Doyou still have it and ride it. A real keeper I’m thinking. Cheers Bruce
@@TwistgripTales Sorry braddah, I wasn't very clear. I didnt buy it although I wanted too. I'd get killed on it quick fast and in a hurry. It is still in the shop as far as I know. I didnt go inside to ask about it, but at that price I am certain that it is not a replica.
@@casualguy3938 check out the vin or frame n engine number. I believe these badges models are the same engine specs. They are all boy racer super cool machines
I’d just buy it and have a lot of fun. Cheers Bruce