|
From GT250 to RG250
RG250 and it's sister model RG250E were launched 1978, simultanously
with RG125 and RG185, formerly knows as GT125 and GT185. But
RG250 wasn't just a GT250 with new paint job. It was a completely
new machine.
Many 250 cc motorcycles at the time were heavy and clumsy because
the frames weren't often designed for the small engine. It was
common to put a 250 engine into a 350 or 400 frame.
This wasn't the case with the RG250 (known as X-7 in many countries
outside Japan). While the 1977 GT250 was a light mororcycle
with its 146 kg (321 lbs) the new RG250 was 20 kg (45 lbs) lighter,
making it super lightweight. The 30 hp's of the RG250 made the
bike quite sppedy, thanks to the good power/weight ratio.It's
no rocket, though. According to a Japanese test the bike made
the 1/4 mile (400 m) at 14.2 seconds.
The RG250 kept the Ram Air cooling system of the GT250, that
pressed the air through the cylinder head ribbons, a quite effective
cooling system and it actually works.
The RG250E had alloy cast wheels, the RG250 had classic steel
wire rims. There was also some differences in the colors, otherwise
it was the same model.
Some RG250/RG250E specs (Japan):
Overall Length: 2 005 mm (78.9 in)
Overall Width: 760 mm (29.9 in)
Overall Height: 1 055 mm (41.5 in)
Wheelbase: 1 320 mm (52.0 in)
Dry Weight: 126 kg (277 lbs)
Caster: 62.7°
Trail: 107 mm
Engine type: Air-cooled 247 cc 2-stroke inline-2, piston reed
valve. 30 hp/ 8.000 rpm, 2,9 kg-m/ 7.000 rpm.
6-speed constant mesh gearbox. Ratios:
1st gear: 2.500
2nd gear: 1.625
3rd gear: 1.210
4th gear: 1.000
5th gear: 0.868
6th gear: 0.782
Chain drive.
Kick start.
Brakes: single disk at front, drum rear brake
Front Tyre: 3.00-18
Rear Tyre: 3.25-18
Fuel economy: 5 liter/ 100 km
Gasoline tank capacity 15 liter
Price at the time: 295.000 Yen (Japan)
|
