RG500 - RZ500 - NS400R

Got your attention? If so, hopefully you can help me.

I'm looking into these bikes, but damn they are hard to find in
Australia. I want to find out what the bikes are like :

compared to one another?

What about reliability?

Performace?

Cost?

I'm leaning towards the RG500 as I have an RGV250, love it, and there
are possibilities of an RG500 engine in an RGV chassis, but that's a
long way off. More interested in the basic bikes at the moment to start
with.

Any opinions / ideas welcomed :0)



James

VTR1000 1997 - "Black Betty"
XJ750 '82 - Tammy Yammy
RGV 250 proddy race bike - "Suzy"
Honda Rebel 250 - Something for the Missus ;0)

 

www.rg500.com

www.ns400r.co.uk

FWIW, I have an NS400 and an NS500R (NS400 with Terry Shepherd 500
conversion) and it's my favourite. That said, the RG is (possibly) the
btter bike all round, but given that they'reall fairly highly strung, 20
year old two strokes they're all a bit like that..... RD/RZ would be bottom
of my list.

Oh and yes a Gamma 5 engine will go in an RGV frame. And so will an NS4/5.
In fact the NS will go in an NSR250 frame or an Aprilia RS250 frame if you
want to have a go at combining an old engine with newer frame, tyre and
braking technology.

Dave

 

James said...

I owned an RD500 for a few years back in the 80/90's and I've ridden a
couple of RG's. I don't know much about the NS400.

The RG is definitely faster[1] but not as smooth or as well built as the
RD. Reliability wise the RD was in a lower state of tune so was more
reliable than the RG which suffered from gearbox probs and cracking
exhausts. The RD had a habit of seizing the rear cylinders if thrashed
to hard on cheap oil tho.

Personally I'd go for a Jap spec RZ500 with the ally frame and bung an
FZR600 front end on to get rid of the silly antidive and 16" front
wheel.

[1] But not as fast as the road tests would have you believe.

 

Yamaha looks best, as well - especially in Marlboro colours.

 

Heathen! Gauloises looks better, IMO.

But then I don't like the RD/RZ's looks, especially the rather large and
bulbous lower exhausts (that's the exhausts not the silencers which are
better looking than the silencers on the NS). The uppers are just as bad,
but at least you can't see 'em.

NS400 in Rothmans for me.

Or a blue/white RG

Dave

 

Anyone know the URL for Sol's website?

 

http://www.spirant.demon.co.uk/index.htm

HTH

 

WavyDavy says...

Agree with all you say here. I prefer the Gamma 500 to the RD, and I'm
one of the world's biggest Yamaha 2-stroke fans. Personally, I wouldn't
touch an NS.

The Gamma 500 engine will fit in an Aprilia RS250 chassis with a little
work, Sol who sometimes posts here has done it.

 

http://www.spirant.demon.co.uk/

flook