Aaron's VJ21 Pepsi RGV250 Suzuki. 1988 production racer. Another quality restoration by Aaron Stone

A beautiful bare frame restoration by Aaron who'd all the work himself and is very handy with a spray gun.

[bennygreenthumb]

Had that bike back in the late 90s, my mate had the 89 slingshot, man we had fun on them. Very cool.

[theblytonian]

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.

[timothylindsay]

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!

[HenryDarr]

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. 🤞🏾

[pensansproductions]

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 :-)

[alexgeorge]

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.

[jeremynaug]

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😪

[watkinsrgv]

Top video.
I have the vj22 model,
The vj21 was the 1st bike I dreamed of owning

[christopherpalmer]

Great track bike, a pain to ride on the street, no bottom end

[bengalpin]

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.

[UnknownSund]

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...

[dinosaurdude]

Thank you for this video! So little info on the RGV’s

[theblytonian]

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.

[lukefeenan]

I have the 89 vj21 Pepsi signature model, she's a lil rough but still runs

[beermonster]

Point of order. It wasn’t Moto GP during the 2-stroke era. The top class was 500GP.

[tonyk]

Great restoration, how did you restore the frame?

[Ellis-Welt]

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!

[viktorolofsson]

How can it be a production racer if it has lights? Is it a race replica?

[TSER]

Dyno that bike and if it produces 80 ponies, I'll eat my hat.

[casualguy]

I found 1 of these in a local bike shop for ¥2, 000, 000 about a month ago.