The 18,000+ RPM 250cc Bikes Were The Pinnacle Of The 1990's

[@tamas.golubov]

I'm proud to own FIVE of these wonderful bikes! -Suzuki GSX250F Across -Suzuki GSX250S Cobra -Suzuki GSXR250 (GJ72A) -Suzuki GSXR250 (GJ73A) -Kawasaki ZXR250C I absolutely love and adore them to bits :)

[@Onewheelordeal]

Oooh that Kawa got me jealous, hopefully you bought them before ppl realized the greatness

[@EssentialComment]

Hey mate, I only have one at the moment but it is the Honda CBR250RR 1991 MC22

[@vicmacarra]

Aussie??

[@manitolas]

Great🤟😍😍😍😍 zxr 250 my dream as a child, got change many 400's and 600s since then, but man!! 250s was the perfect road race toy, like the 125mx for gravel, keep them running😀🤟🤟🇬🇷👏

[@dannyb9083]

I'll flex my CBR250RR, CB250 Hornet and FZR250

[@aussiebloke609]

I'm not surprised Honda dumped their extra stock in Australia. It's been many years since I lived there, but when I got my bike license in '88, you were restricted to 250cc or less through your learners and provisional license. Only when you had your full license could you consider legally riding something larger...so there was a builtin market for 250cc bikes already in place...and many learners wreck their first bike, which keeps the market from becoming glutted with second hand 250s.

[@Fee.1]

Impossible to wreck a 250

[@aussiebloke609]

@@Fee.1 What an odd comment. It's very easy for a learner to wreck a 250 - same as it is with any bike. All it takes is for someone to pull across in front of them at an intersection - 250s don't stop any better than a litre bike. Or oil on the road, on a rainy day. There's plenty of situations a beginner would have trouble with and could conceivably wreck. It's not always about outright speed, especially for a beginner.

[@DanteTheAbyssalBeing]

@@Fee.1 You can wreck a 50cc if you try hard enough

[@Fee.1]

@@DanteTheAbyssalBeing impossible

[@Fee.1]

@@aussiebloke609 nobody can wreck a 250 literally they had monkeys riding them for that experiment and they didn’t lose a single bike they can’t even touch the ground if you try if you put the kickstand up and let go of the bike it will just stay up it won’t hit the ground

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

I've just finished refurbishing the forks on my CBR400RR, also a curiosity of Japanese regulations. 59BHP and a 14.5K red-line, as well as having that gear-driven cam whine. They're great little bikes.

[@Mohapi_Tau]

How long did it take to do?

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

@@Mohapi_Tau the actual work only took a couple of hours..... waiting for parts to arrive took about 5 weeks altogether, mainly because the top caps were seized solid and getting them out chewed them up a bit.

[@LandonClimbs]

Oh man id love to have an old cbr400 lucky man

[@gravier9777]

small 4 banger revving to 19k: youtube subtitles : [music] I agree algorithm, I agree...

[@Danger_mouse]

Both of my eldest sons owned the same MC22 at different times, a couple of years ago in Australia. It was amazingly reliable even with 130,000km on it and awesome to ride listening to the little engine howl away. Crazy to think about cruising along at 10,000rpm and it's not even making good power yet 🙂 A brilliant piece of 80/90s engineering.

[@michaelharrison1093]

I recognize that stretch of road shown at 6:46. Just a few meters further along that road from where the video stops there is a break in the center medium to allow vehicles to turn right. I was riding my 250 Kawasaki in the opposite direction when car turned directly in to me. It was crazy seeing and recognizing that section of road - same bit of road and the same bike as a deep memory I will never forget

[@jordanmillard3802]

I recently acquired an MC19 here in Australia, imported from Japan, before the MC22's were all bought over, and I honestly perfer it out of any bike ive owned, its the perfect bike for the street whilst not breaking any laws! Love it

[@phil955i]

I had an '89 Yamaha FZR250R Exup about 25 years ago. My initial mechanical sympathy was soon overridden when I found it had no meaningful power below 10,000 rpm. Amazing technology when you consider how reliable they are with the revs involved. Great fun at non licence threatening speeds. I fitted a race can to the exhaust & it sounded insane at 18,000 rpm plus.

[@Onewheelordeal]

Funny how you have to almost reprogram your brain to actually hold onto the RPM that high

[@mmmbrrr3232]

@@Onewheelordeal clutch dumbing and blimping so much fun

[@jonathanhunt451]

Had the same bike years ago mint

[@jimstartup2729]

My 92 FZR250R was a lovely little machine. Always wished it had just had a smidge more power though.. a few more horses extra, or a lighter slightly more race ready chassis would have made these things truly amazing. There is a joy to be had playing the gearbox and "getting it right" through a set of Twisties, and scraping round the outside of bigger bikes is always magic.. I just always wished it would lift the front wheel that bit easier than having to time a clutch dump over a small crest. 120 would be a fine top speed too. I guess if they made more like 50bhp instead of 45, had a slightly fatter rear wheel, and weighed a few pounds less... I would have kept mine outright..

[@phil955i]

@@jimstartup2729 you're describing the FZR400R 😉

[@rhubarbpie2027]

In Fukuoka, Japan at a Honda bike shop, I got to see a CBR250RR in person and I was amazed. I could communicate very little with the shop owners, but let them know I admired the bike very much. FortNine has a great video on the motorcycle as well!

[@ianmangham4570]

Awesome bike

[@R8andGT3Fan]

I'm not even a bike guy but I *LOVE* the sound of those high-revving NA four cylinder engines! 😍 Top video, as always!

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you!

[@jackkrupka3024]

The sound off of the high revs is just art! I hope that they bring back more of these bikes

[@austondoughnut6232]

Brand new zx25r 😁

[@ThePaulv12]

I've got a Honda MC22 (250 4 cylinder as shown in this vid). It's the earlier one with slightly more HP pre 94 maybe 5hp lol more than the later MC22. Does 20k rpm no problems. Forget the RPMs it's the piston speed that counts. Because the stroke is so short the piston speed is still low despite the apparently stratospheric RPM. RPM doesn't really mean that much when the stroke is so short. In addition the piston mass is low so combined with the short stroke the inertial forces are mild. Because the forces are so low even though they rev to 18,000RPM+, these engines show the effects of short stroke by being long lived as well. Mine has 60,000kms on the original engine and it is completely fine.

[@aijameson666]

I've owned an CBR400RR MC29. This was a little beast. Lightweight and powerful. Always wondered of incredible engineering in 250cc powerplants.

[@gen3v8]

I really liked the two stroke motor bikes like the rd/rz 250-350. I still have a rz500

[@ooxboxeroo]

I have MC22 as a project, was so lucky to buy it. It had sat in garage for 12 years, but I got it for cheap and im in Baltics.

[@MC-Racing]

The Suzuki GSXR 250R GJ72A is not at all rare here in Denmark. due to out ridiculous vehicle taxes, they were imported here and sold. I have on, and its so much fun. and a great contrast to my Tuono Aprilia V4RR and my BMW S1000R :-D

[@zonie1953]

Merry Christmas Samuel ! I look forward to another year of interesting video's from VisioRacer !

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you, Scott, Merry Christmas to you, too!

[@joshmicallef2833]

Thoroughly enjoyed this man

[@MrKeys57]

Thanks for yet another interesting bit of MC history! - i love the italian bikes! greetings, Levi in Sweden

[@VisioRacer]

Thanks, Levi!

[@zoirx6197]

Next video can talk about 2 stroke 250 ?I really love it!

[@LucHeijnen]

Ha! Never thought some of my videos would be used by the legendary VisioRacer. That was a very pleasant suprise! I have dreamt of owning an MC22 since I started riding. I feel so lucky to have found one and I love absolutely everything about it. I will never sell this bike ever! 😍

[@VisioRacer]

Legendary 😅 Thanks for the compliment and happy ownership!

[@LucHeijnen]

@@VisioRacer Thank you!

[@indopleaser]

this channel gets KZbinr of the year award. always learn something new on this channel

[@woooster17]

These 250 & 400cc sport bikes were like little diamonds.. I never had a 250 4T but I had a KR1 & RGV 2T in the early 1990s, and they were epic bikes to ride. My first big bike after I passed my full licence bike test was a Honda VF400F.. I loved that bike!

[@cameronkennedy6052]

I have had 2 mc22's 2 mc19's, 1 hornet 250, and am currently working on a yamaha fzx250 zeal. Love these high rpm screamers. So much fun

[@jamesgeorge4874]

Honda knows how to make a screaming engine last, I was always afraid of wringing them out, but damn, they love it.

[@Emfourayone]

they actually prefer to be revved out atleast once a ride otherwise they get all carboned up

[@Alx.c98]

I own an 91' MC22 Japanese import in Australia...fantastic fun bikes and very capable on the race track, nothing better than beating the bigger 600 and 1000 CC bikes through the corners and twisties!

[@Ham.rigs07]

Love your content visio racer your a gem 💎 ❤

[@janusmarais7580]

Very proud to say I own a 250cc 4 banger. Busy trying to restore a Yamaha phazer fz250.

[@shadowred1980]

Could you do a similar vid, about the 250 2 strokes of the same time period ? Thinking rgv250, nsr250 etc.

[@slingshot99]

Bought a MC22 as my first bike in 2019, and I still ride it to this day!

[@offthegridwithbert924]

Here in Australia you can still buy a good MC22 for under 8k, most however have fairly high kilometers on them now, I know someone who has one that's done 80,000kms on it's original engine, they are the best of the tiny 4's and a gem to ride, fun all day long!

[@blakemoloney2343]

My brothers got a gsx250rr picked it up for bugger all too, I can say I'm a little jealous was his learner bike

[@EndTimeDreams]

still a few in New Zealand, they want 8k for them as well.

[@antoniovillanueva308]

Good stuff from an era that I knew nothing about. Thanks for the education!

[@warpy777]

My First motorcycle was the 1987 FZR 250 (Black) got me hooked on motorcycles for life.....

[@augustortiz]

3:54 That C63 leaving the bike in the dust Lol.

[@berdinisaintal655]

Lmaooo facts

[@BlitzkriegRap]

Yea haha, these bikes are very fun and perform well to around 120 km/h. After that they are not fast at all

[@EssentialComment]

the 250 was trying so hard though, points for effort

[@AStrangeHill]

Great video! Amazing footage of all these lovely bikes. I wasn't aware of the naked Kawasaki! I'll perhaps be the first to menion you forgot the 1996 Honda Hornet? The de/re-tuned naked version of the 250rr, what a lovely little bike that is!

[@krasky]

Very interesting and rare topic you covered here. Thank you!

[@rwd323]

My first “proper” road bike was a FZR250 3LN, always a buzz seeing the rev counter at 18,000 rpm

[@manitolas]

I had driven a fzr 250 rr back then, what a formula sound and lightness handling, great bikes😍

[@RevsIT]

I am presently rebulding a ZZ-R 250 1992 which has a factory output of 44bhp. It is a 8 valve twin which makes me wonder what these four pot 16 valave engines would have output if they were not restricted?

[@hugejohnson5011]

They are all like little jewels! Each one seems to have something going for it, and even though small, they're all part of what makes the bike world go 'round.

[@Ham.rigs07]

Thank you for this video. Seriously trying to buy a cbr250rr after watching this, lucky I live in NZ so meany here and sooo dam cheap. What a time to be alive

[@SzwarcuKX5]

3:17 That was a jumpscare for me. Car incoming from the right and then videos cuts into the next scene lol

[@m.b.82]

I had the bike in the thumbnail. Cbr250rr. Was my 1st roadbike in the early 2000's. It had about 100,000km on it when i got it i probably put another 30k on it. 18,000rpm all the time lol. I never could understand how they could maje such a mental engine so faultlessly reliable and perfect, with such a high revvrange, supersonic induction speeds and on donkey-piss low octane cheap fuel. They really were a marvel.

[@1toonhead]

My mum used to have a Yamaha Zeal 250, think thats the model. It had 4 carbs on it. She never rode it hard enough to appreciate it. It is now with a collector enthusiast, he recons its a great bike.

[@mamoruchiba3301]

Mid 80s and 90s sportbike designs are goated.

[@G3FLON]

Great video and informative 👍 I love my 1992 mc22.. it might be a grey import from Japan.. but she's mine :D

[@tustyram1756]

I wish bikes still sounds like this

[@jimstartup2729]

Technologically speaking these were seriously awesome toys. Shame there was not a longer period of history of this class of vehicle having development really.

[@javichaguin1593]

Great video!

[@jeffreystorer4966]

Good on you thanks,my first road bike was a RG 25o ,fast reliable little bike ,

[@tiberiu_nicolae]

Incredible machines and that screaming sound!

[@thejdmguru621]

I once found a GSXR 250 for sale, an MC19 CBR250RR for sale, and there are plenty of FZR 250s for sale, all in sunny South Africa (We got grey imports)

[@Dewbs]

My first bike back in the early 2000’s was an MC22 and I wish I still had it, here in Australia back in those days most learners had one, they were everywhere, unfortunately now they’ve all disappeared and seem to be quite rare

[@pup_harris2934]

Had one as well, but I crashed mine and wrote it off, like most of us did on our L’s and P’s Australian as well

[@sterlingroberts6240]

You are making me so sad right now.

[@corex72]

I rode a Yamaha 250 like these bikes once. Pretty rad.

[@EMP_castlebravo]

Hopefully going to start my MC19 for the first time in many months since I bought it tomorrow.

[@shadowred1980]

I asked about ordering the ZX25, but was told it's not coming into Europe. I'd have ordered one if it did.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

I have a 1996 Ninja 250. Just the 2-cylinder, not one of the exotic screamers. But still, with a full exhaust, dynojet, rearsets, lower handlebars and custom tuned suspension from Lindemann, it’s an absolute joy. One of the best feeling bikes I’ve ever ridden. You simply cannot replicate the absence of weight. Really, the only problem is the absurd lack of low end. Especially when it’s cold. But I just imagine it’s a big block Chevy compared to these little hotties.

[@fastdude2002]

My first street bike (had been riding motocross for years) was a 1994 Ninja 250. Fun starter bike but I soon outgrew it. Next was a Honda CBR600. I have owned and still own a number of bikes but I think the CBR was my absolute favorite, light, nimble, and so fast. Loved the sound of the high revving engine with a nice pipe on it.

[@EndTimeDreams]

Hi from New Zealand I owned x3 4 cylinder machines Yamaha FZR 250R 1987 model Suzuki GSX250S Katana Honda CBR250R 1987 (MC17) Didn't have any problems with them, the Honda CBR was the most reliable. I got the Yamaha for 2 grand I recall and the Honda for 1.6 grand. The Honda sounded the best with the gear driven cams. You can still buy them in New Zealand. The Katana had a loud exhaust, they all sounded like F-1 cars.

[@ToTo-li8dt]

8:37 that place is locating on Hadano city Kanagawa prefecture Japan. nowadays, these street racers are almost gone, so the place became very silence now and a nursing home built on near road side.

[@tenaciousvirgiltenaciousvi5671]

I had a VTR 250 that thing was awesome

[@trentdawg2832]

Do the ysr50 soon. I loved those mini ninja style bikes as a kid

[@deanomarino31]

The MC22 is still Raced today in Australia. They are quite common race bikes at club level with 10 or so regularly on the grid

[@rene360rs]

How much is one of those engines?

[@nikosk.8216]

Damn I miss the ages I never lived when I see/hear one out. A friend had a ZR250 Balious with an SC project. Crazy. Top at 200kph

[@fauzandarmawan7592]

Same As You, I would Like To Buy a MC22, Because it has Gear Driven Camshaft, GULL ARM , and the Design of the Front and Rear Light that Rounded, Feel 90's, Thanks You For Sharing About 90's 250cc 4 Cylinder Era, and In this video you Mention "Hashiriya/Winding Rider's" A Young japanese Motorcyle Rider in Japan who Go on Touge 😁, I'm very Interested About that one thouht, in Indonesia, Many Rider Modify Their Bike and Inspired their apperance By Wearing A Racing Suit, Go Down in the Circuit or a mountain Pass, And last Thank's For sharing 😁👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jetstream01]

Thanks for renewing my unreasonable search for a CBR250RR lol

[@derxKai]

I´m not exactly a Kawasaki Fanboy, but it seems they´re the only Brand who still makes Bonkers Bikes.

[@phoenix3580]

I wish my ninja 400 made this sound. It just feels right on on sport bike.

[@nogvdub88]

Just bought myself a 98 suzuki across. Really wanted the Honda 250rr though.

[@andrewthag]

Damn 250/4s sound great

[@jeffpiper7430]

have both an across 250 and a zzr 250 (1999) the across definitly a lot slower ... the zzr is great but your vidio mentions a restricter on it , a bit more info on that would be great especiall how to get rid of the restricter

[@Twobarpsi]

Don't forget about the small engined 2 strokes, and bikes like the FZR-400 😎

[@John_cupra290]

Really informative. 250cc has no rite sounding so beautiful. Yeah probably the cbr aswell. Hondabuilds awesome bikes and cars. Cheers m8 ✌️

[@doriangray2347]

Love these so much style

[@DarkDays2023]

I have 5 of these things haha all I'm missing is the FZR

[@mordechajzuckerman9088]

Japanise recipes found this odd category, i love them;-)

[@Neggs2000]

Good content

[@DBolt-xb7sg]

Most of the mc22 in Australia have been clocked at least once. Meaning they have done 99,999km and gone back to zero

[@bikingnutcase0]

I had a CBR250RR MC19, (a JDM “grey” import to the U.K.) which I took hillclimbing, and down a drag strip a number of times. It was an interesting experience, despite having a rev limiter at 18500rpm it only really made any usable power above 15500rpm, which meant you spent most of your time shuttling up and down the gearbox like a madman if you were trying to go fast 😂 You had to re-calibrate your brain to ride it, in/on any other vehicle that kind of thrashing would destroy the engine within seconds, but the ‘ol Honda just took it and took it and came back for more…. One of my friends had a ZXR250RR, which revved higher, and was slightly faster, but that actually did spin a rod bearing and destroy itself. Which one would I have? The ZXR seemed to offer the best performance, but to the detriment of reliability. The CBR MC22 you mentioned looks nicer, but actually only made a max of 40bhp but over a wider rev range, so probably more user-friendly, however if I had to choose I think I’d go for the MC19 again and just keep thrashing the bejesus out of it! 😉

[@generic7916]

They still go for relatively cheap the few times they come up here as well! I've been keeping my eyes peeled for ones and I've never seen one be on a classified ad for over £4k

[@ianmangham4570]

6:00 only 250 but looks like a full on BEAST 💯🤟🤠🦍

[@leevillaflor9800]

z25r had new tech including traction control system, auto-blip, and quick shifter I think they also included slipper clutch I think these are the reasons why z25r are quite expensive

[@Kaizoushin]

I have a ZX-25R and it is an absolute hoot to ride. You can wring the shit out of it on the road without immediately getting into speed ranges that will instantly lose you your license.

[@Rawanfromhell]

All time favorite Honda Cbr 250rr gullarm 😋❤️

[@oliverscorsim]

Man I always wanted and still do want a mc22. I raced against one when I was a teenager on a gt250r and even having a cams carbs port work fancy pipe and slicks that thing was an animal. Pulled away at every straight and I wanna say our bikes weighted about the same but I was 80lbs lighter than the other guy and we were fairly even on skill. Thing whooped me all day but it sounded so good I didn't even care I was just happy to enjoy it's music. The new kawi is awesome but all the new bikes look extra odd to me especially the kawi.. I'd love to see the beautiful styles from back in the day make a come back. And I don't even mean going that far back the 06 gsxr750 was beautiful same for the 07cbr's lots of bikes untile the h2 and s1000rr came out then things just got odd to me. If Hondas listening bring back the mc22 but modern and fairings similar to the older bikes of the 05-15s the new cbr is ugly too lol and I'm a Honda guy all day loved that tiny tail they had not too long ago. Most importantly give us a true sport bike that revs to 20k I'm fine with engines lasting 12kmiles... If you really wanna blow the world's mind then screw that bike and build it with a modern rc166 engine... I'm pretty sure we would kill for a 20krpm inline 6 sport bike call it the cbx250rr and we will melt lmao. Really thought build it and take my money please.. I'll buy two.

[@cskalle1213]

8:50 you can see a guy sitting on scooter that is a yamaha 50cc 2 stroke but maybie it not a 50cc :)

[@Ninja636RR]

What are those two lookin' vacuum cleaner tube like structures that are above the trimple clamp tree for/called @ 6:40 ?

[@Emfourayone]

pretty much they just direct cooling air to where the regulater/rectifier is mounted under the tank people say its for ram air but nah just cooling

[@jessISaRicePrincess]

Cbr250rr is my dream bike 20k rev and super durable engine

[@robinsage1964]

Very interesting video as usual, but look into thr first supercharged motorcycle engine the Kawasaki H2R engine has off the walls engineering in it and I know you will dive deep into it Visio!!!!!

[@shadowred1980]

Bmw had the supercharged type 255 in 1939. Many other race bikes over the years have been supercharged, until forced induction was banned by the governing body.

[@oler777]

These bikes are the only bike i have ever wanted

[@lawnylawnington]

Here in the Philippines, there is a restriction with a minimum of 400cc to use the expressway/freeway. But idk, the market for the zx25r is large, and if these companies released more high revving, high hp 250s maybe its possible to lower the cc restriction and welcome more bikes for freeway use

[@lawnylawnington]

@@sourandjaded2586 exactly, there are lots of high-powered bikes lower than 400cc, but the government doesn't care about us riders

[@ianmangham4570]

Awesome bikes 🚲

[@ReolSPro]

i still want one

[@Onewheelordeal]

I've got a 2019 KTM 390 that doesn't make the power these 250s did all those years ago. Granted it's single cylinder vs 4 but still

[@RsiX_productions]

I have a yzf r6 2001 .. previously had a cbr250rr mc22 , the r6 is great but that 250rr was incredible for a 250 ! Fast , reliable , sounds insane . Sadly a thiefs dream ... twice stolen and engine ruined . Still miss the cbr mc22

[@weisswurstfruhstuck8523]

Why no one makes any of these high Reving 600ccm bikes for example anymore. Would be quite some fun!

[@manitoublack]

I'd take 2-stroke 2250

[@lucasbr2363]

I love your videos please subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese🇧🇷❤️

[@porkhunt8798]

Love my 91 mc22

[@spike238]

Honda CB1 400F (NC27) , 13.5k redline , fun , fun ,

[@richelieu5406]

The zx25r was introduced in Indonesia on the 10th july 2020

[@Unduruz]

i really hope the zx25rr makes a new wave of inline 4 250s