By early 1983 the 250 learner market was no more than a memory and the then current 250cc machines were not worth much at all.
While many mourned their passing, you could see where the Government was coming from as 17-year-olds were throwing their almost 100mph-capable two-stroke RDs, KHs and X7s up the road and often injuring themselves in the process…
This ban on 250cc learner bikes coincided with Suzuki launching the RG250 Gamma Mk.1, which was the first production bike to utilise an alloy frame, and also looked like a proper racer for the road thanks to its half-fairing. This bike was a real yardstick for the class and it could be argued that this was where the 250cc tech race began.
As the years rolled by each manufacturer wound up the ante and by the end of the 1980s the 250cc two-stroke was no longer a class of machines suitable for the novice rider, but more something akin to a racer for the road and to be enjoyed by riders with more experience. After all, by now they were pumping out around 60bhp and were around a featherweight 130 kilos. If you’re the same age as me, this was the most exciting time of our motorcycling lives, as most people would have a two-stroke 250 or moving into
