First look at the Belarusian sportbike Minsk R250

Do you want a motorcycle, but have zero driving experience? Which one to choose?

After all, this is the first motorcycle, it should be powerful enough not to be considered a scooter, but at the same time not too frisky and forgiving of some mistakes for beginners.

Many people choose a 250cc bike as their first choice. see and that's correct.

If you are not a fan of long off-road trips, but drive around the city, then this choice is quite justified.

With such a motorcycle, you are guaranteed maneuverability and relatively fast riding, while you can calmly control it, which is very important, because I don’t think anyone would want their first ride to be their last because they lost control.

The choice of models in this class is incredibly large, there are quite a lot of them, and this is understandable, because if there is demand, there will always be manufacturers.

In this article we will talk about a specific model range, about motorcycles with a capacity of 250 cc. see production of the Minsk company.

Briefly about the manufacturer

There are few people who would not know the Belarusian motorcycle manufacturing company “M1NSK”.

The plant has been around for over 60 years and has been producing good bikes throughout its history.

One of the largest export markets was Vietnam, where bikes from this manufacturer became popular due to their ease of maintenance and reliability.

“M1NSK” has the “People’s Brand” award, which he received in 2014, which means that the people appreciated him.

A little interesting fact for those who didn’t know: at the moment, over 7 million motorcycles of their production have been sold worldwide.

Sports R 250

At the moment, M1NSK produces 4 models with an engine capacity of 250 cc.
see. These are the R 250 and C4 250 (in the street category), ERX 250 (enduro), RX 250 (cross). The R 250 is an excellent choice of sports motorcycle for a beginner.

It forgives many minor mistakes, handles well, and is well suited for city trips.

Comfortable classic fit allows you to make long trips without putting much strain on the body. The maneuverability and efficiency of this model is impressive.

Acceleration to 100 km/h in about 6 seconds, a pretty good result. Weight of 123 kg provides good handling and cornering.

A good model, but it is not without its shortcomings. For example, the footrest is difficult to reach; for some it broke, for others it fell off.

Also, this motorcycle is not suitable for tall people; due to its compact structure, it will simply not be easy to ride.

Technical characteristics of the Kawasaki Ninja GPZ 900 R - the fastest and most productive motorcycle of its time.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 exudes Italian character and charisma, making a lasting impression on lovers of good motorcycles.

Reviews from Minsk R 250 owners

I bought a Minsk R250 motorcycle secondhand in 2021 with a mileage of 3600 km. I immediately fell in love with the appearance, it somehow reminds me of Ducati. It's comfortable to sit (height 171). On the first trip I pressed the brakes and almost fell apart, they are really tenacious, and the bike itself is light. The dynamics for 250cc are normal, but the gears have to be clicked often. I can’t say anything about the standard tires; I changed them immediately after purchase, they had already become stiff from age. We have all the consumables, everything is cheap, and it doesn’t break the bank. The quality of the plastic and paintwork is disappointing; once I touched the bike slightly on its side, not too much at all, but the fairing cracked. Evgeniy, Volgodonsk, Minsk R250 '2015

The motorcycle is worth the money. You can't expect racing records from it, but it accelerates well and brakes well. and it is generally steered by an effort of thought. The seating position is a little uncomfortable, your arms get numb, but it’s still a sportbike, so it’s forgivable. Wind protection is normal, but the P250 was clearly not blown through in the Minsk wind tunnel - after 120-130 km/h the flow breaks down from somewhere, and the wind starts hitting the helmet from below. In a strong headwind it is even more noticeable. Alexander, Moscow, Minsk R 250 '2017

The motorcycle is so-so, it rides like a vegetable, although it looks cool. Acceleration is sluggish, the seat is oak, and the standard tires are garbage. The plastic is scratchy, if you dropped the bike, go get a new body kit. The pluses are appearance, brakes and price, the minuses are dynamics and reliability. Ilya, Brest, Minsk R250 '2016

Handsome C4 250

The design of the C4 250 turned out to be successful; smooth lines can attract any eye.

I would also like to note the good dashboard, with an LCD display, analog tachometer and speedometer.

It can reach speeds of 130 km/h on the highway, which is very cool for such a motorcycle.

Among the shortcomings, owners note vibration at high speeds, the electric starter sometimes malfunctions and it is better not to drive it with two people, the engine is rather weak for two.

And the most common is squeaking brakes, which begins after you have driven about 1,500 km.

Reliable RX 250

The RX 250 was created as a motocross bike.
A weight of 110 kg combined with power and a 4-stroke engine provides good dynamic performance.

In 2011 and 2012, the M1NSK RX 250 took part in the “Championship of the Republic of Belarus” in motocross and showed good results.

A good suspension helps you overcome obstacles and withstands impacts.

In general, it turned out to be a reliable motorcycle.

Technical characteristics of the Yamaha Roadstar Warrior XV 1700 - a Japanese cruiser with a sporty character.

The appearance of the Jawa 350 motorcycle at one time met all consumer requirements, you can evaluate it in our small photo selection.

Pros and cons of the Minsk R 250

Advantages

• Affordable price
• Interesting design , modern but not too pretentious
• Peppy dynamics for a 250cc motorcycle
• Efficient brakes
• Undemanding to fuel quality - the motorcycle can run on AI-92
• Excellent maneuverability
• Good suspension with telescopic upside-down fork
• Decent wind protection at any speed available to the bike

Flaws

• Uncomfortable passenger seat
• Poor visibility in standard mirrors
• Fragile plastic body kit
• Short service intervals
• The quality of spare parts , according to reviews, sometimes leaves much to be desired

Characteristics of the ERX 250

The ERX 250 model was based on the RX 250 and many of their parameters are similar, but there are also differences.

It was designed for off-road use, not racing. This model was not entirely successful and disappointed a lot of people.

Of course, it also has positive aspects, including: good dynamic performance, excellent treads, light weight, great for traveling on country roads and the city.

But there are more disadvantages: the use of poor materials, low-quality frame, not suitable for professional sports.

As for me, for this price you can buy something better.

Technical characteristics of Minsk R250

Of course, the Minsk R 250 is a very lightweight version of an “adult” sportbike, and has nothing to do with real racing motorcycles. However, it is really quite good both outside and inside. They clearly worked hard on the design, presenting the public with a recognizable and striking motorcycle, which, moreover, does not try to imitate the appearance of any famous Japanese model. At the same time, there were no risky experiments with style - the appearance of the Minsk R250 turned out to be harmonious and laconic. There is something Italian in it, but only remotely. The design of the Minsk R 250 cannot be called secondary.

The technical part of the Minsk R250 is also interesting. The designers placed a 250 cc liquid-cooled engine and a 6-speed transmission in a steel frame. Tell me, how many sportbikes in the same price segment can boast of having a gearbox-6 in their arsenal? Same thing. As a result, the bike turned out to be quite dynamic by the standards of its class. The engine produces 26 hp, which allows the motorcycle to accelerate to 150 km/h. The first gears are short, but thanks to this, the Minsk R250 wins in acceleration dynamics. It also brakes very effectively - disc brakes are installed on both wheels. At the front there is an impressive 300 mm disc with a 2-piston caliper, at the rear there is a more modest 200 mm disc with a 1-piston caliper.

The motorcycle has good maneuverability. Lightweight and quite compact, it is able to teach a beginner the correct “sportbike” position. The driver's footpegs are moved back, and clip-ons are installed instead of the steering wheel. If in the future a biker wants to change the Minsk R 250 to a more powerful bike, the acquired skills and habits will be very useful to him. True, there was a fly in the ointment - the passenger seat on the Minsk R 250 is present purely nominally. However, this is a sportbike, not a cruiser, right? But it should be noted that the driver's seat is very comfortable.

Availability of spare parts and cost of the bike

All motorcycles will eventually need spare parts, this cannot be avoided, some parts will wear out, and some may be broken in an accident.
The reasons are not important; sooner or later you will have to repair the bike and look for spare parts accordingly.

For some it is easier, for others it is more difficult. Owners of “M1NSK” motorcycles belong to the first category; due to their prevalence, finding additional parts for the bike is not difficult. There are plenty of them on the secondary market.

Approximate price of the motorcycle

The price category of bikes of this volume varies from somewhere from 150,000 to 300,000, it all depends on the manufacturer and the capabilities of the motorcycle itself.

Below are the prices from the official website:

As you can see, the prices for these motorcycles are quite reasonable for their class.

You can buy them on the secondary market much cheaper. Everything, of course, depends on the condition of the motorcycle, mileage and other factors, but a decent used motorcycle can be bought starting from 75,000 rubles.

Pros and cons of buying Minsk r 250

Is it worth buying a Belarusian sportbike? This is a question every potential buyer should ask themselves. Externally, the motorcycle is, without exaggeration, gorgeous, but the technical characteristics do not quite match the aggressive design. Before you make your final decision, you should at least read the video reviews, and preferably in city driving conditions.

Whether the speakers produce enough horsepower is a rhetorical question. If we talk about the price, it is relatively high, since it corresponds to components, which are overwhelmingly foreign-made.

Photo gallery

In conclusion, we invite you to look at a small photo selection of motorcycles from this model range. Considering their diversity and versatility, there should not be any difficulties in choosing your bike.