Now that Chinese motorcycle manufacturers have literally flooded the market with budget models of all stripes, it is difficult to find a model that is significantly different from its competitors. The lightweight road motorcycle Racer Skyway RC250CS is no exception - it cannot boast of anything outstanding. But, if you think about it, what inexpensive bike designed for beginners is capable of this? At the same time, against the backdrop of numerous competitors, the Racer Skyway 250 has good build quality and an organic design.
Road motorcycle Racer Skyway model RC250CS
"Racer Skyway" is ideal for all lovers of safe, comfortable driving on roads with asphalt surfaces. First of all, it will be of interest to novice pilots, since the motorcycle is very easy to control, and besides, it differs from many models of its class in its excellent performance characteristics.
Thanks to the disc brake system, a soft and safe stop is ensured, including on slippery and wet roads. This allows the rider to feel confident, which is especially important for novice motorcyclists. The machine is equipped with an ergonomic waterproof seat, which allows the pilot to sit comfortably. In addition, there is a seat for a passenger and footrests. As for appearance, the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorbike has streamlined shapes and a sporty, aggressive design that improve aerodynamics.
When riding a motorbike of this model, you get the feeling that the body takes on the contours of the body, and the rider is one with the machine. This is especially important for novice pilots, so that they can quickly get used to the car and feel confident when driving at high speed, including covering long distances.
Motorcycle review
The Russian road motorcycle is ideal for those motorcyclists who prefer a comfortable and safe ride at high speeds. Due to its easy and simple operation and excellent performance characteristics, the model quickly gained the love of novice drivers who highly value the listed qualities.
Effective and soft braking on both dry and wet and slippery roads is provided by the disc brake system. The Skyway road bike features an ergonomic seat with waterproof coating and a comfortable riding position. The bike is two-seater: there are footrests and an additional seat for a passenger. Skyway RC250CS has an aggressive and sporty design, streamlined shapes that improve aerodynamic characteristics.
Power characteristics of the bike
The Racer Skyway RC250CS motorcycle is equipped with a 4-stroke single-cylinder 14.3-horsepower engine with a balancing shaft.
Its working volume is 225 cm³. The engine is air-cooled and capable of reaching a maximum rotation speed of 7500 rpm. Thanks to this unit, the maximum speed developed by the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorcycle reaches 120 km/h in a few seconds, which is an excellent indicator for motorcycles with an engine capacity of 250 cc. At the front of the motorbike there is a streamlined gas tank, the outer shell of which is made of a soft polymer with a shiny surface. The tank is locked with a key, so you can safely leave the motorcycle in any parking lot without unnecessary fears. Its volume allows you to hold 16 liters of AI-92 gasoline, which is enough to cover more than 500 km without the need to refuel, since fuel consumption is 3 liters for every hundred kilometers.
On the right side of the pilot is an exhaust pipe with a muffler, which has a beautiful chrome tip. Thanks to the special design, the sound when releasing exhaust gases is uniform and moderate.
Racer Skyway first acquaintance and oil change.
Racer Skyway first acquaintance and oil change.
Review from Tow Truck.
I bought a one-year-old Racer Skyway, 2014. for relatives, before sending it I decided to service it so that I could give it away ready for work. While changing the oil, I noticed some interesting details and decided to write an honest review at the same time, showing it a little in dissection as in the manual. The previous owner removed all the stickers, the kick starter, changed the mirrors, the brake unit and the drive sprocket with a traction sprocket, sacrificing speed.
Everything is subjective; in terms of dynamics, the Riser 250 gives a feeling of acceleration, but it must be compared with other vehicles when starting at the same time. with its 16 horses, it goes to accelerate to 100 (it felt like it could accelerate to 110, but there was no desire =) do not forget there is a traction star with a large gear ratio and the real speed of the stock Riser should be higher.
The clutch is soft, the gears engage clearly, the plastic does not rattle and it is quite flexible and capable of deformation without cracking like the wooden elements of some competitors.
Either the spark plug or the carburetor requires replacement/adjustment/cleaning, and when starting at a cold idle speed, at first it refuses to keep it with one choke.
A friend stopped by on an snow leopard and, to a first approximation, the crankcase of the models and the frame design turned out to be identical, as if one factory riveted them, the only differences are in the design and degree of boost...
I will note that at the time of purchase there were no extraneous sounds, but when I drove it a couple of times, when pressing the clutch, an extraneous sound began to appear that remained while driving in all gears. (The sound of metal rubbing against metal at high frequency)
And so I drained the old oil, it turned out that in order to completely unscrew the plug, I had to disconnect the two brackets of the exhaust system and bend it a little. I drained the black and decided to flush the engine, but not knowing what was in there, I wanted to clean the crankcase. And in order not to spoil the engine with flushing oil, I filled it with the usual semi-synthetic Lukoil 10W40. It is worth paying tribute to the Chinese engineers: the filler neck is located so far from the side plane of the engine that not every funnel will fit there completely. In general,…….we managed to pour the required amount into the spinner. Started it up and let it run, the oil turned black pretty quickly. I took it for a ride and noted that the engine became more dynamic than on the first trip, but the sound never went away.
I drained the oil, unscrewed the mesh filter (with a spring) on the left side of the crankcase and found just deposits of metal shavings, individual pieces reaching a size of 5 by 5 mm. The photo is not of very high quality, but all the reflections are small particles of metal (chips), and the small part that was in the engine.
Having cleaned everything and put it in place, I removed the right engine cover.
Be careful: one bolt is longer than all the others and it cannot be mixed up! The three bolts in the middle don't hold anything in place - it's a decorative insert! To remove the cover, I had to remove the plastic a little, and loosen and bend some elements, since the plastic is pliable!
It turned out that the second (idler gear of the motor transmission) gear was rubbing its side surface against the clutch star gear and had been moving for a long time, since even the picture from the phone shows risks from their mutual friction (when two gears rotate in different directions).
Knowing that if you climb and try to set a gap between the gears, you will need to assemble and disassemble everything several times, I decided to leave it until next time, but keep in mind that such malfunctions do occur.
I collected everything. I filled in iPhone 4T 4000 10W40 synthetic oil and after starting, to my surprise, the engine began to sound completely different. The sound of the engine (not to be confused with the sound from the exhaust system) became smooth and pleasantly howling, like on high-revving Honda engines, for example, on my Honda CB400 and CB600 there was exactly the same sound!!!! I took it for a ride to make sure that everything was collected correctly and the oil remained light!!! The motor has become faster; the maximum speed has not changed, but the acceleration has become much more dynamic.
An interesting feature: the picture is not clear, but take my word for it, “SS 150” is stamped inside the crankcase
Having seen the markings, I thought about whether it really has 250 cubic meters or is this again the prank jokes of the Chinese?...... I still didn’t consider it reasonable to remove the piston to measure the real volume, but if possible, I would like to know whether these statements about the cubic capacity of 250 are a hoax or just a random branding?
And so the first serious and unpleasant breakdown:
Mot couldn’t drive for two years since his gas tank leaked, the leak is small, but the fuel drips directly onto the exhaust system. From under its front attachment to the frame. It didn’t work out by tinning the mount, you will have to cut off the mount and look for a specific leak point (((( Upon inspection, I found another solder joint, either the previous owner already had an incident, or the factory soldered them completely crookedly. Order a new one so that it will also be in 1.5 After years of operation, I don’t see any point in it.
First serious breakdown.
In the middle of the second season, if we filled the gas tank with more than a third of it, it leaked, and it turned out that a crack had formed in the resistance welding area and over time it opened. Photos of the repair are attached.
Steering and instrument panel
The Racer Skyway RC250CS cross-country motorcycle (reviews from satisfied owners confirm this feature) has comfortable steering and an intuitive dashboard. The handles are equipped with practical ergonomic pads, and the rear view mirrors provide the necessary level of visibility. The controls are located on the handle on the left. There is a button to turn on the sound signal, as well as a switch for the direction indicator.
Low and high beam headlights are very conveniently switched with your left thumb by moving the switch up or down respectively. Also on the left is a lever with which the position of the carburetor damper is adjusted.
On the right handle on the right there is a starter switch and a size switch, as well as a button that turns off the ignition. By rotating the handle, the pilot is able to adjust the engine speed. Note also that the clutch switch is located on the left side of the handle, and the front brake lever is located on the right side.
Between both handles in the middle there is an instrument panel, on which there is a speedometer, tachometer, turn indicators, odometer, as well as low beam, neutral and gear indicators.
Reliable engine starting
In many ways, in the Racer Skyway RC250CS model, the engine starting characteristics are determined by the presence of an electric starter and a mechanical starter - a kick starter. The motorcycle's power source is a 12-volt battery with a capacity of 7 Ah, which is enough to start the engine. Getting the engine to work is quite simple, for which you need to open the fuel valve and turn the ignition key to the appropriate position, after making sure that the car is in neutral.
Every motorcyclist will appreciate the reliable operation of the kick starter, which allows you to start the motorcycle even in severe frost or with a low battery, for which you just need to sharply turn its starting foot. In this model, it is made of high-quality steel, so its breakdown is almost completely eliminated even with repeated use.
Design features and weight and dimensions
The design of both suspensions of the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorcycle (reviews from many owners confirm this) is made of durable, high-quality materials and has medium rigidity, which ensures reliable riding on city roads. The front suspension is made of a telescopic type and has pronounced shock-absorbing properties. The same can be said about the rear suspension, presented in this model in the form of a hydraulic monoshock absorber. The rider can always adjust the shock absorber stiffness if necessary. Both suspensions are based on a durable steel frame.
The total weight of the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorbike is 135 kg, and the maximum design load to support two people of average build is 150 kg. The wheelbase of the motorcycle is 1330 mm, while the dimensions of the model are 2070x1060x740 mm. The wheels are made in the form of cast aluminum rims. The front wheel dimensions are 100/80*17 mm, and the rear wheel dimensions are 140/60*17 mm. They are equipped with Taiwanese tires. It is recommended to ensure that the pressure in the front tire is 1.75 atmospheres, and in the rear - 2.
Design features of the motorcycle
The Racer Skyway RC250CS suspension is of medium hardness, made of high-strength quality materials and ensures safe and reliable movement on the track. The front suspension has pronounced shock-absorbing characteristics of a telescopic type, the rear is represented by a hydraulic monoshock absorber. The stiffness of the shock absorber can be adjusted at the request of the driver. The pendants are attached to a high-strength steel frame.
The curb weight of the motorcycle is 135 kilograms, the maximum permissible load is 150 kilograms. The dimensions of the road bike are 2070x1060x740 millimeters, the wheelbase is 1330 millimeters. Racer Skyway RC250CS is equipped with aluminum cast wheels, complete with tires from the Taiwanese manufacturer Nylon.
Transmission and braking system
The transmission is presented in the form of a constant mesh type system. The wet multi-plate clutch is equipped with a coil spring and has 5 speeds and 1 neutral position. Gears can be changed easily using a standard paddle lever. The drive is equipped with an adjusting thread, so the pilot has the opportunity to adjust the gear shift to suit himself.
The brake piston stroke is 15-25 mm. The front and rear brakes are hydraulic discs with a single piston caliper. The brake pads are metallized, which significantly improves braking performance. After purchasing a motorcycle, it is recommended to periodically check their thickness, and if they become thin, replace them in a timely manner.
Lighting
When you first look at the motorcycle, you are immediately struck by its ergonomics, smooth lines and, of course, excellent optics, which, by the way, were completely copied from the Japanese grandee Honda (the CBR-250 sports bike model). The same applies to the side turning lights, as well as the brake light. When considering a motorcycle model Racer Skyway RC250CS, technical characteristics cannot be described without mentioning light optics.
Driving at night and in the evening does not pose any danger, since the lighting technology not only provides excellent visibility, but also clearly identifies the vehicle on the road. As for the headlight, it is sealed, and the glass has good resistance to mechanical stress. The rear light is equipped with powerful LEDs that can be seen from a great distance. As for the lighting equipment of the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorbike, reviews from satisfied pilots indicate its high quality. If necessary, the rider can adjust the headlight angle at any time to improve the quality of visibility.
Pros and cons of Racer Skyway RC250CS
Advantages:
- Affordable price for both the motorcycle itself and its maintenance.
- The technical characteristics of the Racer Skyway 250 are not inferior to those of its competitors.
- A spacious 16-liter gas tank, coupled with fuel consumption of about 3 liters per 100 km, provides a huge range without refueling.
- The brakes stop the bike quite effectively.
- The build quality of the Racer Skyway RC250CS is quite good, although it varies from instance to instance.
- Developed wind protection adds comfort, especially in cold or rainy weather.
- The engine is not picky about the quality of gasoline - it readily consumes AI-92 .
Flaws:
- The stock battery is quite weak. The problem is eliminated by replacing it with a new one with a larger capacity.
- From time to time, many bolts and nuts need to be tightened. This circumstance is even reflected in the user manual for the Racer Skyway 250.
- Despite the technical simplicity of the engine, it loves good oil. Grandfather's M8B oil, which a normal person would even disdain to lubricate door hinges, should not be poured into it if you do not want to buy a new engine later.
Ergonomics and additional amenities
We have already mentioned the stylish appearance and streamlined shapes, which make the device very solid and attractive. Speaking about the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorcycle, the review needs to be supplemented by highlighting its rear part. It is made in a purely classic Japanese style, so at first glance you might think that this is a real high-speed sport bike. If there is a person in the passenger seat, he will not feel strong shaking while driving due to the design of the rear suspension.
Note that the drive chain is covered with a protective casing, which prevents foreign objects and dirt from entering it. The rear wheel is covered by a fender and has a mudguard, which almost completely prevents water flowing on the pilot when driving in the rain.
Recommendations for running in a new bike
You should not assume that you will be able to enjoy the speed capabilities of the Racer Skyway RC250CS motorcycle immediately after purchase. It is worth worrying about proper running-in of the bike, which will significantly increase the life of the engine. To do this, it is recommended to drive the first 160 km at a speed of up to 35 km/h. In addition, you should remember about smooth and gradual braking and avoid sudden stops.
Next, you need to increase the speed to 45 km/h and continue driving this way until the mileage reaches the 800-kilometer mark. Up to 1500 km you can drive at a speed of 55 km/h. After this, you can squeeze the possible maximum out of the Racer Skyway RC250CS bike - 120 km/h.
Reviews from Racer Skyway RC250CS owners
A normal bike for the money, it looks modern and not cheap, like most other Chinese. The plastic is rather weak, once I put the bike on its side at zero speed, the side plastic cracked. I gave it to the craftsmen, they soldered it, then they tinted it. Igor, Miass, Racer Skyway '2017
I bought a bike with a mileage of 3000 km, counting, only after running it in. The previous owner was a slob, after the purchase he didn’t really do anything, the wires were hanging like snot under the plastic, some of the bolts were stupidly not tightened all the way. Although I read about minor assembly problems even before the purchase in reviews of the Racer Skyway 250, so this did not come as a surprise. In general, a normal motorcycle, an ordinary Chinese bike, cheap, but worth the money. It drives normally, doesn’t cause any problems, the main thing is to keep an eye on the equipment. Alexander, Moscow, Racer Skyway '2017.
I haven't seen anything better for this money! It looks really stylish, without the cheap “sport type” styling that a lot of other Chinese have. It drives quite briskly, the gears are short, so it accelerates quickly. Fifth can be engaged already at 60 km/h, then as if on an automatic transmission. After 100 km/h it goes sluggishly, but it still picks up to 120. There is not much tuning on the Racer Skyway 250, but it is not needed, I don’t see the point in pouring money into a cheap bike, which almost all owners will change anyway as soon as the opportunity arises. There is one design flaw with the exhaust gas outlet - a very thin pipe that becomes clogged with carbon deposits. It needs to be cleaned periodically, which means dismantling the entire exhaust system. If you clog it, it can clog up thousands in 10 km so that the traction is lost. Sergey, Krasnoznamensk, Racer Skyway 250 '2017.
