Hi, as you can see, I'm a n00b here, so forgive any n00b-like annoying questions.

I did try to do a search, but obviously typing mc18 here will give you around 1000 pages of results, so...

Right now, I have two bikes which I'm desperately trying to get rid of. One is a CBR600 F3 which has given me nothing but trouble since the day I bought it (it's currently in the repair shop, where it's been for the last month), and besides, it's too fat, and only exciting above 200kph which is hardly practical in terms of "safe-ish" (ie not dying the instant you hit the ground) fun. I also have a TZR250 3XV which I'd also like to get rid of because it's unreliable as hell, every month something seems to wrong with it (and no, despite what it may seem, it's NOT that I thrash the hell out of them or neglect them, far from it, i've just been unlucky with these last 2 bikes - my last bike, a VFR NC30 gave me not a single moment of trouble in all the time I owned it.. really regret selling that one).

Anyway, I'm not going to let any dodgy private sellers rip me off again. so I'd prefer to get from a dealer (yes, i know they can be dodgy too.. but, lesser of two evils). so, there's a daler in town who's got a very good looking, original condition (I think, outside appearances anyway) for a pretty good price. I realise that this is an older model NSR and that spares are becoming rare, but these were popular here in Sa and a lot of places break them up and still have a stock of spares for them so I'm not too worri about that.

My question, to anyone who does own a MC18 - how RELIABLE are they?? I'm sick of having bikes that are utter pieces of shite (like my CBR600..grrrr). Provided you take care of them (warm em up nicely, just use top quality synthetic 2 stroke oil, ect - I've owned other 2 strokes before and really enjoy them had a RZR135 which was very very reliable), do MC-18s start up easily? Run consistently? Break down at all? any common problems (like VFR regulators which are notorious?)

Basically, could I own one of these without it driving me mad and costing me a fortune in monthly repair bills?