I do need to put some more effort into my
GPR Evolution post. Apologies for its current incompleteness. There’s a decent amount of information right up to this point, but then only photos. The Benelii framed GPRs (like the ones you are checking out) were around from 2005-2009. Then in 2010 (sort of) they switched to the RS50 frame, and became what is basically like Amaya’s bike. Those ended in 2014.
The RS50/RS4 became the same bike as the Derbi in 2006. There were changes to the plastics and the clocks, but that's about it. You can see a fairly complete listing of the liveries of the aluminum framed
RS50s here on GPR Camp. There are still some gaps, but most of them are represented.
Lots of idiots will register bikes as the wrong year for a number of reasons. But if you were to check the vin on the bike it will probably tell you the actual year it was made. Also, it is important to note that in general bikes and cars come out in the fall the year before the model year of the vehicle. It doesn’t always happen this way, but it does happen a lot! So a 2005 model year could be sold and registered as a 2004 bike/car.
Some engine parts, like top ends, can be very easy to find. Other parts may prove harder to find. But with older bikes plastics can be very difficult to source. Sometimes you can find reproductions made in China, but that’s rather rare for the little bikes. One exception being the Aprilia RS125 2T.
The 2T 125 bikes are in a whole different world than the 50s. They are great bikes. I have a Mito and it is an amazing machine. I actually have more fun riding the smaller bikes mostly due to not having a legal place to really get on the 125. Hard as it may be to believe a 125 has enough power to become just as
illegal to ride as a liter bike.
There is one decent aftermarket 150cc kit for the RS125 and the Mito. I bought one, installed it, didn’t like it, and went back to one of the stock Mito kits.
While I haven’t ridden the 4T versions of these bikes I have a hard time imagining that they would be more fun than the 2T versions. I did almost go for a 4T version in Japan, but was able to source a 2T bike, and thus didn’t go for the 4T. I did look into the aftermarket kits for them, and there are a number of options. More money, and more effort to install than a 2T upgrade.
I should also mention that the 2002-2003/4 Derbi GPR with the 17" wheels is an amazing bike (The 16" bikes are great too, but it is now difficult to source proper tires). These can be had for dirt in Europe, and they are one of my absolute favorite bikes to ride. These bikes are truly worthy of the attention of anyone looking for a legitimate cornering machine.
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