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854
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7/16/2013
Location
AU
Edited Date/Time
7/30/2016 6:23am
EDIT: Builds always look like a walk in the park and everyone ends up with absolutely primo looking bikes. But what is it like 15 hours down the track? Is it really practical to pour 4k into a 10 year old bike?
Broad question I know. But generally speaking. Let me know your experience.
Broad question I know. But generally speaking. Let me know your experience.
Think about it mate I think you're missing the point.
The bikes always look good at the end and seem fresh. The reason I ask is because I'm looking at starting one myself. I'm looking at the classifieds thinking I would have to bring it from the ground up and having the thing detonate or something. I look at some of these bikes and can instantly think of a million things that could go wrong that you won't necessarily see at the viewing if the bike.
Worn tranny, pitted shocks and forks, dry forks, sketchy cases, bent forks and obviously a million other problems that one with these older bikes.
Are they basically a box of problems that can be incredibly financially straining
The Shop
A rebuild is not for a beginner to tackle. If you don't have 100 percent conference in your agility don't attempt to rebuild the bike.
I am building (4) different RM125/RM250 projects right now and you are correct. The parts and pieces are getting difficult to find in the used market. New parts are no problem. I would replace all the bearings and check transmission parts carefully. All new seals, linkage bearings, wheel bearings etc. You can build a really nice 2 stroke for about $3000.00 and it will be like brand new.
Again, this is not a financial investment where you are going to save a bunch of money, or make a bunch on the resale. It is for a guy that wants to look at his bike and know he turned every nut and bolt on that sucker!
Just while we're on the subject on RMs, how will I know if a bike has been rebuilt or not when I rebuild it myself? Is there anyway of truly knowing? There's a bike around me going cheap on its original piston. As soon as my 250f is gone, I'll be onto that to pick it up. It'll be too little too late once I've brought it to find out if the guy was lying but just out if curiosity really.
I have just accepted the fact that none of my builds are going to be THAT exotic. Im more focused on a good looking, well thought out, reliable bike that I wouldn't hesitate to take anywhere. I may not have polished transmission gears but anyone can still build a good looking nice bike.
I often wonder how many of these awesome builds actually get ridden. Not taken around the subdivision but actually ridden.
Bike
Engine
Suspension
Bearings
Plastics
Tires
Ect
Ect
Then you can prioritize which parts you need in order to have the bike in a rideable state as you save up money for bling if you wanted.
Pit Row
Bike was shagged every part needed rebuilding and needed a fair few EXPENSIVE oem parts (shock compression adjuster). Did it all myself, Engine/transmission, rear shock, forks and a bit of custom work too, relocating CDI to get a honda steering damper fitted up, lathe work and anodising. In the end I'm still going to be under the price of a new YZ125 and waaaay under the price of a new KTM/Husky 125. I could have bought better bikes that required less work for a bit more money but i wanted a full tear down rebuild and it will be totally worth it when its done as it will be a better than new 2008 RM125.
If you want a project then yes its worth it. if you want a cheap, reliable and headache free bike that becomes more of a problem and a question of how much time and money you want to invest, not just in bike parts but in the tools to do it as there are a few bike specific tools that make working on a bike less of a horror like fork seal drivers & fork cap tools (also flywheel puller set, clutch basket holder, case splitter). They cost around 50 bucks each but a bike shop usually charges 120 bucks per leg to replace seals and oil.
But a lot of my bike went into making it look good too Plastics, billet parts, new wheel sets, replacing all of the hardware and having things anodised, thats stuff you dont have to do to get a good looking reliable bike, it all depends what you want.
Why would you chuck 4k into a bike that wasn't mechanically sound ?
Why are you worried about having a mechanical issue that may cost a few hundred bucks, after spending 4k on shiny bits that won't make it any more or less likely to happen ? It's an illogical point of view, having a mechanical issue bares nothing in common with how much bling there is on it, and if a 200 buck maintenance/repair is an issue why aren't you worried about spending 4k on the shiny shiny ?
I don't know of anyone who's done a rebuild without starting with the basics first, to refresh the motor and chassis first goes without saying..
But if I have to spell it out for you
Buy bike -> dump shit tonne of money into it (mechanical and not just "shiny shiny") -> still not reliable or strong -> waste of time
Who has had the above experience? Because the skill on vital makes it look easy when I'm sure it isn't.
I can't believe you can't figure that out..but anyway...
Do you not think new bikes have issues, as there's threads on here about peoples 2015 250f's trashing cases... If you're doing things properly, i.e, fixing the motor/chassis/mechanicals out of that 4k before buying graphics, plastics, wheels etc, then what you're worrying about is luck... the same luck that anybody could have regardless of what year or how shiny the bike is.... ?
Anyway, i still think you're worrying about what you're having for supper while eating your breakfast.. but i guess we just don't think alike, so all the best with whatever way you choose to go with it.
I could have bought a new leftover bike for the same if you add what my time is worth.
I love the bike but I don't think I'll ever build a bike from the bare frame again. I'm keeping it until I'm dead and adding $1500 of more stuff.
Work, buy dirtbike parts, have epic shit in the workshop, then work again to pay for more cool stuff.
Circle of life!
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