Need 2-stroke Bike Advice

hondaracer664
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 4:58pm
I'm a local pro with a 250F and 450, and I am looking for a 250 2-stroke basket case or beater to turn into a cheap bike to practice on and just have some fun. I'm not looking for a specific brand, but I'm looking to find out what years have the most modern suspension. I know 06+ is the most recent for Yamaha, but not sure about the other brands. Any help or advice would be great. Thank you.
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newmann
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newmann 11/17/2011 6:04pm
11/17/2011 6:04pm
2002 KX250. Original tires, chain sprockets and look at the original paint on the frame. Fresh engine from the crank up with Millenium Tech replated cylinder due to the bozo pulling it out from 7 years of storage and running with a dry rotted air filter. Sweet bike, low hours. Has only about ten minutes time on the new engine. $1750.00 and I can build a crate.Smile





ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 11/17/2011 6:12pm
11/17/2011 6:12pm
Nice bike. The 99-02 models are the best looking KX imo.
ocscottie
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ocscottie 11/17/2011 6:14pm
11/17/2011 6:14pm
Damn she sure is pretty newmann!!
hondaracer664 11/17/2011 6:14pm
11/17/2011 6:14pm
Very clean bike for a great price, but I'm looking for something a bit newer. Good luck selling.

The Shop

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scooter5002
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scooter5002 11/17/2011 6:27pm
11/17/2011 6:27pm
Damnit newmann, you have to quit posting pics of that thing. Someone will see it, like and BUY the damn thing. Then I won't be able to buy it in the spring. GRRRRRRRR!
Hando
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Hando 11/17/2011 6:30pm
11/17/2011 6:30pm Edited Date/Time 11/17/2011 6:34pm
@hondaracer664 I would look at any 00-07 CR250

The 00-01 CR250's have the 2nd gen frame and the best motors, and the ergo's feel pretty modern

02-07 CR250's have better ergos, handling, turning, etc but the motor isn't as potent but it can be fixed. It's basically a 125 motor on steroids (no bottom, just lots of mid range and some over-rev)

the 02-03 have airbox problems that can be fixed but i would target 04+ because they have the revised suspension thats similar to the CRF's TC forks & shock

You can use alot of parts on the CR250's from the CRF models (suspension, plastics, brakes, etc)

Not to mention Hondas are built REALLY good and theres a ton of parts for them on eBay.

My cr250 was borderline basket case, after some elbow grease, new plastics and some TLC it was looking FACTORY

I like the 2004+ RM250's as well...very fast but suzukis dont hold up as good as hondas IMO (have owned both). I'd be willing to bet you could bolt on RMZ suspension..

You really can't go wrong with any of the bikes but I never liked the KX250's because they are tall and big feeling and im short.

Never rode a 250SX or any of the euro 250's like the TM or Husky CR.
2strokeforlife 11/17/2011 6:33pm
11/17/2011 6:33pm
i have an '06 yz250 i might sell you
mx510
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mx510 11/17/2011 6:35pm
11/17/2011 6:35pm
I am glad you posted this topic as I am looking for a cheap 2 stroke as well. My buddy is selling a 2003 cr that I am looking at. I also like the 2003 and newer Kxs and Rms. I like Yzs but for some reason up here in the NW Yzs are crazy expensive. I am leaning towards the Cr but would like comments and opinions on the Honda.
Hando
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Hando 11/17/2011 6:38pm
11/17/2011 6:38pm
mx510 wrote:
I am glad you posted this topic as I am looking for a cheap 2 stroke as well. My buddy is selling a 2003 cr that...
I am glad you posted this topic as I am looking for a cheap 2 stroke as well. My buddy is selling a 2003 cr that I am looking at. I also like the 2003 and newer Kxs and Rms. I like Yzs but for some reason up here in the NW Yzs are crazy expensive. I am leaning towards the Cr but would like comments and opinions on the Honda.
the 01-03 RM125's and 250's have some quirks - they didnt get ironed out until 2004.

I had an 03 RM125 and the cylinder plating began to flake, had weird jetting too but it was a good bike. plenty fast!

The 01 and 02's had problems with the tranny & i believe 2nd and 3rd gear would commonly go out.

I'm not a Honda fan boy, ive owned almost all the brands at one time or another but you really cant go wrong with any 2-stroke Honda..even the older steel frame ones.
Shawn142
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Shawn142 11/17/2011 6:45pm
11/17/2011 6:45pm
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money. You'll have to invest money into every part of it from the ground up. The bearings will be seized, the suspension will be sagging, the motor will need a rebuild, and most likely everything will be stained from poor washing habits. It's much cheaper to buy a well maintained bike from the 2 to 3 thousand dollar price range.

That being said the RM and YZ are the most modern as far as suspension probably.
waitn4
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waitn4 11/17/2011 7:17pm
11/17/2011 7:17pm
Interested in the kx250 pm me
EastFlorida
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EastFlorida 11/17/2011 9:17pm
11/17/2011 9:17pm
newmann,

I emailed you a while back about this bike. Did you get it?

Shaun
hondaracer664 11/17/2011 10:18pm
11/17/2011 10:18pm
Shawn142 wrote:
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money...
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money. You'll have to invest money into every part of it from the ground up. The bearings will be seized, the suspension will be sagging, the motor will need a rebuild, and most likely everything will be stained from poor washing habits. It's much cheaper to buy a well maintained bike from the 2 to 3 thousand dollar price range.

That being said the RM and YZ are the most modern as far as suspension probably.
That's my plan, is to find the most clapped out bike I can, strip it down and rebuild it from the ground up. I wouldn't trust any used bike I bought no matter how well it was said to be maintained, so the cheaper I can get it up front, the cheaper it will be for me in the long run.
EvanR127
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EvanR127 11/17/2011 10:25pm
11/17/2011 10:25pm
Performance per $ you can't beat an 04+ RM250
Shawn142
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Shawn142 11/18/2011 4:15am
11/18/2011 4:15am
Shawn142 wrote:
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money...
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money. You'll have to invest money into every part of it from the ground up. The bearings will be seized, the suspension will be sagging, the motor will need a rebuild, and most likely everything will be stained from poor washing habits. It's much cheaper to buy a well maintained bike from the 2 to 3 thousand dollar price range.

That being said the RM and YZ are the most modern as far as suspension probably.
hondaracer664 wrote:
That's my plan, is to find the most clapped out bike I can, strip it down and rebuild it from the ground up. I wouldn't trust...
That's my plan, is to find the most clapped out bike I can, strip it down and rebuild it from the ground up. I wouldn't trust any used bike I bought no matter how well it was said to be maintained, so the cheaper I can get it up front, the cheaper it will be for me in the long run.
Even with a parts deal from a dealer I hope you realize how expensive that is. I did the same thing and easily more than tripled the purchase price of my beater 2-stroke, much more and I'll be passing the retail cost of it new. It needed everything eventually.. Complete motor rebuild, new pipe and silencer, new rims with spokes and nipples, new chain and sprockets, new bearings all over, new plastic, new radiators, re-spring and re-valve the suspension, the list goes on and on.
SwapperMX
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SwapperMX 11/18/2011 4:27am
11/18/2011 4:27am
Shawn142 wrote:
Even with a parts deal from a dealer I hope you realize how expensive that is. I did the same thing and easily more than tripled...
Even with a parts deal from a dealer I hope you realize how expensive that is. I did the same thing and easily more than tripled the purchase price of my beater 2-stroke, much more and I'll be passing the retail cost of it new. It needed everything eventually.. Complete motor rebuild, new pipe and silencer, new rims with spokes and nipples, new chain and sprockets, new bearings all over, new plastic, new radiators, re-spring and re-valve the suspension, the list goes on and on.
I completely agree with Shawn on this one. Just buy that KX off Newmann and go riding. Riding a two stroke again really brings back the fun to the sport. That KX looks brand new. Would be silly to let that thing go if you are in the market for a cheap two stroke. Completely overhauling a bike top to bottom gets very expensive, and if you do get a parts budget, you dont want to waste it on parts for a "fun" bike.
scooter5002
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scooter5002 11/18/2011 5:32am
11/18/2011 5:32am
^ This. If that Kwacker has few hours on it why care HOW old it is? You'll get a few seasons out of it before you have to anything major to it. Hell, buy Alphados 05 KX. It's got TEN hours on it, you can get it for $2500! It's a fuckin' STEAL and you'd be helpin out a fellow VitalMXer. Either bike is a GOOD decision.

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seth505
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seth505 11/18/2011 5:56am
11/18/2011 5:56am
my 05 kx250 was a great bike but my 09 yz250 is a better bike IMO, suspension is better as well. Honestly I'd try to look for a newer yz or rm.
mxtech1
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mxtech1 11/18/2011 6:04am
11/18/2011 6:04am
i've got a good condition 2005 RM250 im trying to sell for $2000
kijen
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kijen 11/18/2011 6:06am
11/18/2011 6:06am
since your looking at a basket case to build.....I'd look at EBAY to see parts availability....just thinking there are a ton more 02-12 YZ parts out there then anything else.....
Ross_Miller
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Ross_Miller 11/18/2011 6:10am
11/18/2011 6:10am Edited Date/Time 11/18/2011 6:14am
I would look at the pumpkins... I have owned the 03 SX250 great engine bad suspenders, 06 sx250 awesome, 08 sx250 love it and now the 11 150SX and they just get better year after year and parts are really easy to get cheap and fast.
Good luck and it will bring a smile to your face every time you start it. I sold my last 450 last weekend and now only ride the smokers, have not missed kicking that Honda yet...

Newman that is one of the nicest KX's I have seen in years. I will buy it if no one else will. How much to ship to Georgia?
Green and Orange get along in the garage?
newmann
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newmann 11/18/2011 6:25am
11/18/2011 6:25am
EastFlorida wrote:
newmann,

I emailed you a while back about this bike. Did you get it?

Shaun
doesn't appear as if you are set up to accept pm's here??? E-mail me at newmann at gt dot rr dot com
Racer92
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Racer92 11/18/2011 6:34am
11/18/2011 6:34am
Those old KX's are reliable, strong bikes. I know guys that raced many scramble series on them without a single issue.

Great deal there.
GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 11/18/2011 6:36am
11/18/2011 6:36am
newmann wrote:
2002 KX250. Original tires, chain sprockets and look at the original paint on the frame. Fresh engine from the crank up with Millenium Tech replated cylinder...
2002 KX250. Original tires, chain sprockets and look at the original paint on the frame. Fresh engine from the crank up with Millenium Tech replated cylinder due to the bozo pulling it out from 7 years of storage and running with a dry rotted air filter. Sweet bike, low hours. Has only about ten minutes time on the new engine. $1750.00 and I can build a crate.Smile





Dammit Newmann, you always seem to post this thing on a Friday, and then I spend the rest of the day thinking about getting in my truck and heading South to pick it up. On behalf of my wife, stop it! Smile
motogrady
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motogrady 11/18/2011 6:52am
11/18/2011 6:52am
Ever think about a 500?
Maybe the last CR, something with brutal power, a bit heavier, very little upkeep, and it would work your butt.
After a week on that, a 450 4 should be a breeze.
-eagle-
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-eagle- 11/18/2011 7:02am
11/18/2011 7:02am
Shawn142 wrote:
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money...
Some good advice is don't get a beater, pay more for a good bike. Buying a clap trap at $1,000 bucks will NOT save you money. You'll have to invest money into every part of it from the ground up. The bearings will be seized, the suspension will be sagging, the motor will need a rebuild, and most likely everything will be stained from poor washing habits. It's much cheaper to buy a well maintained bike from the 2 to 3 thousand dollar price range.

That being said the RM and YZ are the most modern as far as suspension probably.
Very good advice. Just learned this the hard way restoring a 93 model.
You only save up front on the "project" bikes.
scooter5002
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scooter5002 11/18/2011 7:16am
11/18/2011 7:16am
-eagle- wrote:
Very good advice. Just learned this the hard way restoring a 93 model.
You only save up front on the "project" bikes.
You MIGHT get lucky. I just split the cases on my 93 CR250, and I'm sure it was the first time. I'm the third owner that I know of, first one was a racer. Needed every bearing in the motor but one. However, it is 19 years old and I'm not shocked. I only took it apart because the mag seal went and I thought the bottom end and crank big end bearing were done. Turns out one main bearing only. Having said that, it's a Honda, and they built their shit tough back in that day. The tranny components were as stout as my CR500, I was blown away at how great a shape they were in. I might replace 2 gears while it's apart. MIGHT.
So for 150 bucks in bearings and a gasket set, I'm back in business. Re-using piston and rings, they only have 20 hours tops on them. Having said that, I already owned the bike, so I knew what I had.
rmpilot
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rmpilot 11/18/2011 8:19am
11/18/2011 8:19am
motogrady wrote:
Ever think about a 500? Maybe the last CR, something with brutal power, a bit heavier, very little upkeep, and it would work your butt. After...
Ever think about a 500?
Maybe the last CR, something with brutal power, a bit heavier, very little upkeep, and it would work your butt.
After a week on that, a 450 4 should be a breeze.
nah, yz 490 is where its at.
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 11/18/2011 8:29am
11/18/2011 8:29am
motogrady wrote:
Ever think about a 500? Maybe the last CR, something with brutal power, a bit heavier, very little upkeep, and it would work your butt. After...
Ever think about a 500?
Maybe the last CR, something with brutal power, a bit heavier, very little upkeep, and it would work your butt.
After a week on that, a 450 4 should be a breeze.
rmpilot wrote:
nah, yz 490 is where its at.
If he could ever make it stop pinging.

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