Best year of the steel framed YZ250's?

Socket946
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Socket946
Edited Date/Time 11/18/2013 8:03pm
As the topic says, just wondering which were the best years? The '03?
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braaap
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braaap 11/7/2013 7:35pm
11/7/2013 7:35pm
I think 2003 was the last year they made any real changes to the engine and it is a good one. About as tractable as a two stroke can get, especially with a flywheel weight.

The frame geometry is the same as the newer aluminum frames.

Suspension is pretty good too but not SSS good.

If you want bling, the '02 and up models all share the same tank, shroud, airbox design for graphics purposes.

The 2003 will be a solid choice.
Spagina767
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Spagina767 11/7/2013 7:39pm
11/7/2013 7:39pm
They got 48MM forks, and TI footpegs in 04 also.. So I'd say they stepped up a bit that year.
Dirtysmile56
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Dirtysmile56 11/7/2013 10:20pm
11/7/2013 10:20pm
I had the 04 and absolutely loved it!
40Plus_922mx
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40Plus_922mx 11/7/2013 10:46pm
11/7/2013 10:46pm
The industry recognize d the 03 aw thr best steel yz.
I recognize that I shoulda kept mine.

The Shop

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Motocross83 11/7/2013 11:58pm
11/7/2013 11:58pm
The 04 was amazing! Really good bike.
Racerx930
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Racerx930 11/8/2013 2:35am
11/8/2013 2:35am
I got myself a nice clean 04 yesterday..
DoctorJD
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DoctorJD 11/8/2013 5:14am
11/8/2013 5:14am Edited Date/Time 11/8/2013 5:15am
My 02'. After years of riding perimeter framed 4-strokes, this thing is like riding on a cloud. I've only had it a couple of months, but its brought a whole new (fun) dynamic to riding.

GeorgiePorgie 11/8/2013 5:33am
11/8/2013 5:33am
40Plus_922mx wrote:
The industry recognize d the 03 aw thr best steel yz. I recognize that I shoulda kept mine. [img]http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/factorydad/Screenshot_2013-04-13-12-50-41_zps6a1e7a90.png[/img]
The industry recognize d the 03 aw thr best steel yz.
I recognize that I shoulda kept mine.
Pretty sure you should have kept all your bikes! LOL.
EastFlorida
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EastFlorida 11/8/2013 5:44am
11/8/2013 5:44am
I have an '04 YZ250 that I like, but not as much as my steel framed '12 KTM 300XC...
Sandberm
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Sandberm 11/8/2013 6:04am
11/8/2013 6:04am
So whats a fairly clean mostly stock(Renthal handlebars and spark arrestor) 02 worth?

Has just enough hours on it to have replaced the chain and sprocket.
Socket946
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Socket946 11/8/2013 6:29am
11/8/2013 6:29am
Sandberm wrote:
So whats a fairly clean mostly stock(Renthal handlebars and spark arrestor) 02 worth?

Has just enough hours on it to have replaced the chain and sprocket.
Pirces I am seeing show around 1500 at best. There some some CHERRY steel framed YZ's for CHEAP.
DoctorJD
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DoctorJD 11/8/2013 6:31am
11/8/2013 6:31am Edited Date/Time 11/8/2013 6:31am
Sandberm wrote:
So whats a fairly clean mostly stock(Renthal handlebars and spark arrestor) 02 worth?

Has just enough hours on it to have replaced the chain and sprocket.
If you take a look at mine above, it's basically what you just described.

Renthals, FMF Fatty w/Powercore II, new Acerbis plastics, flywheel weight, (almost) new tires.

I paid $1800 for mine. I shopped for a few months prior to buying mine and found that $1800-$2000 was about the going price.
thrillbillie91 11/8/2013 6:37am
11/8/2013 6:37am
would everyone recommend the flywheel weight?
3D
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3D 11/9/2013 5:28am
11/9/2013 5:28am
I love my 03. I kinda retired from racing mx and switched to some really hard single track. Best thing about the bike is it does both pretty well. I've won a couple vet A mx races on it, then took it out in the woods. Great motor(hits a little hard in woods though). Sold my 450 after it sat in my shop untouched for 2 years.
Mxracer24
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Mxracer24 11/9/2013 7:47am
11/9/2013 7:47am
thrillbillie91 wrote:
would everyone recommend the flywheel weight?
I would.
dcg141
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dcg141 11/9/2013 7:54am
11/9/2013 7:54am
I am a KTM dealer but if you told me tommorrow I had to ride a Japanese product I would be on the hunt for a steel framed YZ 250. Still a great MX bike and a better woods bike than anything currently coming out of the big 4.

Pit Row

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lumpy790
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lumpy790 11/17/2013 7:44am
11/17/2013 7:44am
Happy with my 2001



Socket946
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Socket946 11/17/2013 8:22am
11/17/2013 8:22am
Beautiful bike. The red hoses are not for me, but stunning example.
lumpy790
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lumpy790 11/17/2013 8:56am
11/17/2013 8:56am
Socket946 wrote:
Beautiful bike. The red hoses are not for me, but stunning example.
Thank you .... have thought about going to Blue or Yellow too.

This bike is now a street legal supermoto
Kmid514
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Kmid514 11/17/2013 9:15am
11/17/2013 9:15am
Dig the 03, still have it. Changed the timing and jets. Don't see the point of any other upgrades other than sprockets, the chain and bars.
TbonesPop 11/17/2013 9:22am
11/17/2013 9:22am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2013 9:36am
The '03. (See my Avatar) :-)
vanillaice782 11/17/2013 10:43am
11/17/2013 10:43am
thrillbillie91 wrote:
would everyone recommend the flywheel weight?
I would. I could barely hold onto my 01 YZ250 before I put a 9 oz flywheel weight on it. Now it is almost as smooth as a 450.
DrSweden
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DrSweden 11/17/2013 12:56pm
11/17/2013 12:56pm
Why would the aluminum frame be a set back? Do people seriously feel a different other than the extra 6-7 lbs it carries?
malachi177
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malachi177 11/17/2013 2:43pm
11/17/2013 2:43pm
thrillbillie91 wrote:
would everyone recommend the flywheel weight?
vanillaice782 wrote:
I would. I could barely hold onto my 01 YZ250 before I put a 9 oz flywheel weight on it. Now it is almost as smooth...
I would. I could barely hold onto my 01 YZ250 before I put a 9 oz flywheel weight on it. Now it is almost as smooth as a 450.
Yep....makes a world of a difference. Way more tractable and smoother/easier to ride for longer. The biggest myth is that you lose power adding a flywheel weight, but that is total BS.
alexk417
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alexk417 11/17/2013 2:46pm
11/17/2013 2:46pm Edited Date/Time 11/17/2013 2:47pm
I currently have an 03' that I freshened up. I also have a 02' yz125. Never took a spin on a aluminum frame YZ, but I'd like to! I always toy around with the idea of selling the 03' and then I'll go ride it and fall back is love.

Now I'm on the hunt for a 95-97 cr125 to rebuild for the winter.



malachi177
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malachi177 11/17/2013 2:49pm
11/17/2013 2:49pm
That 417 bike is gorgeous alexWoohoo
DrSweden
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DrSweden 11/18/2013 10:17am
11/18/2013 10:17am
malachi177 wrote:
That 417 bike is gorgeous alexWoohoo
Second that!!! How did you polish that engine Alex? Totally tits!!!
LocDawg
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LocDawg 11/18/2013 10:32am
11/18/2013 10:32am
04 is the best, i think they all have transmission issues though or develop them but all bikes do if you are rough on them. Two of my friends had the last generaiton steel frame YZ250 and both had transmission problems (2002 and 2004)

The YZ is one of the few bikes that you can ride out of the box. Change the handle bars if you need to I guess.

gear it down or add a fly wheel weight if its too peppy..

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