Best "just needs a top end" story

Brent_Apodaca
Edited Date/Time 7/19/2019 8:48am
I am currently building an 02 RM 125 , that's needed just shy of everything but a crank, and transmission. I'm talking new cylinder because the previous owner put an 03 cylinder with power valves on it , it was scored all to hell anyways. It needs a new head, the old one was pitted terribly bad. Plastics were sun faded , and cracking ( to be fair I knew this before the purchase). New tires , fork seals , repacked silencer the old one leaked it was so oily, etc. I could go on for pages . On this 02 I have spent close to 1000$ already with more expenses to come.

Point is before purchasing the bike I was told all it needs is a top end. What's either your horror story or your success story.
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kb228
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kb228 7/18/2019 7:37am
7/18/2019 7:37am
My 09 250f needed a top end. Went to look at it... it literally needed a complete new top end.

Head’s cam journals were gone from oil starvation.
Cams were toast as a result
Original piston was still in it.
Cylinder was good.

Bought a new head, stage 1 intake and exhaust hotcams, new prox stainless valves and valve springs, new timing chain, cp carillo hc piston, gaskets. No idea what the total was after all of that.

To make things worse, when i got the motor in and all the plastics on, i finally noticed that the entire ass of the bike was twisted, and the footpeg was bent. Was as if it got hit by a truck.

Put on new pegs and subframe. Got a R&D float bowl for it and have been riding it since early 2018.






3
newmason
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newmason 7/18/2019 7:54am
7/18/2019 7:54am
Still going to be cheaper than buying new these days. Bought a 2002 YZ250, "doesn't need anything". Put in an magnetic oil drain bolt went for two rides, changed the oil and a needle bearing from the power valve governor arm had let loose. No idea how long it had been like that. Turned into needing whole new bottom end, minus transmission, top end and power valve shaft and seal. In the end it's still a 2002
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HighPlainsSquid 7/18/2019 7:58am
7/18/2019 7:58am
I bought an '02 RM 1345 that "needed nothing". I rode it around the parking lot and it sputtered badly at high RPM but people can't jet for crap and it FELT like it had potential and the price was good enough.

Back home... hole in the air filter, loose spark plug, powervalve spring wound in super tight, new chain on old sprockets, throttle cable about to snap, bearings all rusty, leaking fork seals, bent bars, clogged main jet. I fixed all that, put a new front tire on, skid plate, repacked the silencer, new piston and rode it for 2 years.

When I sold it, it had a new piston with 1 h on it (and the documentation to go along with that), new tires, new chain/sprocket, new cables, 4 air filters, and new $25 fancy spark plug. Only reason I sold it was to pay off the KTM and because I was worried about the gearbox and/or crank and didn't want to put any more $$$ in it (see "pay off the KTM" above).



1
40acres
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40acres 7/18/2019 8:24am
7/18/2019 8:24am
HighPlainsSquid wrote:
I bought an '02 RM 1345 that "needed nothing". I rode it around the parking lot and it sputtered badly at high RPM but people can't...
I bought an '02 RM 1345 that "needed nothing". I rode it around the parking lot and it sputtered badly at high RPM but people can't jet for crap and it FELT like it had potential and the price was good enough.

Back home... hole in the air filter, loose spark plug, powervalve spring wound in super tight, new chain on old sprockets, throttle cable about to snap, bearings all rusty, leaking fork seals, bent bars, clogged main jet. I fixed all that, put a new front tire on, skid plate, repacked the silencer, new piston and rode it for 2 years.

When I sold it, it had a new piston with 1 h on it (and the documentation to go along with that), new tires, new chain/sprocket, new cables, 4 air filters, and new $25 fancy spark plug. Only reason I sold it was to pay off the KTM and because I was worried about the gearbox and/or crank and didn't want to put any more $$$ in it (see "pay off the KTM" above).



This is essentially a carbon copy of my last rm125 experience. Kick myself daily for selling it.
1

The Shop

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bh84
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bh84 7/18/2019 8:45am
7/18/2019 8:45am
I just had one go the opposite way.

Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked if I was interested. I just moved onto 92 acres and had a spot in the garage so I said sure. When they fired it up there was an awful rattle in the bottom end. I had a feeling I knew what it was(raced with the KTM RFS engines in the past) so I worked them down to $1650 and bought it.

When I got it home I threw it on its side, took off the clutch side case and sure enough the bolt on the primary gear was finger loose. I tourqued it back to spec, 4 drops of blue Loctite, no more noise and now I`ve got an absolute monster to play with at the farm.
5
Stuntman949
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Stuntman949 7/18/2019 8:56am
7/18/2019 8:56am
bh84 wrote:
I just had one go the opposite way. Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked...
I just had one go the opposite way.

Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked if I was interested. I just moved onto 92 acres and had a spot in the garage so I said sure. When they fired it up there was an awful rattle in the bottom end. I had a feeling I knew what it was(raced with the KTM RFS engines in the past) so I worked them down to $1650 and bought it.

When I got it home I threw it on its side, took off the clutch side case and sure enough the bolt on the primary gear was finger loose. I tourqued it back to spec, 4 drops of blue Loctite, no more noise and now I`ve got an absolute monster to play with at the farm.
So you got it all the way home before you realized it was a quad?!?
67
ElliotB16
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ElliotB16 7/18/2019 9:15am
7/18/2019 9:15am
It’s a 17 year old bike on Craigslist. I wouldn’t expect anything different
2
mx510
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mx510 7/18/2019 1:57pm
7/18/2019 1:57pm
bh84 wrote:
I just had one go the opposite way. Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked...
I just had one go the opposite way.

Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked if I was interested. I just moved onto 92 acres and had a spot in the garage so I said sure. When they fired it up there was an awful rattle in the bottom end. I had a feeling I knew what it was(raced with the KTM RFS engines in the past) so I worked them down to $1650 and bought it.

When I got it home I threw it on its side, took off the clutch side case and sure enough the bolt on the primary gear was finger loose. I tourqued it back to spec, 4 drops of blue Loctite, no more noise and now I`ve got an absolute monster to play with at the farm.
Stuntman949 wrote:
So you got it all the way home before you realized it was a quad?!?
Now that's funny.
5
philG
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philG 7/18/2019 3:03pm
7/18/2019 3:03pm
Saw a Vertemati, same as the one i have here, that i wanted to restore and leave mine as a survivor.

It had a new kickstart which are like Gold, the rest looked OK, he wanted £900 , but when i got there it didnt run, and wouldnt kick over.. i had driven 3 hours, and wasnt going home with nowt.

I figured the decompressor was not lifting the valves, which it has to , kicked him a £600 bid and left with it in the van .

Got it home, tried to sort it, took the valve cover off and the roller that fits in the rocker, had shattered.. and it was made of brass, not steel.. cam was fucked (i had a spare already) .

Pulled the motor, and noticed the shock was off a fucking car, the mount had been cut and rewelded on the frame ( which was scrapped) and the shock linkage bearing was gone had been welded up , and just drilled through by hand.

Rads were toast , front caliper bracket was wrong and had been assembled with a bolt that had half the head cut away to clear.. so there were only 2 flats on it...

I have to get it finished to race in 6 weeks.
2
harescrambled 7/18/2019 3:19pm
7/18/2019 3:19pm
Stuntman949 wrote:
So you got it all the way home before you realized it was a quad?!?
His buddy must have had him drinking the funky cold medina Silly
1
Brent_Apodaca 7/18/2019 4:19pm
7/18/2019 4:19pm
philG wrote:
Saw a Vertemati, same as the one i have here, that i wanted to restore and leave mine as a survivor. It had a new kickstart...
Saw a Vertemati, same as the one i have here, that i wanted to restore and leave mine as a survivor.

It had a new kickstart which are like Gold, the rest looked OK, he wanted £900 , but when i got there it didnt run, and wouldnt kick over.. i had driven 3 hours, and wasnt going home with nowt.

I figured the decompressor was not lifting the valves, which it has to , kicked him a £600 bid and left with it in the van .

Got it home, tried to sort it, took the valve cover off and the roller that fits in the rocker, had shattered.. and it was made of brass, not steel.. cam was fucked (i had a spare already) .

Pulled the motor, and noticed the shock was off a fucking car, the mount had been cut and rewelded on the frame ( which was scrapped) and the shock linkage bearing was gone had been welded up , and just drilled through by hand.

Rads were toast , front caliper bracket was wrong and had been assembled with a bolt that had half the head cut away to clear.. so there were only 2 flats on it...

I have to get it finished to race in 6 weeks.
OK I don't feel as bad about my situation. You most certainly win.
RonSkj
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RonSkj 7/18/2019 5:04pm
7/18/2019 5:04pm
bh84 wrote:
I just had one go the opposite way. Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked...
I just had one go the opposite way.

Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked if I was interested. I just moved onto 92 acres and had a spot in the garage so I said sure. When they fired it up there was an awful rattle in the bottom end. I had a feeling I knew what it was(raced with the KTM RFS engines in the past) so I worked them down to $1650 and bought it.

When I got it home I threw it on its side, took off the clutch side case and sure enough the bolt on the primary gear was finger loose. I tourqued it back to spec, 4 drops of blue Loctite, no more noise and now I`ve got an absolute monster to play with at the farm.
Stuntman949 wrote:
So you got it all the way home before you realized it was a quad?!?
Have you told you parents yet?
Texas Built
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Texas Built 7/18/2019 6:51pm
7/18/2019 6:51pm
"It has a fresh top end" = Every bike on Craigslist.
HighPlainsSquid 7/19/2019 6:31am
7/19/2019 6:31am
40acres wrote:
This is essentially a carbon copy of my last rm125 experience. Kick myself daily for selling it.
We kept the '04 KX 125 and I get along just a TINY bit better with it, so I'm cool.

Ironically, I blew the crank on it 2 weeks ago. But I knew it was due.
bh84
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bh84 7/19/2019 6:50am
7/19/2019 6:50am
bh84 wrote:
I just had one go the opposite way. Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked...
I just had one go the opposite way.

Buddy of mine messaged me and said they'd just had an 08 KTM 525 quad traded in, asked if I was interested. I just moved onto 92 acres and had a spot in the garage so I said sure. When they fired it up there was an awful rattle in the bottom end. I had a feeling I knew what it was(raced with the KTM RFS engines in the past) so I worked them down to $1650 and bought it.

When I got it home I threw it on its side, took off the clutch side case and sure enough the bolt on the primary gear was finger loose. I tourqued it back to spec, 4 drops of blue Loctite, no more noise and now I`ve got an absolute monster to play with at the farm.
Stuntman949 wrote:
So you got it all the way home before you realized it was a quad?!?
RonSkj wrote:
Have you told you parents yet?
Told them my wife is having my son in November, yeah why?
2
kNewc
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kNewc 7/19/2019 8:21am
7/19/2019 8:21am
I have a 05 kx250f at home that was locked up, bought it from a teenager for $400. Took of the cam chain and heard a loud "click" and now the thing kicks over and shifts through the gears. Haven't tried to start it due to a knee injury. But if it starts up it'll be a $400 running bike lol. I doubt it will as the cams have all different sorts of bolts holding it on (they used whatever bolt would fit the hole it seems). So we'll see what happens.

Pit Row

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Tbteam
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Tbteam 7/19/2019 8:27am
7/19/2019 8:27am Edited Date/Time 7/19/2019 8:48am


I knew what I was getting into. I’m pretty sure I have roughly a zillion dollars in Ferry’s old Noleen bike. Unfortunately, I ruined it with black rims. My bad.





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mxracer106 7/19/2019 9:10am
7/19/2019 9:10am
Tbteam wrote:
I knew what I was getting into. I’m pretty sure I have roughly a zillion dollars in Ferry’s old Noleen bike. Unfortunately, I ruined it with...


I knew what I was getting into. I’m pretty sure I have roughly a zillion dollars in Ferry’s old Noleen bike. Unfortunately, I ruined it with black rims. My bad.





Love it!!!
willie838
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willie838 7/19/2019 9:12am
7/19/2019 9:12am Edited Date/Time 7/19/2019 9:13am
I think the black rims look slick boss.

I bet that bike can boogy. Kyle Lewis was a monster on nolleen for years.
ReturnofJorddo 7/19/2019 10:45am
7/19/2019 10:45am
This was back in the jr high days. Had an old LT230 and XL250 that i traded helmets for each of them, traded both for an 91 RM125. Never tore into it as funds were lacking, sold it for $400. Saw it posted on Kijiji a few months later. Contacted the seller to see what it ended up needing, eeded top end, head, cylinder, bottom end, I think maybe something in the trans was bent, also needed a clutch basket.
Bramlett321
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Bramlett321 7/19/2019 11:14am
7/19/2019 11:14am
I bought a 2013 KTM 150XC demo that I was told had 17 hours on the bike but had a brand new top end, new plastics, new pipe, new Action Sports Graphics. So, that tells you where I bought the bike here in East Texas. I get the sucker and I'm happy as a lark, she screams like a pissed off bumble bee. While riding her one afternoon on the trails she just starts running like dog shit. Come to find out the bike had about 70 hours on it. Well....to make a long story short this damn thing was tore down probably 3 times before I got it to Todd Tarver with SLM in Arlington Texas. The power valve evidently has a bearing down low in the cylinder that was wore out/froze up, so that was chased around by one shop to no avail. Finally !!! after much cash spent chasing the ghost I'm so sick of this thing that I ride it once more, and it ripped ass mind you, then I sell it. That may not sound bad but after getting the bike back and going back and forth thinking it's ready, my poor heart being let down over and over....I was a changed man.
1
Brent_Apodaca 7/19/2019 3:17pm
7/19/2019 3:17pm
Bramlett321 wrote:
I bought a 2013 KTM 150XC demo that I was told had 17 hours on the bike but had a brand new top end, new plastics...
I bought a 2013 KTM 150XC demo that I was told had 17 hours on the bike but had a brand new top end, new plastics, new pipe, new Action Sports Graphics. So, that tells you where I bought the bike here in East Texas. I get the sucker and I'm happy as a lark, she screams like a pissed off bumble bee. While riding her one afternoon on the trails she just starts running like dog shit. Come to find out the bike had about 70 hours on it. Well....to make a long story short this damn thing was tore down probably 3 times before I got it to Todd Tarver with SLM in Arlington Texas. The power valve evidently has a bearing down low in the cylinder that was wore out/froze up, so that was chased around by one shop to no avail. Finally !!! after much cash spent chasing the ghost I'm so sick of this thing that I ride it once more, and it ripped ass mind you, then I sell it. That may not sound bad but after getting the bike back and going back and forth thinking it's ready, my poor heart being let down over and over....I was a changed man.
Somewhere someone feels like they got the deal of a lifetime on this bike.

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