young and stupid 2011 YZ250

Weight as requested 2500g which I have as 50g less than stock. That’s with all standard hardware not Ti

Guys I’ve come to a point where plans have to change. This bike has been sitting bare frame every part, every bolt sitting on the shelf for over a year.
To complete it I need engine work, clutch, suspension work, rims, tires, some weight reduction machining, and some larger titanium pieces. I’d say an easy $2500 I’ve tried and tried to save up the money to check these final items off but life and wife keep taking it.

I’m sick of sitting on the couch and getting fat so I’ve decided to put it back together mostly stock and leave the nice pieces on the shelf (stock clamps, stock linkage, stock wheels, stock suspension, no carbon, etc.)the cylinder and head modified, put the single ring piston I have in, and do whatever the bottom end needs, maybe some clutch plates and springs to hold the new power. Stock suspension is in good shape and I won’t go far without and engine.

I figure I’ll take the time to feel out to the new power and bolt on the reeds, lectron, loudmouth intake, and vortex ignition one by one to feel the real change of each part. After I’m happy with the power changes I’ll start feeling out parts like linkage lengths, triple clamp offsets, carbon head stays, and brake combos. So if ever the time comes to put it all together I’ll have a proven set up not just a collection of shiny parts that may or may not work together. Mike Sleeter made a good point about how factory team should start from a stock bike and not bolt on every doodad they have on day one just because they can.

So I guess the dream build as a whole is on hold Indefinitely. Don’t hope to see any glamor shots for bike of the day any time soon.
I do plan on sharing the unique things like the gas cap and machining of parts as I do them.

And no, I’m not selling anything lol. hopefully I can make it happen before the parts I have become outdated. One thing is for sure, I have no worry about Yamaha releasing a new model and starting over.

Sorry if this disappoints anyone, a lot of parts sitting on the shelf I’m disappointed too.

PSA, this winter when the weather is cold and rainy check on your OCD racing friends, we are locked away in our garages polishing things with Q tips knowing good and well it’s just going to get dirty🤪




It can’t rain forever right?....right???......please help me

Nope, but do have a Ti swingarm pivot on the way. Drag racing season has me busy as usual.

How close are you on yours?

Mine is going to be classified as a vintage build by the time I get done lol. I’m lacking 2 critical pieces to finish it, money and motivation.

I will add this in here. I finally found another Champagne talon front hub, bought it from rock river $150. Not bad I think I was quoted $250 or $300 from Dubya but they found it was no longer available. Rim was cracked so I pulled the hub out. Now I have a set to build with blue rims and another set with black rims to put a hard pack tire on. Will have to switch out the bearing tube in the spare set to fit 25mm axle


I also picked up some single ride Hoosier tires for $60. I think I’m going to contact that guy again and pick up a few more sets, he gets them by the truck load. Cant beat that price. I’ll just get some hard pack Dunlop’s for my spares, I have a few sets of Dunlop tire stickers I don’t want to waste lol.

Im having to eat those words pretty hard right now. Just my luck, my broke ass gets this close to building the “ulitimate” YZ one piece at a time and Yamaha decides to revamp the bike after 20 years😑😑

Guarantee next year every magazine, website, parts supplier, and rich boy Instagram rider will have a decked out YZ.

Been kicking around the idea of selling the bike, just lost momentum with this. I found a newer husqvarna and ktm 250 that hopefully will get me back to riding more. If I can sell and buy for around the same price that’s what I’ll do.
I have started assembling the bike back close to stock to sell.

I hope to have it listed by this weekend. Before I finish and sell off the bike would anyone be interested in buying the entire project? Be warned it’s alot of money but I have a spreadsheet showing it’s literally half what you would spend to go do this tomorrow. It’s taken me 4 years to collect these parts many of which can’t be bought.

If I sell the bike I’m gonna hold onto the parts for while and see if I get the YZ itch again.

I hope something lights a fire under me again. Either this one or a new bike. Feel like I’m on the edge of hanging it up. I’ve taken years off before but always had that itch, not feeling that this time around.