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3/16/2023
Location
Chardon, OH, USA
Just did a complete rebuild of a 2013 KTM 125 this winter and had an absolute blast doing it. Ready for the next project.
I would like to do a vintage bike from my birth year (1989). The YZ125 /250 is most desirable but wondering if there is a better bike with more available parts. Or if 89' was a good year for Yamaha?
I 've never ridden one, so I couldn't tell you if they're good or not, but from a purely visual standpoint, the '89/'90 YZ125/250 are the coolest looking Yamahas of the '80s/'90s era.
My list of 89's I'd restore honda be last of the list now because so many been done.
KX250
KTM 125MX like trampas had
YZ125 YZ250 WR250
KDX 200
KTM 350 mx - unicorn
KTM 500 MX
RM/X 250
RM 125
KX 125
CR 125 cr250 cr500
They are vintage bikes so all of them will have parts that are no longer available brand new. Stuff might cost more for special made low volume parts. Power valves on two strokes are a problem area on all bikes. Clutch baskets as well. Anything with magnesium cases.
Money pits they are.
Big vintage races r a gate full of 89 cr125,s. Very fast & handle great. What Mike Brown at Fox hills race in 22.
I've heard the Honda is hard to beat but I want something a little more unique.
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For me the same Build a Husquarna TC 300 in 21 and than want another Project to Start in 2022.
Finish this 1990 250 a few weeks ago but it was a hard Challenge to restore it.
If you look for something unique take an old Husquarna or KTM but i think with a Japanese bike it’s easier in Order to Parts availability
Do you still have the 350 and 500 MX KTM‘s
Think about to get one 500 MX but they‘r expensive from 6000-10.000€
Heard that parts are very hard to find
I've got my eyes on a 93 -95 KX 500. Same boat, no idea what they're worth and what the parts availability is. But in its hay day it was thee 500 from what I've read.
The older the bike, the harder it is to find parts. Less reliable bikes new are even harder to find good parts for. All the old Hondas were the most reliable.
Can beat a nice clean RM250
Stunning David
All the racers in the town I lived in rode a YZ125 or YZ250 in 1989. The YZ250s all eventually needed a new or rewound stator. I'm told that first generation of KYB upside down forks weren't as the conventional forks on my 1988 YZ250, which also fried the stator. Radiator shrouds on that generation YZ were a little fragile as well.
I think the 89/90 RM's were some of the best looking bikes ever.
I ended up finding 2 (more like 1 1/2) 1989 RMX250s on marketplace. Paid $1000 for both, spare motor with new bottom end. Suprising clean for their age. They were barnyard finds.
Question.... was the RMX just an RM with electronics and Enduro package?
And where would be a good place to source parts?
Bike of the year in 89... Looked odd with one radiator on the 125s tho... Yamaha would be my last pic to restore from 89...
Rmx had a different crankshaft, flywheel, cdi, and 2 stage exhaust powervalve. Of course the exhaust and a thick head gasket. The rmx stayed with the old style head gasket where the rm got an oring one in I believe 92. Some of my info might be off alittle as I'm going by memory.
The PV system isn't similar to the one on the RGV, is it? The RGV PVs are assembled with a roll pin and the pin wears easily, fails and the PV blades fall in to the engine. It isn't a case of if they'll fail, but when.
Pit Row
Yeah the rmx ones have been known to do that. The rm pwr valves are definitely more reliable
Will a RM power valve for in an RMX bike from the same era?
Best 89. Honda cr250, or Kawasaki KX500. For 125=cr125. Definetly no Suzuki. Had a 92 rm250, and 88 Honda cr250 had more power than 92 zook rm250.
Check the type of PV you have. On the RGV the 3 piece ones are the type that fail and drop in to the motor.
https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/1270623-rmx250-power-valve-2-v…
Did someone say rgv?
My 1990 jdm 1991 uk/euro.
The only problem with the YZ 125 is that you can't find a clutch hub for it. I have one in my garage that I rebuilt from the ground up but I've been waiting to find a hub for this thing. I had a 1990 back in the day and it was a great motor, the 89 is very similar.
👍🎯🏁
Still a 1989 Honda but more unique is almost impossible...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottospeed/albums/72157657243148579
1989 VRP Mugen Honda
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