Hi guys as stated I've always wanted to do a '97 Rinaldi YZ250 build and I've found a very cheap bike to start a build from.
But it appears to be a missmatch of bikes and I have no idea what any of it means so I'm calling on all of you out there with the knowledge to help me.
So the bodywork is unmistakably 96 to 2001 which is good but the cylinder is marked up 3SP00 and it has a Mikuni TM carb. It has the separate brake fluid reservoir which is nearly touching the exhaust pipe which looks like it runs very high in the chassis.
Can anyone help with what I should do as I am still waiting for engine and frame numbers but I can tell its already a bitsa, should that put me? Will it massively complicate stuff like finding exhaust etc?
Any help appreciated and I'll upload some pics as well
Don't know if this will help but I would appreciate any advice I find these yamahas quite intimidating as they were changing constantly
I planned on doing a 96-98 build at one time, after searching for parts I decided the 99 & up models have way more parts availability…I did a 92 build a few years ago. I”m no Yamaha expert but that cylinder appears to be 94 or older, which may be a good thing.
Oh really why is that cylinder considered a good thing?
Was the metal quality better for those years or something?
I believe many of the factory riders ran the 94 cylinder well into 96,97 & maybe 98 also, must have been more hop up potential ….again, I”m no Yamaha expert, I”m sure guys on here know more than me… the powervalve parts are getting scarce for that generation.
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Definitely a 94-or-older cylinder, and also 95-or-older forks, as they have the old school axle clamp. Wrong pipe for the year - it looks more like an RM pipe than any YZ pipe I can remember. I almost wonder if somebody threw newer bodywork on an older bike.
As mentioned, power valve parts are hard to come by, especially in good shape. Any they are usually 1 year specific, as Yamaha seemed to tweak them each year. NOS transmission parts are non-existent, so you have to scrouge ebay for them.
Personally, I would not let parts availability put you off, but looking at those pics, I'd pass on this bike. It looks extremely rough, and you have mish mash of old unknown parts. What you've got there, if you're lucky, is a frame, swingarm, and engine cases to start your build. I'd guess $5k USD to get that thing track worthy.
YZ250 got a separate easy-access clutch cover in 1990. Silver bottom end with no separate clutch cover makes me think 1988-89. Might be a newer 92-94 era cylinder on a 88-89 bottom end? Or maybe just the clutch cover was replaced?
You know what guys thanks for the advice and I think I'll leave this one.
So what year would be the best base to build on? I love this body style so I'm assuming a 2000 or 2001?
93-98 are all okay, and to me qualify more as "vintage" or "retro" bikes.
The 99+ have the current engine design, so they are a much better powerplant and parts are much easier to source.
It really depends on what you want, and what you find on the used market.
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