When I was a noob here I fucked this up and made one of these about a 450, this is my redemption. Been wanting a 2 stroke for awhile so I picked up an 03 yz250 from a friend for 1800$. Didn’t know much about the steelys until I rode it a couple months ago. I really liked it and he is more of a slow trail bike guy. He bought it from a family that had many YZs and raced for a long time, then only rode it a handful of times mostly just up and down the street. I was told that the motor was sent out to pro circuit(anyway to prove that?)and it has pro circuit header. FC suspension. I’m not sure what the silencer is as there’s no logo. Took me about an hour to get the graphics off, he must’ve used the whole damn bottle of adhesive. Put a clean filter in it and wooow is it fast, which makes me think it probably does have motor work done. Brought it to my mechanic to have him take apart the linkage and other bearings to grease it. He’s also gonna check the top end and clutch which did seem to pull a little hard and not engage 100% perfectly. This bike is replacing my sold 23 sx250f for local 250 A, also plan on running it at the Dilla Rewind. Any suggestions on what to change on it? So far I’m very happy with my purchase
Change the tires and gear oil frequently and have fun!
You got a free engine & suspension mods 1,800 good job. Get a gripper seat cover & numbers . And your good to race.
Steeeeely
The first thing I would do is download the owners manual...
https://library.ymcapps.net/library/om/contents/pdf/10/5UP-28199-10_02.pdf
The second thing I would do is read it, twice, then break up with your mechanic, 2 strokes are easy to maintain, easy to rebuild and fun to ride!
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Dan👍
Nice bike
Very cool
I would change the side panels and airbox to the newer style, in my opinion it just looks better. My friends '02 had the enzo sub tanks up front and man those forks were good.
Haven’t really gotten to ride it yet so I have no clue how the suspension will be. I did read some cool bike builds on here where they put the modern stuff on there. Think that would be worth looking into?
If you want to run SSS forks, they slip right into ‘04 triple clamps. I am running Emig Racing clamps now. If you decide on doing SSS forks I’ll gladly send you my stock ‘04 clamps for just the cost of shipping. I didn’t need aftermarket clamps, I did them because I’m a sucker for plain silver billet clamps.
Awwwwww yeah !!!!!!
Great bike Creature...chuck in a Jd kit and some Boyeson reeds (not Chad 😉)
I personally think fitting new design plastic on old bikes looks terrible.
My 02 is the best bike i ever owned....I still have it. Just take care of it and ride it.
Also...what front disk rotor is that?
I appreciate that man I will certainly hyu if I decide to do that. I do ride sandpits and a lot of the tracks I race in eastern NY are extremely tight. So maybe I’ll like them and I won’t want to change. At the least I’ll send it back to FC, they give me a really good sponsor deal, and who knows how old the oil and seals are.
I noticed it too, didn’t know if that was just what they had in 03. Clearly the original owner put some effort into the thing so it could be aftermarket
Dude I love to see this so much. As a die hard two stroke guy I can point you in a few directions to help you love this bike as your daily racer. A few tips to have utmost confidence in an old bike you want to race:
Systematically loosen, remove and brake clean with a wire brush- then retighten all the main chassis points to OEM torque spec (including the shock and linkage). Spray out with brake clean and air the triple clamp, fork lug, brake hanger, shock, and subframe mounting holes. There's years of debris that will mess with their ability to torque correctly. This will help bring the chassis back to original feeling and form.
Snag a Bolt pro pack, these come in handy like you wouldn't believe when you start to find old bolts that are rusted or worn out. With it comes new sprocket bolts and locking nuts.
Anything that needs to be replaced for engine, pivot, or drive- shop ProX first. Everything is OEM spec or better, made by the OEM suppliers, and put in a yellow box.
On the 2 stroke note:
Invest in a JD Jet kit, this will help your 2 stroke tuning become extremely easy.
Vforce reed block is mandatory.
220 grit sanding blocks from the hardware store and WD40 of any type will buff that pipe into a new realm. I suggest new pipe O rings also, cheap parts that make a difference. Put a little grease on them every time you take the pipe off to buff it.
If you've had the pleasure of running the ZRT, they make even more a difference on two strokes. Every time you wash the bike, pull it off and clean the bar and the inside of the tube and spray some silicone lube (never WD) in the bar inside for the bushing and some on the bar. This goes a LONG way. If it's out of the budget, ODI makes a badass throttle tube with a bushing for the common man.
On this bike specifically:
The clutch problems could be from that clutch lever on it. Works Connection is the authority for YZ 250 clutch lever and perch. Cable could need replaced also.
If the front brake seems meh, I believe you can replace the line and fork guard with the newer CR-style, see the 55 bike above for his cable routing. If you're going to replace the fluid - it's TOP dollar - but Castrol SRF is unbeatable. Second place is Maxima.
P.s., I noticed on the fridge the DeCal backgrounds from an RM 85. Would love to see some of those pics.
Enjoy your new blue rocket brother.
Do wallets speak exclusively two stroke? Must a wallet with a four stroke or electric inclination remain forever more in the garage?
I think the OP has been humbled by those who would deny the inherent free speech right of all wallets.
Pit Row
BTW, nice YZ. I have an 06 YZ125 and love it.
Hahahahaha
Great bike! Back in 2014 I sold my four stroke and found a cherry 02' YZ250. It was immaculate with a FMF Fatty, Powercore II, 9oz FWW. It was one of the most fun bikes I have ever owned. Buttery smooth, especially after coming off an aluminum perimeter frame. I quit riding in 19' but I couldn't bring myself to sell it until last year. I hated seeing it in my shop not being ridden.
Enjoy!
I know it’s been about a year since I made this. Just wanted to give an update if anyone is interested while I have some downtime(had to get hernia surgery😔)
https://youtu.be/HQdsqRTFVEo?si=xZ58Iz48xyEaZ0Wa
Best weekend of my year was Doug Henry’s Labor Day party. I got a chance to talk with the legend himself about it there and he actually told me he was a huge fan of the stock forks, and to not bother with doing some big conversion. He said just add more oil to them if they feel like they bottom too easy. 2 stroke clips start at 4:15 in this one!
https://youtu.be/8TGkKMDQt8s?si=xuBOGOGS7ELdMnNG
Crazy thing is, these steel framed YZs are as good or better than the current ones.
OP's redemption story that keeps on giving. We need more of those these days/months/years. 👍
Great post Creature564. Those YZ 250s are the dogs bollocks. One of the best bikes ever made and you need to Cherish your time spinning laps on it.
There’s a reason McGrath didn’t want to go to the aluminum frame, and chose the Suzuki instead. And there’s a reason Jerry Robin did so well at 16yo on a steel framed CR 250.
I totally agree. Had an 07 a few years ago and it was just ok, and I rode a friend’s brand new yz a lil bit this year for comparison. I like everything about mine more than his. On certain tracks/days I’d find it hard for any bike to beat my 23 sxf450 but it’s simply not even close in the fun factor. Screaming around berms on the 03 is what dreams are made of
Yeh from 98-04 they got 4 SX titles and in 02-03 came very close to adding 2 more!
I see why Chad swears by them. Not to mention Doug doing the privateer thing out of the pickup being very competitive.
Picked up a very low hr 2001 ..3 years ago..went through it didn’t need much…PC pipe & silencer, Vforce, apex head and jetting….Ti shock spring from an older yz450…RG3 top clamp…forks rebuilt by BillyThe kid😎…upgraded front brake to Cr style routing steel braided line….Finally got a few hrs on it this past summer, mostly at my friends private Vet Sx track and Parker Mx…..Shocked at how good this bike still is…fast and handles great…should have brought it down to Florida with me but took my CR125 …..
Thyre5 heavy as fuck and suspension sucks . He's taking a massive step down
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