Posts
33
Joined
10/12/2010
Location
Wahiawa, HI
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 10:57am
im thinking about byeing one of these bike as my first 4-stroke. I'd like to here some peoples thoughts about the bike
The Shop
The reason the valves drop on any of the 4 strokes is because you or your kids,do and try to bang them off the limiter on starts and just anytime you think its cool to hear them banging off the limiter.Duh thats just stupid anyway.
I have since put the Athena 290 kit on it and I GUARANTEE I will pull 2012's on a start,maybe not the rest of the track,because of rider,but I will out power them.
Max rebo420,its all a matter of if its been taken care of and if you take care of it,as with any bike
@neyhart98dad - I 100% doubt your 1984 rmz290 can pull any new 250f. Your blowing poo poo out your mouth.
2004 RMZ250
If you buy the bike, just keep an extra 2 grand on hand for the repair. Buying a used 250F is not a smart decision.
Whats your riding experience and size by the way? If your new to moto, a 250 two stroke will be a bit much.
If you absolutely have to buy a 7 year old 4 stroke, then the YZ250Fs are the most bullet proof..they seem to run forever on just basic maintenance
Eric Gorr on the KXF/RMZ- This has to be the most unreliable dirt bike ever built. And the good news is we can help you out. The entire engine is littered with an overwhelming design thought process of planned obsolescence. We have many updates for the lower end, but the top end is what we specialize in. The valve train is the weakest link. The stock cams are soft and the edges don't have enough chamfer. Hot Cams ($320) help the situation by opening and closing the valves softer than the stock cam. The buckets tend to form a tiny round spot in the face and eventually they shatter. Kibblewhite makes hardened PVD coated buckets ($140 set 4) that are far more reliable than the stock buckets. The valve train service interval is extended and the engine gets a boost in top end but sacrifices a bit of bottom end. We perform a valve job with porting ($195) because the stock valve job one is horrible, not concentric at all. The bad stock valve job causes the stock titanium valve heads to break over time and destroy the engine. Kibblewhite Black Diamond stainless steel valves make the biggest difference in longevity. For long-term reliability you need all the parts with valves, springs, and buckets ($550).
On the cylinder head, the cams use half ball bearings and half plain bearings. If the oil level or pressure drop the cams can seize to the plain bearings, causing the engine to lock solid. We can usually fix that problem with honing and polishing of the plain bearing.
Regarding big bore kits there are two alternatives; 262 and 290cc Its possible to bore and plate the stock cylinder to 262cc using a Wiseco Hi-Compression Pro-Lite piston kit ($400). However there are some potential problems with big boring a KXF or RMZ250, a well-used lower end has the potential for snapping the connecting rod. Hot Rod makes a heavy-duty aftermarket connecting rod. The tiny oil sump screens clog easily on this model causing a loss of oil flow that usually causes the exhaust cam and buckets to wear in a round pattern. If you have a 2004 model we can improve the gear shifting with the installation of the 05 shift star and plate ($75).
Overheating can be a problem for the 2004 model due to 2 reasons; clutch slippage and coolant flow. When the clutch slips the crankcase oil temperature increases, stiffer clutch springs from Pro Circuit ($50) and Moose Racing plates ($90) will reduce slippage and engine temperature. Regarding the coolant flow, the problem is duo fold; flow rate and capacity. Boyesen makes a high flow waterpump kit ($150) with an impellor and shaped housing that allows you to change the oil filter without draining the coolant. For big bores, engines run in hot hilly climates, Fluidyne radiators ($365 set 2) are a must have item. Fluidyne radiators have more surface area at the core and the frame is very solid and resists bending. Also the top and bottom radiator tanks are oversized and hold more volume of coolant.
Pit Row
Bike has 133 hrs on it,only thing ever done to it is maintenance,the big bore kit, cam chain and tensioner,clutches,oil & filter changes.The only thing else I've done is frt rim 2 times,1 cracked 1 bent.
It has been a really good bike to me and for me.I have heard of people having troubles with them.But after either seeing the way they ride or the lack of maintenance they do on a old bike or new bike its more riders fault than bikes fault.
I have raced over 30 class since 04,and even the older guys I've seen come to the line and steadily rap their bike off the limiter from the time they get there till the time the gate drops.The only time mine hits the limiter is if I'm in a OH **** moment.
Anyway just wanted to clarify it is a 2004 RMZ250 and has been my favorite bike I've owned,
To each their own ,I guess.
I had one for two years and then it went to my brother. Still on original valves and everything. Valves have been adjusted once. Never overheats, never had a bearing failure. No problems whatsoever. I also take care of my bikes and change the oil and clean the filter. The thing that bike HAD to have was the pro circuit water pump cover. If the one your looking at doesnt and you buy that bike, get one first thing. You dont want to have to drain your water evertime you change the oil.
Other than that, the bike handles like a Kawi, because it is one. It has a very mellow engine that is mostly low end. No overrev at all in stock form.
I worked for American Suzuki Motor Corp. until 08 and never heard all of this BS from actual owners of that bike. Sure someone would blow one up here and there, but so do Hondas and Yamahas.
Eric Gore has a vested interest in selling you parts and upgrades. He will say that every design is terrible, but guess what? He has the parts to fix it. $$$$$$
Lets here from actual owners of this bike and maybe Im wrong, but it wouldnt be a bad buy if its cheap $1500 or less and is in good shape.
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