98 KX250 opinion

NJKawi913
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NJKawi913 9/19/2017 1:17pm
9/19/2017 1:17pm
Cancerman wrote:
The 1998 KX250 was a very good year. That generation bike was actually better than the last generation KX250. The bumper KYB forks and shock is...
The 1998 KX250 was a very good year. That generation bike was actually better than the last generation KX250. The bumper KYB forks and shock is your weakest link. If you are just riding it, don't worry, set it up for your weight. Keep the motor fresh, run good gas. The FMF/PC pipe adds a bit, good mod. At 1K for a running example, that's a steal. Last one we had at the shop, it looked a little fresher, but we sold it for $2400. The powerband makes it a fun bike to ride. If you are a KX man, go for it.
I've heard mixed things about the suspension. I'm not going crazy making old suspension try to perform like modern tech, probably just swap the fork and shock springs to match my weight, along with new seals and bushings
xr70
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xr70 9/19/2017 5:36pm
9/19/2017 5:36pm Edited Date/Time 9/19/2017 5:41pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
$1000 is a deal in the condition you described . I had a 97 , great bike and the 98 is said to be better.
NJKawi913 wrote:
here the bike for reference.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/09/18/215371/s1200_kx250.jpg[/img]
here the bike for reference.

Bike probably needs everything,! By the time u are done with it u will have more money in that what u will pay for some nice used YZ250 and the bike still will be POS .
2
gsxr6
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gsxr6 9/19/2017 7:58pm
9/19/2017 7:58pm Edited Date/Time 9/19/2017 8:00pm
gsxr6 wrote:
Buddy has one. After a crank and sleeve it's a good bike. Turns better than the 99-07 imho. Both generations. Slightly flat top end, pro circuit...
Buddy has one. After a crank and sleeve it's a good bike. Turns better than the 99-07 imho. Both generations. Slightly flat top end, pro circuit works pipe helps with that. Good luck
BobPA wrote:
Those Kawi's are great.

The '98's turn no where near as well as the 03+ bikes
I disagree wholeheartedly and feel that my 2000 model was also better. 03 and up twitchy, still push center out like a 2000 or 98 imho. The 03 to 07 are one of the few bikes I ever rode that neither turned particularly well while also being unstable. The 98 has a very Honda feel to the turning radius and high bars. Just rode it a few weeks ago back to back with my 2014 yzf450 and my 2017 crf450. It's a good bike. I owned my 2000 for 7 years as my exclusive bike, and consider myself knowledgeable on the last three generations of kx250 chassis. The 05 motor rips. The 03 I rode had less power than the 98 or 2000 to me. Neither the 03 or 05 I rode handled well, so I passed on buying them lol.
BobPA
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BobPA 9/19/2017 8:04pm
9/19/2017 8:04pm Edited Date/Time 9/19/2017 8:05pm
I had a 99, 01, 02, 03, and currently have an 06...my old man had a 98. To me, the '06 is better in every aspect than the previous generations. The 98 and older have a particularly "old" feeling to them. The 99-02 chassis was ultra stable, but pushed...great engines though.

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H4L
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H4L 9/19/2017 8:24pm
9/19/2017 8:24pm
xr70 wrote:
Bike probably needs everything,! By the time u are done with it u will have more money in that what u will pay for some nice...
Bike probably needs everything,! By the time u are done with it u will have more money in that what u will pay for some nice used YZ250 and the bike still will be POS .
Real inspiring...
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loftyair
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loftyair 9/19/2017 8:31pm
9/19/2017 8:31pm
I had the 98 kx250. The motor and rear suspension was stellar. Fork and tight-corners was not so good. Brakes just so-so. A bit of motor work, a fork fix, and some brakes make it an awesome machine. Only lack-luster spot is the tighter stuff.
Fresh
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Fresh 9/19/2017 8:32pm
9/19/2017 8:32pm
xr70 wrote:
Bike probably needs everything,! By the time u are done with it u will have more money in that what u will pay for some nice...
Bike probably needs everything,! By the time u are done with it u will have more money in that what u will pay for some nice used YZ250 and the bike still will be POS .
It's not about how much you spend. It's about how much fun you have spending it
H4L
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H4L 9/19/2017 8:34pm
9/19/2017 8:34pm Edited Date/Time 9/19/2017 8:53pm
Had a 97 CR250r at the time while a fellow rider owned a 97 KX250. The KX handled well in comparison, but signed off a lot sooner than the CR. Rode an 05 KX250 with mods about 10 yrs, back & the handling / turning was one of the worst experiences I've had riding a bike. The last gen 05-07 KX250 chassis is not as good as the 97-98 models IMHO.
tempura
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tempura 9/19/2017 8:39pm
9/19/2017 8:39pm
My 01 is a solid bike, and isn't a world apart from the 98.
Pipe, Boyesen rad valve, ride engineering "CR" brake line routing, PC works kit suspension. It rips!!
Micahdogg
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Micahdogg 9/20/2017 1:10pm
9/20/2017 1:10pm
I liked mine alot. Engine was great, suspension was soft though.


avidchimp
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avidchimp 9/20/2017 5:49pm
9/20/2017 5:49pm
Had a '98 as well, and I also agree that everything on that bike was great. I've always been a lugger, so the bottom-mid power was great for me. The forks were total garbage on an MX track no matter how much I had the guys at P.C. work on them. Shock was amazing though...
NJKawi913
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NJKawi913 9/25/2017 6:36am
9/25/2017 6:36am
thanks for the input, i picked the bike up and am really impressed with it. It's my first two stroke and im suprised by the low end torque it has, and pulls like a tractor down low right through the power band. Also im going to start a post in the build thread this coming week, if your interested check it out (however i probably wont get any real progress going until after december).
Jbulz
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Jbulz 9/25/2017 8:34am
9/25/2017 8:34am
My Dad has a '98 that I grew up riding. I really like the bike a lot, my only complaints are that the shifter is too close to the foot peg, and that the top calf area of my old SG10s used to hook inside of the shroud, effectively locking your lower body to the bike. That was terrifying when it happened in whoops or on jump faces!

I really like the ergos and handling of the bike, just get rid of the rising rate spring forks and it will be a world of difference. I'm a heavier mid pack B rider, and even though the suspension is soft, it just works great in most conditions. I wouldn't go crazy swapping forks and shock for newer stuff honestly. Get it rebuilt and sprung for your weight and I bet you'll be plenty happy.
Tenacious P
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Tenacious P 9/25/2017 7:57pm
9/25/2017 7:57pm
Had a '97. Those 2T Kawi's had mad torque. I loved that bike, much smoother than my manic CR.
sandman768
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sandman768 12/17/2019 5:55pm
12/17/2019 5:55pm
Hank_Nobles88 wrote:
I gotta nice 98 kx 250 for sale asking 1500 obo over all nice bike [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/12/17/392179/s1200_received_712394565948966.jpg[/img]
I gotta nice 98 kx 250 for sale asking 1500 obo over all nice bike
If you decide to part it out, I will take the spoke wraps & radiator grilles..👍
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