Just a valve adjustment?

Or the valve seats are so beaten down it can't be adjusted anymore. Common on high-hour, abused older CRFs. Means you need a full head rebuild, and I'm sure lots more. I'd pass. 13 year old used bikes are never a bargain, especially 4 strokes.

I own one and have been through this. Definitely the valves and definitely going to cost you big time in about 20-30 hours of riding. You can maybe get by shimming your valves about 3 times before you have to do a top end rebuild. Each time you shim them, you will regulate your issues for about 10 hours of riding. Start saving your money if you're trying to buy that bike. You're looking at at least 1-1.5k to have someone rebuild the top end.. Other than that, Its a very solid bike. IMO, I wouldn't buy it unless you're paying like 1500 and its solid. Its just not worth the headache you're about to experience.

He's probably selling it because it needs the head done. I'd run away as fast as possible unless you have a grand to throw at it as soon as you buy it.

If you buy it, be ready to replace the valves, seats, guides, springs, piston, timing chain, and get the carb cleaned and jetted. That bike obviously hasnt been cared for

OP, if you bought a 2 stroke you wouldn't have to worry about valves and you could also change your username to PullinAlltheGirls

Squirrelings wrote:

He's probably selling it because it needs the head done. I'd run away as fast as possible unless you have a grand to throw at it as soon as you buy it.

Exactly.

^ Yes, that is code for "it needs a head". And while you're in there, gaskets, a top-end, the chain and sprockets that are clapped, etc...

mattyhamz2 wrote:

OP, if you bought a 2 stroke you wouldn't have to worry about valves and you could also change your username to PullinAlltheGirls

I dont have a job at the moment. A two stroke would be my choice but I just dont have the money for it atm

mattyhamz2 wrote:

OP, if you bought a 2 stroke you wouldn't have to worry about valves and you could also change your username to PullinAlltheGirls

PullinNoGirls wrote:

I dont have a job at the moment. A two stroke would be my choice but I just dont have the money for it atm

What is your budget?

mattyhamz2 wrote:

OP, if you bought a 2 stroke you wouldn't have to worry about valves and you could also change your username to PullinAlltheGirls

PullinNoGirls wrote:

I dont have a job at the moment. A two stroke would be my choice but I just dont have the money for it atm

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What is your budget?

$2000 max. I still have to get new gear.

PullinNoGirls wrote:

I dont have a job at the moment. A two stroke would be my choice but I just dont have the money for it atm

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What is your budget?

PullinNoGirls wrote:

$2000 max. I still have to get new gear.

You can pick up a 2 stroke for that, easily. There's an 05 YZ250 in Lancaster for $2000. Really clean!

PullinNoGirls wrote:

I dont have a job at the moment. A two stroke would be my choice but I just dont have the money for it atm

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What is your budget?

PullinNoGirls wrote:

$2000 max. I still have to get new gear.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/d/99-yz250/6700548407.html

See you at the track.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

What is your budget?

PullinNoGirls wrote:

$2000 max. I still have to get new gear.

Stuntman949 wrote:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/d/99-yz250/6700548407.html

See you at the track.

Haha I started looking too

PullinNoGirls wrote:

$2000 max. I still have to get new gear.

Stuntman949 wrote:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/d/99-yz250/6700548407.html

See you at the track.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Haha I started looking too

Thanks I appreciate it

Stuntman949 wrote:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/d/99-yz250/6700548407.html

See you at the track.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Haha I started looking too

PullinNoGirls wrote:

Thanks I appreciate it

You might have to drive a bit to get something, but they are out there in your price range. There's no shortage.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Haha I started looking too

PullinNoGirls wrote:

Thanks I appreciate it

mattyhamz2 wrote:

You might have to drive a bit to get something, but they are out there in your price range. There's no shortage.

I can do la to Las Vegas so a drive isn't a hassle

PullinNoGirls wrote:

Thanks I appreciate it

mattyhamz2 wrote:

You might have to drive a bit to get something, but they are out there in your price range. There's no shortage.

PullinNoGirls wrote:

I can do la to Las Vegas so a drive isn't a hassle

Then you'll have a bike in no time. Just keep checking CL in LA, Vegas and surrounding areas. There are plenty out there.

Donovan759 wrote:

I own one and have been through this. Definitely the valves and definitely going to cost you big time in about 20-30 hours of riding. You can maybe get by shimming your valves about 3 times before you have to do a top end rebuild. Each time you shim them, you will regulate your issues for about 10 hours of riding. Start saving your money if you're trying to buy that bike. You're looking at at least 1-1.5k to have someone rebuild the top end.. Other than that, Its a very solid bike. IMO, I wouldn't buy it unless you're paying like 1500 and its solid. Its just not worth the headache you're about to experience.

Having owned an 04, 05, and 06 Donovan is right. Once the valves start moving they aren't going to stop and shimming will only be a bandaid. You'll need new valves, and have seats cut and machined in. You'll also want to replace the piston, cam chain, and other valvetrain wearing parts while you're in there to freshen the whole thing up.

However it WILL NOT cost 1-1.5k. maybe if you take everything to the dealer it would? But you can do the work yourself and have a machine shop clean up the head and be good to for under $600.

2 words: MONEY PIT!

Run from that one. If all it needed was a valve adjustment, why didn't he do it?
Plus, that was at a point time when all the OEM's were trying to develop their 4 strokes and struggling with reliabilty. Lots of issues back then, including valves.

A couple years later they all improved drastically.

Save your money and wait for a good 07 or newer. Or as some have said, find a nice 2 stroke.

Those old hondas ate valves. Just avoid it. Best 4 stroke of that era is the KX. 2 strokes are more better though

If you insist on a crf250r, look for a 14-17 low hour unit. They’re pretty reliable and can be nodded easily.
GL, Ghost

colintrax wrote:

Those old hondas ate valves. Just avoid it. Best 4 stroke of that era is the KX. 2 strokes are more better though

You’re kidding right? Honda got the valve seat issue fixed by 07 - you can’t be advocating anyone touch a 05-07 KXF/RMZ!?!?

colintrax wrote:

Those old hondas ate valves. Just avoid it. Best 4 stroke of that era is the KX. 2 strokes are more better though

MxKing809 wrote:

You’re kidding right? Honda got the valve seat issue fixed by 07 - you can’t be advocating anyone touch a 05-07 KXF/RMZ!?!?

Hes looking at a 05 honda. The KX was all new for 2006. Best 250F that year hands down. The 2004 2005 wasnt awful, just needs a new cover. Still a better bike than the honda, and faster than the Yamaha.

colintrax wrote:

Those old hondas ate valves. Just avoid it. Best 4 stroke of that era is the KX. 2 strokes are more better though

MxKing809 wrote:

You’re kidding right? Honda got the valve seat issue fixed by 07 - you can’t be advocating anyone touch a 05-07 KXF/RMZ!?!?

colintrax wrote:

Hes looking at a 05 honda. The KX was all new for 2006. Best 250F that year hands down. The 2004 2005 wasnt awful, just needs a new cover. Still a better bike than the honda, and faster than the Yamaha.

Literally like everyone knows and accepts the best 250f of that era was yamaha. Same engine till 2013 so making it faster isnt a secret. They had reliability down in 01 better than the other brands until maybe recently lol

Donovan759 wrote:

I own one and have been through this. Definitely the valves and definitely going to cost you big time in about 20-30 hours of riding. You can maybe get by shimming your valves about 3 times before you have to do a top end rebuild. Each time you shim them, you will regulate your issues for about 10 hours of riding. Start saving your money if you're trying to buy that bike. You're looking at at least 1-1.5k to have someone rebuild the top end.. Other than that, Its a very solid bike. IMO, I wouldn't buy it unless you're paying like 1500 and its solid. Its just not worth the headache you're about to experience.

BroFoSho wrote:

Having owned an 04, 05, and 06 Donovan is right. Once the valves start moving they aren't going to stop and shimming will only be a bandaid. You'll need new valves, and have seats cut and machined in. You'll also want to replace the piston, cam chain, and other valvetrain wearing parts while you're in there to freshen the whole thing up.

However it WILL NOT cost 1-1.5k. maybe if you take everything to the dealer it would? But you can do the work yourself and have a machine shop clean up the head and be good to for under $600.

Local shop by me charges $40 to cut the seats and install new valves and springs. Just bring them the head and parts.

Do a compression test on it. That will help tell the condition of the top end for cheap.

if you have no job, spend what ever you have trying to get a job and paying bills. don't be stupid.

Once titanium valves start moving, they don't stop, like you'll be adjusting every ride until you're out of adjustment, but stainless moves more evenly and lots of people with older Hondas have swapped to stainless, so who knows what's in actually in there. If I were looking for an older crf250r/x, I wouldn't necessarily let it deter me if the bike were clean, it would just need to be a deal, like a $2k bike for $1k kind of thing.

Donovan759 wrote:

I own one and have been through this. Definitely the valves and definitely going to cost you big time in about 20-30 hours of riding. You can maybe get by shimming your valves about 3 times before you have to do a top end rebuild. Each time you shim them, you will regulate your issues for about 10 hours of riding. Start saving your money if you're trying to buy that bike. You're looking at at least 1-1.5k to have someone rebuild the top end.. Other than that, Its a very solid bike. IMO, I wouldn't buy it unless you're paying like 1500 and its solid. Its just not worth the headache you're about to experience.

BroFoSho wrote:

Having owned an 04, 05, and 06 Donovan is right. Once the valves start moving they aren't going to stop and shimming will only be a bandaid. You'll need new valves, and have seats cut and machined in. You'll also want to replace the piston, cam chain, and other valvetrain wearing parts while you're in there to freshen the whole thing up.

However it WILL NOT cost 1-1.5k. maybe if you take everything to the dealer it would? But you can do the work yourself and have a machine shop clean up the head and be good to for under $600.

Yeah, to clarify, I was stating the cost to have a dealer do all the work. There aren't a lot of non-dealer shops around me. Back in 2011 when I did mine, I had heard too many horror stories from my buddies who are mechanics doing their own top end and the bike blowing up minutes after the rebuild. When I had my top end redone in '11, it was around 1k.