Project bikes: how much is too much?

erik_94COBRA
Profile picture for user erik_94COBRA
Posts
951
Joined
7/21/2016
Location
Houston-ish, TX US
erik_94COBRA
Edited Date/Time 2/13/2019 3:14pm
Trying to rationalize pricing on a project bike. If all parts are present and in decent shape overall, how much would you spend on an early 2000s 250 2-stroke?

I paid $1k for a 2003 Honda CR250 in 2011 that needed a top end and to be reassembled. Had a title and a lot of extras though.
1
|
JAFO92
Profile picture for user JAFO92
Posts
4261
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX US
JAFO92 1/29/2019 6:35am
1/29/2019 6:35am
erik_94COBRA wrote:
Trying to rationalize pricing on a project bike. If all parts are present and in decent shape overall, how much would you spend on an early...
Trying to rationalize pricing on a project bike. If all parts are present and in decent shape overall, how much would you spend on an early 2000s 250 2-stroke?

I paid $1k for a 2003 Honda CR250 in 2011 that needed a top end and to be reassembled. Had a title and a lot of extras though.
When the time comes, I will gladly spend 2-3K on a total resto on my 2005 RM250. The end result would be a mechanically new bike that I already love how it handles/performs and I still would be spending a 1/3 of what new ones cost.

7
1
BobPA
Profile picture for user BobPA
Posts
8029
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
BobPA 1/29/2019 6:43am
1/29/2019 6:43am
I put a metric shit ton into a 2003 KX 125. Lots and lots of time too, don't regret it.

9
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 1/29/2019 6:52am
1/29/2019 6:52am
What do you plan to do with the bike when done? Ride, race, keep for years, sell right away? Nice 2 stroke 250's are easily selling in the 2-3 grand range these days, sometimes more. Buy a thousand dollar bike, spend $1500.00 on a rebuild with your time and effort, ride it for a few years, sell for $2500.00 when you get tired of it. Sounds like a free bike to me.
8
GeorgiePorgie 1/29/2019 6:54am
1/29/2019 6:54am
That’s a tough question. Only you know how emotionally attached you are to that specific bike and year.....

The Shop

See All »
kb228
Profile picture for user kb228
Posts
6161
Joined
1/31/2018
Location
Mansfield, OH US
kb228 1/29/2019 7:10am
1/29/2019 7:10am
Good condition id pay $2500 and not a penny more
1
pete24
Profile picture for user pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
pete24 1/29/2019 7:16am
1/29/2019 7:16am
throw a huge stack of 20 dollar bills at it , never ride it, feel shame that Newmann called you out, pull it back out of the corner and do the yz 250 tank conversion, o wait that's a project for another day
dont put a price on it make it how you want if you love it and don't try to calculate what its worth if you sell it, cuzs its not worth what you think it is, your doing it to enjoy it yourself
Moto520
Profile picture for user Moto520
Posts
3388
Joined
2/4/2013
Location
Schaumburg, IL US
Moto520 1/29/2019 7:18am
1/29/2019 7:18am
I'm always concerned about parts availability at this point. A 2001 is an 18 year old bike and I always wonder how much they have left in spare parts.
1
JBecker 72
Profile picture for user JBecker 72
Posts
1738
Joined
3/25/2014
Location
VA US
JBecker 72 1/29/2019 7:20am
1/29/2019 7:20am
I’m dropping $2k on my YZ250 motor right now. I have to buy the entire gearbox, new clutch, and I’m doing a new OE crank as well. Already have my cylinder, head, and piston ready to go. Basically the motor will be all new again. Still have to do some other things like tires and chain and sprockets. At least the bike and suspension was framed and serviced 10 hours ago and has all new bearings. I jut didn’t touch the engine at that time.

But I bought it brand new, it’s a great bike, it’s totally setup for me, and it’s worth dropping the money in it.
2
TriRacer27
Profile picture for user TriRacer27
Posts
5449
Joined
2/7/2009
Location
Dallas, TX US
Fantasy
44th
TriRacer27 1/29/2019 7:23am
1/29/2019 7:23am
I just spent $2K on a full restoration and rebuild of my 05 YZ250 and I LOVE it.

Like others said, it all depends on your reasoning. Are you just looking for an inexpensive 2-stroke, or are you attached to a particular model? Are you looking to flip it in a few years or keep for a while.

I knew I wouldn't get my "investment" back from what I spent on my bike, but that didn't matter. I like keeping my stuff in top working condition and that takes money. But my primary reason was this:


21
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10884
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
846th
mattyhamz2 1/29/2019 7:36am
1/29/2019 7:36am
TriRacer27 wrote:
I just spent $2K on a full restoration and rebuild of my 05 YZ250 and I LOVE it. Like others said, it all depends on your...
I just spent $2K on a full restoration and rebuild of my 05 YZ250 and I LOVE it.

Like others said, it all depends on your reasoning. Are you just looking for an inexpensive 2-stroke, or are you attached to a particular model? Are you looking to flip it in a few years or keep for a while.

I knew I wouldn't get my "investment" back from what I spent on my bike, but that didn't matter. I like keeping my stuff in top working condition and that takes money. But my primary reason was this:


Same dude! Paid $1500 for my 05 YZ250 and dropped $1500 on a complete rebuild including a new cylinder, 06 triple clamps, plastic kit and graphics. I saved by keeping my wheels from my 450 and buying the spacers from tusk that I needed for my bike. My pops helped me with the motor work so it was a bit of a father/son project in that aspect.

Here’s some pics of the day I got her and how she looks now


14
jt.hagerty
Profile picture for user jt.hagerty
Posts
262
Joined
2/9/2012
Location
OH US
Fantasy
2187th
jt.hagerty 1/29/2019 7:57am
1/29/2019 7:57am
I've rebuilt around 5 bikes. If you can end up getting a good deal upfront, most of the bikes I've restored ended up having 3-4k in them. It all depends on how far you want to go with the build. Most of the bikes I've done are from the 80's and some parts are harder to find and more expensive.

I recently went through a 2002 KTM 125, since it's newer I ended up having around $2200 in it. I have more fun restoring the older bikes than I do riding them.



7
BobPA
Profile picture for user BobPA
Posts
8029
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
BobPA 1/29/2019 8:05am
1/29/2019 8:05am
I guess I will shamelessly plug a photo of my project bike as well.



19
Moto520
Profile picture for user Moto520
Posts
3388
Joined
2/4/2013
Location
Schaumburg, IL US
Moto520 1/29/2019 8:17am
1/29/2019 8:17am
The rebuilds are some of the coolest threads to read! I really like the photo of Triracer and his kid "helping!" Great restore on the 05 YZ250
TriRacer27
Profile picture for user TriRacer27
Posts
5449
Joined
2/7/2009
Location
Dallas, TX US
Fantasy
44th
TriRacer27 1/29/2019 9:52am
1/29/2019 9:52am
Moto520 wrote:
The rebuilds are some of the coolest threads to read! I really like the photo of Triracer and his kid "helping!" Great restore on the 05...
The rebuilds are some of the coolest threads to read! I really like the photo of Triracer and his kid "helping!" Great restore on the 05 YZ250
Haha, yeah, he definitely "helped". Scared the crap out of me when I started it up and it sounded like it was tearing itself apart. I'm not very experienced at doing a complete overhaul, and my mind immediately thought about whether I had put the piston in backwards or forgot to tighten something. Maybe the flywheel wasn't on right?

Turns out he had dropped a couple sockets down the silencer to "fix it".
5
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 1/29/2019 11:06am
1/29/2019 11:06am
Whatever you do , don't listen to me. I have a way of making people turn a $500.00 core project bikes into $15,000.00 works of art.....THAT THEY RACE!




5
yz133rider
Profile picture for user yz133rider
Posts
4471
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA US
yz133rider 1/29/2019 11:18am
1/29/2019 11:18am
Moto520 wrote:
I'm always concerned about parts availability at this point. A 2001 is an 18 year old bike and I always wonder how much they have left...
I'm always concerned about parts availability at this point. A 2001 is an 18 year old bike and I always wonder how much they have left in spare parts.
With the internet that cant be a problem. I found parts for a 1971 rickman zundaap...u can find parts for a friggin 01 cr250 lol
FreshTopEnd
Profile picture for user FreshTopEnd
Posts
12476
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA US
Fantasy
4254th
FreshTopEnd 1/29/2019 11:18am
1/29/2019 11:18am
One thing that sometimes gets discounted in these discussions is the value of the satisfaction one gets from a project. When I work on a thrashed bike to nurse it back those working hours are a beautiful time detached from the world, and you almost feel the bike thanking you. It's really rewarding to bring a bike back. That whole process sometimes means more than the end result.
15
Cadpro18
Profile picture for user Cadpro18
Posts
174
Joined
10/17/2013
Location
Crystal Lake, IL US
Cadpro18 1/29/2019 11:39am
1/29/2019 11:39am
Started out getting the bike for free and ended up with over $10K in parts and about 250-300 hrs in labor over 4 months. It turned out too nice to ride so I had to get a 250SX. Some things don’t turn out as planned...


22

Pit Row

See All »
Turbojez
Profile picture for user Turbojez
Posts
2421
Joined
8/5/2015
Location
PL
Turbojez 1/29/2019 11:58am
1/29/2019 11:58am
If you are trying to rationalize it, you're doing it wrong!
I stop counting how much I spent about 2 weeks in, I don't need those sleepless nights. Grinning
4
JBecker 72
Profile picture for user JBecker 72
Posts
1738
Joined
3/25/2014
Location
VA US
JBecker 72 1/29/2019 11:59am
1/29/2019 11:59am
Cadpro18 wrote:
Started out getting the bike for free and ended up with over $10K in parts and about 250-300 hrs in labor over 4 months. It turned...
Started out getting the bike for free and ended up with over $10K in parts and about 250-300 hrs in labor over 4 months. It turned out too nice to ride so I had to get a 250SX. Some things don’t turn out as planned...


Gorgeous!
2
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6341
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Bruce372 1/29/2019 12:46pm
1/29/2019 12:46pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2019 2:20pm
Turbojez wrote:
If you are trying to rationalize it, you're doing it wrong! I stop counting how much I spent about 2 weeks in, I don't need those...
If you are trying to rationalize it, you're doing it wrong!
I stop counting how much I spent about 2 weeks in, I don't need those sleepless nights. Grinning
Jez, got your message-can you email me
lostboy819
Profile picture for user lostboy819
Posts
11520
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Somewhere, CO US
Fantasy
1342nd
lostboy819 1/29/2019 12:48pm
1/29/2019 12:48pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2019 12:51pm
The only way to rationalize pricing on a project bike is spend what ever you want, if you can afford it then why not. I spent a fair amount on my 2001 YZ125 just because I wanted to build a Yellow YZ and it is something I will keep just because I like it. Motocross bikes are almost never a good investment if you thinking of building it then selling it. I don' t even know how much I have in my YZ and I bought the bike for $100 to start with but I like it and that's all that matters.
My newest project. Guy Cooper is keeping an eye open for the few parts its missing



7
Turbojez
Profile picture for user Turbojez
Posts
2421
Joined
8/5/2015
Location
PL
Turbojez 1/29/2019 2:01pm
1/29/2019 2:01pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Jez, got your message-can you email me
Thanks for getting back at me, e-mail sent!
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 1/29/2019 2:56pm
1/29/2019 2:56pm
FreshTopEnd wrote:
One thing that sometimes gets discounted in these discussions is the value of the satisfaction one gets from a project. When I work on a thrashed...
One thing that sometimes gets discounted in these discussions is the value of the satisfaction one gets from a project. When I work on a thrashed bike to nurse it back those working hours are a beautiful time detached from the world, and you almost feel the bike thanking you. It's really rewarding to bring a bike back. That whole process sometimes means more than the end result.
I have no idea what you are talking about....Laughing

I sometimes find myself bringing entirely too many things back from the verge of death. I want to save them all!!!
3
kage173
Profile picture for user kage173
Posts
2184
Joined
11/27/2015
Location
TX US
kage173 1/29/2019 4:04pm
1/29/2019 4:04pm
It just depends if you are a real man or a sissy man. Only a sissy man would be reasonable and put a limit on it. The only answer is to spend more.
2
1
sandman768
Profile picture for user sandman768
Posts
6096
Joined
3/21/2014
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY US
sandman768 1/29/2019 5:26pm
1/29/2019 5:26pm
Go with the 2500.00 rule if you are concerned with resale....but isn’t this all about having fun? A lot of builds start out as “ I”m not going to spend a lot on this bike”
1
newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 1/29/2019 5:55pm
1/29/2019 5:55pm
Vitards never hesitate to go buy a new 9 grand 450 and spend another $5000.00 on wheels, pipe suspension and bling only to sell it all two years down the road for $4000.00 and think they did “good”. But someone even mentions spending a few grand dolling up a CL special and they all lose their shit.
10
drt410
Profile picture for user drt410
Posts
2075
Joined
3/18/2017
Location
Boston, MA US
drt410 1/29/2019 6:10pm
1/29/2019 6:10pm Edited Date/Time 1/29/2019 6:12pm
With me even with my car I pick a year that I really really like and then put my time, money, effort into it. Its worth it when you want something you genuinely really like if your not someone that needs something brand new just cuz its brand new. Certain things are timeless and worth the time and effort, plus then you dont just have the same shit as every other schmoe.

An example with a bike would be the 2014 huskys. Theyre pretty rare, beautiful, and still fairly modern. They were only made 1 year, those are worth keeping and working on.
1
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2500
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
CA US
H4L 1/29/2019 6:11pm
1/29/2019 6:11pm
I stopped putting a price on it within reason & focused more on the therapy it provides. I believe, If you truly have a passion for MX it's rewarding to work on these older 2t's..
2
langhammx
Profile picture for user langhammx
Posts
8945
Joined
5/5/2011
Location
Santa Clarita, CA US
Fantasy
581st
langhammx 1/29/2019 6:51pm
1/29/2019 6:51pm
I’m the wrong guy to ask that question....
I tend to feel the need to throw my wallet at every project I get involved with.
I got a good 100 hrs and $14K into the RM 250 that I’m about to sell for $8500.
5

Post a reply to: Project bikes: how much is too much?