1992 YZ250

[KDXrider1989]

any comments about this bike? found one in my area for cheap, might just be my next project

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/3218632433.html

[rbates9]

any comments about this bike? found one in my area for cheap, might just be my next project

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/3218632433.html

For the price it would be hard to go wrong. I would buy it. Even just for a spare.

[Julien D]

My buddies 89 yz250 is some of the most fun I've ever had on 2 wheels. I'd jump on it!

[fuzzy]

That is the '89 era chassis....shame it's not a 93, but great bikes. Gobs of power. Lots of NOS MX parts on ebay too....I outfitted my WR with lots of nice stuff for pennies on the dollar.

[KDXrider1989]

That is the '89 era chassis....shame it's not a 93, but great bikes. Gobs of power. Lots of NOS MX parts on ebay too....I outfitted my WR with lots of nice stuff for pennies on the dollar.

no kidding, I checked ebay last night for parts availability and there are TONS. This should be fun, I've read somewhere that they kinda fall flat on top end? Guess I'll have to fix it up and find out for myself! I'll go check it out tomorrow

[KDXrider1989]

picked it up about 2 hours ago. This bike is kinda ugly, oil and spray paint everywhere, a few missing bolts, torn seat, etc. But it looks like it doesn't need much to get it running, in fact I could probably have the motor running tonight! I'll definitely need to go through the whole bike though, as owner's neglect has shown its scars. I'm thinking about making this post a build/refresh process, what do y'all think?

[gsa102]

I had a '90, awesome motor, the forks were good but the shock was stiff. I ran it for my first few HS races, and the shock would beat me up. New seat foam is your friend....

Yea, a rebuild thread would be good to watch.

[fuzzy]

Mine doesn't overrev like crazy even with a PC pipe, but I don't know if I'd say it signs off early. It has a BEASTLY midrange. Mine is sitting simply needing a CS seal, and I think the carb is plain worn out....but I have a PWK that has been on it before....Great upgrade for technical riding. Check to see if a gold valve from a 93-95 will fit the shock. I know the forks are different (bigger on mine). I have a new gold valve, and never used it as I found a full pro-action susp all done up for woods and 200lb rider for $250. Can swap back to stock for high speed field duty etc. The stock susp is not very woods compliant, but tears it up at ludicrous speed.

[KDXrider1989]

I got the bike to run and drive, just need to work on cosmetics and a few other small stuff. The whole suspension needs work, forks and shock. This bike has a monstrous amount of power, fastest bike I've ever ridden so far, LOTS of torque too. I've test-ridden an RMX 250 at the beginning of summer and this bike puts it to shame, and it's not even completed yet! Only got it to 3rd gear because I don't have a front brake (master cylinder repair kit is on the way) and my rear brake kinda sucks. It steers nicely and would probably handle very well if I get the suspension rebuilt. I will update whenever I'm done with this bike, or close to being done

[rbates9]

Pics?

[KDXrider1989]

Here's what it looked like when I picked it up:













I really hate the pink shock, but it might be okay if I decide to keep the graphics. What do y'all think? It has an old, crappy paint job on all the plastics that I will have to paint over. The frame has a really bad paint job on it as well, but I dont have the time, material, and money to restore the frame so it's gonna have to do.

[Julien D]

Actually looks pretty good man. On my buddies 89, we did a complete rebuild. Every single bearing was replaced, engine rebuilt, powdercoated frame, and a few new aftermarket parts including pipe, silencer, pipe guard, bars and blah blah blah. I absolutely love that bike. It's a BLAST to ride. I think you'll be happy with this one, it looks like it just needs to be cleaned up. How's it running?

http://bikepics.com/members/factorfreejack/89yz250/

There's the 89 before and afters. He grafted on some later model plastics and hacked up a cheap set of quad graphics he got to dress it up. I kinda thought that was a mistake, but it still turned out pretty good. Most those graphics are gone now, it's clean plastics, and still looks great. The rebuild has been solid. Never seen a problem one out of that bike in a long time.

[KDXrider1989]

Nice! I could've gone with an entire rebuild, but I don't plan on keeping this bike anyway, just a fixer-upper for some profit and learning experience. I don't have the money or time either. General maintenance stuff just needed to be replaced: air filter, carb cleaned, reed petals rotated, all fluids changed, clean/grease all bearings, replace tires, replace all chain sliders and rollers, replace clutch cable, replace/create exhaust mounts and springs, and replace some missing bolts here and there, and give everything a nice thorough clean-up. It drives really good at the moment, but my air filter and clutch cable should come in tomorrow and then I can put everything back together and just start cleaning it up/repainting the plastics the "right" way. Should look pretty good cleaned up, think I should keep the graphics? It is a very powerful bike and super fast, I'm now considering trading/selling my CR125 for a newer 250cc YZ or CR the suspension on the bike needs work, but I dont think I will get around to that unless I find time and money

[rbates9]

New plastic might be a good investment. I bet it will make the bike worth at least what they cost more at sale time.

[gsa102]

That looks like a WR tank to me, but I may be wrong. I would scrap the graphics. I was able to find the 90 graphics at Dennis Kirk, but that was maybe 7-8 years ago.

[fuzzy]

The WR tank also requires use of WR seat FYI...I have a set of both.....With the same graphics on them :D

[gsa102]

Make sure the clutch cover is good, mine cracked in the middle and the crack was only visible from the inside.

[KDXrider1989]

here's some pictures of it "finished", it runs and drives excellent

[Dekon]

Looks realy nice.

[KDXrider1989]

I took the KDX out for a spin earlier today for the first time in about a month, maybe even longer. It felt super slow lol I guess I got used to the YZ. But I forgot how comfy and smooth the KDX is, and to think it has never seen a trail ride yet, or at least in the past 3 years. I'm gonna have to change that