After working in the motorcycle industry for over 20 years, I have a saying I tell folks when they say they found a good deal on a bike. "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap motorcycle." Having said that, I have a basket case 1998 yz250 I'm restoring... I know what I'm getting into but gonna do it anyway. I enjoy these projects. I feel ya brother.
Got the same bike, same struggles for the most part. Thing is friggin sweet now though. Upgrades for woods were the 13 oz steahly FW weight, FMF Gnarly and FMF Turbinecore, 36mm keihin pwk, michelin bibs, IRC Gekko on rear,, ims oversize tank, 52T rear sprocket. Run AV gas in that machine bro, it will cut down on pinging (which is actually better tolerated by YZs high compression motor). It will lean the bike out moderately, had to re jett, but makes a huge difference. Your 💯 on the steel frame flexing too...way better feel in woods. Happy Braapin!
I just bought an 01, ran perfect on the test ride. Got it home, found multiple cross threaded bolts. My first trail ride ended after 10 minutes with low compression and a dragging clutch. Its turning into a money pit fast, been waiting weeks for parts to come in.
Makes me feel a little better about the same thing happening to me when a seller completely lied about a 2002 cr250 I bought. Now I’m into that stupid thing about $7,000 and like you said, 100’s of hours of work. I will say I learned a ton and it feels good knowing if anything were to go wrong on it in the future, I’ll know exactly how to fix it. Hey at least we both have some really awesome 2 strokes to mob around on. Your bike turned out great!
Beautiful! I have that same bike, it’s just as good as a newer one due to almost the same exact engine. So why would you want it newer except the newer plastics and graphics? Can you say superficial??! My 00 just destroys everything I put to! I do however own an 02 and an 05 with the aluminum frame. The YZ250, is the absolute do anything dirt bike period. You can put all day in 1st, 2nd, or pin it to 5th on long fire roads. It’ll take you home afterwards. You’ll sit there wondering where you’ve been! lol! Then say now that was a trip!! I own 3 YZ250’s 2 YZ125’s an 03 RM250, and a 03 CR500AF. Total destruction. My bikes rip!!
I have the same bike there are good bikes mine had low hours mine has a flywheel weight and I geared it down one tooth it’s great for the woods and stock pipe has the best power been on some gnarly hard enduro trails and has never let me down
Steel frame is so much better than the rigid aluminum framed bikes. Steel is more costly to build/weld ect, that is why they moved to aluminum. With inflation everything is expensive and of course gas/diesel going up weekly.
Wow looking at the pics alone that bike was a goner. No way anyone should have touched it. But you saved it and it deserves it. Props to you sir. As for converting it to yz250x. I’ll call out a total waist of money. Specially if you get in those cases just to change gears. No way. The YZ is every bit as capable or more capable than the yzx.
It's gotten bad. Be patient and wait for the deal your looking for to pop up....there's always going to be people out there who need money NOW and will take way less than asking because of. There's deals but few and far between. Patients is best.
I just bought an 04 yz 250 with a lectron carb it won’t idle right for some reason it’s either too high or to low any tips I guess the piston might be wore out or just needs a clean any tips
Awesome looking bike! Would you do it again or just buy a newer bike that you don’t have to tear down? Curious what you had to put into it in money wise in order to get it like it is now. Bike looks so sweet has that classic YZ look and not overdone.
Well at this point i had 5k and about 7 months in it. This was round 1 i made it 100%. And then i did a yz250x conversion which kicked it up to 7500.00 spent and btw nothing was really spent for cosmetics. So by this point i would just suggest buying new. Or find a good deal on a almost new bike thats all ready set up about how you want it. After all this the bike only sold for 3000 bucks with 20hrs on it and tons of extra parts. So no i would not do it agian.
@aarfdood yeah, I sold it. No matter how much I did to it. It was still a better track bike than a woods bike. I used to love the yz250 platform until I got ruined by the ktms. And for the money might as well just get a new sled. Just an opinion.
After working in the motorcycle industry for over 20 years, I have a saying I tell folks when they say they found a good deal on a bike. "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap motorcycle." Having said that, I have a basket case 1998 yz250 I'm restoring... I know what I'm getting into but gonna do it anyway. I enjoy these projects. I feel ya brother.
It'll be worth it man post a video
Got the same bike, same struggles for the most part. Thing is friggin sweet now though. Upgrades for woods were the 13 oz steahly FW weight, FMF Gnarly and FMF Turbinecore, 36mm keihin pwk, michelin bibs, IRC Gekko on rear,, ims oversize tank, 52T rear sprocket. Run AV gas in that machine bro, it will cut down on pinging (which is actually better tolerated by YZs high compression motor). It will lean the bike out moderately, had to re jett, but makes a huge difference. Your 💯 on the steel frame flexing too...way better feel in woods. Happy Braapin!
I just bought an 01, ran perfect on the test ride. Got it home, found multiple cross threaded bolts. My first trail ride ended after 10 minutes with low compression and a dragging clutch. Its turning into a money pit fast, been waiting weeks for parts to come in.
Well on the bright side its a good starting platform. It can be made to feel like a modern bike with a few mods.
eBay is the key component in parts new and used.
I have 2016. Then I rode a '02 with steel frame..and it felt better in corners to me
Agreed. I've had many aluminum frame yz's as well. And the steel frame has a nice feel.
Makes me feel a little better about the same thing happening to me when a seller completely lied about a 2002 cr250 I bought. Now I’m into that stupid thing about $7,000 and like you said, 100’s of hours of work. I will say I learned a ton and it feels good knowing if anything were to go wrong on it in the future, I’ll know exactly how to fix it. Hey at least we both have some really awesome 2 strokes to mob around on. Your bike turned out great!
Honestly this is probably my last full restoration. Because at this point might as well buy new. 😄
Beautiful! I have that same bike, it’s just as good as a newer one due to almost the same exact engine. So why would you want it newer except the newer plastics and graphics? Can you say superficial??! My 00 just destroys everything I put to! I do however own an 02 and an 05 with the aluminum frame. The YZ250, is the absolute do anything dirt bike period. You can put all day in 1st, 2nd, or pin it to 5th on long fire roads. It’ll take you home afterwards. You’ll sit there wondering where you’ve been! lol! Then say now that was a trip!! I own 3 YZ250’s 2 YZ125’s an 03 RM250, and a 03 CR500AF. Total destruction. My bikes rip!!
Just got a 99’ ! Seems bullet proof so far ! Looking forward to the builds man 🤌🏻
Thanks. Happy trails🤠
I have the same bike there are good bikes mine had low hours mine has a flywheel weight and I geared it down one tooth it’s great for the woods and stock pipe has the best power been on some gnarly hard enduro trails and has never let me down
I've actually already since this video changed it to a cross country Bike. 250x transmission,250x power valve spring, 51 tooth rear, etc.
I use my YZ as a cross country hare scramble bike just like it comes off the showroom floor.
Steel frame is so much better than the rigid aluminum framed bikes. Steel is more costly to build/weld ect, that is why they moved to aluminum. With inflation everything is expensive and of course gas/diesel going up weekly.
Wow looking at the pics alone that bike was a goner. No way anyone should have touched it. But you saved it and it deserves it. Props to you sir. As for converting it to yz250x. I’ll call out a total waist of money. Specially if you get in those cases just to change gears. No way. The YZ is every bit as capable or more capable than the yzx.
I agree. I already did the trans swap. Nothing to write home about. I actually preferred how 3rd and 4th were spaced before the wide ratio trans.
if only you could still find bikes like this. most people will charge $2500 for an old ass bike that don't run.
It's gotten bad. Be patient and wait for the deal your looking for to pop up....there's always going to be people out there who need money NOW and will take way less than asking because of. There's deals but few and far between. Patients is best.
I just bought an 04 yz 250 with a lectron carb it won’t idle right for some reason it’s either too high or to low any tips I guess the piston might be wore out or just needs a clean any tips
Mine did the same. What mix are you running?
Yeah it’s a Budget build go’s on to put 500$ carb on
Awesome looking bike! Would you do it again or just buy a newer bike that you don’t have to tear down? Curious what you had to put into it in money wise in order to get it like it is now. Bike looks so sweet has that classic YZ look and not overdone.
Well at this point i had 5k and about 7 months in it. This was round 1 i made it 100%.
And then i did a yz250x conversion which kicked it up to 7500.00 spent and btw nothing was really spent for cosmetics. So by this point i would just suggest buying new. Or find a good deal on a almost new bike thats all ready set up about how you want it. After all this the bike only sold for 3000 bucks with 20hrs on it and tons of extra parts.
So no i would not do it agian.
@@texas2strokes727damn man, you sold it??😅
@aarfdood yeah, I sold it. No matter how much I did to it. It was still a better track bike than a woods bike. I used to love the yz250 platform until I got ruined by the ktms. And for the money might as well just get a new sled. Just an opinion.
@texas2strokes727 no doubt man. My son will inherit my yz one day. Hopefully by then Sherco parts will be more available for my new bike, 😆
hi can i ask where did you get the graphics?
Ebay. One of the comments had a link attached. I'm not sure if they are still available.
I'll never sell mine
Sounds like a two hundred dollar bike..