reepicheep
Member
- Apr 3, 2009
- 670
- 2
So if you remember the story, this is a $1000 craigslist special. I talk to the sellers before buying, they assure me that it runs great, and is ready to ride. I ask about things (specifically) like missing spokes, broken frame, or other major issues. They assure me it's fine. It was, except for the missing spokes, broken frame, and other major issues. :whoa:
So I throw my 9 year old in the car with me, and drive two hours to look at the thing. It's dark, and its a long drive, and I have the cash in hand.
The bike does run, but is really really rough. Really rough. But it runs, so how bad can it be, right?
So I tell them I am not trying to jerk them around, but that the bike is much rougher then they described, and offer them $750 for it. They said Dad would kill them if they took less then $800, so I peel off the hundreds, load it in the trailer and Jack and I are off.
For background, I bought, blew up, and rebuilt a KLR-250 two years ago. A very cool dual sport, but last Jan I tore an ACL wrestling that stupid thing to point back downhill to make another run. Off the bike, just pushing it. Pop. Ow. :yikes:
So I knew I wasn't riding until the surgery, and after the surgery rehab, so I knew I had the summer to restore a bike. So I was actually looking for a dirt cheap beat to heck bike. I found it, but in hindsight, even $800 was too much. $400 would have been more like it, though in fairness, it would probably part out for $700 or so.
Anyway, I spent this summer rebuilding it. The piston was cracked, one kips chamber cover bolt was sheared, two spokes were missing, another three loose and rusted solid, the rear brake pin was frozen in the caliper, the frame was missing several important bits, the seat cover was trashed, the side panels were trashed, the rear fender was from a different bike and attached to the airbox with woodscrews, the air filter was chunks of rotten foam, the carb was thick with 10 years of goo, the cylinder was ruined from the cracked piston, the kickstand was from the wrong bike and several inches too short, the kick starter assembly was burr'd and missing some washers, the kick starter lever is the wrong part (though actually kind of nice, I kept that), the rear shock was completely empty and the shaft scored, the front fork gaitors were gone, the levers were broken, several radiator mounts were gone, the exhaust mounts were gone, the exhaust had about 1/2 of carbon all through it (literally), the suspension linkage bearings were rusted messes (though somehow the swingarm bearings were good), the bars were bent, many many bolts were wrong or missing, the rear sprocket was missing 10 to 15 teeth (not worn, gone), the output shaft from the transmission had the splines nearly stripped (thats a split the cases problem, right there), the original frame powdercoat was gone in many places, and green spray paint had been applied randomly in others with no masking, etc.
You get the idea. The most remarkable thing about this bike in this condition it *did* run. These KDX's are like the terminator... they just won't stop.
So anyway, after a lot of hunting on ebay, a lot of money to Dennis Kirk, a chunk of change to Eric Gorr for the 220 kit, and countless hours in the garage, it's running, and seems to be running great.
About all that is left now is to put a new clutch in it (the new power just spins the old clutch when it gets in the powerband) and hook up an old GPS somebody gave me for a odometer / tripmeter / speedometer. And then wait for Nov 10th, which is the first day the surgeon has cleared me for athletic activity again. Then it's off to the woods. Though I may sneak out to some nearby open fields with one of my sons on the neighbors honda 50 and break the motor in...
Thanks for all the help here! I couldn't have done it without you...
I'd guess my total investment was pushing $2500... but that inclues the 220 big bore kit and piston, new tires, new bearings, new seals (inside and outside the motor), etc. So not cheap, but not unreasonable either. Just don't factor in my labor :coocoo:
So I throw my 9 year old in the car with me, and drive two hours to look at the thing. It's dark, and its a long drive, and I have the cash in hand.
The bike does run, but is really really rough. Really rough. But it runs, so how bad can it be, right?
So I tell them I am not trying to jerk them around, but that the bike is much rougher then they described, and offer them $750 for it. They said Dad would kill them if they took less then $800, so I peel off the hundreds, load it in the trailer and Jack and I are off.
For background, I bought, blew up, and rebuilt a KLR-250 two years ago. A very cool dual sport, but last Jan I tore an ACL wrestling that stupid thing to point back downhill to make another run. Off the bike, just pushing it. Pop. Ow. :yikes:
So I knew I wasn't riding until the surgery, and after the surgery rehab, so I knew I had the summer to restore a bike. So I was actually looking for a dirt cheap beat to heck bike. I found it, but in hindsight, even $800 was too much. $400 would have been more like it, though in fairness, it would probably part out for $700 or so.
Anyway, I spent this summer rebuilding it. The piston was cracked, one kips chamber cover bolt was sheared, two spokes were missing, another three loose and rusted solid, the rear brake pin was frozen in the caliper, the frame was missing several important bits, the seat cover was trashed, the side panels were trashed, the rear fender was from a different bike and attached to the airbox with woodscrews, the air filter was chunks of rotten foam, the carb was thick with 10 years of goo, the cylinder was ruined from the cracked piston, the kickstand was from the wrong bike and several inches too short, the kick starter assembly was burr'd and missing some washers, the kick starter lever is the wrong part (though actually kind of nice, I kept that), the rear shock was completely empty and the shaft scored, the front fork gaitors were gone, the levers were broken, several radiator mounts were gone, the exhaust mounts were gone, the exhaust had about 1/2 of carbon all through it (literally), the suspension linkage bearings were rusted messes (though somehow the swingarm bearings were good), the bars were bent, many many bolts were wrong or missing, the rear sprocket was missing 10 to 15 teeth (not worn, gone), the output shaft from the transmission had the splines nearly stripped (thats a split the cases problem, right there), the original frame powdercoat was gone in many places, and green spray paint had been applied randomly in others with no masking, etc.
You get the idea. The most remarkable thing about this bike in this condition it *did* run. These KDX's are like the terminator... they just won't stop.
So anyway, after a lot of hunting on ebay, a lot of money to Dennis Kirk, a chunk of change to Eric Gorr for the 220 kit, and countless hours in the garage, it's running, and seems to be running great.
About all that is left now is to put a new clutch in it (the new power just spins the old clutch when it gets in the powerband) and hook up an old GPS somebody gave me for a odometer / tripmeter / speedometer. And then wait for Nov 10th, which is the first day the surgeon has cleared me for athletic activity again. Then it's off to the woods. Though I may sneak out to some nearby open fields with one of my sons on the neighbors honda 50 and break the motor in...
Thanks for all the help here! I couldn't have done it without you...
I'd guess my total investment was pushing $2500... but that inclues the 220 big bore kit and piston, new tires, new bearings, new seals (inside and outside the motor), etc. So not cheap, but not unreasonable either. Just don't factor in my labor :coocoo:
