I have the 2004 RMZ 250, exactly the same as the 2005...well the rad are bigger on '05, but everything else is the same. The weakness of these bikes is the valve train. A lot of older RMZ 250 owners have switched over to aftermarket valve train. I used my bike for about 1 week when I got it and got tired of shimming every 4 hours. I put in all new Kibblewhite valve train, hot cams stage 2, wiseco timing chain, wiseco piston/rings, and got the seats cut for the new valves...yes lots of money was spent, but the bike was cheap and I do all the work myself minus the cutting of the seats. The bike rips and I've been racing/riding for awhile and that includes sportbike track days. At the same time I put on a Boysen water pump/oil filter cover and fluidyne rads. They are great bikes once you tweak them a bit.