I have been searching for a new 250cc dirtbike under $1000, and almost 50% of the dirtbikes I have found are 84-88 kx250's. Is there a reason that everyone wants to get rid of these?
I just went to look at one, a 1984, for $400. It is missing the radiater shrouds, brake pedal (and brake rod), side number plates (I don't care about these), and does not have a title.
The kid who has it now bought it from a friend who's neighbor gave it to him because it was "all crapped up." The kid who has it now put a new used rear fender on it and a new used rear tire that has somewhere between 3/8" and 1/2" of tread still on it. He also "rebuilt" the carb. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but he finished the sentence with something to the effect of "but it needs adjustment and I don't know how to set it." He also pulled the packing out of the muffler, saw that it was totally soaked in spooge, and put it back in again. When he fired up the bike for us (started third kick), I had to plug my ears because it was slightly louder than your average Harley at 5000 rpms (this was the bike idling). It then died 20 seconds later (he blamed it on the carb settings, my stepdad who is a mechanic thinks that the muffler might have choked it to death).
My stepdad thinks that it was a little low on compression (I forgot to bring the compression gauge), and when he turned it over by hand, you could hear a kind of slight hissing/windy sound on the compression stroke. My stepdad thinks air was getting past the rings. Could this sound have been the power valve (I know that's not what kx's have, but its something similar, don't remember the name) or something?
Oh, yeah, the exhaust pipe is covered in a nasty braze job (but they missed a crack) right in front of the muffler, there's a ton of spooge where the pipe meets the cylinder (the kid says it just needs a new O ring), and some idiot welded the kickstarter onto the shaft.
Anyways, is this bike worth $400? I can do any neccessary work, but parts can be pricey. I'd probably try to offer him $300 or $350 if I decide to get it.
Ok, one more question. There is another 1984 kx250 for sale for $200. It is missing the cylinder and head. (and possibly the piston, I forgot to ask the guy to clarify). No title. I have not yet seen this one because it's a 90 minute drive. I'm supposed to be getting pics in the mail around monday. It's supposed to be in good condition other than the missing top end. So, first of all, what year top ends are interchangeable, and second of all, if it's in decent shape, is this a better deal than the other one?
I just went to look at one, a 1984, for $400. It is missing the radiater shrouds, brake pedal (and brake rod), side number plates (I don't care about these), and does not have a title.
The kid who has it now bought it from a friend who's neighbor gave it to him because it was "all crapped up." The kid who has it now put a new used rear fender on it and a new used rear tire that has somewhere between 3/8" and 1/2" of tread still on it. He also "rebuilt" the carb. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but he finished the sentence with something to the effect of "but it needs adjustment and I don't know how to set it." He also pulled the packing out of the muffler, saw that it was totally soaked in spooge, and put it back in again. When he fired up the bike for us (started third kick), I had to plug my ears because it was slightly louder than your average Harley at 5000 rpms (this was the bike idling). It then died 20 seconds later (he blamed it on the carb settings, my stepdad who is a mechanic thinks that the muffler might have choked it to death).
My stepdad thinks that it was a little low on compression (I forgot to bring the compression gauge), and when he turned it over by hand, you could hear a kind of slight hissing/windy sound on the compression stroke. My stepdad thinks air was getting past the rings. Could this sound have been the power valve (I know that's not what kx's have, but its something similar, don't remember the name) or something?
Oh, yeah, the exhaust pipe is covered in a nasty braze job (but they missed a crack) right in front of the muffler, there's a ton of spooge where the pipe meets the cylinder (the kid says it just needs a new O ring), and some idiot welded the kickstarter onto the shaft.
Anyways, is this bike worth $400? I can do any neccessary work, but parts can be pricey. I'd probably try to offer him $300 or $350 if I decide to get it.
Ok, one more question. There is another 1984 kx250 for sale for $200. It is missing the cylinder and head. (and possibly the piston, I forgot to ask the guy to clarify). No title. I have not yet seen this one because it's a 90 minute drive. I'm supposed to be getting pics in the mail around monday. It's supposed to be in good condition other than the missing top end. So, first of all, what year top ends are interchangeable, and second of all, if it's in decent shape, is this a better deal than the other one?