YZ__rider said:
It seems to me that you got a steal on the bike. Ive tried priming and painting the frame and it never holds. Ive even tried bedliner on my '99 YZ400F frame as an experiment, and it chipped off too. I figured it couldnt look any worse than the rust. Of course, no way would I do that to a newer bike. Powdercoat is the only way to go.
Agreed on both counts - I would never have bought an older 250f unless it had recently been rebuilt (and it is a new head, valves and the valve clearances were within spec, etc. . .). I was thrilled to find it for $1000 and then sold my 02 Eric Gorr RM 144 to my bro for $900 (he got a steal as well, as the bike was in very good shape for the year - but he's my brother).
I was just trying to keep costs down - didn't seem to be a lot of point putting $200+ into powder coating on a bike that I didn't have much money in. Plus, I knew I was going to be spending $600 on suspension rebuild, revalve and lowering 1" because of a prior broken wrist and my being vertically challenged.
If I had it to do over again, I'd likely powder coat it. Maybe next winter's project.
Speaking of steals, I just missed a 99 WR400f for $600. Was leaking a small amount of coolant into the oil, but otherwise in good contition - could have parted it out and doubled the money - or fixed it and sold it. The guy sold it before I could get the $$ to him. Darn.