What's the best year 86,87,88 or 89?

[200386250r]

What's the best year 86,87,88 or 89?

[TRX_250r18]

hmmph...86 :p but everyone is goin to have a different answer

[zedicus00]

i dont know about the best but the 88 has the most stock hourspower and the prefered geometry. personaly im an 86 shortrodder. but i do like the trany in the 88 8-9 style beter.

[baker250r]

i just found out the other day that i got a 88 frame and motor and everthing.... but a 86 crank...... wierd... :huh

[JTRtrx250r]

there is no best yr, they all kicked ***, 89's are sought after the most. I personally like the 86 best...its beafiest, the other yrs are lighter but weaker also

[zedicus00]

Originally posted by baker250r
i just found out the other day that i got a 88 frame and motor and everthing.... but a 86 crank...... wierd... :huh

that would b my ultimate setup. it could b a topend monster and hav the tranny and rest setup to keep it in the power at all times.

[pismoracer]

I have ridden all of them, and i must say i like how the 88-89s handle the best.

[baker250r]

yea, i tore it down ths winter and thinkin it was an 88 motor i was goona run a 86 style piston in it with a spacer plate, and we started it and we couldnt get it to run worth shat. played with every thing. then we did a compression test and only got 60 lbs. so then we took off my head.... and i had had the cylinder milled... so it was sposed to be flush.... bt there was a 5mm gap... :eek: o well..... we took out the spacer and managed by a maracle to save the gaskets and put t back together and it ran like a raped ape....... now we gotta figure out jetting..... i found out my carb is bored out to a 35, 37? looks like the just put it in a lathe and ran a drill bit thru it. but oh well... works for me.

[KTM540LSR]

88 and 89 are the best, aluminum swinger -1", cleaned up the frame and motor, 87 engine is also good, just stay away from 86 engine, $$$ to buy new crank.

[baker250r]

Originally posted by KTM540LSR
88 and 89 are the best, aluminum swinger -1", cleaned up the frame and motor, 87 engine is also good, just stay away from 86 engine, $$$ to buy new crank.

thats funny...... i snapped the aluminum swinger the first race. lol

maybe all the aftermarket companies should all pool their parts together and build a 2005 trx250r. then ud have the best of everything. JMO

[Eddiesanders250]

good idea that would be so cool if all the companies did that. 89s are the best lightest better clutch

[Tom TRX250R]

There really isn't the "best" year!! There is different years that are better for what you ride. If you ride MX the 88-89 geometry is preferred for better traction. Alot of duners prefer the 86-87 geometry due to the longer swingarm. The other thing is you can pretty much mod any year to what you prefer. Like an 86 can be changed to an 89 if desired! You can't go wrong with any year though!

[250R-Dee]

I think I own the ultimate "R" mutt: '86 frame with '88 swingarm and '86-'87 linkage, '04 450R front shocks, ported '86 motor that will be getting a long rod conversation SOON and much more.:D

[pismoracer]

See i have a short rod, 86 motor, and run an ESR 350 kit and have been hesitant to run a LR because of the added sideload on the piston skirt that an LR crank creates. I have heard guys go through pistons like twice as often with the LR? maybe i heard wrong, but my 350 seems to have quite the grunt.

[catch22blaster]

88 89