Why buy a 250R?

[bkconwayls1]

Great forum you all have, but I do not have too much time to read up on this bike. I've been riding a 400Ex for 5 years, and want this 250 in the paper. It has alot of aftermarket stuff, but what is the life span of these things? Do you see parts support for a long time? I will do more search as I can, but I would appreciate any new info, Thanks!

[yellowzo3]

ill see if i can help you out here some...first off, dont pay too much for an R, even if it has a ton of aftermarket parts. they can be found relatively cheap nowadays. they have an array of aftermarket parts, even though their production stopped over a decade ago. the R is a legend, and handles great. it can be made to have tremendous power and also a great xc, sand, or mx quad. youll have to rebuild the top end once in a while, but its not tough...just take your time and youll be fine...if you take care of your bikes, the R will last just as long as any other quad.

[Creech52]

yes the R is a great bike, very reliable when taken care of, and there are tons and tons of aftermarket parts, only to be out done by the banshee aftermarket. However dont expect too much in the form of new products being brought out for these bikes, alot of companies arent making their parts to fit the R as they see it a declining niche due to all the new 4-pokes and the fact that 2 strokes are all but banned from organized competion. However There are lots of tried and true parts out there now. Go with an R and you wont be disapointed.

[TANNER250r]

best 4 wheeler ever made they cant even get that handling in 2006 they now have a lot of power from the 450s but still cant touch that light engine & frame that the Rs have grate power to pull though all 6 gears you can find a nice 250 for like $2500

[bkconwayls1]

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess my hang up is that I can not keep both, so I will have to buy it and see which one I like the most.............01 400EX or 87 250R. I just ride rec, but like to rip it up when I get the feeling.. I had a 97 KX250 and loved the power, but no traction! Would I have about the same power as the 250 in the KX? If both were stock?

[wykyd z400]

I just got rid of a z400 for my 250R a few months ago. The first ride, I was hooked!! I think the R is more fun to ride than the z was. Now, I too have a debate. Soon I will either be buying a 450R, or build an engine for the R. The reliability is what I am most concerned with too. Curious as to if I can purchase a brand new engine for the 250R?? Anyone know an estimate on what it costs to totally rebuild an R engine?

[quader400]

i had a 400ex for years and loved it. then i got a good deal on a 250r so i took it. once i got on the R i didnt ride the 400 at all. the 250r is soo much faster than the ex and just really flies. you will love the R

[iamjasyn]

You know, if it were me, I'd get the 88-89 chassis though. The swinger is -1" and is a little more nimble. The earlier style is more stable for cross country though.

[bkconwayls1]

Wow...I am pretty sure that z400 is faster than the
EX so that answered my next question, as o which one is faster. The swing arm has already been replaced with a longer one, so no issue there. As of right now, I think I will look at it tomorrow, thanks to your input. Keep the opinions coming though...

[250r4life]

why even breathe?

[bkconwayls1]

HE said the frame was cracked and repaired near the foot peg. How concerned should I be with this. I won't bore you with the list of mods, but the frame is stock I'm sure. We are at $2800.00 for now. I figured the works tpl rate shocks w/ res is worth a little...

[GT300]

The price is a bit high. As for the frame, just make sure that the weld is clean and beefy and then gusset it. That was the first thing I did after I bought mine. Any motor work or other expensive parts like a-arms or new plastic?

[gojk]

I have the 416 and the 265. They both are really fun to ride, but if I am riding with people that really like to get with it, the R is way funner. If I am just out of a cruise ride, the EX is the weapon of choice. The 2 stroke power is so much more fun to try and tame.

[bkconwayls1]

ported+polished 310 kit, carbon fiber reed valve, fmf pipe/silencer, black maier plastic (2 sets), +2 a-arms, extended swingy, some other stuff. But anyone can talk...ya know what I mean? Modded 2 strokes are out of my relm....

[400EX QUADER]

get it... Talk him down to $2500 and goto the bank and go buy it... Don;t worry about the welded frame as long as it was a good clean weld... Just keep an eye on that spot for awhile and if there's a problem, have it re-welded with a gusset. It's a common place for frames to crack.

[bkconwayls1]

Sounds good. What is a gusset? What is the difference in valves...I hear PV (Power valve) and Reed, Rave??? I have 2 older Seapoo's, so I know a little about this stuff, just not alot.

[400EX QUADER]

a gusset it basicly a piece of metal I believe that you weld onto the crack or bend in the frame to jsut make it thicker and stronger... What a powervalve does basicly is smooth the power out.

[bkconwayls1]

So a PV is really a prefference thing depending on your application as apposed to a power adder? Thanks to this forum, I have decided to get an R, regardless if it is this one. No one has anything bad to say.....save for some maintenance, which sounds simple anyway. Thank guys! I'll post pics if I get it in the AM.

[400EX QUADER]

yep you're right... some prefer the smooth powervalve power and some prefer that 2 stroke hit.

[86 Quad R]

since the frame has been repaired in the foot peg area. chances are that it was mx'd. i would pay close attention to the rest of the frame for cracks.

gusseting a frame involves adding "webbing". which is nothing more than adding thin sheet metal to the weak(corner, intersecting points) areas on the frame.

for a peace of mind. frames that have had damage(cracking) to the footpeg area, there is a special "boxing" type gusset that needs to be added in the area where the swing arm bolts goes.

[bkconwayls1]

Picked it up today, with extra frame and body work.

[86 Quad R]

post up some pics of it. :cool:

[GPracer2500]

Where are the pics? :)

[bkconwayls1]

I tried, but did not work. I'll try again in a few

[400EX QUADER]

send pics to cory400exquader@hotmail.com and i'll post em...

[86 Quad R]

host em on the net first then try to post em here. ;)

[bkconwayls1]

400,

Just sent them to you. Thanks! Brian

[400EX QUADER]

havent got em yet... I'll keep waiting... If you don't see em posted in 20 mins, try sending again.

[bkconwayls1]

The frame was repaired with a small section of metal welded over the crack (left side above peg), and the hoop near the stem has gussets welded in. Pipe had small hole near a-arm mounts, and there is No catch can for the radiator...dude said it never had one, but sounds funny to me. I never did like buying used stuff. It ran hard all the way throug 6th, and was pretty smooth for a 2 stroke, plus the power was down lower in the power band than I thought it would be. It fired up instantly when cold, idled a little high and settled down after few minutes. Alot of powdercoat, but not a very good job. I have hydraulic clutch on my EX, will this work with the correct mount? I will search what else is interchangeable, before I sell my EX.

[400EX QUADER]

k...

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/sickrider/IMG_0025.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/sickrider/IMG_0022.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/sickrider/IMG_0017.jpg

[wykyd z400]

Looks good!! I thought of doing mine in snow camo. :)

[bkconwayls1]

Thanks, but I'll probably put on the silver plastic. The camo is some type of stick on cloth.

[x rider1291]

nice r lookin good. but anyways welcome to the crew!! u wont be dissapointed

my 250r is twice as comfortable as my old 04 400ex NO DOUBT

[bkconwayls1]

Thanks guys, I rode it for a couple hours last week, I love the thing already. Still trying retrain my riding style, much different, plus it seems to have a very short power band. Is this correct?
310 kit, FMF Gold series fatty pipe & short silencer.

i have a 310 kit in mine to and i love mine get a midrange pipe i have a curtis sparks i will sell u it makes a big difference i had a fmf on it before and i hated it if u want my curtis sparks i will sell it for 200 bucks with ftz silencer

[bkconwayls1]

Man....I just bought a new FMF Q 2 days ago, I would have taken you up on that offer!!!