Chance to buy my first 250r- advice please

[jeopardy98]

Hey there,

I haven't been around much because money has been tight and I sold off all of my trikes except my 250sx which still runs but needs an overhaul pretty soon. I ride it a few times a week though. Anyways, I have the chance to purchase a 1986 250r for $500. I have no pictures of this trike and it is over an hour away. The owner claims that it needs some work. It needs a piston, rear fenders, chain, thumb throttle, and a couple of other things. He says the cylinder does not need an overbore. My purpose for buying it is to have another project and to ride it and have fun for a while but ultimately I will be trying to sell it for a break even cost or maybe a little profit. Do you think it could be worth my time for the price? Is it even worth me driving out to look at? It seems like a decent starting price for what it is but I thought I would get some opinions from all you experts before I dive in head first. Thanks in advance.

[harryredtrike]

an 86 r for 500.00. add the 500.oo in parts you said=1000.00. if it is in really good shape you can make a profit,if not take a pass.dont just replace the chain,put a set of new sprockets and new chain on together.

[jeopardy98]

I just talked to the guy and he said it hasn't run in 8 years. If it was stored inside that will be fine I assume. I suppose it is at least worth the drive out there don't you think? I've always wanted a 250r.

[leviblue]

$500 for an 86 is a deal no matter the condition.....Buy the darn thing and keep it

[JohnR.]

If you are buying it to make a profit then its probably not the best choice as a starting point. If you buy it to build yourself a decent R on a budget then its not a bad deal IMHO, especially if you can do the motor work yourself. Its best to assume its going to need at least a piston, bore, crank rebuild, crank bearings, and seals. If it hasn't had the bottom end re-done, it probably does. Find a set of used fenders, slap a chain and sprockets on, and pick up either a twist throttle or if you can find one, a used thumb throttle. How about the tires and rims?

[jeopardy98]

Hey guys thanks for all the replies. He sent me a few pictures. I'm thinking it is still worth going and picking up but it is definitely in rough shape. Not the worst I have ever brought back to life by far. Any other comments are still appreciated.

[matt86200x]

give him 400 and take it off his hands

[DeePa]

leave it be...ugly and youll be 2k into it when youre done unless you half-ass it

[jeopardy98]

I don't know if he will go that low. He was asking $600 but said if I come today he would take $500. I'm going to try and see what he says. I think I might be getting in a little deep on this one but I have always wanted a 250r. If I pick this thing up what kinds of parts are going to be the hardest to get? What things do I need to be on the lookout for? I was hoping it would have the original gold wheels but it doesn't. I had a pair from an 86 200x that I sold in trade for some that are like the ones on it now. Boy was that dumb, ha ha.


leave it be...ugly and youll be 2k into it when youre done unless you half-ass it

I think you are right. What would it be worth? I've seen guys pay $200 for a roller. I'm not justifying, just asking your opinion.

[leviblue]

I'd still take it if the center case good it's worth it....you won't make any profit after the bulid but you'll have a great bike....you'd be lucky to make $700 on ebay just parting it out...but it rolls and is worth the rebuild. I would have no problem paying the $500 for my new project and trust me I've been looking for a good roller. As for what it's gonna cost to build it's all up to you. My MXer cost more than I care to say and the bill is allways growing.....If you want an R and want it to be right then buy it, build it, ride it and have fun

[DeePa]

its been sitting...i know its a project but sandblasting rust then painting every single part gets old....dont forget time is money even if you enjoy it. You could be riding on the same time you are wrenching and having a lot more fun.

brake calipers will most likely be frozen...70 each to rebuild them...
why did the top end go? you would have to split the cases to be safe IMO...so then while its open do at least the mains. Its been sitting a LONG time.

Fork seals will be shot. Rear might be okWho knows what kind o. Tires should be ok. f mice lived in that thing.

Id steer clear. Some parts will still be useable, but id take a close look at the amount of rust and if every penny counts, look at the chain/sprockets/levers/carrier etc. You will need new rear axle bearings, swinger bearings (GOOD LUCK getting the swinger bolt out...), front axle bearings. And if you need anything for the motor its gonna add up quick. Fenders would be the least of my worries. Get a set of blems for 200-250 to your door. Seats can get expensive.

Best of luck. Youd be better off saving a grand and really looking for one. Dont always buy the first one you see. Let the poor SOB that restored the trike do all of the hard work for you.

[jeopardy98]

Wow, that is good info. I was actually on my way out the door to take a look at it. In that tote there is a seat that needs re-covered and there is a tank that he ordered but says it isn't there yet. He says all the other parts should be there. If I can get him to go $400 would it be a good project? I really don't want to just buy a runner. I teach school and I like to have something to work on during the summers. I just keep seeing piece of crap 1/2 runners selling on craigslist around here for 1200-1500. Thanks for all the input folks. I feel like I should at least go check it out.

[Taiser]

You can probably half ass it and get it going for 1200$, that's with a crappy paint job, but still might look ok for a beater trail machine. I got mine going of all parts on e-bay and easily dumped 4k in it, but I was scrounging for good parts and original ones at that. Now that it runs, I have to strip it apart to repaint the whole thing which is hard to do, cuz once you fire it up and take it out, you want to keep riding it.

These things are money pits and the cash disappears fast once you get into them. They are usually a labor of love to bring them back. For 400$ I'd buy it, even if you don't touch it for a few years, it can be a good future rebuild as these things are getting rarer and rarer to find in any kind of good shape, at least up here. Cheers.

[audioworks04]

If it were me id be running out the door to atleast look at it and have cash with me. Used quality parts are easy to find an cheap. Rear end uses almost all the same parts as TRX and almost all Honda sport quads. Probably needs crank seals maybe a rebuild but you won't know until you get into it, I always go in thinking the worst. Point things out and it might help lower the cost. As far as paint and sandblasting I wouldn't even do that unless its bad, make it a rider and go from there. Pick it up cheap, but don't go cheap on the mechanical fixes, seals, gaskets, piston and rings, remember you get what you pay for. If you can't afford the good stuff take your time. You probably won't make much if any profit, but break even should be easy but I bet you won't even want to sell it, and then you can tear it down and make it prettyer.

[SeaBass8]

IMHO there is NO profit in restoring these things. Now I'm no expert on these esp 2 stroke but the $$ adds up real quick. You'll have 1500 into that in no time.

I say 200$ no more.

Or better yet save up a five/six hundred more and buy one that you can ride now. Just my 2 cents

[JohnR.]

I think audioworks04 hit it right on the head. Screw cosmetics, unless the frame is in desperate need of a paint job leave it alone, slap some used fenders on it and make a rider out of it. To me, the piece of mind of having built it myself and knowing it was built right is worth more than the money you might save by getting one that is already running. When you're done you'll essentially have a new machine and that's a good thing if you ask me. By the way, I just rebuilt both the front and rear calipers in my R with OEM parts and it didn't cost anywhere near $70 each. In fact, I don't think it came to $70 for the both of them. Picking up a runner for $1500 that you may need to do to do calipers, fork seals, axle bearings, pivot bearings, crank bearings, and/or a piston six months after you buy it is more of a gamble than blowing $400 or $500 on one that you know is rough.

John

[DixiePlowboy]

^^^^^Amen to that!

Grab it, fix it, skin your knuckles and bleed into it.....then you know what you've got.


And it's yours.

Much better than buying something for average going price that looks good and not knowing how long you've got till it's time to crack her open.

[jeopardy98]

Well, I brought her home tonight. It's going to take a lot of work but I own a 250r so I'm a happy man. I'll get some better pics of it this weekend and keep you all updated as to the progress. I'm sure I'll be needing some parts from you all as well :).

[JohnR.]

Congrats! As you already know, its a labor of love. Don't go too crazy, build it to ride, not to look at.

[jeopardy98]

Oh it is definitely going to be a rider not a looker. I just want to know that it is a reliable fun trike when I am done. Is there a good thread that I can look through that will tell me which parts are interchangeable from the TRX250's? What about from other trikes?

[JohnR.]

There's probably not one single thread that will tell you all that interchanges but basically the engine an rear suspension are interchangeable. The only issue is that the 1988 and 1989 TRX has an aluminum arm that isn't a direct bolt in. Its a Honda, its gonna be reliable if you build it right. My R is pretty balls to the wall and it takes whatever I throw at it.

[audioworks04]

Congrats man. Just put up a post of what parts you need and I am sure that someone out there if not alot of people will be more than happy to sell you some parts. Just dont go cheap on the rebuild. I personally like wiseco pistons, but aslong as it is a good quality forged piston you should be fine, stay way from cast. I use wiseco with cometic gaskets and ThreeBond 1211 sealant on all my builds. I would also recommend a carb rebuild kit and fork seal kit along with new fluid, reeds should be replaced depending on if they ever have.

[jeopardy98]

Congrats man. Just put up a post of what parts you need and I am sure that someone out there if not alot of people will be more than happy to sell you some parts. Just dont go cheap on the rebuild. I personally like wiseco pistons, but aslong as it is a good quality forged piston you should be fine, stay way from cast. I use wiseco with cometic gaskets and ThreeBond 1211 sealant on all my builds. I would also recommend a carb rebuild kit and fork seal kit along with new fluid, reeds should be replaced depending on if they ever have.

Yea, I'm going to be doing the top and bottom end of this one for sure. I like Wiseco pistons too. It is going to be a slow slow build because I spend all my extra funds *(for now) on the trike but that is okay with me :)

[leviblue]

good job man......R's are a pain in the arse but worth it....get some pics and a list up I'm sure you can find the parts on here