350x vs 250r questions

[hawaiirider]

question:
my buddys and i all ride dunes
we all ride 200x's 83-85's
everybody wants a 350x for more power
i just picked up a first gen 250r and they think a 350x will keep up, i just dont believe it!
i had a stock blaster along time ago (it did have lrd jets and needle though) and i raced a 350x, the x barely beat my blaster!
the 350x's go for alot of money out here, while older R's are cheap
any input?

[dougspcs]

Since the 250 has a 2 stroke power plant specifically designed and built for racing it's gonna be the hands down favourite in a X vs R race.

The torque if the 2stroke is a without question a big advantage over the heavier though larger displacement 350X.

However, in my opinion where the 350X wins is the even power curve..I can cruise this relatively tame animal and ride with my family all day. But when I'm feeling like busting loose the 350X doesn't hold back and can kick up a lot of dust!!

The 4 stroke also gets much more running time on a tank of full and generally speaking requires less repairs and maintenance than the racing power plant which tends to need rebuilding much more frequently!

For me the 350X is a more versatile ride, and on a challenging day can still keep time with guys on the Rs!

If you can luck out and find a decent 350X for a good price add it to you collection..they are harder to find than the Rs because they weren't produced for as many years and in as high numbers.

[keister]

A 350X compares pretty favorably to an air cooled 250R. I can't say which is faster, it depends on the particular trike (tires, gearing, mods), but they are fairly evenly matched in stock form. Obviously, the power delivery is very different, but a 350X with a skilled rider can keep pace with an air R.

Keep in mind, we are talking about 1st and 2nd generation R's......... a liquid cooled 85-86 250R, is a very different animal.

[LastFoolerInVA]

my brother's 86 350x vs my 84 250r (air cooled)... the R would take the X every time till top speed came into the picture... with a 6 speed tranny, the x just has a higher top speed... I bumped my r up to a 14 tooth front sprocket (stock is 13) & was able to keep up (but also lost some speed on the take off, so the races were neck & neck) ... until we finally raced down the pavement.... wide ass open for about 2 miles (maybe 3)... I could def. keep up with the x... but... I ended up melting the piston rings... :( and the x just kept on cruising down the road...

[BOB MARLIN]

Drag racing, the 1st gen R. Just about everything else, the X.

[atctim]

... with a 6 speed tranny, the x just has a higher top speed...

The six speed is not like another gear - it's just the 5 of the R are further spaced out and the 6 of the X are closer together. I hear this a lot and it drives me bonkers.

[hawaiirider]

i like jumping more than anything and i hear a 350x has a weak frame?
i know a 350 is heavy, the old R is very light! that makes a huge difference jumping
in this case its been take what you can afford, and 350x's dont come cheap!

[Jason125m]

I jump my 85X regularly on my ice track. ( yes, ice track with snow jumps ) holds up fine.

But then again i'm only 170 lbs.

[rg97]

if you're worried about a weak frame, just get a TPC gusset kit (as long as you have good MIG skills). never look back

[6speedthumper]

I just finished installing (last night actually) a TPC gusset kit on my 86 X. Very good kit, just need to be able to weld. Not that hard, really.

[Blown 331]

My 84 250R with fresh Wiseco, full exhaust and Boysen reeds will beat my 350X with 10.5 Wiseco in a drag but I like the 350 more.

[BOB MARLIN]

If you get an '85 x it's most likely that the frame is already cracked and needs repair, or has been cracked and fixed already. If I were into jumping, the x would not be my first choice. The x is a PIG of a trike.

[keister]

Lots of good feedback here. Did they answer your question, Hawaiirider? Or rather, verify that you made the right decision.
Sounds like the air cooled R is a good option for your riding style and for your wallet.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

As much as I would like to add a 1st and 2nd gen R to my stable, given the choice between a 1st gen R and a 350x, I believe I would go with the X...

But being you ride dunes, the main advantages the X has over the early R (mainly suspension) may be nill.....