are they very good in the woods and are they very good at trail riding and what about in the dunes in stock form.
thanks

 

R's do great in any conditions!

 

so it wont over heat if you ride it on the trails
at kinda slow speeds like low to mid 2nd or maby low 3rd,how many speeds is it 5 or 6 and which year is the best to get.
and will it do good in the dunes in stock form with paddles.

 

I've only had my R over heat when I rode EXTREMELY slow in weather over 100 degrees. It hasn't ever been hot otherwise.

Will it do fine in the dunes in stock form? Certainly! Will paddles help? Certainly! Paddles will help any machine in the dunes.

What's the best year for an R? There are differences in the years, 86 being the most different. I have an 86 and an 87. I think they're both great. My good friend says his 88 is the best (and it's the only all red one with the stock plastic). An 89 is supposed to be really nice but I've only met one guy that had one and he wouldn't let me ride it, but I rode with him and it didn't do any better at Glamis than the rest of us. Buy any year. They're all GREAT!

 

what years had the most problems and when did they stop making them,going to try and find a good looking basicly stock one to buy.any thing i should look out for,i am going to look at the swing arm real good to make sure it is not cracked but what else should i look for. and whats a good price to pay for one about 2000 to 2500, im going to try to find an 1988 one its a little longer, and they made the suspension better that year too.
thanks

 

If you find one for 2500 your doing pretty good.

 

I don't mean to be mean, but if you can find an 88 for $2500, I'll probably come over and offer them more just to get it!
None of the years had any problems especially. There are some motor differences, and the 86 has a different crank than the others. The 88 started with a different cylinder.
The 88 wasn't any longer at all. They actually shortened the swingarm an inch, then reconfigured the front A-arms and they are moved forward an inch. Supposed to make it turn better. The 88 is also when they removed the camber adjustment from the A-arms.
If you want an R to look like an 88 but you can't afford one, get an 86 or 87 and get the all red plastic for an 88. It fits right on.
Look for the usual stuff, craked frame, twisted or tweaked frame, bent this and bent that. See if the rear axle is straight, see if all the gears are there, the usual stuff. See if it runs. Check the engine cases for welding and leaks. I've seen some that looked thrashed, but under the bad plastic and dirt was a pretty good machine.
I really don't mean to be mean, but you'll have a really hard time finding one for the price you have in mind.