My friend relized that Yamaha, specifically Blasters jsut dont cut it in the life/maintenence department. He has a budget of about 3 grand (give or take a few hundred). He wants a TRX250R, but is afraid that it is so old, that it might break as much as his Blaster. Who here has had problems with their 250R's? Is there anyhting that is bad on the 250R that he should look out for? I tell him as long as he buys one thats' frame etc. is in good shape and runs good, he should be good for the long run. Anyone else have a view on this?
Thanks alot guys,

 

I've seen a lot of junk R's out there, and I've seen them go for very high prices. I've had about 4 top-ends and one bottom-end cook on mine before I really learned anything about them.
First of all, is the whole thing there? Can you ride it? Any funny engine noises? Do all the gears work? How much does it smoke? Is it straight? Look the frame over closely, including standing it up and looking at the bottom. Cracks around the steering stem mount? How do the shocks feel? What condition are the wheels and tires? Are there matching sets front/rear? Do the brakes work? Clutch?
Expect to pay every bit of $3000 for an "OK" 86-87, much more for an 88-89. The 86 R that I bought for $1900 will now sell easily for $3700, the 87 that I bought for $2800 will go for $4200. The price on them keeps going up. I do know of people that have gotten them for less than $1000 but they knew that they needed a lot of work and were willing to sink some money into them.

 

Out here in california they are alot more expensive.
I see them for 500 to 1k cheape in the southern states.

 

Fellow Rider, A 250R is like a 57 chevy Bel Air Conv. There is no greater bike available to the general public then the 250R. Now pending the condition of the bike and how it has been treated in the past it should fare like any other Honda EXCELLENT but like anything else used or older it all depends on the history of the machine. Note: Another thing to take into consideration is how long you end up holding onto one of these bikes over a period of yrs your buddy can have it looking like a show bike or a GNCC showcase pending on his goals.

 

Thanks for all the info guys.. keep it flowin. My friend and I are very glad to be readig this!

 

I have an 86 R.It has been as reliable as a rock and runs runs/handles awesome as well.

I bought it bone stock for 2500.When I mean stock I mean stock.Form the grips to the piston.I figure it had about 15 hours on it total when I bought it.Still had the little knobby things on the tires!


Since then I have rebuilt the top-end and redid the suspension.The thing is plenty fast and handles like a dream.


Around my house a nice 86 is about 3700 and a nice 88-89 is atleast 4200.Even though I saw an 88 for 2 grand before.



The only thing that is wrong with mine is it leaks a little bit of oil.Before I had a casesaver the chain came off and broke the bottom of the case.MY dad tig welded it but it still leaks around the shifter seal.


Without a doubt the only bike I will ever buy again will be another R.I am planning on a building a full Aren's R with a duncan 265 powervavle motor.In a couple years though.


The R is the greatest bike ever made that is all there to it!



86 trx250r wiseco .020 piston,boyesen reeds,low-mid porting,FMF gold series fatty pipe,power core 2 silencer,Dg alloy series nerfs,white bro's white power front shocks with fully adjustable piggy backs,wp rear shock with adjustable res,jd performance +2 A-arms,durablue eliminator 2+2 adjustable width axle,durablue posi loc axle nut,Ac stadium series front bumper with # plate,renthal trx250r bend handlebars,909 grips,pep easy pull clutch perch and lever,nac's casesaver,d.i.d chain,JT pro series rear sprocket,fastline braided steel brake lines,braking brake pads,polished stator cover,uni filter,18/11/8 holeshot mx's on mitchell .190's,21/7/10 holeshots on ITP .190's

 

We have three Rs in our household. Two "86, and one "87. We had to go through alot of bikes to get these three, especially me. I went through one kodiak, two blasters, two polaris all of them "****" compared to my R. We paid $3000. for my "86 R and it came with a spare 300cc big bore engine, My Brother-in-law paid $3200 for his "86 R, it came with an extra set of tires, my hubby paid $4200 for his "87 R and it is stock except for a pipe. Now take in consideration these amounts are in Canadian funds, also Rs are very, very hard to come by out here. My hubby's and Brother-in-law bought there two through family, mine we searched for 6mths for one and had to go to the next province to get it about a 13hr trip one way. But it was worth it. We will never own another type of bike again. Good luck to your friend he will never regret owning an R, I don't know anyone who has.

Nancy