Originally posted by: trapperb1
Differences in Rs. . .so many and mostly minor.
All 250Rs have a 246cc displacement in stock trim. All have same bore/stroke and about the same horsepower (36-38 at the flywheel).
Engine changes; the 86 is different from the rest in that it's connecting rod is 5mm shorter than other years and the wrist pin is located 5mm lower in the piston. You can't use an 86 style piston in other "stock" R engines without using a cylinder spacer.
The 86-87 have steel swingarms and are gold; the 88-89 have aluminum and silver and are 1" shorter than 86-87.
The 86-87 have camber adjustment on the a-arms; the 88-89 don't and are configured to be 1" forward of 86-87.
Of course, the headlight was moved in 88, 88 was the year of the polished wheels, 89 had the clutch actuator upgraded.
As far as jumping, the R is supreme.
If you can get an 86 for under 3Gs and it's all there and straight (like no bent a-arms or axles, all the gears work, decent tires, all the plastic in reasonable condition, no major frame cracks[stand it up on the grab bar and check the bottom of the frame carefully, use a flashlight if you need to]) that seems like a good deal.
Personally, buy any year of R, they're all great!