Anybody ever had one of these from the mid to late 90's? are there any major flaws with anything on this bike? I'm looking at one but can't remember the year but it's around about a 1996... Soo..... anybody own one? or know somebody who did? I know it's a 2smoke, and this one's 2wd. other than that I don't know much about these little rides. I know this one is in really great shape for a grand with low hours(according to the owner). I gotta get the wife something this year and I think this is gonna be the one unless somebody knows something I don't...

 

Good machines but a little on the noisy side in the motor.Not a lot of performance parts out there but some 250 parts will work.Get it cheap enough that you can afford to do a topend on it because most used 2strokers are ready when the owner gets rid of them.

 

yeah I'm gonna bring what I need to do a compression test on it when I go look at it, but other than the noisy motor there are no major problems or things to check before purchasing other than the normal stuff like bearings and all that stuff? This thing is supposed to be immaculate and only been ridin by an older lady for about 4 or 5 months and only on the weekends. and never mud bogged so i'm told.

 

They were good machines,but as ftwflh noted they are very noisy! A lot more noticeable than the 250. When they first came out hunters shied away from em down here because of the "marbles in a tin can " sound,thinking they would scare off the game! But we sold quite a few to farmers and others and for the most part they held up well! If compression is at least over 100+ and runs good,overlook the pinging noise and just do a good tuneup,adjust and lube the chain and grease it up, and enjoy it! OPT

 

That's what I was hoping to hear and especially from you OPT! I'm going to go look at it in the next couple days(whenever the owner decides is good for him) and go from there. I don't think the noisiness will matter much to her as long as I can explain it to her in advance . Is it an engine noise or clutching noise? and what is it that causes it?

 

Far as we were able to determine it's just the piston noise radiating through the fins of the cylinder and head even thought the cylinder has noise cancellation rubber dampeners!It's just that the fins are set up a little wider than the 250 and allows noise to travel. I've even added extra dampeners to try to quite some of em down,but doesn't help much.Just drive it and most of the time any noise noticed is when you let off the throttle and then is when it pings the most! Most people got used to it. OPT

 

ahh I see... Well the good thing about it is she won't be riding it to the tree stand But If it's "supposed" to be like that then I won't give that much thought. I've talked to the owner again and it'll be this coming weekend before I can take a look at it but If it's in the shape they say it is then i'll be bringing it home soon! Are the clutches the same as the 400's or is it a completely different setup? Just curious about possible upgrades already

 

If it's a 1996 Express 300, it shared the same clutches as the Express 400. As far as any mods,people down here just bought these and drove the devil out of em! OPT