I found LT250r at my local mechanics shop tonight. The original owner has not rode the bike very much and decided to sell it. The mechanic says he has completely gone through the bike and and cleaned it up. Bike looks awesome. I am unsure of the year but what types of things should I be looking for on these bikes? Is there a weak point that always fails. Asking price is a $1400 (Down from $2,000) just for the quick sale. I know it has a cooler head, and what looks to be a stock pipe. I can see them on craigslist around my area for $1200 but not as clean as this one is. New plastics are the first thing you notice, the bike is silver and not the standard yellow and blue. No nerd bars, no extra paddle tires and no twist throttle. I am fairly new to quads and have been riding a 2008 raptor 250 for a few months now. That bike will go to my 4"11' wife if I buy this one.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...0424-00019.jpg

 

little more info on this possible purchase.

The bike has had a complete body off restoration so to speak.

New "Semi High compression" piston
New rings
cool head
new reeds
new chain
New brakes
newly rebuilt brake master cylinders


Gonna test ride it tomorrow after work, I am sure it's way more powerful than my raptor 250 that I ride now.

We'll see.....

 

ya, its gona smoke that raptor

 

Took the bike for a test ride today and all I can say is "Holy Crap". I have only been riding quads for about 3 months and this bike has so much power. I didn't get out of third gear, I wasn't comfortable with that kind of power and acceleration. I am buying the bike next week though.

It's an 88 LT250r. I know the shocks are stock, is this the year that the front shocks were known to break on occasion? Other than that, are there any other issues with the 88's that I should be aware of "before" i buy it so I can check them out....

 

The biggest issue is the frames tend to crack around the footpeg mounts/shock mounts, etc. I would put nerfs on it and some skids if you trail ride. Nice looking LT.

 

It'll be hard to go slow enough for your wife to keep up.
I've seen this be a big issue.
Guy buys a race quad buys the wife a 4x4. He yells at her to keep up, she yells at him to slow down. I'm betteing she just quit riding. That's what we don't want.

 

Literally and figuratively.

Be careful not to **** of the wife with smoke and dust.

 

ROFL, I have never actually got to ride with the wife as of yet. We have been sharing the raptor riding with the kids. I don't think she has ever hit 3rd gear on the Raptor to tell the truth. Speed isn't her thing, I am a bit of a gear head and she yells at me if I power slide around corners on dirt roads in the truck. I pulled the E-brake in our ford escort one day and started smoking the tires, the kids loved it. The wife, well...she left and went to her moms, didn't talk to me for 2 days!! ROFL...

 

I was able to get back out to the quad again today and looked at another common problem area. The Swingarm is in great shape, not a single gouge or noticeable scrape on the underside. I also did a compression test. It has 170lbs of pressure throttle wide open.

What kind of numbers would that be, 12 or 13 to 1 ??

 

i have owned many LT250r s and built a few from frame up. It appears to have the later model swing arm, which is more boxy, so it does appear to be an 88+. They are fast and if you don't go fast on them you foul plugs left and right. I feel that they are too fast for woods riding. Its really a dune bike. They make good power but due to them being older they are heavy, heavy frames. They break spots are, as previously pointed out, by the foot pegs and I have seen the rear cross bar that the seat snaps into break too, its a flimsy weld. So the short of it is, its fast and fun, but a tough bike to ride, and for compititon the lighter bikes will beat you out. Just my opinion. Hope it helps. I would jump on that deal any day.