2 days ago I saw an '87 lt250r for sale on cycletrader.com for $950. Thought that was quite a deal, so I called. Guy says its rough, but runs and he was negotiable on the price. Sounded good to me; I've been looking for a project. Problem is he's in Detroit, I'm in Indy...320 miles away! But I figure if I can get a '87 lt250r for $900, it would be worth the $75 in gas and 4hr+ drive (each way). Finally get up there and I immediately notice the engine wasn't blue. Ok, maybe it was polished. No external reed cage....crap it's not an '87+. I drove this far...oh i was pissed. Said right on the side VIN plate, 1985. Dumb kid had it for 2 yrs and never saw that. So he asks if I still wanted it and I told him I wanted an 87+, 85-86 were worthless to me (I wanted a project worth building up). He said he'd give me a good deal...$500. I talked him down to $400 and off I went w/ a new quad! It's in fair shape; needs cosmetics and minor repairs, but runs ok w/ no cracks in the frame or swingarm.

So my question to y'all.... what can I do to help remedy some of the 85/86 shortcomings? First power...I know it lacks the powervalve, it already has a full exhaust, anything else I can do for power w/o going overboard? Second, suspension. Will 87+ a-arms or swingarm retrofit onto th 85/86? If not, what can I do to make the suspension better. Or is it not worth it? Should I just get it running and enjoy it for what it is? I don't plan to race, but still want to get the most out of it that I can.

Colby

 

Quick Question.... ????????? Why are you doggin' the 85-86 yr. ... I have one and don't have any problems with it , it run's great , a lil' rough to start but, other then that it's perfect .... So why does everyone dog the 85-86 yr lt 250r? Just curious , Thanks in advance .. Babyzilla

 

sounds like the story behind my 2nd LT.... read on after i answer your questions...
engine & power wise, just build it as a runner to maintain reliability and keep expenses down... maybe go to a K&N, and a 34(stock size from '86-92) or 36mm carb. (the '85 had a 32mm)
the swingarm & rear shock can be swapped with a '87-90 but not '91-92. adding the later model shock adds some more adjustability to the rear...(i believe the '85-86 didn't have adjustable compression or rebound on the rear)
as for front suspension, HSD makes a weld-on kit to allow the use of '87-92 front shocks, giving you a little better ride, more options, and some more travel. i'm not sure if anyone makes A-arms. definitely reinforce the upper shock mount area at the very least and possibly add works shocks even if you don't go for the HSD kit.

as for my story, i got a call from my older brother one saturday morning a few weeks ago at about 8:30 waking me up.... he said he'd just found a '87 LT250R in the 'buy-n-sell' for $900... i said OK... i took the number, debated it for a second and then called... 15 minutes later i was on a 1 hour drive to go see it.
the add said it needed work, well that's to say the least.... had been painted flat black, has no plastic, was missing the airbox and rear shock, the whole front brake system, the kickstarter, the right footpeg rear brake pedal, and the seat has held on with a wire wrapped around it. i noticed the frame had been welded & gusseted, and it needs wheel bearings and misc bolts everywhere....but i also saw some good things- it had the newer '88-92 reed block, a brand new FMF pipe & silencer, and new alloy bars... i took a look at the rear suspension and realized this is no'87, it's a '91-92! i just got the title in the mail and it says it's a '87...and the frame # matches.... hmmmm...typo at the DOL?? i met with the guy a few days later and he gave me a bucket that had most of the missing hardware except airbox & shock and a spare set of ITP rear wheels. i ended up taking it home for $700, and already bought a stock rear shock off ebay, and found an airbox at a wrecking yard that should be on the way now.... i will be getting in depth with that project sometime this winter if my younger brother doesn't buy it from me... but for now it's on the back burner...

 

Babyzilla, run a search on here and you'll find all the differences between the 85/86 models and the newer ones. I'm not ******* them per se; if you want a nice quad for cruising around on then these are good quads too. But if you want to build up a competitive machine, then the 85/86 is a bad choice. It lacks the powervalve, so it makes less power, it has an inferior suspension, and is prone to cracking. In this sense, the 87+ is a far better machine. But that doesn't mean the 85/86 is no good, just depends on what you want it for.

Colby

 

I have to agree with Babyzilla I owned an 86 LT250 for three years , rode the living **** outta that thing and never had one problem , it never let me down . I do not have one bad thing to say about them it was a great machine. J.M.O.

 

from what i heard the 85 and 86 lacks a counter balancer. which means vibrations from the engine.

 

Colby,

Did you beat the hell out of the kid before you left? He deserves it! I bought an '86 Honda 200x last year that was "in perfect shape", drove 3.5 hours each way, and the thing had no brakes, smoked, had a bent frame and forks. The kid threw in a rusty ATC200 for my troubles and I walked away with both for $800. I eventually sold the ATC 200 for $850 and the completely rebuilt 200x for $900 (3 wheelers aren't worth anymore than $900 here in FL no matter what the condition) after a ton of work and money.

Like someone else said, enjoy the 85/86 LTs for what they are and don't pump too much money into it. Make it a solid, reliable machine and have fun with it. That way you can still sell it later and make a profit and get a 87+ later on if you still want one.

!*mr.bones!*
'92 LT250R

 

Colby,

I had an 86 Lt 250 and it ran great. My uncle bought it new and when I got it, it still had the original chain and sprockets on it!

I put an FMF Fatty pipe on it, K&N filter w/outerwear and airbox lid removed (#180 Main jet at sea level), Boyesen Reeds, and a little port cleanup work. All in all, it was a great bike other than the rough suspension.

Hope this helps!