Need advice on '86 XL250R from CL

[dontpanic]

Okay, everybody, the question is, Do I go for this jalopy, or is the head gasket a nightmare waiting to ensnare me?

Here's the CL link: http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/mcy/4552458358.html

Here's the narrative: Seller bought from second owner.

First owner was a woman who bought it new in ’86, rode it until ’87 when she fell and put it in a barn for 20 years +/-.

Seller bought it without having ridden it (he watched the sedond owner ride it up and down the street) and didn’t realize that the shift-lever wouldn’t return to its center position.

When after a month he did ride it, he discovered that issue. He and a Honda-mechanic buddy took the motor completely apart. Seller says they needed to do so to get at the $1 shift-lever spring. At that point, they discovered that a bolt goes through the center of the spring and the spring had fallen out of place. Second owner said he’d taken out a bolt to change the oil and (the seller thinks) he took out the wrong bolt, resulting in the shift spring falling out.

It took Mr. Mechanic 20 hours to do the work, which included torqueing the head studs properly. (New gasket? I didn’t ask.) Even had to split the cases to get to the spring. Mr. Seller bought for his son, who rode it for a month before the head gasket gave out. Says it's leaking oil from the gasket, and you can feel the compression leak out (sic) when kicking it over.

So, NESR, what do you think? I'm going to go see it Saturday morning.

[breakdirt916]

head gasket is pretty easy...take off the cylinder head, clean/remove old gasket, put on new one...never worked on the XL250, but I can't imagine it's much different from the XR's, and for those, you can keep the engine in the frame unless you're taking off the cylinder

but the better question is - is that all the work it needs?

who knows ???

I vote walk...you can likely get a plated DR350 for about a grand

edit:

bam - http://worcester.craigslist.org/mcy/4522309589.html

"need gone" and he has a title



offer 7 hundo, meet at 8...

bring a large breasted woman to do the negotiations

[TheIglu]

I'd stay away. Head gasket blew for a reason and I'd wager it had something to do with the engine being completely torn apart.

[Kurlon]

There's potentially more than just a headgasket at play given the history. If you're intending to go through the motor completely a complete Gasket and seal set is $70. http://www.bossbearing.com/Complete-...shoppingengine

I'd ONLY buy it if you're game for the time and labor to go through it completely if it were me. I'd also negotiate a lower price given the history.

[TheIglu]

And even in the end after all that work, you still just have an antique tech dirtbike that's basically worth nothing.

Bhavesh is right, there are nearly as cheap ready to ride bikes with better engines and suspension out there.

[dontpanic]

Nice find on the brunette... er, I mean the DR.

New plan: buy Suzuki.

[breakdirt916]

the dr350 comes to mind, but here are others...xr250...ttr225/250...drz400...wr250...klx250...klr250...blah blah blah

what kind of bike are you looking for?

street plated dirt?

or just dirt?

mx, trails, city hooliganism, or death machine?

[dontpanic]

Thoughts:
1. Inexpensive (i.e., a grand or under);
2. Use for teaching 21-year-old daughter to ride;
3. Street-plated dirty bike would be nice so that she / I might use it to commute, and to ride to off-road places instead of trailering.

[greenmonster]

"bring a large breasted woman to do the negotiations"



HEY! I recognize that bridge! And the Swan boat!! Are the awnings new this year? Did I just fail something?

[breakdirt916]

yup, sorry, you're gay

[greenmonster]

yup, sorry, you're gay

oh, wait. Now I see it.

[bstnsboy]

What bridge? What boat?

[Garandman]

Ewa Sonnet > Denise Milani.

But the Sports By Brooks girls ruled, as a group.

[dontpanic]

oh, wait. Now I see it.

Them, not it...

[breakdirt916]

I like where this thread is going

sorry op...see the power of big breasted negotiation?

if it's *just* to learn for 3-5 lessons, and you have a place to ride, street plate not necessary (which will save you money).

If you are serious, just search for all plated dirt bikes under a grand and pick the best condition one. Rarely will you find a bike that's street plated and "too much dirtbike" for under a grand. the honda XR250 has been the gold standard...old, reliable, slow...but being almost 20 years old now, tough to find in low-mileage condition. That's why I say - search for all plated under a grand, don't be picky on the model, and take whatever's cheapest.

in your search, put the word "titled" or "plated" or "title"...off-road only bikes won't have a title

[dontpanic]

Nice. Hadn't thought of that.

[greenmonster]

Them, not it...

What was I thinking?

[Garandman]

My experience, bitterly learned: the most expensive car (or bike) is the cheapest, and the lowest-priced car (or bike) is the most expensive. I admit this is not always the case.

Oh, and since none of you FF's picked up on Ewa Sonnet, I must do it for you.