best budget 250cc | GTAMotorcycle.com

best budget 250cc

djbordie

djbordie

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Looking for some opinions on best budget 250's.

CRF 250f, kx 250, etc

Doesnt have to be current model, but something competitive and durable. (by competitive i mean, a 1982 xr 250 is not what im after lol)

Goggling away my day I have come across:
-crf, 2006 or later (due to the valves or something)?
-kawi, didnt see many issues throughout the years
-same with suzuki

Looking for something I can beat the piss out of at the cottage, but also take to a track and not piss anyone off
 
I just went through the same exercise and found that KX250F and RM-Z250 had some bad years. Read this thread, http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/462125-good-or-bad-2004-rmz250/

I ended up with a YZ250F. Engine wise it seemed to be the most reliable, all years, from internet research... My friend has a 2008 RM-Z250 and it has been great for him. I think Suzuki did a way better job with the redesign than the original.
 
awesome, thanks man

i was leaning toward the KX, but have no gripes about yamaha either
seems it was just a few rushed years for kawi and suzi

man is honda always the most reliable in every genre...wtf
 
I was almost going to get a CRF450 and then read about the major valve problems they have... steered clear right there.
 
They all have their own issues and none are cheap to fix/rebuild. Yamaha's have 5 ti valves and 2 camshafts($$), Honda has 4 valves, 1 cam and I believe only 2 valves are ti ($). I've seen/heard of kawi's with 20hrs on them with cracked pistons. If your not racing and even at the lower levels a 2s can be competitve.
 
No such thing, they're all time bombs. Cross your fingers and find somthing that's been properly maintained, good luck.
 
i keep reading the CRF and the CR both need rebuilds about as frequently.

apparently the 2001 cr 250 is a god send engine wise. (motor of doom? people keep using that term lol)

so 2 stroke being easier to fix, that sounds pretty sweet!
 
To rebuild a 2s it's A LOT cheaper. Depending on how hard you ride it and the conditions will determine how much you need to rebuild it. Riding in the woods you could get 2 seasons depending on the amount you use it, a MX track you'll rebuild at least once a year.
 
djbordie said:
01 cr 250 here i come...

actually, there is a Husky listed as a husky cr 250
did they use honda engines or?

anything against a husk vs honda or what?
Click to expand...

Husky is a completely different bike from the Honda....no experience with them.

In an 01 cr250r in good shape for a good price and your set. I went to buy one brand new in april 01 and couldnt find one...all sold out.
 
the Yamaha's are hands down the most reliable of the 4 strokes. Earlier hondas in your price range had valve issues. Kawi and Suzuki were a tad behind in the 4t world (they shared engines at one point). I've always had Yamaha 250f's for bikes and dead reliable... I've NEVER had my bikes in for a repair that I couldn't fix... And my only repairs are just damage related to a race crash.

I have 100 hours on my 2010 YZ250f, all on a MX track, abusing the clutch and bouncing the thing off the rev limiter... I haven't even had to shim valves yet. However, it is getting a full rebuild this winter as it is past due and it will get abused even worse next year... And this is very common for the Yamahas.

I really was happy with my 2004 YZ250F and you can find a good used one for 3G.

More so recently, the Suzukis have been having tranny issues (coming out of gear and going to false neutral... it has caused one person I know to be paralyzed). But, I think that was mostly on the 450s.

Buddy has an 09 CRF450 and it's been reliable. He has about the same hours as me with only a valve adjustment. Remember, a 450 has to work a lot less than a 250F. So for trail riding and casual MX rides, you're hardly stressing the motor... Just keep the oil changed and air filters clean!
 
Have a look at either 2 or 4stroke yamaha,most reliable from my experience.Of course get the newest bike you can afford,most every year the suspension got better,doesnt matter what bike you end up with.
 
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