Hello forum.
Ive been lurking on this site for a while and thought I would join. I love all the articles and insight here, and since Im snowed-in today I thought I would kill a little time boring you with my story.
I grew up on a farm, and have been riding dirty bikes for as long as I can remember. Started out on a YZinger, then a KX80, Rm125, KDX200 (really learned how to ride on that bulletproof bike) then when I was 16 I saved all my pennies and bought a 87 KX500. That was in 97 I think... the bike was a former ice race machine, was bored, piped, had a beefy clutch, and in general was scary.
The next year I bought a 93 KX250 from a farmer who bought it to check irrigation pipe. He told me on his third ride it flipped on him, and that was it, he parked it in the barn and bought a quad.
The bike had at most 5-10 hours on it, the factory rubber still had the tits on the knobs. I still have that bike and am doing a complete teardown on it. Here is a pic of Old Bess...
My last bike was a 2000 XR650R. I know... heavy old thumper, but it was anything but slow. I loved that bike for the bush, still don't understand why Honda dropped that bike. The motor in my opinion was exactly how a four stroke should be. Long stroke and bulletproof. Too bad the rest of the bike was flexy and came with CR parts designed for a 220 pound MXer, not a 290 pound, 100mph desert machine. Brakes would fade, fork flexed like crazy, and I nearly went broke trying to find replacement wheels. Rear wheel bearings wouldnt last either, that bike just had SO much tourque.
Anyways, I want to get back into MX and am looking for a two stroke. Now Ive never been a Yamaha guy but to be fair Ive never rode a new-ish YZ250. Heard nothing but good things about the bike and from what Ive gathered the ergo's suit bigger riders nicely. At the same time... Ive found a brand new 08 Rm250 being sold dirt cheap by a dealer. A friend of mine had a 07 Rm and that thing honked, I loved how that bike felt, even though it was night and day different from my KX, and I love the feel of a perimeter framed KX. Anyways, since Im getting back into MX, my biggest concern is reliability and aftermarket support. Which would you guys go for, the RM or YZ? Im 6'3", 200 pounds and will be in the junior class.
I have one more question that maybe some of the more mechanically inclined guys can answer.
On my KX250 after say, a high speed run and the bike was hot, it would make a squeeling noise from the engine. This was rare mind you, it wasnt a constant issue and only after flogging the bike wide open for a stretch. When I pulled in the clutch it would become quiet and stop after a second or two. I took the clutch apart and never seen anything out of the ordinary. Since Im doing a complete restoration on that bike, Im wondering if splitting the cases and doing the mains is a good idea. At the same time Im doing it on a budget. Any ideas?
Thanks for reading!
