Any trx250R fans on here?

[mj4trax]

I'm new to this forum, so think I'll start with a small introduction.

I've been an 3 and 4 wheeler rider for the past 24 years.  I've done some harescramble racing been successful enough at it.

I was a die hard 3wheeler guy until my brother bought a trx250R in 1992.  He still has the same quad (1986 model) and I have my own.  The ATV world has been without race-worthy new 2-stroke quads since 1989, last year of the trx250R.

Anyway, my love of the two-stroke powerplant in that machine eventually led me to yearn for something else with a two stoke. ....  something newer.  . ..  two years ago I bought a 2003 RM250 and absolutely love it. ..  since then I bought into another (2004) RM250 and recently picked up a 2000 yz125.  The trx250r is now relegated to family trail riding duty as any time I have a choice, I've been swinging a leg over the bike instead.

Anyway, over the years I have gathered quite a bit of knowledge about the trx250R model, and I'm always up for a conversation about them . ..   

[factoryX]

Oh yeah. I've been debating over building a trx up, or simply buying a yfz450 and yanking the motor out for a trx250r/banshee motor.

[Coop]

A 1987 TRX250R with white plastic and red/blue graphics and gold wheels to this day is the only ATV I would like to have in the garage if I had room for a collection. Those were nice   .

[mj4trax]

When I first bought my 250R, it looked kinda like that one...    I've ridden the wheels off since...   now it looks more like this:

[factoryX]

Heres mine before I got rid of it.
When I first got it



After:

Amazing what brake cleaner can do.

I kind of regret getting rid of it, but there is always other bikes.

[mj4trax]

Selling off a 250R and buying anything else with 4 wheels is just plain wrong. ..    though I'd have to say that if it came down to it and I had to sell my trx to keep my RM250 . .. that would be a tough call. 

[factoryX]

Exactly, the reason I sold it is that it needed quite a bit, and I wanted to get back into trikes for a bit.

[mj4trax]

Trust me, I've learned in the past two years just HOW MUCH cheaper it is to ride a bike than a quad. ..

Heck, I spent as much $$ buying an aftermarket 310 cylinder for that quad as my RM250 costs, and the bone stock bike motor runs harder. ..   

I put as much $$ into the suspension on my quad as the entire bike cost. ..  and never even got close to the same level of suspension action as the bike. ..   

In the two years since I've bought the bike, I guarantee it's saved me more $$ from not buying replacement parts for the quad than it's cost me from it's own purchase and maintenance.   

[factoryX]

Have you seen the new designed ESR cylinders? Their non powervalve 310 is now $599, and they are about to make quick change clutch covers.  As for prices, its because of the age of the quad, and the fact it was only made for 4(oops) years.  I will probably get a bike, but there is always temptation to go get another TRX/ATC250R.

[mj4trax]

Yep. ..  I bought one of the new ESR 310's ...  though I got the Powervalve on it so it was more like $850 . ..   on my comment earlier, I was lumping that cost in with some other changes I made at the time and exaggerating just a bit. ... 

To me, it's more of a deal with the quads just simply having more wear items as I got pretty good at finding deals. ..  they may have only made the quad for 4 years ('86, '87, '88 and '89) but it was the only quad worth racing until the YZF450 debuted in 2004. ..  so there is just a TON of aftermarket companies that make parts for the 250R. ..  

Other than the center cases for the motor, EVERYTHING else for the quad can be purchased aftermarket . ...  don't think there's any bikes out there we can say that about. ..  though that's a good thing as they never stopped making race bikes.  

[factoryX]

Even then the 450 is debatable. The only thing I don't like about the 250r's is the left side case.

[MyckMcClung]

there was one on my local Craigslist last week,I just tried to find the listing, must have sold.
Personally I hate quads, they are the reason for every riding spot in my area getting shut down.

[MyckMcClung]

I'm talking trails folks, not tracks.

[factoryX]

Trails? meh, its the big 4x4 quads Cough "jeeps" that destroy riding area's. The average 4x4 weighs over 700lbs, now add that with 500-850cc motor, and you get two monster ruts.

[mj4trax]

Before I threw my leg over a bike, I never understood where that animosity came from. ..    I never had anything against the bikers. ..  why did they all seem to hate quads.   

I now have a different perspective and understand the viewpoint, but at the same time I can say that they are NOT going away, no matter how much anyone wishes for it. ..   and all recreational riders have the same common enemy.  United we stand, divided we fall.