1986 Rm250

[x2468]

Hey guys, my uncle has a 1986 RM250 that im thinking of taking off his hands. he hasn't ridden it in a few years and it pretty much just sits in his garage collecting dust. He'll sell it for 500-600 bucks. sounds like a good deal to me. anything i should know about this year and model before i pick it up, if i decide to buy it that is. thanx in advance

[x2468]

anyone? is it a good year or was that year a lemon with any defects? Ive never had a 2 stroke before, what would i need to know in general about 2-strokes, especially old mid 80s models, that i should know before i dive head first? what about aftermarket for this bke, anything available?

[JT.]

Here is a small review about it. Not much said but, you can't alway's go by the review's either because, you know yourself, one person may like it and the other might not. As far as lemon I don't know. You might pm Flattrack on here, he can tell you what he can get for the bike as far as aftermarket part's. http://www.dirtbikemagazine.com/read...=1986&SIZE=250 Hope this help's.

[sblt500r]

watch out for the waterpump. if it leaks new seals might not help because the seals ride on the crankshaft. really bad design. i had an 87 rm125 that had the same waterpump and had to buy a new crank assembly. the crank was bent and the seals wouldn't take up the movement.

[x2468]

I see. okay. IS there anything i should keep in mind as far as bringing it out of storage. I dont think its been ridden in a few years. is there anything i should check for that might be 2-stroke specific or spedific to this bike?

And does anyone know what the power will be like? This will be my first dirt bike, ive was all quads before this. Its gona be my beater dirt bike for just messin around. 250 2-strokes are supposed to be pretty powerful correct? i dont know if i should expect to be careful since it will be powerful, or if i should expect to be unimpressed because it is old. either way its only like 500 bucks. i googled this bike and some site said stock it was over 50 horepower at 213lbs dry. that got me thinking, wow, this sounds like a fast bike.

[sblt500r]

change all of the fluids. and clean the carb if it still had gas in it. check the air in the tires. i never drove an 86 rm250 but there is no reason why it should be slow just because its old.

[x2468]

Has anyone ridden a mid-80s era 250 dirtbike? if so, whats are they like as far as power and handling go?

[emmerth]

Yep...used to ride them all the time. In reference to power, if they are dialed in correctly, they are just as powerful as the new 2-strokes. I have seen some older stockers smoke some of the newer models. (rider and condition of bikes may have played a role)

[88lt250racer]

Never owned an rm but I did have an 83 yz250 that I wish I still had to this day. It had awesome power and handled excellent.

[x2468]

i wish i could compare, but ive never ridden a 2-stroke before.

just for comparison, how do you think it would do against a raptor and predator in acceleration? those are the 2 fastest quads in my area, one is owned by my cousina nd the othe ris owned by some guy i see every now and then. not countng this tricked out banshee a mechanic has, but he never takes his banshee into the sunlight.