The 15 dislikes on this video so far are probably the people with brand new bikes that are jealous that they can't even ride their new bikes anywhere near what you can do even on a 20 year old bike. Awesome build by an awesome rider!!!
Of course an old bike can not only be competitive, it can win convincingly as well. Virtually anything built after 1992, with proper setup, can still be plenty fast and competitive today in the right hands. My '96 CR500 & '97 KX500 are just as feared today as they were 20 years ago.
I had a 2005 YZ 250 with all those mods that I rode for 11 years and I couldn't kill it. I cleaned the air filter after every ride but I never even replaced a piston and it still runs strong and has good compression. I have to admit it's still as good as any out there, I just like the button now that I'm old.
Your exactly right about that all the magazines ever build are bikes with lots of worthless bling so they can pay a professional rider to pin the throttle for ridiculous photos.
@@IRCTireUSAMoto hi, you say the valving mods made the bike sit lower in the stroke, might be a dumb question but does it lower the bike overall? I have the same 01 and struggle with its height in the nasty tech terrain, i need it lower! Thanks
@@IRCTireUSAMoto i been Searching for chain adjuster blocks that'll fit that model bike 01 yz250. NOBODY I MEAN NOBODY makes aftermarket axle blocks for them oem discontinued them, checked rocky mountain to. 🤷🏾♂️
Loving your stuff, glad I found your channel. You know you're old when you still see a 20 year old bike as "new" technology. Brings back memories of my old DKW 125 that I thought was the cat's meow way longer than 20 years ago and sneaking rides on my Dad's TM 400 and living to tell about it. :)
My DKW still said "Sachs" on the side casing and had a springer front end that weighed about as much as the Econoline van we used to haul the bikes. I was so jealous of my dad's Penton. That is, until I got my CZ with straight-cut gears!
Love the video and channel! could you put a parts list with links in the description? I have a 01 yz250 and would like to follow this build. Thank you for being awesome!
I just bought a 2006 YZ for trail riding (aspiring hard enduro). Though its my first real dirt bike, I really like it and think they are very capable. Ive also added a flywheel, skid plate and some gummy tires and it makes the bike even more capable on the tech stuff. thanks for all the great content!
Love your channel. I agree completely that a 2001 yz250 can be a competitive motorcycle today. But for the average dirt bike guy/mechanic like myself , a used yz250x in excellent condition is a safer bet. Speaking from experience my 2003 YZ250 build is over $5000 already and still not done. My used but excellent 2019 yz250x from Facebook Marketplace with 40 hours cost $5000 ready to go. I also have a 2019 yz125 with only 5 hours for $4200 ready to go. As a mechanic I love YZ projects but they often cost more money to complete than a good used newer bike. Often, more times than not, repair costs escalate beyond the value of the bike. Old bikes most definitely should be rebuilt/restored by those with the means and passion for motorcycles. I speak not to discourage anyone but share real life experience concerning the money required to rebuild /repair a yz250 . To take on a project like the IRC project one must expect the potential for a costly lesson in dirt bike economics. I would bet if every receipt was tallied, every sponsored part and little thing added up that went into this beauty of a yz250 we would all be shocked. Been there, have the T-shirt . Peace . Love this channel
@@MatthewC137 my intention was only to highlight the great possibility that a project like this can incur significant cost overuns and bring financial stress from unforseen parts, shipping , machining , labor costs requirements. In this video the yz250 cost $1200 and then it received new wheels , mousses, tires , full exhaust system , chain and sprockets, suspension work. What else was installed ? The nickel and dime stuff really adds up too . We have to add shipping charges too. What's the real tally at this point? My point was not to disagree or discourage but to highlight the very real practice of under-reporting what a project like this one can cost. I agree that there are nice garage queens out there yet to be found . But there are some real garage turds out there and they are a going to be a nightmare and cause the new owner a lot of regret. The rebuilding of old dirt bikes is awesome but buyer beware . It's your money.
Glenn Gertz don't be discouraged, you're on point. Rich's honesty is not in question here. I believe we all know him to be a genuine guy who's looking to get more people involved in the sport we all love. Wheels, mousse, tires and drive can hit a $2k ticket alone. Exhaust $500. Bars & grips $100+. Graphics & plastic $300 easy. Fuel tank $200+. Guards $300. Then piles of $30-70 here and there. Air filter, seat cover, misc bearing kit, carb hoses, brake pads, fork oil, seals, cleaning supplies............ not to mention a potential top end... "Oh look! A rabbit hole." Some bikes may not need all those things, but we're talking a 20yo machine. Even a pristine garage queen is drying up her rubber bits just hanging around waiting to be discovered.
@@MatthewC137 Rich's honesty was never in question here. John Howerton's assessment is spot on. It's about bike projects getting expensive due to unforeseen circumstances. And that's it . Thanks for understanding ✌️
Absolutely! Most of my friends can’t keep up with me on a clapped 05 CR125 in the mountains. Pisses them off when they can’t get up hill climbs on there 450’s I can do on my 125. That YZ has better suspension than any KTM or Husky with their garbage WP. I own a 17 TE 300 as well so I speak from experience when I say the WP suspension leaves a lot to be desired.
I did this to my 2009, only difference was a 9oz fly and a Lectron. Dropped the front tooth to a 13 and that added lots of grunt. I use a G2 throttle tube as well.
Hello, I have a 2021 yz125x that i do desert and some hill climbs but I feel it lacks low end power. Stock gearing is 13 50. If I drop down to a 12 front will that help? Also what do you think about putting a 11oz flywheel weight? I already have the resr 33s tire but still want to get more bottom end..
I did the same thing with a 2001 yz I bought for 1300. That bike had an unbelievably strong engine. 13 ounce flywheel. If that bike had the right suspension and rider- it could win almost any off road race. However, i ended up with a good used 2016 250 xc-w for hard enduro riding. I sure like the fan and the e start.
I have the same bike, and found the 3 mods to reduce the hit and make it smoother on low throttle settings are, 12oz fww, #40 powerjet anf an X powervalve spring. Made a huge difference. Love this bike
@@traileater I removed one washer whenever I swapped mine over to the X spring, supposedly it makes the power band not hit as hard and helps make power more linear. But idk I'm going try to do the spring only swap but the washer on the reg YZ are 1mm thick the X model are .8mm in case you didn't know
Nice content but the build details were a little vague what condition was the engine in and did you receive any free or sponsor discount on parts as that seems to be the case on a lot of builds I see on RU-vid in my area bike deals like that are getting harder and harder to find.
They were great bikes! Finding one is getting hard in half decent shape. I bought an 05 for less than I could an 01. One thing to keep in mind or consider is 01 still had the 46mm forks. 04 was the only steel frame that got the 48. 05 I believe had the same with the aluminum frame then 06 finally saw the SSS. I have found the 46mm forks to be pretty good but years of neglect might make them a costly option so check out those used bikes before purchasing!
@@earl6969 true but its easier to get parts for the 06+ sss forks. My 95 had 46mm forks and i didnt have issues. My comment was more about getting parts.
Great and very useful content. On point and well explained. That is exactly what I would do if I had to convert an old mx bike into an enduro weapon, however there is a little issue. It is very difficult to find one in decent condition. Most of the old mx 2strokes are in such horrible condition that it is hardly worth it to do anything with bikes like that. Usually it is one big of a disaster and overall it ends up being even more expensive than for an example ktm 250 xcw from 2007. And I doubt that yamaha is better than an older enduro ktm. Anyways, your content deserves a big thumbs up😊
Rich, great video! I have an 03 and will be doing the same thing you did to that 01. I also have a 96 cr250, these are my favorite bikes ever and dont want to part with them but I only trail ride now days due to my age (56). What suggestions would you have for me to do the same thing to the cr? They are both amazing bikes, I just need to make them more useful for the type of riding I do now.
I think the 2001 YZ250 made more and probably better power than my 2019 YZ250 when it was stock, (I fixed it). Fix it up, tune it the way you need, there is no reason why a late 80's bike would not work just about as well, (80's stuff probably definitely some Race Tech suspension help.). If it was not for the excellent Yamaha suspension (especially the SSS forks), I think my 1988 Honda would smoke my 2019 YZ. It might be the slowest 250cc MX bike I have ever had stock. Maybe not if you rode it like a 125,---wide open all the time.
I run a 2000 yz250 with Rekluse clutch, Rekluse rear handbrake, 18” rear tusk wheel, shinko cheater tire, Lectron carb, tubliss front & rear, G2 throttle, 52 tooth rear & 14 front, 2011 yz450F SSS suspension swap, and all the bash guards. It’s amazing, I love it and it’s def a woods weapon as well as hard enduro.
Steven Llewellyn Lol, I run almost the identical setup on an ‘02! The few exceptions are front & rear bib mousse & 13x50 gears. I’m thinking about the wide ratio gear kit so I can keep up w/ my friends on the fast/easy sections where I run out of gears...
@@stevebaum how you liking those bibs? I might switch to them even though I’m liking the Tubliss. I just did tuff like RORR and bike overheated 5 times. Put a Tusk fan & motion pro overflow kit on it now.
@@stevenllewellyn8906 I'm new to bibs. I have the Nitro Platinum in front & Plush in back. I was initially surprised at the weight, but performance wise, They seem great. I'm not longer concerned about flats or rim damage. I don't have to carry tire tools! I had to alway check my outer tire pressure w/ the tubliss. The inner red liner was always good, but maybe my rims were worn, I don't know. I tried a lot of things and nothing worked very long. Maybe it's petty but I like to have my bike ready to go at any moment so this was annoying to me. I've had two tire changes and they still look good, but are shrinking. I've ordered some wedges to snug up the fit.
@@stevebaum295 I’ll have to get some. They had them for sale at the race and I regret getting them since I guess they’re out of stock at the moment. Yeah the tubliss I have to air up/check before every ride. Usually loose around 10-15psi on high pressure side in between riding sitting in the garage.
I had this bike years ago, a beast... I had plans to make it into a supermoto, then life got the way. sold it :( Looking for one now put the pickings are getting slim if you dont want a complete shitbox that needs everything... anyways, still looking, maybe I'll find a gem :)
Loving my 2018 yz250, 13oz stealhly, home made skid alot like the sxs, protaper evo woods high bend, zeta full wrap hand guards, fasst co. Anti vibration inserts are a blessing 🙏. Clarke 3.2 gallon tank goes all day. Soften my clickers 1 click softer then the yz250x settings. Im 230lbs so the harsh suspension is not so bad for me. Shhhh,,,, shinko 525 cheater in a 19 inch out back and a shinko mx216 fatty up front. ( couldn't get IRC tires in Canada, they were back ordered and almost 90 bucks a tire more expensive than shinko) Its always hard to find the good stuff in Ontario Canada, parts for everything are on backorder due to covid bullshit. Avoid the sickness, ride your dirtbike...
Love the bike, but not very detailed build series. We need to know more. I know several people with 01 yz250s and we are all trying to build them for single track/hairscrambles/hard enduro.
Can I drive enduro with a 2018 YZ250, or will I crash it every 5 minutes? I'm considering buying one. It has already been modified with an 18" rear wheel/tire and a full FMF system. I'm a lower-intermediate rider, so I understand that I probably should buy a WR250F instead, but this '18 YZ250 I found is so gorgeous that I fell in love with it instantly. 😅
I really wish all the big dirtbike RU-vid channels would stop running the price of used YZ250’s up lol these things were always the secret affordable off-road weapon. I’m not sure about a 12/50 sprocket combo though 😳 maybe I’ll try it sometime. Love the video. Can’t wait to try some IRC ve33’s. My brother loves them.
Chad I agree. I’m running 13x50 for some slow / steep stuff and cannot keep up w/ my buddies on the open, fast sections. 12x50 would be painful once you are out of the woods.
I wonder how an engine swap to a 250x setup would suit this build. Steel frame + wide ratio = win? I assume you could use softer gearing like a 13/51-47 (I have a thing about only using odd numbers, if possible).
Searching searching for chain adjuster blocks that'll fit that model bike. NOBODY I MEAN NOBODY makes aftermarket axle blocks for them oem discontinued them, checked rocky mountain to. 🤷🏾♂️
Yeah, dirtbikes have barely changed. Most have a 4 stroke model but the design has been the same since the 90s. The only difference is materials used make some of the new ones lighter
Rich, great vid as always. I do have one question. When you say "take a little valving off the top" I don't know what that means since valving is speed related and not position related. Could you add some more detail please? Thanks.
Sorry what was meant was adjusting the shim stack to make the bike ride deeper in the stroke. The bike was slightly stiff and harsh. After giving this info an experienced suspension technician can make simple shim stack adjustments accordingly.
Looking for a bike for trail riding and hard enduro training. Is the lack of e-start on the YZ250X gonna be as big of a problem for me as I think it is?
Any mods for the power valve to smooth out then 2 stroke “hit”? I know the fly wheel weight would help with some of that but down low, these bikes ability to chug suffer. Anyway to take some off the top end and put it in the bottom end chug?
I bought my 01 used with a fww already installed, the power was still too abrupt and peaky. A friend suggested an X powervalve spring and a #40 powerjet. Those 2 things made a big difference and are inexpensive and easy to install. I highly recommend those 3 things to make it chug, and it still has plenty of power, and less spooge.
I added a motion pro coolant recovery system to my 2018 yz250. Works great. I do lots of 1st gear superslow stuff and never yet boiled over. The trick is in how you jet and mix your gas. In 40 years of riding yamaha I've learned, 32/1 with pump gas, keeps the ping away and runs cool. I do like it a tad rich but I've got 125 hours on stock piston and original spark plug. So I must have it right.
@@IRCTireUSAMoto I had a 2017 YZ 250x I was very disappointed in the power delivery compared to the KTM I felt that Yamaha could do a much better job with all of their technology that they have at their availability. The YZ250 with the long rod kit I rode was a 1996 model also had a weighted fly wheel very very impressive.
@@hamiam2243 I have the same 2017 yz250x and I'm more than happy with bike performance, actually much more happy than I was about my previous 2011 ktm exc300.. Are you sure yours was jetted correctly? They come too fat from factory, almost unrideable before I jetted it properly...
@@DenisElpashev yes it was very particular about jetting different main, pilot and needle only thing I didn’t change was the slide or the jet needle The 1996 had a lectron carb That bike was as good as any new bike today lots of low and power very rideable.
Ham I am those 1996 YZs were dogs compared to the 1995. That’s why everyone put those YZR long rod kits in them. Makes sense it feels good in the woods because they were weak on the track.
I had ridden this bike but for me it cost to much energy to pull the clutch because its not hydraulic. I want to buy a enduro for my girl. I should easy to handle and don't cost a lot. Any opinions?
This is a mans bike 😂 you probably wouldn't like it 😜 But if you must have an e-start yz250 your in luck because Panthera Motorsports makes an e-start kit for the YZ250
wow that escalated quickly, thanks for the info about Panthera, also fuck you 😊 Come riding with me one day and we will see if you still think having an E start makes you less than a man. Any idea if those kits are reliable and work in the real world? I am so sick of fixing my husqy I wish it was Japanese
@@mr2oomad hahaha 🤗. I've only read about the Panthera Motorsports starter. It's $1250 and it hangs off the case like Gasgas and old KTM starters. I think it's too vulnerable for hard Enduro. I've no plans to purchase it. My mate has a 2020 husky tx300 tpi and he just hammers it to pieces in hard Enduro. It's been mostly reliable . After 200 hours he's had to fix starter wiring behind the number plate and replace the subframe which is typical for hard Enduro. ✌️😅
I have an 07 yz250 all set up for single track. Retarding the timing 2 degrees and an RK tek head made a huge difference for bottom end power. Retarding the timing tamed the engine down a noticeable difference and mellowed out the motocross hit. Way better then stock. Also have an 11 oz flywheel weight.
If you're planning on doing this just remember not to go too old. Nostalgia got the better of me and I tried to modernize a 1996 Yamaha WR250 but at the end of the day I just couldn't/didn't like it compared to a modern bike. Still had lot's of fun restoring and riding it though. imgur.com/cDROkb6 imgur.com/ERIypKl imgur.com/8TG2su5
2 strokers will always dominate 4 strokes. The electric market though as that technology matures will be interesting. Either way brrrraaaaappp life is where it's at.
Never in a thousand years and I have that build for 3000$ sorry to say it if the bike was free the average for a every day joe in Canada would not hang that amount of parts for that price . Still a sound build and I would dar say that I would rather that bike then a new 450!
