So there is a 1988 honda 250r for sale at a local dealership for about 2400 on the tag, i was wondering if it was quite worth that? Its in alright shape for being an 88, its not to bad but its not the greatest either. A little bit of rust around, but it started pretty easily, just wanted to hear some thoughts. Just thinkin about buyin a little something with some of my graduation money that i will be getting this saturday, just debating on what to get. I dont want to buy new because i wont be able to afford it. Just something to mess around on every once in a while. Thanks in advance!

Aaron

The 250R's were probably the best all around sport quads in there day. Today there is still 250R's running around, most badass ones!!
The only problem is, it is a very good bike, but your going to have to leave money on the side to feed into it little by little because of its age to keep it running top notch.
You could prob find something a little newer.

I had an 86 250r that was done to the tits and like mentioned before you need extra money to keep it running right and for all the regular maintenance. If you want something to just mess around on then do your self a favor and get an older honda 400ex. I had one of those as well and its definatly a fun quad and will be more reliable then a 250r.

without seeing it our self, cant really give a straight answer, they were reliable just got to tune the carb for conditions. offer $2K if your serious and if they take it good deal for both seller and buyer, rare machine now, that you can still find good parts for.

Tough to beat a nice 250r. I wouldn't worry about maintenace costs, as 2-strokes are pretty cheap to maintain. Just check the basics like frame damage/cracks, chain slider isn't worn through to swingarm, etc. Might be worth while to tell the dealer you want to witness a compression check, too. If all that stuff is good, $2000 would be a good deal.

better off putting that cash down a wheeler that is less then 5 years old and never raced. Nobody likes 250r's more then me but unless you have proof of the thing having a solid transmission and motor it could cost you a ton of cash in the near future.. the life expectancy of a 250r transmission is right around 10 years of trail use and your looking at one that is 20 years old.

shop around

Good chance alot of part have already been replaced. I would get it, think of it this way. How much do you think you will be able to get out of a 400ex in 20 years. I think 250R's are just going to keep climbing in price the rare they get.

The current value of 250r's is in the toilet due to all the 450 race quads that are out now. As soon as the yfz and trx 450's came out and the 250r was made obsolite for racing, their value dropped dramatically. I wouldnt buy a quad with the mind frame of the return I will get from it in the future.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. But keep in mind what it costs to rebuild a 250R engine and transmission as compared to any of the high performance 450 4-strokes. And yes, it seems people are quickly realizing the life span of these "bulletproof 4-strokes." Cha-ching, cha-ching.
Also, it seems to me that 250R's, especially when in good condition, are still very sought after machines. $4000 is not an uncommon asking price for nice 87-89's.

I see where you are coming from, but really. How much will you get out of a 450r or yfz in 20 years?? New they are 7 to 8 grand. I can find 04's for 3500. I am just saying if you get on exriders.com and see what alot of R's are still going for it's pretty amazing.
You are right thou, there was a huge drop in value when all the 450's came out. With mine I just feel part of an elite club who still run the legedary R. A well tuned 265 can run with the 450's and 310's kill them. That and they only weigh in at 315 pounds.

250R's rock. if it is in good shape, buy it. They don't take anything to maintain and will still waste most newer quads.
There are also 310 big bore kits for them still.

My raptor is a piece of shit and it's only 5 years old. I'd trade it for a 250R right now.

2400 for an 88' Nah that seems alittle high unless the motor has been rebuilt. If not then id go look for a nice banshee

A twenty year old two stroke has quite likely been rebuilt, like, a dozen times. A banshee????

I had one, 15 years ago. I wish I had it back.

i have 2 250rs, one is a stock 88, and one is a laeger pro trax/cr500 link frame now with an ESR 350 powervalve motor. I also have a 2008 suzuki LTR 450. I got the 450 to race the 450 class, and its not stock at all, but it still cant even touch the 350. (the 350s in my sig, but its completely different looking now)

as for that 88 at the dealer ship, that price is fair. the 88s are hard to come by, especially in good condition. There were a lot of improvements on the 88/89s, including a 35lb weight savings from the 86/87 models. Theyre great quads, i would definitely pick it up if i were you.