Should I do this trade?

[Bun-bun]

A guy on Craigslist is willing to barter his 2001 Ninja 250 for my 1984 Honda CR125R.
His bike has a problem in that it'll only run if you doump gas down the carb manually (I'm thinking fuel pump). It also needs paint, and looks like signals and a windscreen.
Mine is old, and finicky (Floods if you give it too much throttle when starting.) 2 stroke, and kick start, but I had the engine rebuilt last year. I can't use it since they bulldozed the only field near me.
I would fix the Ninja, and  either sell it, or use it to teach my wife to ride, or give it to my son, his 24th B-day is in 7 weeks.


His:

Mine


Opinions?

[gh0stie]

funny I'm looking to make a similar trade currently

have a 98 Ex500 that I'm wanting to trade for a dirt bike!

[DLSGAP]

whats the cash asking price for the dirtbike?

[Bun-bun]

I put $1000 in the rebuild last year, and the they started tearing up our field, so it's only got about 2-3 hours on the motor.
I'm open to offers?
I'm in Norfolk, but I have a truck, and get up to D.C. about once a month.

[DLSGAP]

Hmmm... I'm in TX... but dad lives in Tappahannock... I'll have to think on this one

[Bun-bun]

Hmmm... I'm in TX... but dad lives in Tappahannock... I'll have to think on this one

Ah yes, Tappahannock, speedtrap city, I know it well, and avoid it whenever I can.

[Bladecutter]

2001 Ninja 250
His bike has a problem in that it'll only run if you doump gas down the carb manually (I'm thinking fuel pump). It also needs paint, and looks like signals and a windscreen.
His:
Opinions?

Here's my opinion:

First off, Ninja 250's never had fuel pumps, so that isn't the problem, I guarantee.

What do I think is the cause?

Ninja 250's had a couple common failure points for bikes that sat, and were never properly taken care of.

If the fuel in the tank goes bad, it can clog up the petcock in the gas tank.
You might be able to simply take apart the petcock, clean it out, put it back together, and be as good as new.
If not, a new one from Kawasaki is part number 51023-1393 and costs $59.16 from ronayers.com.

Also possible cause for the petcock to get clogged up is the tank rusted, flakes got into the fuel, and clogged it up that way.

Next line of failure is that the gunk that screws up the petcock got further downstream, and clogged up the float needles in the carbs.
Part number 16030-1007 - $25.14 a piece, and you might need 2 if the rubber tips are hard, brittle, damaged, or the plungers are seized stuck on them.

Next up is the pilot jets and main jets.
If the bike sat longer than about 6 months without the carbs being properly drained, then the fuel probably dried up, and clogged these jets.
You can clean those in carb cleaner. I prefer Berryman's.

After that, I would recommend a good carb cleaning.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Cleaning_the_carbs_2

BC.

[Bun-bun]

Here's my opinion:

First off, Ninja 250's never had fuel pumps, so that isn't the problem, I guarantee.

What do I think is the cause?

Ninja 250's had a couple common failure points for bikes that sat, and were never properly taken care of.

If the fuel in the tank goes bad, it can clog up the petcock in the gas tank.
You might be able to simply take apart the petcock, clean it out, put it back together, and be as good as new.
If not, a new one from Kawasaki is part number 51023-1393 and costs $59.16 from ronayers.com.

Also possible cause for the petcock to get clogged up is the tank rusted, flakes got into the fuel, and clogged it up that way.

Next line of failure is that the gunk that screws up the petcock got further downstream, and clogged up the float needles in the carbs.
Part number 16030-1007 - $25.14 a piece, and you might need 2 if the rubber tips are hard, brittle, damaged, or the plungers are seized stuck on them.

Next up is the pilot jets and main jets.
If the bike sat longer than about 6 months without the carbs being properly drained, then the fuel probably dried up, and clogged these jets.
You can clean those in carb cleaner. I prefer Berryman's.

After that, I would recommend a good carb cleaning.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Cleaning_the_carbs_2

BC.

So, I take it you think this would be a good trade.

Seriously, I really appreciate the breakdown. I don't have a whole lot of knowhow on these bikes(obviously) so, if it happens, that info will be really valuable.



See, this is why I hang out here!!

[CMDRDAVE]

I would go for it.  It even kinda matches your new suit 

[Bun-bun]

I would go for it.  It even kinda matches your new suit 

Where's that middle finger smiley?

[flynbulldog]

Personally I'd just sell the dirtbike on craigs and find something else you like. Those 250's are gutless! even girls just starting out outgrow them in about 2 months 
It makes a fine scooter if you can wrap your head around that notion and expect nothing more, but once you start to think of it as a motorcycle you quickly start yearning for more.

[redxblack]

It could make a fun track bike.

[DoubleEagle]

Gocart track !   

[gearhead]

 It beats the crap out of a clapped out 125.

[ducpainter]

It beats the crap out of a clapped out 125.

I'd keep the clapped out 125.