Piecing a 250r from eBay parts is a joke. E w

[gimmeamidget]

So I picked up an 85 250r frame, swinger, axle, triples, forks and hubs. I though all the big items are there so shouldn't be a big deal to pick up the rest on eBay. WRONG. What a joke, I think it is gonna cost me double the going rate of a bike to get this thing together. Seems the sellers take every item completely apart to the smallest piece and sell it that way with shipping on top and nothing's cheap. Every rubber piece seems to be 20 bucks etc etc. anyway I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but I saved the worst for last. What is the best route for getting my hands on a motor for this thing? My original plan was to watch for a bottom end in decent shape and rebuild a cylinder for it so I know what I have. I notice the 81 thru 84's are everywhere but the liquid stuff seems to be rare? Any Leeds or ideas? Thanks

[Jmoozy27]

Not sure what your plans are, but, gtfo eBay. Search craigslist for either a seized motor or a cr250 that someone is getting rid of. Post an ad in the classifieds her as well as other places. I have done a few custom build and I've always sourced the motor first. Just take your time.

[bkm]

Save your money and drive 500 miles to buy a complete bike. You'll save 2g's that way. Piecing a bike together will cost 2 to 3 times more than just bucking up and buying a whole one.

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[newby200x]

I have a few small parts from my 85 id let go reasonably, what all do you need?

[Scootertrash]

So I picked up an 85 250r frame, swinger, axle, triples, forks and hubs. I though all the big items are there so shouldn't be a big deal to pick up the rest on eBay. WRONG. What a joke, I think it is gonna cost me double the going rate of a bike to get this thing together. Seems the sellers take every item completely apart to the smallest piece and sell it that way with shipping on top and nothing's cheap. Every rubber piece seems to be 20 bucks etc etc. anyway I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but I saved the worst for last. What is the best route for getting my hands on a motor for this thing? My original plan was to watch for a bottom end in decent shape and rebuild a cylinder for it so I know what I have. I notice the 81 thru 84's are everywhere but the liquid stuff seems to be rare? Any Leeds or ideas? Thanks

That's why guys buy these and part them out. Way more money to be made on parts than a complete machine.

[gimmeamidget]

Yup learned that. I have another complete 85 that's my rider but thought it would be fun to try and piece one. This project is just for fun but those sellers gotta be clearing 4K per bike and nice parts are at a premium price. My r is in good shape so I was just building this one for a beater. I will keep looking for a good bottom or a blown motor. I put an add on the local site hoping someone has a blown bike sitting in their garage they might part with.

[Jim mac]

Just keep a eye out locally and throw some ads on cl. I had a ad out I forgot about. Guy calls me out of the blue want in to kn o if I wants a 86 250r with a tilt for $600. I left work early that afternoon and bought it. found another 85 with title motor had a bad connection rod bearing for $150. Theyre out there just have to have cash in hand when they pop up. Jim

[3wheelrider]

So I picked up an 85 250r frame, swinger, axle, triples, forks and hubs. I though all the big items are there so shouldn't be a big deal to pick up the rest on eBay. WRONG. What a joke, I think it is gonna cost me double the going rate of a bike to get this thing together. Seems the sellers take every item completely apart to the smallest piece and sell it that way with shipping on top and nothing's cheap. Every rubber piece seems to be 20 bucks etc etc. anyway I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but I saved the worst for last. What is the best route for getting my hands on a motor for this thing? My original plan was to watch for a bottom end in decent shape and rebuild a cylinder for it so I know what I have. I notice the 81 thru 84's are everywhere but the liquid stuff seems to be rare? Any Leeds or ideas? Thanks

This is exactly what I did to get my last 250R- part-by-part off EBAY. Only it was 10 yrs.ago. which isnt long-but..the prices were nowhere near what they are now. I remember I got a perfect frame(bare) for $30 + 40 shipping-unheard of now. I had it built/runnin with less than $1500. (Spent much more on it after)-
The reason I did it that way (I didnt have the $$$$ to buy one complete & theres far & few good deals down here also besides parts. Nothing like out west....
Its just insane now! $30 for 4 bolts etc.-yeah right. No way I would attempt that now!- Makes me sick lookin at the EBAY prices (ATC related) nowadays...

[Mosh]

I like to list stuff on CL.
I like the hate mail I get when the idiots find out what a 3000$ trike should be, instead of some poor hammered out 200x or 185 they are asking 1800 for. When I listed my calfab R boy the hate mail came and I never posted a price.

I also list parts fair, and laugh at the low ballers. I listed a 250R complete bottom end for 150 and still had people offer me less than 100...really? It sold for my asking price in 24 hours.

Ebay is almost done with the advent of Amazon.com for new stuff, and FB and craigslist for used stuff. Ebay sucks. Back in it's hayday it was great, but both ebay and the sellers ruined it. It is no way to even gauge value anymore as 90% of what is in there is shil bidded and falsely inflated. The feedback system sucks...why even have it, fees are through the roof, and shipping anything almost cost more than what you bought half of the time.
There is still some positives to ebay, but really it is just a faint pulse of what it used to offer.

[atcmatt]

eBay prices are ridiculous. Especially for us overseas guys. I refuse to sell on eBay now, also try to buy little. Would rather deal with a company or person directly and cut out the middleman (eBay).

Matt

[JesseA420]

funny mosh i just had a conversation with a seller on ebay pertaining to this same thing, due to his listing of some NIB 250r rear fenders for $2500 :crazy:

[atc300r]

Iv been collecting parts for a liquid r for a couple years now.I have most of the bigger stuff.Only the motor came from ebay.I have my 85 I bought in 85.Im planning to build a racer.Craigslist and the trike sites are best for buying parts. Some craigslist sellers will ship if you pay so search out of your area aswell.

[atc300r]

OK new to the selling game what is the preferred method of transferring funds ? Linking one`s checking account to Paypal how does one transfer funds from paypal ? If you don`t have Paypal what do you do ?

I send and accept postal money orders. You can cash them at either the bank or post office. Im not sure about paypal . I haven't used it in about 8-9 years.

[atc300r]

When I buy I contact seller figure out price including shipping.Mail a money order for the amount to them .When they receive payment they ship the item.Same when I sell something.I sold a part to Cody (onetrackmind) I figured my price and shipping.pmed him he sent me a money order and I shipped/mailed the item to him.

[Jonathan Rusu]

OK new to the selling game what is the preferred method of transferring funds ? Linking one`s checking account to Paypal how does one transfer funds from paypal ? If you don`t have Paypal what do you do ?

Venmo works great and no fees

[ironchop]

OK new to the selling game what is the preferred method of transferring funds ? Linking one`s checking account to Paypal how does one transfer funds from paypal ? If you don`t have Paypal what do you do ?
You don't have to link your bank account. I don't for security reasons.

You can do this....sign up for a PayPal account. Then sign up to get a PayPal prepaid credit card (they are separate). You can also get the prepaid card at some retailers like I got mine from a Dollar General Store locally.....you can link other prepaid cards to your online PayPal account but if you link it to a PayPal Prepaid Master Card, there are no fees to transfer funds to or from the card within PayPal. The cards can be funded by your online account or I refill mine at the store if needed. I hand them cash, they swipe the card, and my money is there within 20 minutes cleared to use.

This keeps my personal account off PayPal and gives me a way to spend my online money using my prepaid credit card. That way I only have in there what I need. You can also transfer funds from your bank if you want but I don't for security reasons

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[ironchop]

Also if you sign up for the card online, they send you one in the mail with your name already on it. Usually it's four days after online signup. There are no fees back and forth thru PP transfers BUT there is a four Dollar monthly fee on the card and it's $3.75 fee if you load the card at a cash register retailer. It's a regular MasterCard so accepted anywhere.

Hope I didn't forget anything else.

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[atc300r]

Then box your items and go to UPS to get the shipping quote ?
Yes.You can also use usps for smaller stuff.I have sent items to Canada a few times threw Post Office.

[deathman53]

Trust me......buy a complete machine, tear it down and rebuild it how you want it. I built a 88 250r part by part, new and used......holy cow was it expensive!!!!!! All the rubber parts, special bolts and nuts and brackets nickle and dimed me to death. I could have bought a complete walsh 250r used and still had money to rebuild it by the time I was done. And its still a stock frame(I think slightly bent) and swingarm!!!! I have a 86 atc250r cloned frame trike (hre made the frame)that is a continuing work in progress and it has gone over 15k.

[gimmeamidget]

Thanks for the advice guys, I have gotten a few responses and I am sure I will get this bike put together.

[Dirtcrasher]

No, you can't do it on EBAY very cheap!

Lots of very nice guys on this board that have parts and they sell a whole front end for a reasonable cost), not the clamps, forks, axle, rim/tire, bars, caliper etc etc. Depends on what they have. But lots of great Mid to Western USA (And the picky guys too :D) have no pitted korks or rust on a part etc. etc.

[Degoragon]

I like to list stuff on CL.
I like the hate mail I get when the idiots find out what a 3000$ trike should be, instead of some poor hammered out 200x or 185 they are asking 1800 for. When I listed my calfab R boy the hate mail came and I never posted a price.

I also list parts fair, and laugh at the low ballers. I listed a 250R complete bottom end for 150 and still had people offer me less than 100...really? It sold for my asking price in 24 hours.

Ebay is almost done with the advent of Amazon.com for new stuff, and FB and craigslist for used stuff. Ebay sucks. Back in it's hayday it was great, but both ebay and the sellers ruined it. It is no way to even gauge value anymore as 90% of what is in there is shil bidded and falsely inflated. The feedback system sucks...why even have it, fees are through the roof, and shipping anything almost cost more than what you bought half of the time.
There is still some positives to ebay, but really it is just a faint pulse of what it used to offer.

I agree, ATC parts are nuts on ShitBay, $150 for a faded out and cracked 200s front fender? the BRAND NEW Maier ones sell for $79! Its ridiculous!

Incidentially, Im still looking for a 185s/200s Front fender for my 83 185s.

[atc300r]

Have you made any more progress on this. Iv collected a few more parts from 3ww,craigslist and trx250r website. Plus some friends gave me some parts. Im going to try and keep my build under a grand. I will post a final price when Im done collecting.

[gimmeamidget]

Mine is done....only missing a few very minor parts. but I have been riding and prefer this bike over my other 250r. Mine came in at right around $1700. I could have done it for less but it would have taken much more time searching for better deals.