Might buy a 250SX... What to check for?

[greensled]

I am considering a Honda 250SX. I am going to look at it tommorow, and am wondering what sort of things I should be looking for.

Aside from the obvious making sure everthing works, I know to check the diff oil, engine oil, look for bad bearings, look for leaks, check the function of the gears/shifter, check breaks.

I understand that they have problems with the kickstarter, how can I tell if this is a problem?

What should the compression be?

Any other little things I should watch for?

Thanks
Dave

[Frankencelery]

Welcome to the forums!

I can't say I'm a guy who has made all the right decisions when buying trikes, but maybe I can help. What defects you're willing to tolerate should depend on a combination of your willingness to do your own repairs and the asking price of the machine. Here in Iowa you might find an old beater for $500, or a really nice one for $1500.

Check the swingarm bearings. It's best to have a friend jump up and down on the bike while you watch the pivot point and look for any motion besides swiveling.
Look at the front and rear shocks for oil that would indicate leaking.
Look for smoke when starting. Tell the guy not to start it and warm it up for you, you want to start it cold.
Go through the gears, forward and reverse. Make sure they shift easily and smoothly.
Listen carefully to the engine for any odd sounds.
Once it's warmed up, shut it down and listen for a whirring sound that keeps going after the engine has stopped. If you hear that, the one way bearing is bad, and you'll have trouble with the kickstarter.
Look in the gas tank. In a perfect world, you should see all silver, and no rust. I didn't do that when I bought my SX, and it rusted out a few months later and I had to buy another one. They're expensive!

I don't know offhand what the compression should be. Would you actually bring a compression tester? I've never thought of doing that when going to look at a trike.

Good luck and let us know what happens!