Delima please help! 85 sx or es which to restore?

[oscarmayer]

I have 2 250 bikes that need restoring. I have decided to only restore 1 and sell parts off the otehr to get the $ (pay myself back) for the $ i put in parts for the other. Which would be a better one to restore?

both:
plastics
top ends
fuel tanks
bushing and bearing repalcements
both rears are in perfect shape!

SX: has tank but is in bad shape and no seat and headlight stuff is there

ES: no tank no headlight, all plastics trashed even trunk. plastics will cost 2Xs that of the SX. Wiring harness needs to be replaced as it appears to be chewed in by rats.


So in the end which would be a better one to restore? Yea i like big reds, but this one is beyond basic rough. neither run right now. beg red has a good rear rack(needs cleaning, and painting) and as stated the rear ends are good.

Can you guys let me knwo the pros and cons for each? I've sourced a good top end for a 250 and have it now so i have a good running top end (may do a piston replacement and jug bore/hone just to do it) So please help me decide what is the better to restore and keep. (keeping the one I restore)

[ScottZJ]

Well I think the ES parts are going to be alot easier to find than the SX such as headlight. Second, trying to restore an SX with OEM plastics are close to impossible. Big red is harder to find but they are out there.

[daniel_250r]

if it were me i would personally go with the 250sx i love the look of them but mechanical wise, both are 250cc electric start and kick both shaft drive, both rear suspension its really a matter of wich one is more worth it to you

[oscarmayer]

my concern is costs of restoration. this is not going to be a show room restore, but a nice looking riding restore. the tank plastics and seats are the biggest issues and theya re missing and destroyed off both bikes. I'm probelby looking at about $600-$700 in restoration work on either one. (my riding restore is a 85% normal restore just not so nice looking painted tank, forks, or plastics)

since i'm not a trackster, i'm kinda leaning tot he big red, but as i said, the sx is less work to restore and the plastics are way cheaper.

[ceaserthethird]

I vote for the SX

[oscarmayer]

sx eh? I'm looking for a trail rider. i'm not going to be towing and hauling anything really with it except my own butt and i have my hopped up 200e to town a trailer if needed.

maybe i'll do the sx first and see what to do from there.

[i58829]

I prefer the SX my cousin has an ES and i recently (a few months ago) picked up my first SX. The SX is much lighter, and i have an 85 200x front end on mine so it doesn't have the giant balloon tire push going around turns, and the disc brake front end. Other than that i dont have many complaints about either, and i love the electric start and reverse, but i feel like i have more control over the SX...

[yamaha_ripper98]

i say do the sx but its still a honda

[hublake]

I have done both. I just got rid of the SX and picked up another BR. As ScottZJ said finding decent plastic for the SX is almost impossile at least OEM
I spent about a year and a half looking for a decent rear fender. Never did find one. I vote BR

[oscarmayer]

yea i'm torn. the sx is a lot more complete and i can always rob parts off the ES to make the SX work. both have their quirkss. i'm waiting to get the rest of the $ for the 200s i sold and then will use that to buy the parts i need.
(seat and plastics are first up, along with complete gasket and seal kits, clutches and new piston setup) I'm also goign to order a rear end rebuild kti ($50 from ebay) to rebuild the rear end even through it;s in good shape. I'd hate to have it leak shortly after getting it going.

I'm figureing about $550 in parts for the SX and about $700 for the ES so the SX is less to restore. hrmmm lets see, rebuild the sx, sell for $1200 and redo the es??? hrmmmmmm i'm thinking here...