Trash or Treasure?

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Dirt Bikes

Greg Hitchko

Aug 6, 2021

Trash or Treasure?

Trash or Treasure? Rebuilding a 2007 Kawasaki KX250 Dirt Bike

What seemed like relics of the past, up until about a couple years ago, were the outdated, left for dead, last generation, Japanese two stroke models. While Yamaha never stopped making the YZ250, I am referring to Honda’s CR125R and CR250R, Kawasaki’s KX125 and KX250, and Suzuki’s RM125 and RM250. You couldn’t off those things for the price of a plugged nickel, but turn things around as of recent, and now you’ll find beat up models going for a grand shy of MSRP. CRAZY! But am I wrong?

The resurgence of the two stroke is back in full force and people like me, are reminiscing about the past, pre four stroke era, and it’s alive once again! I was a HUGE fan of the early to mid 2000’s era with the likes of Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, James Stewart, and the list goes on. Tell me about all the feels when you think of that era, I mean, who wasn’t a fan??

That era and the new two stroke movement had such an influence on me that I sold my 2016 Husqvarna FC450, and scoured the internet for the cheapest KX250 I could find. I’ve owned a KX250F and KX450F back in the day but never a green two smoker, only red and blue. I ended up finding a very neglected 2007 KX250 to say the least, in the middle of nowhere Wyoming.

The ad had zero pictures and very little description, it pretty much said what the bike was, the year, and to make an offer. I asked for a few pictures and here is what they sent me:

   

       

The bike had seen better days, huh?! With the pictures in mind and the market prices of other
bikes during that time, I offered $1500 and they accepted. Could I have gotten it for cheaper,
perhaps, but could I have paid MUCH more for a bike in a little nicer condition, no doubt! Here
are a few pictures of the bike when I got it home.

 

    

    



I was inspired by a couple bike builders on YouTube at the time, Cameron Niemela and Adam Paganelli, to do a complete rebuild and do a video series on it, on YouTube as well. Come to find out sooner than later, they make it look SO MUCH easier than it actually is. My goal for this bike was to create something that no one had seen before. I loved Ricky Carmichael’s 2001 championship winning Chevy Trucks KX250 but obviously the bike I bought was the next generation model design. Why not combine the two and do a themed bike, NOT a replica, and throw the 2001 Chevy Trucks look on the 2007 base? There was a lot of work to be done and all while filming the entire process which slowed things down and added frustration. I am sure you all can relate to these feelings as well but just working on bikes can be enough of a headache as is, let alone learning how to film as you go along! The bike was torn down to every single piece including motor, wheels, suspension, etc and built back from the ground up!

I had a local powder coating company spray the frame green to 99% match the KX color from back then, I had my local shop from back in NY, Parker MX help me out with a bunch of the parts as well as sourcing them from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. I outfitted the bike with a GUTS Racing Seat Cover and new foam, Dunlop Tires, Pro Circuit Works Pipe and Ti-2 Silencer, V-force reeds, Tusk wheels and moose spokes, ODI grips, and the list goes on. For the motor I sent the crank out to be rebuilt with a new rod and bearings to Millennium Technologies, I bought all OEM bearings and bushings piece by piece from Rocky Mountain’s
OEM parts section of their website and built the bottom end by myself. As far as the top end goes, I got a Vertex Piston kit for it and had Matt Jory of Proven Moto vapor blast the cylinder and assemble the top end of the motor for me.
 

On top of that, I decided on putting a Lectron Carburetor on the bike as well. I was on the fence for quite some time about this decision, but man am I glad that I made it! I sent Lectron a complete list of specs on my bike including the motor specs, squish, pipe and silencer, elevation, fuel I was going to run, fuel mixture, the premix oil, etc. The more information you can give them, the more dialed in they can build your carb. The better they can dial it, the better the bike will run. Let me tell you, I have had zero issues with it, and it makes the bike run like a rocket!
 

Finally Melo Design Co absolutely crushed it with the 2001 Chevy Trucks themed graphics and I couldn't be more pleased about how it turned out. I had him put my own companies and sponsors on the graphics to help represent the companies I used for the build.

Building your own bike can be a demanding, laborious, and expensive process but I must say, it is absolutely worth every second spent in the end. Don’t get me wrong, I love buying new bikes, but there is nothing that compares to the satisfaction of the final product of a bike you have built yourself. Overall I spent just over $6,000 to rebuild my 2007 KX250 and if you were to do a build of your own, I would expect to be in this range which includes the price of the bike, parts, tools, labor, etc. You must remember, you are completely building a bike to make it brand new again. MSRP of the 2007 KX250 back in the day? $5,999. I’d take a completely custom, show stopping bike, at the same price of a brand new stock 250 two stroke from back in the day, would you? Or even compared to a brand new four stroke these days.
 

The more work you can do yourself, the more money you will save. Dirt bike “How To’s” along with the bike builds are the basis of my YouTube Channel. I have the complete KX250 build series on there along with many other tech tips to help you work on your bike. I create these videos for my channel as a way to give back and return the favor for those who have and still help me along the way. There are a ton of things that I look up and ask questions about how to do on a dirt bike so I really love to help others with that stuff too.

Here is the link to my YouTube Channel for you to check out!

Looking for a two stroke bike of your own? Head over to the “DIRT BIKES” section of MX Locker for a great selection of used bikes to help find your next project bike!

 

Ride Hard Be Safe,

Greg Hitchko

 


 

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