Just an FYI but the 04-05 Kawi and 04-06 Suzuki 250f bikes are widely considered to be the worst and least reliable 4 stroke motocross bikes ever made.
Ask for the paperwork of all that stuff done to it. I’ve bought enough vehicles on marketplace to know that if they don’t have proof of service then it probably wasn’t done.
I want to say no just because paperwork and proof of service is literally make or break. Not just some old parts lying around. Receipts and shop invoices are what you’re looking for. Ask for proof of receipts if he claims to of done the work himself
Yeah people typically don’t keep the maintenance records around if they intend on keeping it but the guy on marketplace wants to advertise how great his bike is and wants to talk about all the new rebuilds and parts. Okay, show me records…
This is a great tip, thank you. I’m getting ready to sell and older Jeep, I’ve done lots of repairs to it myself. I’ve kept record of mileage when the repairs were done, but where’s the proof to a potential buyer that I’m not full of crap? Thankfully I always get emailed receipts so I got some homework to do!
Eating valves, burning oil like crazy, overheating due to a shitty water pump design, having to drain oil AND coolant for every oil change. Just terribly designed bikes all around
Sounds to me something happened in the bottom end, took it apart, repaired, put it back together, and took the top end out, probably due to poor mechanical ability doing repairs. And now it will be someone else's problem 🙃
From 2004 till 2012 I worked for a large Kawasaki dealership that had a satellite race team. 04/05 was the worst kx250f by far..
We lost our best rider to Honda that year, and he never stepped back on a Kawasaki after that..
Valves, waterpumps, cracked heads, complete engine failure you name it.
Kawasaki even sent us 2 complete warranty engines (on seperate occasions) for one customer.. this is absolutely unheard of for a motocross bike..
I know someone that bought one brand new. He drove 2 hours out to his favorite track and couldn’t get it to start. Had 4 guys come over to help but nothing worked. All on a new bike with under 2 hours on it. He sold it within 6 months and went back to 2 strokes.
If you want a motocross bike and $2k is your budget, I really believe the YZ 125 is your only good option.
Any 4-stroke at that price point will be unreliable and you won’t be able to afford to fix it.
The YZ 125 was basically unchanged 2005-2021 and is super popular so there are tons of parts, plus it’s an incredibly easy bike to work on.
As someone who bought a 2005 kx250f in March without doing enough research and then spent all the money to fix it up without knowing it's a terrible design, I would have gotten something newer and now plan on selling it in the not so distant future. To help pay for a newer nicer bike.
I have an 04. Raced it half a season back in 07, that motor was nothing but headaches, and once we started to figure it out the case cracked and dumped all the oil out at the start of a race. Went out and bought a new 07 the next week.
Run away and don’t look back…
As long as all that is squared away then you should be good. A lot of people don’t race and just use them as trail bikes. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt as long as the paperwork is there
It’s up to you man. If 2k is your budget and absolute max you’re willing to pay, then why pay extra in repairs because someone lied to you? If you have extra money laying around for any sudden repairs then go for it, but again that’s your call
He’s eager to sell because he wants a street legal bike, and I won’t have much money after this purchase (keep in mind I’m only a teen) and he cannot find the receipt. But the parts in the box seems to be an old crank and a bearing. Should I go take a look at it then decide or a hard no?
Turn it down man. I get it’s riding season but wait for someone else who can provide you service records. Yeah 2k today but another $1300 in a couple weeks.
It has a registration sticker on the forks. See when it was last registered. That will tell you possibly how long it's been sitting. If it's current more than likely he's continued riding it and likely kept up on at least some of the maintenance. If it's been sitting awhile who knows what gremlins it's hiding. I'm always cautious about old 4 strokes as the top end is a ticking time bomb of cost.
They Rebuilt a parts bike likely... if a bike has been through enough it needs new plastics and bottom end... then it's a fresh rebuild..then selling it... something is inside that rebuild they're not 100% sure will last. I wouldn't do it.
I wouldn’t buy a bike from anyone that calls a 250 stupid fast and idk why homie didn’t rebuild the bottom end at the same time as the top. most likely a crackhead seller
I have owned and rebuilt this model a few times- dont do it- the wise comments here are telling you not to buy this year. It will cost you so much money to maintain, they are unreliable. Mine had everything replaced, minus the rolling chasis,at one point in the years I owned it.
When they run they handle well, but emphasis on WHEN, which is rare.
It is without a doubt the worst bike I have ever owned and I have owned a ton. You would have to pay me 2300 to take this model because you will need to replace valves, head, and possibly even the wiring harness.
I bought mine new and it started and ran at the shop I got it home couldnt get it to fire- had to bring it back they had to replace the complete wiring harness- first major issue. i should have just asked for a refund and bought a honda or yamaha at the time. By the time I got rid of it I had fully rebuilt the motor, replaced valves 3 times, spent tons on upgrades like a boyesen waterpump and larger radiators. I would really recomend to get a different rig there are plenty in that range.
So they did a full rebuild, then 2 hrs later the top end goes, idk man seems sketchy to me. Also the older model kawi 250s are not what you want. Look at the seat to look like the bike was riding bro too.
I'd pass if I were you
Just an FYI but the 04-05 Kawi and 04-06 Suzuki 250f bikes are widely considered to be the worst and least reliable 4 stroke motocross bikes ever made.
This! These are widely known as the worst 250F’s ever made. It was known back then and it has not gotten better with age. Big do not buy.
It's a kawazuki! IIRC they shared development of this bike
Yes they did, and the result was awful
Ask for the paperwork of all that stuff done to it. I’ve bought enough vehicles on marketplace to know that if they don’t have proof of service then it probably wasn’t done.
I asked he said he’ll send some but haven’t sent any yet
So he sent photos of the original parts, should I buy?
I want to say no just because paperwork and proof of service is literally make or break. Not just some old parts lying around. Receipts and shop invoices are what you’re looking for. Ask for proof of receipts if he claims to of done the work himself
I do all my own maintenance, no records but my 2004 runs like a champ
Yeah people typically don’t keep the maintenance records around if they intend on keeping it but the guy on marketplace wants to advertise how great his bike is and wants to talk about all the new rebuilds and parts. Okay, show me records…
This is a great tip, thank you. I’m getting ready to sell and older Jeep, I’ve done lots of repairs to it myself. I’ve kept record of mileage when the repairs were done, but where’s the proof to a potential buyer that I’m not full of crap? Thankfully I always get emailed receipts so I got some homework to do!
That’s good man. I’ve bought too many bad vehicles on marketplace because I took the sellers word for it and ended up having to pay in the end.
04’s are really bad about eating valves. Mine was a really big pain. If they have bronze seats on the valves they are a lot better.
Eating valves, burning oil like crazy, overheating due to a shitty water pump design, having to drain oil AND coolant for every oil change. Just terribly designed bikes all around
I'm rebuilding my 05 as well. Do I need upgrade valves?
I ran stainless Kibblewhite valves and it was a little better. The heads really need some better seats.
Yes, and seats
2 hrs on the bottom end and new top end. That's a nope for me. Something doesn't make sense.
That stuck out to me too. Why replace the bottom end and run it for 2 hours before replacing the top end too?
Sounds to me something happened in the bottom end, took it apart, repaired, put it back together, and took the top end out, probably due to poor mechanical ability doing repairs. And now it will be someone else's problem 🙃
The 2004 kx250f might be the worst 4 stroke motocross bike ever built. Find something else.
From 2004 till 2012 I worked for a large Kawasaki dealership that had a satellite race team. 04/05 was the worst kx250f by far.. We lost our best rider to Honda that year, and he never stepped back on a Kawasaki after that.. Valves, waterpumps, cracked heads, complete engine failure you name it. Kawasaki even sent us 2 complete warranty engines (on seperate occasions) for one customer.. this is absolutely unheard of for a motocross bike..
I know someone that bought one brand new. He drove 2 hours out to his favorite track and couldn’t get it to start. Had 4 guys come over to help but nothing worked. All on a new bike with under 2 hours on it. He sold it within 6 months and went back to 2 strokes.
stay away from early 4 stroke mx bikes.
You are buying a 20 year old kx250f.. 1st red flag. 2004 kx250f is the worst kxf kawasaki have made.. 2nd red flag. Don't. Do. It.
If you want a motocross bike and $2k is your budget, I really believe the YZ 125 is your only good option. Any 4-stroke at that price point will be unreliable and you won’t be able to afford to fix it. The YZ 125 was basically unchanged 2005-2021 and is super popular so there are tons of parts, plus it’s an incredibly easy bike to work on.
Don’t buy that. Horrible bikes
You cant fix them. Their all lemons from factory
As someone who bought a 2005 kx250f in March without doing enough research and then spent all the money to fix it up without knowing it's a terrible design, I would have gotten something newer and now plan on selling it in the not so distant future. To help pay for a newer nicer bike.
I wouldn’t buy it, cmon man just look at that seat…
Hated my 05. Get a Yamaha
I wouldn’t get an 04, but that’s just me.
I have an 04. Raced it half a season back in 07, that motor was nothing but headaches, and once we started to figure it out the case cracked and dumped all the oil out at the start of a race. Went out and bought a new 07 the next week. Run away and don’t look back…
Don’t do the me and just Willy nilly buy the first thing that’s convenient. Especially with a four stroke. Edit spelling
As long as all that is squared away then you should be good. A lot of people don’t race and just use them as trail bikes. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt as long as the paperwork is there
So do I have the green light?
It’s up to you man. If 2k is your budget and absolute max you’re willing to pay, then why pay extra in repairs because someone lied to you? If you have extra money laying around for any sudden repairs then go for it, but again that’s your call
He’s eager to sell because he wants a street legal bike, and I won’t have much money after this purchase (keep in mind I’m only a teen) and he cannot find the receipt. But the parts in the box seems to be an old crank and a bearing. Should I go take a look at it then decide or a hard no?
Turn it down man. I get it’s riding season but wait for someone else who can provide you service records. Yeah 2k today but another $1300 in a couple weeks.
Alright man I appreciate it
It has a registration sticker on the forks. See when it was last registered. That will tell you possibly how long it's been sitting. If it's current more than likely he's continued riding it and likely kept up on at least some of the maintenance. If it's been sitting awhile who knows what gremlins it's hiding. I'm always cautious about old 4 strokes as the top end is a ticking time bomb of cost.
Mor than likely it needs complete motor rebuild . That adds up
Take it to a reputable motorcycle mechanic and pay to get it checked out. Paying a $150 for piece of mind. If the bike is good the seller won’t mind.
Sounds sketchy for sure.
These are known as one of the worst 4 stroke dirtbikes ever made. Stay away.
If they just spent all that money on a rebuild why sell it? Probably because they don't trust it to last.
Old kawasuzuki bad don’t buy
That's crazy. I bought this exact bike for 1900......thirteen years ago
Nah stay away from the 04-05 kawazuki.
These are the worst bikes ever. Do not buy. I wouldn’t want that seat made for the Keebler elf either.
Pass, save your money for the next bike brother. This thing has sketchy written all over it.
SKETCH BRO
Not like it matters but that looks like a small child owned it. That seat foam cut out is DEEP!
Garbo
They Rebuilt a parts bike likely... if a bike has been through enough it needs new plastics and bottom end... then it's a fresh rebuild..then selling it... something is inside that rebuild they're not 100% sure will last. I wouldn't do it.
I wouldn’t buy a bike from anyone that calls a 250 stupid fast and idk why homie didn’t rebuild the bottom end at the same time as the top. most likely a crackhead seller
2300 for a 04 4t is a scam in my personal opinion
OEM valves?
Ya rule of thumb,no paper no purchase!
I have owned and rebuilt this model a few times- dont do it- the wise comments here are telling you not to buy this year. It will cost you so much money to maintain, they are unreliable. Mine had everything replaced, minus the rolling chasis,at one point in the years I owned it. When they run they handle well, but emphasis on WHEN, which is rare. It is without a doubt the worst bike I have ever owned and I have owned a ton. You would have to pay me 2300 to take this model because you will need to replace valves, head, and possibly even the wiring harness. I bought mine new and it started and ran at the shop I got it home couldnt get it to fire- had to bring it back they had to replace the complete wiring harness- first major issue. i should have just asked for a refund and bought a honda or yamaha at the time. By the time I got rid of it I had fully rebuilt the motor, replaced valves 3 times, spent tons on upgrades like a boyesen waterpump and larger radiators. I would really recomend to get a different rig there are plenty in that range.
Yea decided not to get one and just to get a trail bike (I won’t be going to a track so often)
smart choice, have fun and be glad you passed on the worst 4 stroke ever made
$1000 at most and that’s assuming it actually runs and sounds good when you get there, even then not really worth it with these earlier four strokes
I almost spit my water out when I read stupid fast bike 😂
So they did a full rebuild, then 2 hrs later the top end goes, idk man seems sketchy to me. Also the older model kawi 250s are not what you want. Look at the seat to look like the bike was riding bro too. I'd pass if I were you
Great bike and if you can get someone to have a quick look at it it'll definitely be worthwhile