Maybe I'm crazy but I see a lot of articles related to engine seizures. I run the hell out of my dirt bikes and never have to worry about this or any engine failure for that matter. My YZ is easily as reliable as my 400ex. I'm in my rookie season with the R and mainly run a bone stock 89. Do I need to worry about the R or are you guys just building them up and leaning them out so much that it puts the reliability at risk? I'm thinking about getting the LED 300 kit but would love to hear some expert views on reliability. I want to run pump gas too....
Great response Jerry. You just nailed what I was hoping to accomplish with the post. Thanks. I'm working like a nut NOT to become the guy in scenario #3. I have two engines that I am 100% confident in with no worries - my stock 89 and 86. Probably leaving them that way. Got two engines that need to be married up with the right builder to get OEM type reliability that can hang with the 450's and my 4x4 buddies sporting 80hp. I've owned a newer KTM 300 and that is the type of power I'm looking for. So, I would like my R to feel similar to a stock KTM300 and have the reliability of a OEM 250R, YZ250, etc. I want to run Sunoco 94! Maybe this mill is not possible but this is my dream 250R engine.....PM me if you are that engine builder who can deliver this package and also picks up the phone and remembers my name (Bob) post sale.
A stock Trx 250R is bullet proof not idiot proof. The reason a stock 250R is bullet proof is because the engineers at Honda do a lot of testing and correct the design flaws and have the engine tuned fairly close when we buy them new. We see a few common situations when owners are having reliability problems. The majority of the aftermarket parts do not undergo enough testing to find and correct the design flaws before they are sold to the public. Customers read the adds for different engine components and modifications offered by various shops, mail order companies and believe the claims in the adds. We encounter one or more or a combinations of the most common errors/scenarios on a weekly basis:!. I had xxxxxxxx port my cylinder because he said he had a new computer program on how to port cylinders or... the guy that ported my cylinder said that he would make me a good deal on porting and he can match up the porting to work with any exhaust pipe of my choice.2. The customer has a shop build their engine that does not know how to test and select components that work together, that will be easy to tune and meet the longevity expectations for the type of engine build.3. The customer decided that he can put together a winning engine package based upon the claims in the adds of various mail order companies and shops. The customer had someone port the cylinder for low end power. They bought the largest carburetor that will fit on their bike from someone else. The customer bought a pipe that was advertised to be a mid-range pipe. They bough a head with replaceable domes so that they can use pump gas. They bought a CDI box that allows them to change timing curves. The list of mismatched engine components just goes on and on.The customer in # 3 usually spends a lot of money on components and modifications that will not work together and produce the results that seemed logical to him bases on the claims in the advertisements.Find a engine builder that has a reputation for CONSISTENTLY building powerful, reliable and easy to tune engine packages for your model of engine and application. Listen to him and follow his advice and instructions carefully. A cook cannot expect a dish to turn out as expected it he does not follow EVERY instruction in the recipe. An engine builder that has these skills does NOT have to advertise to stay busy or does not need to stand on the corner in a clown costume waving a sign with a list of services and prices trying to attract another one time customer.
