Honda CRF250 (2008) to buy or not?

FuseMX21
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FuseMX21
Edited Date/Time 1/24/2020 10:18am
Hello,

i've got the chance to buy a honda CRF250 build year 2008 from somoene.
i'm a beginner motocrosser so i tend to look for a good bike to begin with for a not too big of a price.
The bike has new tyres, had a maintenance 5 driving hours ago & looks pretty clean, altho i can't check out the engine block on the pictures, the guy isn't far away from me & i will bring a buddy to check it out if everything is fine but..

My question is, the seller asks 1650€ for the bike, does this look cheap for this kind of bike or do you guys advice to take a newer bike then 2008?

Bike really looks clean on the outside, i can show pictures!

Any advice is well appreciated!

thanks in advance.
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kb228
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kb228 1/23/2020 3:56am
1/23/2020 3:56am
I say if its clean and looks taken care of it will be a great bike for a beginner rider. Yea sure its not as good as a 2020 but its more than enough for a new guy.
AZRider
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AZRider 1/23/2020 4:01am
1/23/2020 4:01am Edited Date/Time 1/23/2020 4:02am
my advice is don't. The early crf250's were horrible on valves and heads. This one may have been rebuilt and done very well, but as an investment there are much better bikes in that price range. You may get lucky, and I hate to rain on anyone's parade when they are trying to get started in the sport, but it is just an awfully big gamble.

I would do my best to buy something newer than 12 years old.
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mirramaxx
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mirramaxx 1/23/2020 5:33am
1/23/2020 5:33am
I'm the first owner of my 08 CRF250r bought as a left over in 2009.
Bike has been great! When I drop oil for the engine and transmission I replace both oil filter and air filter (pro filter pre oiled are 10 bux). I have never had any major valve issues, if it was an 06-07 I would shy away from it. I have built new wheels because for looks and added strength.

Also AZ Rider has a great point, You will be the 2-3 or 4th owner of this bike ? It is a huge gamble that only you can really make the call on.

[

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Wandell
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Wandell 1/23/2020 7:03am
1/23/2020 7:03am
I'd honestly be scared to buy a used 250 four stroke MX bike unless I personally knew the owner or they had documentation of a recent engine rebuild. Especially one that old.
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FuseMX21
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FuseMX21 1/23/2020 7:09am
1/23/2020 7:09am
Wandell wrote:
I'd honestly be scared to buy a used 250 four stroke MX bike unless I personally knew the owner or they had documentation of a recent...
I'd honestly be scared to buy a used 250 four stroke MX bike unless I personally knew the owner or they had documentation of a recent engine rebuild. Especially one that old.
Tbh, i feel much safer when i buy it at a dealer then somoene random on the web... that's why i'm looking at professional dealers wich sell used bikes that are checked by a professional.
motorscross
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motorscross 1/23/2020 8:38am
1/23/2020 8:38am
They are great bikes aside from the valves. You will eat through valves quickly and be annoyed when it is hard to start. This can be fixed with steel valves and the loss of power wont be too big of a deal since you are new to the sport, but you'd have to be prepared to spend a little money on the engine. Other than that, those bikes handle well and are just all around easy to ride.
wideopen198 1/23/2020 9:29am
1/23/2020 9:29am
I had a CRF250 2007 as my first dirtbike. They are ok but I would rather go for the fuel injected one which runs much better and cleaner. 2010 and newer is the new model. I also had a 2010 CRF250 and it was night and day compared to the 2007.
Asking price of 1650 seems pretty ok. But I would rather buy a bike from someone I know or I need to see bills of the work which was done. You say it had ''maintenance 5 riding hours ago''. What does maintenance mean in his eyes? Because maintenance can mean a lot of things.
PTshox
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PTshox 1/23/2020 7:21pm
1/23/2020 7:21pm
You want fuel injection. Bikes just run better... easier to start. The pumper carbs are finicky.... IMO
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garagedog
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garagedog 1/23/2020 8:16pm
1/23/2020 8:16pm
08 and 09 was the best years for carbed bikes. Great everything ( motor, suspension, handling etc.) just make sure it starts easily. If it doesn't start in 1-4 kicks, then just walk away.
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sgrimmxdad
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sgrimmxdad 1/24/2020 3:36am
1/24/2020 3:36am
I have an 08 250 and 450, it would take a big knot to get them. Best bikes of that generation IMO....
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davis224
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davis224 1/24/2020 3:42am
1/24/2020 3:42am
I bet you could find a 2010 for near the exact same price, fuel injection is much less finicky, and you won't eat valves, which would get pricy quick. I had an 07, and once the valves started to move, it didn't take long.
Moto520
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Moto520 1/24/2020 8:26am
1/24/2020 8:26am
The 2008 bogs but was a good, reliable bike for me. It's a little old at this point and i would pass for something newer.
gt80rider
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gt80rider 1/24/2020 8:50am
1/24/2020 8:50am Edited Date/Time 1/24/2020 8:51am
12 yr old 250F???? Very, very, risky..... got the 2k in your pocket to fix the engine when it blows???
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Larry450
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Larry450 1/24/2020 9:07am
1/24/2020 9:07am
I wouldn't buy it. Most old dirtbikes are clapped out. If are cheap or just on a tight budget look for low hour bikes. Rebuilding can cost on fortune and its no fun when you are constantly fixing the bike rather than riding it.

Have the cash on hand and search the interwebs for a deal. Soon as one pops up, go and get it. Best bikes go quick, really quick. If you do this, brand of bike cant really matter, they are all good.

2008 is 12 years old. If the bike is ridden 40 hours per year you are looking at a bike that has done 480 hours, and most likely thats a clapped out pos.
yz133rider
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yz133rider 1/24/2020 9:25am
1/24/2020 9:25am
Id look for a late model yz125 or rm125 in good low hours shape for similiar money.
Lightning78
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Lightning78 1/24/2020 9:40am
1/24/2020 9:40am
The big on my 2007 crf250 almost killed me at Perris .....instead I left in an ambulance with a broken back in 3 places a broken sternum, a dislocated shoulder and some internal bleeding.

It bogged on the face of a big double and that's all she wrote.......I NEVER rode another 4 stroke after that day in February 2009
Redrcr34
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Redrcr34 1/24/2020 10:18am
1/24/2020 10:18am
I also had an 07 Crf250, pretty fast vet at the time and only got just under 20 hours out of each engine rebuild, piston, rings, valves and timing chain. After the 3rd rebuild and 10 hours on it, I got rid of it. Not sure if new 250f s are any more durable but haven’t owned one since.

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