I couldn’t help it. I love vintage bikes. I don’t like fuel injection. I hate spending months looking for parts from obscure dealers half way around the world. So I innocently posted to a FB dirt bike group I’m in that I was looking for a project bike. Something old enough to be carbureted, new enough that I can still find parts, and in good enough condition that I wouldn’t have to rebuild the bottom end. I wasn’t really expecting a reply, just kind of dreaming and throwing out feelers. Well, I got 2 replies within minutes. One was a clapped out Honda 125 that imo probably needs a new bottom end. Plus it was a 125, so probably not enough power to haul around my fat butt. The other one though was a 2006 KTM 250 XC. I love 2 strokes and I love KTM. I couldn’t help myself – I had to go take a look. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but just looking couldn’t hurt, right?
This one is in nice condition for its age. Good plastics, oversized gas tank, FMF exhaust, Barkbusters, and most important it starts on the first or second kick. Only question was… can I still get parts? Talked to the local KTM dealer. Yes, I can still get parts and he also said it would be an awesome trail bike. So… I did the deed. The seller was even nice enough to deliver it for me. Only thing I’m nervouse about is buying it with a bill of sale. Since it’s a dirt bike, there is no title. I did run the VIN and it’s not stolen, so we’ll see how it works out…
As far as a project bike, it really doesn’t need much. In fact the only thing it really needs is replacing the lower bearing on the rear shock. A quick search on YouTube confirmed that’s a task so easy that even I can handle it. Making it street legal will be a challenge but I’m gonna go for that too. Maybe. Even if a license plate doesn’t happen it will still make an awesome trail bike.
So now there are 3, 4 if you count the Beta that I’m (hopefully) getting later this month. Since I’d planned on 5, it means either the Harley or the DR650 will have to get cut from the list. That’s going to be a tough choice.