Photos by LeBig
I’ve always enjoyed tinkering out in the garage on some project bikes from my youth. I’ve built up a 90 KX 250
an 89 CR125 an 88 YZ250 and maybe my personal favorite, my old 90 CR500 from back in the day! I’m very fortunate that I have a lot of hook ups for parts and things but really, most of this stuff I have to pay for but at a deal. I’ve sold the KX and the ’88 YZ as well but holding onto the other two for, well, I’m not sure. My wife did let me bring that 500 inside the house so there is that.
I wasn’t looking for a new project bike but when my FRIEND Jamie AKA Darkside told me he has an old ’90 YZ125 in his shop that he needed to get rid of because he needed money for this shop he was building, well I figured I would help him out. Jamie dropped it off before Anaheim 1 this year and he did warn me it was in pieces but I guess I wasn’t quite ready for what he gave me. Which was rusted pile of bolts and a bike that was hammered. This bike was a lot of work and more money than I wanted to put into it as well. Also, because I didn’t take it apart and was just handed zip lock bags of bolts, I had to figure everything out as I went along.
I blame Mr Side for my frustration but in the end, things came together pretty well. The ’90 YZ wasn’t anything special, it wasn’t a very great bike. Just kind of average, it had the anodized red forks which were hella-ugly and caused me some issues as you’ll read below.
The costs for this bike are as follows but keep in mind, I didn’t pay for everything listed below but it should give you an idea of what something like this costs.
Bike- $1000
Dubya DID rims/wheel rebuilt/stock hubs were used $750
Micar machine shop fab work $250
Race Tech Rebuild fork and shock $1500
Suspension Direct Kashima coating $1000
GUTS Seat foam $65
UNI Filter $40
Doc Wobs fuel tank $400
Wiseco Piston Kit $140
Wiseco Bearing kit $40
Pro-X Con Rod Kit $100
KE3 Vapor Blasting $400
eBay for used parts/NOS etc $1826.
Motosport.com for OEM Parts/UFO Plastic $5850
Renthal bars/sprockets/chain $250
Powder coating frame/tank $400
DeCal Works stick kit $100
Sudco Mikuni PWK carb $300
V Force Reed Block $150
