77 WR250 back from the dead

13 inches sounds really low but may work if you are really short, if not I would go with the 15 incher's and set up the front to match .

if you start worrying about losing money with dirtbikes, you have already lost my friend..

Just think of it as an investment in fun and pride of ownership. I hear you though, the $$ seem a lot for a fixer upper.

there is a bike restorer close by to me and he does beautiful work. the results are works of art. he works for serious collectors who don't blink at 4k for an 80's husky and an 8k resto bill. they want a museum piece down to the last nut and bolt. A lot of us still manage our bikes like a new modern. do it up then ride it and just maintain to mechanical excellence not cosmetic. (or mechanical "just make it through the next ride"). So getting the fundamentals right so the bike is reliable and performs well is 95% of the $ if your going to ride in the mud and slop, don't spend too much on the looks or you will be disappointed.

Every year in Victoria (oz)we have the two day Harrow Vinduro (pre 85's). its in granite country, its always wet and you inevitably get bogged to the arse somewhere. the water is acidic and eats stuff if you leave it unwashed. a set of rear wheel bearings is mandatory after harrow.

Every year a half a dozen newbies show up on their newly and immaculately presented restored xr/ it / pe etc only to have it scuffed, dented scratched and all the alloy shine eaten away. they are crying thinking of the hours of polishing plastics, shining alloy etc etc.

whats this three page PHD about? think carefully about the intended use of the bike once finished and restore accordingly. its hard to enjoy a ride worrying about the shiny petrol tank.

a mate at a recent ride was talking to a bloke with a beautifully restored TT500 first model. he said "nice paint job on the tank" the bloke says "no paint, its brand new NOS" wasn't like that at the end of the ride apparently.

Engine and Suspension work are expensive, especially if you go to age/brand specific suppliers.
These bikes were made to be ridden, so think about what you're spending cash on if you're going to ride it (and I hope you are). As suprize pointed out, money spent on cosmetic upgrades has a way of evaporating.

Also, a well equipped home shop is well worth the cost in tools (as long as you're handy enough to do some work yourself and not make a mess of things).

John finished the engine and shipped it. I have to hurry on the paint for the frame/components now.

My son was at a local bike shop and over heard them tell a kid with his mom it's around $200 labor to change a rear tire.
I told my kid he's in the wrong business. That's $200 for 15 minutes of work. IDK. I think they get $100 a hour.

That's Bull $*!{ I would tell them to stick it up some where...

I told my son he should of told them to bring it up my house for free. How could we ride paying for work like this? From what I'm seeing were losing dealers here.

The very first husky engine I rebuilt was a '83 250wr. I stripped it down to the case then took it to the dealer to split it and do the c bearings and seals it was $150 I paid. I went home and made my own case splitting and assembly tools. I said I wasn't paying again. My sons Honda cr250 needed fork seals. I seen a hex inside the tube on the fork. I dropped in a large metric nut to see if it fit the hex. Then I welded the nut on the end of a pipe. Put a cross hole for a tee handle and took the forks apart. It's time to do your own work. I restored 15 Husqvarna bikes imagine what the cost for a shop to do all 27 of my huskys. I was rebuilding engines and putting them on a shelf. Then take the frames and wash them and paint the swing arms too. It was a assembly line. Then my doctor hinted I shouldn't be riding. My health was failing. Well decades later what have I got to lose?

You should have Bill, I would have told him come by and I'll teach you how to do it... Free for life after that. Some one told me once to learn any thing you can that some one is willing to teach you.

I learned most of the bike stuff on my own. If I needed tools I made them. I helped the neighborhood kids keep their bikes running too. Splitting the Japanese cases was easy. The Husqvarna cases were a machined fit. The Swedish machining processes with there tighter tolarances is awesome.

what kind of bike? street? ive heard of some high costs for street bikes as some are pretty intensive to get apart.

It was the kids dirtbike. They take advantage of moms with their kids I guess.

I HATE to pay anyone anything for things I can do myself. Man am I really tired of doing everything myself.......lol

it wouldnt be as bad if it were done right...thats what really sucks..

Yup I've always said no one will give the care & attention to detail to my stuff like I would. Many times I think if "they" are in business & making money...I should be in business & making money but then I think I would spend to much time on stuff & wind up not making money at all.

I'm just the same way. That's why I had sticker shock.

Here what it looks like now

Very nice.

even looks pretty close to the original sheen. some restos have too glossy paint.