Buy or Run? 2001 YZ426F

[jdhunt0]

There is a local guy selling a 2001 YZ426F that he says needs a rod bearing.  He has already taken the engine out and pulled the jug.  I'm not sure what happened, but he wants to sell the bike as is.  At what price would you consider buying a bike like this at?  I would plan to do all the work myself other than split the crank.  Is there any signs of damage in any of the pictures I'm not seeing?

[cowboyona426]

I'd say run.  I find working on a bike that someone else has taken apart to be a huge headache.  Been there, done that.

[jdhunt0]

I'd say run.  I find working on a bike that someone else has taken apart to be a huge headache.  Been there, done that.

I'm thinking the same thing.  If it was together I would feel a lot better about it.  Asking price is $500 and I think I can get him down from there.

[Connor_ferk1]

Run unless you can take it for $200

[grayracer513]

In average condition, running, it would be worth about $1500.  It could cost $2500 to fix if you're unlucky.

[LoonRider]

Not sure what it is but it almost looks like rust in the second picture? Or dirt which is just as bad. Plus the cracked rear fender and (what looks like) a bent left radiator. If you mention these things (which can lead you to believe he crashed pretty bad) maybe he'd bring it down.

[G-BRO]

If he will give YOU $2K and the bike it's an Ok deal.

[Pooley]

Run like the wind.  That rod and cylinder look horrible, if the color in the pics is true.  The coloration would be caused by overheating, which you could probably look up to see how hot it got.  My WR 426, with around 15k miles of singletrack, but never raced, never bounced off the rev limiter regularly, and well taken care of looks brand new inside without any discoloration of the metal.  The blueing on the cranks is from the factory.  I think that bike was ridden hard, and put away wet far too many times.
 

[jdhunt0]

If he will give YOU $2K and the bike it's an Ok deal.

 

lol.  Guess I'm going to walk.  If it's going to take ~$1500 to get it going and looking decent I'll just get another bike.

[YZX]

If you keep looking, you can get a running one in poor shape for about 900 bucks.

[grayracer513]

 That rod and cylinder look horrible, if the color in the pics is true.  The coloration would be caused by overheating, which you could probably look up to see how hot it got. 

 

I'll tell you exactly how the crank got that hot; the factory heated it up to ease the insertion of the crank pin. They're all like that brand new.

[Pooley]

I'll tell you exactly how the crank got that hot; the factory heated it up to ease the insertion of the crank pin. They're all like that brand new.

The rod and the cylinder wall is what I was referring to.  The rod and cylinder wall of my WR looks just like the regular metal color.  No discoloration of any sort.  The color of the crank I know is from the factory.  Maybe the pics were just misleading to me.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Pooley

[levi534]

i would look somewhere elns