Can you Race a $1,000 Dirt Bike?

Is it possible to race a ratty old motocross bike that we bought for £1000 against modern, state of the art machines? Let’s find out! This 2004 Yamaha YZ250F might well be the cheapest dirt bike in the country, and it’s definitely in need of some tender loving care. In this video we attempt to revive this old thumper, we test to see if it starts and how it rides before we throw it in at the deep end and line it up next to 39 well maintained, modern race machines. Wish us luck! Our aim here is to show you guys that it is possible to go racing, even on the tightest of budgets….
A big thanks goes to Luton and District Motorcycle club – https://www.facebook.com/lutonmx

Sean you’re a legend for agreeing to do this one mate!
Shoot me a message on Insta if you’re interested in owning The Piglet – https://www.instagram.com/999lazer/

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can you race a $1,000 dirt bike that’s the question we’re going to answer in this video stage one of the process is buying a $1,000 bike and this is what we’ve got here it’s a 2004 Yamaha wif 250 so we genuinely did buy this bike for £1,000 from a friend of ours that’s about $1,200 it’s been sat in his garage for about 8 years and is in desperate need of some TLC we will be racing it this weekend throwing the bike and our friend Sean right in at the deep end which he isn’t too thrilled about because we genuinely don’t know if this bike is even safe to ride first things first we’re going to go through the bike and make sure it’s actually safe to ride and the person that’s going to do that for us is the guy that’s actually going to race this in 3 days time that’s our tame test rider Shan Smith so I’m going to go surprise him with the bik because he knows nothing about this and we’re going to go through it and make sure it is actually safe to ride Okay so we’ve got the bike inside of the garage Sean’s out in the back I’m going to get him to close his eyes and we’re going to surprise him with his new ride for the weekend he doesn’t know about the bike and he doesn’t know about the race that we’ve signed him up for so uh let’s give him a nice little surprise I’m not liking this right right so you know how we usually get you nice bikes to ride you’ve been on wizilla Kong we even got you a ride on the Triumph new Triumph the other week we’ve got you a new bike today that we’ve actually signed you up for a race this weekend so this is the bik going to be racing this weekend so you can have a look now so uh three two one I’m scared open your eyes God so what is that we think that this is the cheapest working motocross bike in the country and you’re going toise this weekend got some trick bits obviously monster Graphics we had to go fast this weekend with those uh we know that you like to crash every now and then so got carb look at the state of it I’m slightly worried so we’re going to see if it is possible to race a $1,000 dirt bik that is the concept for the video that’s what I’ve signed you up for are we in a four lap Dash no this is is a full-on actual event at um toddington this um bank holiday Monday but so it’ll be full gate drops three motos hopefully I’m speechless on a 2004 WIS 250 still frame yeah I can see that but I’m looking at it looking at all the things that are wrong with it we haven’t actually started it yeah so we we bought it for £1,000 $1,000 uh literally just got it in the van and drove off we didn’t even check so step one started it we’ve not started it so step one in our is it possible to race a th000 dirt bite step one today is uh we’re going to see if it starts we’re going to check that it’s safe we’re going to put some put some new fluids and what not in there from a p line so we are both going to ride this bike tomorrow so we do need to make sure that is safe to ride but we also need to make sure that it passes scrutineering on Monday morning at the race if we don’t pass scrutineering then the mission will be over before we’ve even [Music] [Music] started uh I’ll start with the good things that we got on here the tires that’s it nothing else I just don’t want to look at it anymore cuz the more I look at it the more I can see um so yeah we’re just going to run through it make it safe um and then yeah and I’m pretty sure this this should this isn’t the configuration of an air filter I could be wrong maybe they’ll show us oh somebody can tell us T so do you think that that that’s that’s to wash it that’s to wash it look at that cool is that is that so he didn’t lose it I’ll know where I’ll put I’ll put that somewhere sa [Laughter] doubt been used look at that seen that before at least we’ve got a wash cover as always a huge thank you goes out to Pine for supporting the channel and helping us to make videos like this one we truly couldn’t do it without their help for more information on the Pelon products we’re using here check out the links in the description down below so we’re just going to uh prefill the oil fil with oil um yeah it’s a common thing to do this on most War Strokes if you don’t do it you should just helps when you’re on start so it’s not dragging air around the system too much in it so this is the moment of truth then we’re going to see if this bike runs or if we’ve got some serious work to do let’s see if we can kickart the old YZ 250f fire it into life over stage two now that we’ve been through the bike changed the parts that we need to change to make it safe we’ve come to the practice track and we’re going to make sure it runs we’re going to make sure it rides and we’re just going to test it out today I’ll ride it and Sean will ride it before we head to the race in 2 days time so uh let’s hit the track let’s see how of a [Music] [Music] performs okay so I am on board the old 2004 why an F250 whyz F250 sorry boys and SE has affectionally nicknamed this bike the [Music] Piglet and as you can hear she does indeed run and you know what I’m quietly impressed you know [Music] no I’m rather impressed you know we paid 1,000 big on to this but it definitely does not feel like a $1,000 bike or what I would imagine a $1,000 bike would feel like [Music] [Music] and she turns quite well you know as expected from the yahar but it does feel a bit slow by modern standards [Music] okay so I’ve just uh finished a little ride on on this my first session on the 2004 rise F250 and I’m actually quite impressed you know for an old bike 20 years old this year it feels decent handles real nice suspensions plush um braks aren’t that sharp but that’s to be expected the main thing that you notice though is it does feel slow compared to a modern bikes the last 254 sh I rode was the triumph which is an absolute rocket ship for the class so uh this does feel slow in comparison I’d compare it more to like the Cannondale that I rode last year that thing felt like a garden bike it a 4004 stroke and you I felt like you just ride it to its absolute limit and this feels a bit like that I’m not saying I’m riding it to its limit but compared to Modern bikes it does feel a bit lethargic but for £1,000 you know I’m pretty [Music] [Applause] impressed so first ride are you more or less confident for the race now less really I thought you looked good on it on it it’s so slow I thought you look comfortable on it yeah no I mean rides fine it’s just against the modern bike it’s so slow and it’s certainly called piglet cuz MBE it was squeeing it was it’s loud it’s loud I think youd do all right on Monday you reckon yeah I reckon you’ll ride the nuts off that yeah I’ll ride the nuts off it but it’s slow exactly but you’ll ride this to full potential everyone else will be like riding there 450s to 30% of capacity I’m Podium for piglet Podium for piglet I’m calling it right now let’s do [Music] it so stage three of our plan is to come to the races so we’re here at toddington today with the lon and District motorcycle club Sean is geared up he’s on the piglet he’s ready to roll this is going to be a great track to ride the old Beast today to race it against modern bikes we’re going to see how it gets on we’re excited aren’t we Sean it’s time to make the piglet squeal it’s time to make the piglet squeal he says a big thank you to L and district for having us along this is an awesome track it’s going to be a great day of racing let’s do this so at this club we’re racing at today you need an CCU expert license in order to get into the expert class which sha doesn’t have but he does have the opportunity to race against the experts if he qualifies into the adult a group and thankfully sha was able to put in a storming time on board the piglet to qualify into the a [Music] group this is going to be hard work very hard work so you’ve just seen Sean setting up the um YZ 250 for the day the headstock declining bars to um not wide enough for you we’ve actually looked at the lap time Shaw’s doing two classes today he’s doing a race on this and he’s racing his own modern 250 gas gas right 250 gas gas we just looked at the lap times Sean was quicker on the pigler wrong uh all right let me just get my book of excus right the open if this were out first there was no ruts and we had two laps uh I was out for 10 minutes on that in qualifying so yeah plenty of ruts the tracks really been well so there’s the second of the lap time we got big expectations for the piglet today now so we’re getting geared up for the first Moto of the day sha is racing in that mixed class remember there are two separate classes in the same Moto you’ve got the experts and you’ve got adult a he’s riding the old piglet here the 2004 YZF 250 which back in its day was known to be a very good 254 stroke the top of the class in fact let’s see what it’s made of and the gates have dropped for the very first Moto today and the biglet is struggling off the line being swallowed up by the pack here got Matty white in the lead our friend followed by Adam Wells their short in the midback on board the pigler Matty Adam wells in first and second the rest of the pack go through you can see the 272 there in front of Shan Smith that’s our good friend nster Neville Brad he’s riding injured but he’s a warrior and he’s back out on the two-stroke there so Sha’s trying to make quick moves on the first lap slicing and dicing his way through the field trying to at least in the opening lap Mayhem around toddington here he’s got the 271 of Rob Harwood in front of the him and look at that the one and only bike older than piglet in this race has just made a pass on Shan that’s the number 55 of Christian hutkins [Music] B toar with another two Stoke there the number 48 machine that’s Justin Robinson on the YZ 250 he’s made the pass on Sha so Sha’s got some serious work to do on the pigler oh and look at that that’s Drew stock on the yz25 the young Ripper I’ve done the maths here and I’m pretty sure that sha is old enough to be Drew Stock’s Granddad so the opening lap of action is coming to a close and sha sits in 17th position on track but remember this is a mixed class and sha is actually one of the lead adult a Riders at the moment just sitting inside of the top six in the adult a category oh and sha makes a lovely move up the inside of the 271 rub high with there on the Honda that was a lovely move the piglet moves uper position [Music] Sean’s now got the number 91 Yamaha of Gavin Jaan in his sights he’s looking to pull the trigger on a pass on board piglet can he execute it can he hold the position yes he can over the big tabletop down the hill into the rotted section of the track it’s a bit wet down there that’s another position for the piglet we’re moving forward boys we’re moving forward oh there’s a down Rider that was the number eight of Robbie Hollis the track is tough and Technical there’s another down rider that’s the green 71 of Thomas Kennedy one of Sha’s main rivals in the adult a class here today Sha’s now got his sight set on that 252 stroke the number 48 machine of Justin Robinson got a YZ 252 stroke and a YZ 250 the fourstroke going wheel tohe here and Shan’s on the hunt on board the piglet there a couple of riders ahead of him there’s a couple of passing opportunities perhaps for Mr Smith and the Lev [Music] Piggy on the gas up the hill past the finish line [Music] Shan’s throwing everything at this then he’s all over the rear wheel of the two stroke now oh Robinson launches it look at the huge crowd here at tunnington watching on in disbelief as the piglet pushes through the pack Sean’s trying to sneak up the inside of Robinson here on this turn but the two-stroke man shuts the door no pass here for the pigler one two three four Riders all in the same Corner oh and we see that green machine lurking in the background that’s Thomas Kennedy on board the big kaaki so he’s looking to join this party as well tight over to the back section Sha’s trying to sneak up the inside again can he make the pass happen it looks like he has but Robinson count his back that’s a nice move from the man on the 252 stroke and now we’re into this tight section it’s soggy and wet and muddy down there you can see a down Rider we got a bit of a train coming into this tight [Music] section KTM Yamaha yahad kazaki all in the same section of the circuit we’re heading towards the final part of the lap now can sha make the pass before Thomas Kennedy is all over his rear wheel oh a mistake from Robinson in the corner gifts the position to sha on board the [Music] piglet but Kennedy up the inside on board the caking so sha makes up a place and then loses another one Kennedy is one of his main rivals in the class the number 48 of Justin Robinson is actually an expert Rider so that’s not actually helped Shan at all in this race making the pass on the two-stroke apart from it was cool for us to watch and now sha has the 484 KTM of Cory K in his sight he may be the next victim for the piglet around the outside goes sha a lovely move on board the 204 YZ [Music] 250f Shan continues to move through the pack on board the 1,000 pound bike he’s racing against modern machines here state of the-art Machinery once again we’re proving that’s not all about the bike it’s about how much grit and determination your Rider has sure’s got plenty of that in the bag cuz this certainly is not an easy ride on board the Bigler like I said before in this video we think this might well be the cheapest working dirt bike in the country and this just go to prove it’s not all about the budget it’s not all about how much money you can throw at racing we want to show people that might be interested in getting involved in this awesome sport of ours that it doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank so that’s a last lap flag out now so we’re on the final lap he’s made some great moves in this race moving through the field progressing through the pack making passes on both expert Riders and adult a Riders alike [Music] with just a handful of turns to [Music] go so off the drop off into the final turn sha and the piglet have completed race number one sha was the 12th Rider across the line in the combined results but he was actually the fourth adult a rider across the line he was so close to a Podium finish on board the piglets let’s see if he can get the 1,000 bike on the box in the next Moto no pressure [Music] mate how was it fill it up fil put too much fuel in it so it felt heavy I don’t know why you talk me into these things seriously it’s shocking it is I don’t know how to describe it without swearing it’s uh it’s not very pleasant is the best way to describe it the suspension is the worst it it handles okay it’s just a suspension is like wow it’s um yeah it’s probably never been serviced has it uh knows but there you go that was the uh the biggest thing arm pump the eyeballs are pumped had two throttles on it one stage you know the elbows down that far but as you can hear the heavens have opened now so uh piglet power might come into play in the next race because it’s a bit down on power compared to the mod bikes and that actually might be quite useful out there if it’s wet yeah okay and also also it’s worth mentioning that this adult a group is an open Adult class so Sean’s literally racing guys half his age so fair play to Grandad over here he’s doing quite well for an oap and there is actually if you go into the results a separate tab for uh adult a over 50 and you won that cuz he is the only one in it so we’re racking them up for Moto 2 sha was so close to a Podium performance on board the piglet in Moto one so we know that a Podium finish is Within Reach if he can get out of the gates let’s do this for flips the revs are up the heads are down and the gates have dropped oh it’s not the best jump for the piglet this time sha had a slightly better gate position he can sneak up the inside has done him well here and I would say he’s in a slightly better position this time around as we hit turn two they fire up the hill for the first time definitely a better position for sha and piglet in the opening moments of the race oh and a mistake from the number 21 of Sanu Aron that hangs up sha and he’s lost loads of positions there there so that sneaky line around the inside has been undone Shan’s got some serious work to do now on board the wise 250f the 1,000 machine he’s back in a similar position to where he was on the first lap of moto 1 but this time it is raining the heavens have opened the track is slick vision is going to be an issue for sure once again Shan’s got the number 91 machine of Gavin jakan ahead of him on the opening lap so he’s going to try and make some quick moves early on whilst the pack is bunched up just like that around the inside of two Riders there on the far section of the track hit the big tail toop down a [Music] hill into the tough technical soy section of the track oh look at that a big load of Roost right to the face like I said Vision might become an issue in this Moto but that’s not slowing down sha he’s still making moves here on the opening lap and more Roost he’s getting completely filled in here but he continues to press on continues to charge forward on board the piglet he’s looking to go around the outside of Callum pitcher there yes he makes the move so we continue to move forward [Music] the little piglet pressing on an impressive ride for this cheap cheap bike and this old old rider sorry SE what a combination we’ve had here today A True Underdog Story we’re on lap two here and sha once again has the 484 of Cory K in his sight he’s looking to go around the outside in the same Corner as he did in Moto one he makes that move in the same place as he did in the opening Moto of the day so Sean continues to press forward continues to make passes on board the underdog or the under pick should we [Music] say look at this once again we’ve got our old Nemesis in our sights that’s the number 48 of Justin Robinson on board the YZ 250 let’s battle commence once again between these two Robinson ahead of sha here looks like there’s Carnage the yellow flags are waving the rain is coming down that’s making this track slick tough and Technical so there’s Carnage all over the shop in this Moto but the piglet pushes on the piglet continues to perform well here in the second Moto of the day Shan’s looking to make a move on Robinson here as they head into the final turn Robinson has the inside line Shan’s looking to slingshot up the hill on the gas on board the YZ 250f putting the power to the ground very efficiently here and sha Dives to the inside can he make the pass stick yes he can what a beautiful pass for sha Smith there perfectly executed he gains the track position although as we know from the first Moto that actually doesn’t really help Shan in his class Robinson is an expert Rider Shan is in adult a this is a mixed class race remember the rain is really starting to come down now making the track treacherous in places but sha presses on he’s looking good on board the [Music] pigler launching himself down the hill a bike looking in good shape at the [Music] m J’s picking his way through this Ry technical section of the track you can see how soggy and muddy it is down there now what’s that he’s looking down at the bike oh no oh no what’s going on the pig liot does not sound very healthy and it doesn’t look like he’s very keen to pick that backe up and get going he’s looking down at it what is going on here with Shan and the pigler is this the end of the [Music] story huh what’s happened oh dear oh no oh no are you going to tell Phil or am I but it won’t move W is it locked on uh [Music] [Music] oh so as you can see the sky is let go and so is pigler we think it’s dead Sean talk us through that last race there and know what happened at the end uh so yeah it was going pretty well through the Moto it handles terrible I can I can honestly say I can’t think of a worse a bike I’ve been on suspension wise yeah it’s probably never been touched for the past 20 years but um yeah no it was it was going okay but then there was some kind of ironically it started to sque it it made a squeal uh and then second to last lap as well yeah it was yeah it started squealing and uh I looked down and I thought oh there’s some oil down there oh dear and then that was it it stopped so what do we think went has actually gone wrong well it’s stuck it’s stuck in gear we can’t get out of gear uh but it still starts with the clutching so obviously it’s a gear boet issue uh don’t really know until you pull it apart but we’re not going to do that no it looks pretty terminal for p yeah it’s it makes horrendous no when you let the clutch out to make it drive so the original plan for the video was to race it and then at the end of the day say she’s for sale but but piglet might be destined for dirt bike heaven or maybe that skip over there we’ll see let us know what you guys think we should do with it um we asked the question at the start of the video can you race at 1,00 pound dirt bike the answer today is no and on that bomb showell we see you next time [Music]