Price for RD250 engine and frame, including swing arm

[mossquire]

Hi, Not sure where best to post this so I will try here as well.
 Got the possibility to source a matching frame with swing arm and engine for an RD250 1974 with title ect which I am happy to use a the start of a project but not sure what to offer. The engine is described as 'running sweet' and I have no reason to doubt the mans integrity. I am realistic as to the possibility the engine is not as described but a ball park figure would be appreciated. I understand most will want to give advice but I am just wanting to get a figure before I even look at the project and go through all the checks ect.



Cheers

[donkeychomp]

I sold a UK frame with V5, plus other parts, swing arm, tank, oil tank, clocks and a few other bits for £443 on eBay. So I'd say maybe £1250 for a frame and engine?

Alex

[Bryan H]

A couple of years ago I sold a US 74 RD250A frame and engine for £150. I bought it from a bike show at Lotherton Hall and paid significantly less. It was pre NOVA but came with all relevant import docs from D&K. A matching numbers UK bike would be worth more but I wouldn't pay over £300. The problem your going to have is finding the rest of the parts as decent round tank RD spares are becoming hard to find and increasingly more expensive. Loads of spares in the US but then you get stung for ridiculous shipping costs and VAT / import duty on top of that. Bare in mind that if your after originality UK bikes had several UK specific parts many of which are now unobtainable.

You'd probably be better off looking for the most complete bike you can find that requires some degree of restoration

This is my 74 RD250A (now a 350) . I've had it since 1979 and swapped it with a mate for a set of Cibie Oscar spotlights that cost me £23. Bargain . 

[donkeychomp]

Good point. If it's a resto job then yes, get one with everything on it, no matter how manky it can be repaired.

Alex

[mossquire]

Thanks, I am picking up a complete 350b and the guy has a 250b but he is not sure where all the bits are. It was only as I was hiring a van to get one I thought the 250 might be worth trying to pick up as well. I will see what else he has in the way of spares ect. My view is always that the old stuff will never lose value as it gets rarer.

[mossquire]

Bryan, I love the bike. Hopefully when I have completed my LC I will start on a rolling refurb of the AC 350

[Bryan H]

If you can get them both for a decent price then go for it. Forget the LC.....they're rubbish

This is my 350B currently being put back together 

[donkeychomp]

Got a soft spot for the early round tank models. Build looking good so far!

Alex

[mossquire]

Well I bought the 350 and the 250 frame/engine plus a few other bits that the lad could find. A tank, back wheel and couple of boxes of bits. I got a swing arm and lower yoke as well but I have a feeling they are off a 400 but I will check all the bits tomorrow. I will have to check the exact model and number first but this is my next years project and will sit in storage whilst I finish the YPVS. If I can work out how to post a picture of the 350 I will do that tomorrow

[reedpete]

If you need assistance identifying I know them inside out.

[reedpete]

Mar 9, 2018 23:28:21 GMT 1 Bryan H said:

If you can get them both for a decent price then go for it. Forget the LC.....they're rubbish

This is my 350B currently being put back together 

FYI, pillion peg brackets are from earlier model as pegs are pointing upwards where as in the Bs they slant backwards. Is it a US bike on a 351-3 vIN or a Euro bike with a 521 VIN?

[Bryan H]

This is a 521 Euro bike. Cant seem to find any of the later footrests / mounts and as I had a box full of earlier ones from the 250A rebuild they went on instead. Haven't got a set of 521 pipes either.

I bought this in 2004 from a guy in Birmingham who was restoring it for his brother. His brother ran out of both money and patience and decided to break it rather than sell it complete. All the restored parts went on ebay and collectively they made over £2500. The restored engine went on last and I stole it for £100 as I was the only bidder. When I went to pick the engine up I noticed the restored frame and swing arm hung up in his garage. It had matching numbers to the engine and I him asked why he'd decided to split them as they'd surely have been worth more together. He told me that his brother had already promised the frame to a mate but that was 2 months ago and it was still here. I loaded the engine into the car and asked him to give me a call if things didn't pan out with the frame. I saved him as a favourite seller and waited hopefully for a call. Never got the call but around 14 months later the frame appeared on ebay being sold by the same bloke. I rang the guy and asked him how much he wanted for it . He said his brother wanted £150 and he would end it early for £120. It only had one bidder and was still at a lowly £30. I was in 2 minds as to whether I should just simply bite the bullet and buy it or hold out and put a cheeky bid in at the last second.  As he'd already told me there had been little interest I decided to wait and bid at the end. I put in a bid of £100 in the dying seconds and was amazed when I got it for £35. I had to go all the way back to Birmingham to pick the frame up but he also offered me a box of left over parts for £10. Initially I declined as I thought it would be just a box of old tat. When I looked in the box there was a set of 521 carbs, a new chain and sprockets set and loads of other useful stuff. Needless to say I bit his hand off. 

[mossquire]

Mar 11, 2018 19:04:56 GMT 1 reedpete said:

If you need assistance identifying I know them inside out.

Thanks Pete and all others on here. Both are in the garage and I will go over them tomorrow. I believe the swing arm is not from the right bike but if I can work out how to take photos then I will post them and let you see. The 250 will be a fairly long term project as there a lot of stuff to buy. Neither are actual matching numbers but we cant have everything now can we. I have looked up the frame number of the 250 and it is a 1975 model 522 so I believe that is a 'B'. There are a lot of missing stuff but the guy is a genuine bloke and as he clears his garage out he will keep any 250 stuff for me. I have the rear wheel but not the front. I have a lower yoke but I fear he gave me a 400 as It does not fit as I also have a feeling is the swing arm. Worst case is I sell the 400 stuff and buy 250 stuff. Main thing is I am looking forward to getting out on the 350 as soon as the weather is good.