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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 06:32 PM
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My father has a 2003 gz250 that is currently out of commission. Long story short after my brother borrowed it, something blew a bullet-size hole in the cylinder head. I've check CL, ebay, and google periodically trying to find a cheap engine, but to no avail. The few engines I've found are priced ridiculously high. However, there are lots of Honda engine for cheap on CL.

With that said, the following are the options that I see available:

start a dad/son project using another engine
Sell the motorcylce for scraps on CL

What do the motorcycle gurus say?
Old Jul 11, 2012 | 08:36 PM
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How much is a decent one worth and how much are the engines going for? That's what I'd consider.

It's not an expensive or exotic bike, I wouldn't spend too much. But don't "scrap" it. Someone will want it.
Old Jul 11, 2012 | 08:48 PM
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Why not look for a cheap ninja 500 engine? I dont know what kind of money you want to spend but other than the chrome why not? Vtwin and even has a 6 speed tranny.
Old Jul 11, 2012 | 10:28 PM
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Can you somehow look up what other bikes used the same motor?
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 12:38 AM
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A motorcycle drivetrain swap isn't easy. I'd sell it off and buy something more realistic.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 01:59 AM
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The bike itself is practically new. The body is very well taken care of. The ninja/cbr/r6 engines (600/800cc) start at about $500. It appears that the 600cc engines are the most commonly found, for obvious reasons. 500/250cc engines are actually rare to come to and when I find one it's overpriced.

I have looked at other motorcycles with similar engines, but to no avail. I am leaning towards getting rid of it and finding something else, but my father seems to a bit attached to and I thought I could help him get it running again. The budget is limited, at ~$1000 to beging with. However, I estimate that it would take a lot more than that to adapt another motor/drivetrain.

Thanks for the responses. If any of you run into a 250cc marauder engine let me know.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 02:30 AM
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Call me jaded, but I'd get into something else if you can't find an engine or the part to repair it. GZ250's are the very very bottom of the food chain. Hell they're so low on the food chain, they aren't even really part of it. They get eaten by plants. That makes them like water or some shizz.

Ducati 1198R or GTFO
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 02:54 AM
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Go to the ex500 forum. You'll find ninja 500 parts and physical size of each motor there.

Just make sure the motor isnt opened up. Bike motors warp together. Taking the head off even just to rebolt it back on requires a resurface.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 03:31 AM
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I imagine you're stuck with a single cylinder to physically fit it in the bike, but a little creativity might make you a neat toy...
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 04:01 AM
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Why the ---- are y'all suggesting a Kawasaki sports bike engine in a Suzuki cruiser?!?

Op, your options are fairly limited since that's the only bike they make in thy size. You can look into the older GS bikes, but the sub 250cc singles are pretty rare, and I have no idea if those will fit either.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 04:25 AM
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Originally Posted by tasty danish
Call me jaded, but I'd get into something else if you can't find an engine or the part to repair it. GZ250's are the very very bottom of the food chain. Hell they're so low on the food chain, they aren't even really part of it. They get eaten by plants. That makes them like water or some shizz.

Ducati 1198R or GTFO
Buy me one them

Originally Posted by vehicular
I imagine you're stuck with a single cylinder to physically fit it in the bike, but a little creativity might make you a neat toy...
Imagination, time, and money. For now I have the first two and just a bit of the third.

Originally Posted by curly
Why the ---- are y'all suggesting a Kawasaki sports bike engine in a Suzuki cruiser?!?

Op, your options are fairly limited since that's the only bike they make in thy size. You can look into the older GS bikes, but the sub 250cc singles are pretty rare, and I have no idea if those will fit either.
Well I just wanted to see if I was missing something given that finding a possible replacement is been like finding pusha dick in all that lard. Seems the best option is to move onto another bike.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 06:42 AM
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your dead bike is a worthless piece of junk. move on
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 08:42 AM
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Disassemble the head, see what broke, if you need nothing more than a cylinder head it's only going to cost you about $500 to get a new one. Chances are, you'll need a few other tidbits, but the head is the bulk of the cost.

Ronayers.com Microfiche Suzuki>Motorcycle>2003>GZ250>CYLINDER HEAD
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 09:24 AM
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Buy a whole nother identical bike (they're cheap), have a spare parts bike for when your dumb *** dumps it. Save money shopping on ebay for replacement tank and trim parts.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Faeflora
your dead bike is a worthless piece of junk. move on
lol I actually kinda agree.

unless you can pick up a parts bike for super cheap, I don't see the point.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by curly
Why the ---- are y'all suggesting a Kawasaki sports bike engine in a Suzuki cruiser?!?
Because the configuration of the ninja engine is a similar to stock candidate?
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 11:04 AM
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Probably a silly question, but have you looked/asked here?

GZ250Bike.com
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Faeflora
your dead bike is a worthless piece of junk. move on
Love you too man

Originally Posted by fooger03
Disassemble the head, see what broke, if you need nothing more than a cylinder head it's only going to cost you about $500 to get a new one. Chances are, you'll need a few other tidbits, but the head is the bulk of the cost.

Ronayers.com Microfiche Suzuki>Motorcycle>2003>GZ250>CYLINDER HEAD
The block is in need or boring and ----... so it's the entire engine or nothing.

Originally Posted by soloracer
Probably a silly question, but have you looked/asked here?

GZ250Bike.com
Yeah I recall going there a long time ago. It's like miata.net...
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by buffon01
Yeah I recall going there a long time ago. It's like miata.net...
Lots of junkers being parted on miatanet.
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 06:36 PM
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I suppose, but this bikes aren't as popular or abundant as Miatas.
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