1979 YAMAHA YZ250

Pristine Frame Off Restoration

New Rebuilt Engine With 150 PSI Compression 

New DG Pipe & Silencer Under 1 Hour Test & Tune Riding

Kaplan Cycles Certified

Absolutely Stunning YZ250 that has been carefully frame up restored then dialed in by the team here at Kaplan Cycles.

Yamaha’s legendary 250 class motocross weapon from the golden era of motocross.

Condition & Highlights

Frame professionally powder coated during restoration

• VIN properly masked during coating
  

• Original wheel set front and rear, straight and in excellent condition
  

• Frame rails straight and undamaged — a huge indicator of a bike that hasn’t been abused
  

• Engine cases extremely clean with no cracks, welds, or repairs
  

• Swingarm & Forks in beautiful condition with a factory-like sheen
  

Most vintage motocross bikes suffered years of racing damage—flattened frame rails, dented forks, and worn-out chassis components. This bike is a rare & refreshing exception.

Engine & Mechanical Condition

The motor was completely rebuilt, is very fast & runs Perfectly;

• Fresh top-end rebuild With New Bore

• New Piston & Rings
  

• 150 PSI compression (perfect spec)
  

• Crank inspected with zero runout and tight tolerances
  

• Cylinder stripped and refinished
  

• Excellent throttle response and minimal vibration
  

• Starts easily and runs strong

• Carburetor cleaned and Rebuilt
  

• New fuel line and vent hoses
  

• New Petcock rebuilt with new O-rings
  

• Tank flushed and filled with fresh VP race fuel mixed 40:1
  

Chassis & Suspension

The bike received a full chassis refresh so it performs as good as it looks.

• All new chassis bearings
  

• Hubs restored
  

• Brakes serviced
  

• Rear shock serviced, has strong dampening
  

• Forks rebuilt in-house with new seals, dust covers, and fork oil
  

• Frame rails straight and clean
  

• Original swingarm restored
  

Period-Correct Performance Upgrades

To keep the vintage race character intact, a few classic performance upgrades were added:

• Brand new DG expansion pipe and silencer
  

• Upgraded wider footpeg platform
  

• Renthal Twin Wall handlebars
  

• New ODI lock-on grips
  

• New levers
  

The bike looks fantastic and runs excellent

• New plastics throughout
  

• New Front fender
  

• New Front Number plate
  

• New Side Number Plate Panels
  

• New Rear fender
  

• Original fuel tank in excellent condition with very minimal wear
  

• Mint seat cover (correct and in excellent shape)
  

The original forks, hardware, and cycle parts are remarkably clean

New BR9ES spark plug

• New transmission oil
  

• Airbox serviced With New Air Filter
  

• Controls adjusted and cables power-lubed
  

• Complete safety and mechanical inspection
  

• Detailed and test run
  

Everything works exactly as it should— We’re racers ourselves, so we set these bikes up exactly how you'd want it if you were rolling up to the vintage starting gate.

Ride or Display

This is the kind of bike that can go either direction:

• Museum-quality display piece

• Collector investment from motocross’s golden era

Shipping

We can ship this motorcycle anywhere in the United States at very reasonable rates.

Message us your ZIP code for a shipping quote.

Contact

Kaplan Cycles / New England Motorcycle Museum
📞 860-454-7024

We’re happy to answer any questions.

You simply don’t see vintage motocross bikes this clean very often. Most were raced hard, modified repeatedly, and worn out decades ago. Finding one with straight frame rails, original wheels, and a fresh mechanical refresh is becoming increasingly rare.

Don’t miss your chance to own a beautifully prepared 1979 Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke from the golden age of motocross.

Thank you for looking, and God Bless America.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY FROM KAPLAN? WHAT DO YOU GET?

“You are buying from the Kaplan Cycles Family. We are not just another big auction house. We are family-owned and operated and have been buying, servicing, and selling motorcycles since 1975. You will work directly with Ken Jr., Ken Sr., and/or one of the 30+ experts on our team. We provide museum-quality, white-glove concierge service from start to finish. Every motorcycle we sell is inspected, serviced, and supported by our team, and we stand behind it after the sale. You’re not on your own — we back what we build and what we sell.

With over 17,000 units sold and still 100% positive feedback, we are the best stress-free buying experience you can have. From the first call to delivery at your door, we will handle it all — because vintage motorcycles deserve support, and so do you.

With every bike we curate you get:
• museum-level inspection & preservation services
• every machine is professionally evaluated, serviced, & rotisserie detailed
• all critical systems are checked, adjusted, or renewed
• you get professional setup, tuning, and delivery prep
• done by the best experts in the industry — we ride and restore every day
• you get post-sale phone support
• you get white-glove, insured, always-enclosed shipping to your door anywhere in the country

You’re buying from Kaplan Cycles at the New England Motorcycle Museum, one of the largest vintage motorcycle collections in North America. Free museum tours and tickets are included with every bike sold. With every bike you purchase, a portion of the proceeds is used to support, continue, and improve the 501(c)(3) nonprofit New England Motorcycle Museum.

You don’t just win an auction — YOU are creating & helping to preserve motorcycle history, and you become part of our family, a Kaplan Cycles client for life.

We do not take new clients off the street.
We do not service bikes purchased elsewhere.
We only take new exclusive clients who purchase a motorcycle from us.

You get a guided purchase experience with, and from, the experts who care about the bike as much as you do. If there’s a problem, you don’t get ghosted. You call us — you will have our cell phone numbers — we will answer your call on weekends, and we will help make it right.

Auction platforms = listing only. No support. No accountability.

Kaplan Cycles = we stand behind what we sell.

You are buying museum-curated provenance. That means:
• expert evaluation
• documented condition
• professional presentation
• long-term preservation mindset

You’re not just buying a motorcycle — you’re buying a curated piece of motorcycling history.

From the #1 family in this business — Kaplan Cycles & the New England Motorcycle Museum.

Sincerely,

Ken Kaplan Sr.
12/28/2025”

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AUCTION TERMS:

All motorcycles & vehicles are sold as-is where-is.

Kaplan Cycles guarantees all motorcycles are as-described. Please read the entire description and watch the entire video before bidding.

A non-refundable deposit is due immediately on purchase. PayPal or Credit Card is accepted for the deposit.

Cash (In-Person), Card (+3% fee), or Wire Transfer are our only accepted forms of final payment.

Full payment must be made within 7 days of auction close.

Your motorcycle must be picked up within 30 days of auction close. 

Exceptions are made only for international buyers OR buyers who have ALREADY made transport arrangements with a third party.

If a motorcycle is purchased and left here for longer than 30 days without written permission from Kaplan Cycles it will be resold. In the case of a re-sale, the owner will be entitled to a refund less storage fees ($25/ day beginning 30 days from auction close) ONLY if the motorcycle was paid in full on-time within the auction terms.

We always describe our motorcycles as accurately as possible.

You are purchasing a classic motorcycle. Even in cases where a bike may be in good running/ operating condition, new problems & idiosyncrasies can arise over-time from sitting or regular use.

If you have an issue with the motorcycle you’ve received, contact us within 24 hours of delivery and before leaving feedback so that we can address your concerns.

It is important you have at least a basic mechanical knowledge before purchasing and operating a classic motorcycle.

Due to our backlog, we cannot perform any additional service work or modifications on your motorcycle after the sale (ie; adding a light kit, different tires, etc.)

We respond quickly between the hours of 9am and 5pm EST, Monday - Friday

For our fastest service please call Ken Kaplan Jr directly at 860-471-0192

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We will not charge out-of-state buyers sales tax.
Out of state residents will pay sales tax with their DMV. 

We are not a registering dealership. You will receive only the documents required to register your vehicle in your state.

In our listings, title status is always listed directly below the main description.

In some cases we will sell motorcycles without title or registration. In these cases we guarantee all motorcycles sold are free and clear. We will always provide a route to obtaining title. Generally in these cases, the motorcycle will be sold at a discount to accommodate expenses involved.

Documents are mailed via USPS priority mail with a tracking number. Please allow up to 14 days after payment in full for your documents to be processed and mailed.

Keys will be shipped with the motorcycle.

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Warranty:

All Motorcycles sold "as is, where is" and Kaplan Cycles does not warranty any motorcycle sold. No express warranty and/or implied warranty are made by Kaplan Cycles. No statements by us give an implied warranty.

SHIPPING:

SEND US YOUR ZIP FOR A SHIPPING QUOTE!
WE WILL MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS!

We have the best shipping contacts in the nation who will provide the FASTEST transport times, have a perfect track record, and are always insured and ENCLOSED! All motorcycles are shipped WHOLE (roll-on, roll-off). We do not offer a pallet or crate service.

International shipping specialist contacts are available! They will assist in ground freight, customs clearance, and ocean freight to your country. International buyers will be required to work directly with our third party shipping contacts.

We strongly recommend you insure your motorcycle at the time of purchase.

PICKUP:

We require a 24 hour notice prior to pick-up. Please call us at 860-454-7024 during office hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST.

We will provide ramps, a dock for loading, and assistance to load for free.