my engine is shot (130 psi warm, oil filled with gas, 6th gear stripped).

Thinking of either dumping the bike, getting a new engine, or putting a different engine in the bike.

This is a secondary bike for my lady whos short.. so i am not SUPER invested. Any thoughts?

Sometimes you can find a donor engine/transmission on ebay. Swapping it isn't that hard. You should also be able to find a top end kit and replace 6th gear.

Charles, if you can find one on eBay or elsewhere (they show up occasionally) a replacement engine/transmission may be your best option. As Peejman says, doing the engine swap on the XT225 isn't difficult, so don't give up on your bike. Best of luck as you sort this problem out..

Charles, as peejman suggested a top end kit is not all that expensive https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Yamaha-XT225-TTR225-TTR230-Cylinder-Piston-Gasket-Top-End-Kit-Set-Bore-70mm/313051588416?hash=item48e3542740:g:VNoAAOSwkBtebzTv

$189 not able to speak to the quality

Keep an eye on craigslist under MC parts.

Another option, as CV-19 clears out is to check into a local community college that has an engine rebuilding class. Either take the class yourself or offer you engine as a project and provide the parts.

Found an example of an engine rebuild class - https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcd/d/harbor-city-engine-rebuilding-class/7133448242.html

Good luck.

thanks all, ill watch Ebay.

Ive done 10s of top end replacements, its not the work that scares me, its the time.

Im full tilt in a vanagon westy restoration right now.

i like the suggestion about the college class thing- innovative!

Can I swap something like a yz250 engine in here? Find those all over the place

Don't know that I've seen anyone try to swap a 2-stroke. The power boost would be interesting for sure.

There are a couple engines on fleabay right now, prices seem a bit high to me though

are there any differences between a black and a silver engine? Ive got a silver 2002 engine, i seem to see a slew of black 2002+ engines.

A bit of black paint.