Wanting to build a 225/250 "scrambler"

Whats the best dual sport in this size range to use as a base for a scrambler-type build?

-buy-in cost - under $2k

-reliability

-able to get to 65 ish mph

-plentiful

-good aftermarket

-lightweight

-air cooled

-kick start

Best dual-sport I ever beat on and wouldn’t die was a Yamaha XT-350. Many hard miles, harder than it deserved. A weekends worth of porting, aftermarket cam, pipe and carb turned it into a different animal. They are cheap and almost disposable at this point since they were made for 15 years. 

My 0.02¢

XT225, XL250, NX250, KLR250 should all do what you need.  I'd consider a DR/XT/XR350 as well for a little more scoot.

A Yamaha TW200 is an awesome bike and capable of what you want to do but people either love them or hate them. I love them and traded/sold many over the years. Quirky big tire bike that is more than capable off-road and can go on-road between towns in stock form and even better with a simple sprocket change.

I added a few more criteria. I like air cooled and kick start for simplicity. Are many dual sport style bikes kick start?

In reply to Lof8 - Andy :

You'll want to aim for the 80s and 90s then.  I like XR*|XL*|XT*|DR*|KL* as a craigslist search for this sort of stuff.  If you want an oddball thing, KTM and Husqvarna also made some stuff that might fit the bill in that time period but parts can be difficult.

I built mine using a tw200. Kickstart up until 2002-2003, whatever year they went to disc front from drum. Hits all the parameters.  I have an sr250 flat track bike as well, if you wanted a twin shock look. Sr250s arent terribly common in the states compared to XT250s though.

Cool lookin bike!  I want to go monoshock. But I had some expenses come up. Bike project is on hold.