Aprilia RS250 Project

Aprilia RS250 Project

Author
Discussion

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th January
quotequote all
Suzuki! They are having a batch of 100 made that are apparently due early Feb.

Get a huge discount from them through work so not worth looking elsewhere! Also it is my reason for replacing rather than rebuilding, not a lot more to go with new.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Tuesday 9th January
quotequote all
It will go down to my local balancer so will see what state it is in!

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Friday 19th January
quotequote all
Very little progress at the moment. Still waiting on the crank which is now mid Feb.

Cerakoting of calipers, exhaust and radiator still away with them on holiday for a bit.

Fairings and tank at the bodyshop still!

Did have some nice carbon show up.






MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Friday 1st March
quotequote all
Things have been slow recently waiting on parts to make progress. The new crank and rods that were due mid Feb has now been delayed until Mid April and not sure I believe that so my new plan is to get the engine back together with the original crank. It appears ok, the bearings are not notchy and do not have any free play. This will allow me to get the bike done, MOT'd, registered and hopefully ran in and I can then spend a weekend replacing the crank with just the cost of a few gaskets.

Fairings are still away at paint, plastic primer has tidied them up and the paint has landed this week so they will be done soon.

Finally got some parts back from Cerakote as well, I cannot believe the difference it makes - especially when you consider these parts are 23 years old.

Calipers before. I tried cleaning them, the baked on brake dust would not come off. Using traffic film remover just damaged the paint.





After Cerakote:





Radiator before, although was good considering its age:



After:



A before and after example on the chambers:





If all goes to plan hope to get the engine back together tomorrow and maybe in the bike Sunday depending on how things plan out.

Cleaned the power valves up last weekend. Not sure if I had mentioned before but found one of the bushes missing from the shaft. I have now seen that this allowed the valve to drop and hit the pistons, I think this is what then damaged the bore so at least I have answer. The damaged power valves mean I need replacements so have ordered up the billet items from the Tuning works which should be with me next week.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Saturday 2nd March
quotequote all
Thanks all, I am enjoying the project and looking forward to having a go!

Managed a good afternoon on the engine after work:











Still some work to do on this, Power valves hopefully showing up early next week then oil valves and lines etc.

Hoping to the calipers together and brakes bleed tomorrow.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Monday 11th March
quotequote all
Had some issues when fitting the new TTW power valves so had to take one of the barrels back off and machine that to make them fit, some of the plating from the replate had just lipped into the bottom of the power valve port - lesson learnt there I would know in future to check this before assembling.



Managed a few hours on the bike yesterday and got the engine back in and some of the big bits bolted on.













Got held up at this point as forgot to order some new Jubilee clips for the water pipes and also waiting on some water fittings and power valve pullies to come back from the blasters as well.

Should get that all sorted this week so next weekend I can get the power valves connected, alll the water pipes on and carbs fitted. Maybe even try and get it fired up but will see how it goes!

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Monday 11th March
quotequote all
AceOfHearts said:
Looks fantastic! Sorry if i missed it, but where did you get the Cerakote done?
Thanks!

It was done by a place called TS Engineering in Market Harborough - I have no affiliation with them but do highly recommend them, the quality of the work is amazing.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
As is always the way progress has been slower than I would like but getting there.

Not taken photos for a while but carbs and all top end pipes etc have gone on.

Bodywork is now getting there for first paint:







Got a few other bikes going through MOT Wednesday and I can then go back to concentrating on this, hopefully up and running over Easter and then on the road soon after.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Saturday 30th March
quotequote all
Got it up and running today!



Ignore the amount of smoke, this got better once up to temp. Can only be from the exhaust being blasted and the oil I used to assemble the engine.

Hopefully get things tidied up and almost finished this weekend.

Picked the bodywork up from paint so need to get that fitted and I can then get it stickered and lacquered over.

Not sure if that video has no sound for you as well, if so link here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/yOqeiuePEJI?feature=sha...


Edited by MK3 Dan on Saturday 30th March 19:08

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Wednesday 17th April
quotequote all
carlo996 said:
Love it. Congratulations
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
Bravo and congratulations! Would love one of these but beyond me now (both financially and my right knee after a football injury)
y2blade said:
Amazing Dan. Yes the video has sound smokin sounds good.

Nice TVR btw
Thanks guys! Glad the sound is there!

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Wednesday 17th April
quotequote all
Still making some progress! Bodywork has been loosely fitted ready for stickers this week.



They fitted a couple of smaller ones today and hopefully most of the rest tomorrow. From there I can start tidying and finishing things.

Not completely happy with how it is running so have since changed idle jets, needles, clips and float gaskets. Still smoking way more from one cylinder but not sure if that is just related to the exhaust being aqua blasted. Once I have taken it down the road if I am still not happy will get it booked into the tuning works for a check over.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Thursday 18th April
quotequote all
Thanks Steve,

I had been doing some research and heard about one cylinder smoking more than the other, my difference being it is the upper cylinder. Plus it is mainly white smoke. As you say I think it actually needs a good run and see what happens. Still thinking that it is due to water in the exhaust from aqua blasting.

MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Thursday 18th April
quotequote all
Had some progress with the stickers today, in my opinion it transforms the looks!






MK3 Dan

Original Poster:

259 posts

147 months

Friday 19th April
quotequote all
alvington89 said:
Looks great. Are you going to match the seat units graphics to the original scheme as well?
https://www.sargentsofsussex.co.uk/8995-aprilia-rs...
Thanks, yep that was this afternoons job so stickers are completed and the fairings are all going off for lacquer next week.