First Love Revisited
Discussion
Never sold in the UK sadly. Some of the GK parts fit the GJ's so the stuff I thought would be tricky are not too bad. 
(he says now)
I had a GK71 as well. The anti-dive forks were useless.
The biggest worry I have at the moment is body work and graphics. I'll take better photos and get them out to various vinyl cutters to see what they can do. Paint isn't an issue, two blue over a pearl white but I have always replaced cracked and stacked panels so I am consulting a GRP guru to see what can be done.
I can't use traditional GRP, resin and fillers as they need to flex a bit and that stuff will simply crack off. Bumper filler could work but I will need to support the structure first somehow.
When I repaired a Jetski I used adhesive backed foam inside before filling outside to maintain flexibility. This is the route I may need to take here.
Also there are a few missing parts. The tail piece end (tail light cover), mirrors (same as the RGV and I have found a pair in black but I'm sure I can paint those) and the radiator is faffed. Replacements are not available so I will have to get one made.
Apart from that...
...I am not going to finish that sentence.
(he says now)
I had a GK71 as well. The anti-dive forks were useless.
The biggest worry I have at the moment is body work and graphics. I'll take better photos and get them out to various vinyl cutters to see what they can do. Paint isn't an issue, two blue over a pearl white but I have always replaced cracked and stacked panels so I am consulting a GRP guru to see what can be done.
I can't use traditional GRP, resin and fillers as they need to flex a bit and that stuff will simply crack off. Bumper filler could work but I will need to support the structure first somehow.
When I repaired a Jetski I used adhesive backed foam inside before filling outside to maintain flexibility. This is the route I may need to take here.
Also there are a few missing parts. The tail piece end (tail light cover), mirrors (same as the RGV and I have found a pair in black but I'm sure I can paint those) and the radiator is faffed. Replacements are not available so I will have to get one made.
Apart from that...
...I am not going to finish that sentence.
The head is off and...
...the gasket is fook'd.
Much to my annoyance instead of giving the head to me so I can weld the pipes he snapped off back on, address the face, chambers, clean the valves and ports the chap doing the engine has sent it off to a local engineering firm to do it.
In the mean time I have put some racking up in my shed and placed the old gasket in the middle as a motivation aid.
I was hoping to break the bike down and sort the keep, clean, paint and replace parts out but was roped into gardening instead. Bleaugh!
...the gasket is fook'd.
Much to my annoyance instead of giving the head to me so I can weld the pipes he snapped off back on, address the face, chambers, clean the valves and ports the chap doing the engine has sent it off to a local engineering firm to do it.
In the mean time I have put some racking up in my shed and placed the old gasket in the middle as a motivation aid.
I was hoping to break the bike down and sort the keep, clean, paint and replace parts out but was roped into gardening instead. Bleaugh!
I've kept in touch with my bikes as far as I could. Some like my TDM powered special have been scrapped, some like my CB1-400 (with 929 Fireblade transplant) have been written off, but my GSXR250 was only sold on to one new owner after I sold her on. I just asked the person who I sold her to who he had sold her two and six years of negotiation started.
I was considering a single seat unit for a while due to the condition of the original one. Kind of a resto-mod as well with new GSXR250 body work on the classic bike but then I found these guys...
http://justfairings.co.nz/2nd-hand/suzuki/
...if they don't ship to the UK I have some family down there who will for me.
http://justfairings.co.nz/2nd-hand/suzuki/
...if they don't ship to the UK I have some family down there who will for me.
I hope you all had a happy Easter if you're into all that religious clap trap.
On the topic of resurrection I guess I had better get some work done on my bike.
Well my plan for the exhaust failed. I had a budget to go to on a set of down pipes from a GK73 GSXR400 and the went over. The plan was to weld the 34mm rings on the ends of the 400 down pipes and either weld the original rear section from the 250 in place or make a set up with a universal can.
I've had another closer look at the pipes to see if they are salvageable but I very much doubt it and need to come up with another idea.
I have taken the rear sets off today and discovered...
1/ The selector arm has been snapped off (while the engine was being taken out).
I know it's just a rose jointed rod but still another job I didn't expect to have to do.
2/ The brake lever has been bodged.
The foot peg has snapped off and instead of getting it welded back on a bolt has been drilled and tapped in place. Not a bad idea but the arm hadn't been straightened so the head of the bolt fouls the mounting bracket so the brake hasn't worked since this was done.
I have removed the rear subframe, battery tray, rear seat catch mount (the front one is missing) and other steel bits ready to clean up and paint.
I have to admit though I do like the "stubby" look.
This brings me back to a previous question. I know the bike is rare and worth quite a bit restored to standard but do I restore her back to factory, build the road racing streetfighter I wanted to back in 2002, resto-mod (classic running gear modern fairings and lights) or a modern take on the Cafe' racer idea?
On the topic of resurrection I guess I had better get some work done on my bike.
Well my plan for the exhaust failed. I had a budget to go to on a set of down pipes from a GK73 GSXR400 and the went over. The plan was to weld the 34mm rings on the ends of the 400 down pipes and either weld the original rear section from the 250 in place or make a set up with a universal can.
I've had another closer look at the pipes to see if they are salvageable but I very much doubt it and need to come up with another idea.
I have taken the rear sets off today and discovered...
1/ The selector arm has been snapped off (while the engine was being taken out).
I know it's just a rose jointed rod but still another job I didn't expect to have to do.
2/ The brake lever has been bodged.
The foot peg has snapped off and instead of getting it welded back on a bolt has been drilled and tapped in place. Not a bad idea but the arm hadn't been straightened so the head of the bolt fouls the mounting bracket so the brake hasn't worked since this was done.
I have removed the rear subframe, battery tray, rear seat catch mount (the front one is missing) and other steel bits ready to clean up and paint.
I have to admit though I do like the "stubby" look.
This brings me back to a previous question. I know the bike is rare and worth quite a bit restored to standard but do I restore her back to factory, build the road racing streetfighter I wanted to back in 2002, resto-mod (classic running gear modern fairings and lights) or a modern take on the Cafe' racer idea?
Speed addicted said:
I'd go for factory improved if possible, improve the parts that you can (or simply can't get anymore) and keep the rest stock.
Good luck on the project, I'd have run away when I first saw the bike!
That's pretty much the resto-mod' angle. Standard looking but with more performance. Good luck on the project, I'd have run away when I first saw the bike!
Off to get the mirrors from Bury St Edmund's today.
I still have my first bike, an 85 GPZ600R.
It's been off the road for about 10 years while I had other projects.
This thread has prompted me to drag the old girl out of the back of the garage and see what will be needed to get roadworthy again.
The buying of parts has begun with new brake lines (they were sponges 10 years ago) and some other bits and pieces.
At least mines been indoors!
It's been off the road for about 10 years while I had other projects.
This thread has prompted me to drag the old girl out of the back of the garage and see what will be needed to get roadworthy again.
The buying of parts has begun with new brake lines (they were sponges 10 years ago) and some other bits and pieces.
At least mines been indoors!
I got back from Bury with my new mirrors. I haven't bothered fitting them as new mirrors on an old bike would look daft at best. Nice guys and a proper bike garage that looked like a time capsule from when I first started riding in the 90's. Brilliant place.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/164229020310467/?m...
For those of you wanting to join the club...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-gsxr250-4-gj72a-/...
...this looks pretty good.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/164229020310467/?m...
For those of you wanting to join the club...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-gsxr250-4-gj72a-/...
...this looks pretty good.
Good news, bad news.
Good; my GSXR250R engine has arrived.
Bad; the head gasket has been done, but that's it. The ports haven't been cleaned, the rusty spark plugs are still in situ, the cam'cover stuck on with silicone and one of the exhaust studs is now a cheap M6 bolt.
Those are my only words that are Internet friendly.
Good; my GSXR250R engine has arrived.
Bad; the head gasket has been done, but that's it. The ports haven't been cleaned, the rusty spark plugs are still in situ, the cam'cover stuck on with silicone and one of the exhaust studs is now a cheap M6 bolt.
Those are my only words that are Internet friendly.
CoolHands said:
Personally I'd rather do it myself anyway as someone else will probably bodge stuff.
I've only ever done Honda gear driven engines before and didn't want to risk it myself. A spot of retail therapy...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162481921489?_trksid=p20...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162481983765?_trksid=p20...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152517236456?_trksid=p20...
...and a forty mile road trip tomorrow should cheer me up. :-)
http://www.elliottmc.co.uk/welcome/mail
Not sure if you've heard of them; if they can help or not but I have used Elliots in the past and last I visited it was an alladins cave of import bits.
Not sure if you've heard of them; if they can help or not but I have used Elliots in the past and last I visited it was an alladins cave of import bits.
Pope said:
http://www.elliottmc.co.uk/welcome/mail
Not sure if you've heard of them; if they can help or not but I have used Elliots in the past and last I visited it was an alladins cave of import bits.
Thank you. I'll send them an email. :-)Not sure if you've heard of them; if they can help or not but I have used Elliots in the past and last I visited it was an alladins cave of import bits.
CoolHands said:
How much do you reckon that one on ebay will go for?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-gsxr250-4-gj72a-/292087688985?hash=item4401c86f19:g:C7wAAOSwmCVY87KtI have no idea. There hasn't been a lot of interest. Mostly due to people not knowing they are out there. I would go for a classic bike site or grey import specialist. I would bid to around £2,000-ish for a good 72A if I had the money.
I don't want to sound sexist but you know when women go into a supermarket to pick up "a few things" and leave with a trolley full of stuff?
I just did that in a shed full of bike bits.
All the name of equality eh?
I basically went for the radiator and bits I had won on eBay but bought everything apart from the frame and swing arm.
I just did that in a shed full of bike bits.
All the name of equality eh?
I basically went for the radiator and bits I had won on eBay but bought everything apart from the frame and swing arm.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff