First Love Revisited
Discussion
About eleven years ago after twelve years of riding bikes I was acting under orders to get a car. The girl I was seeing at the time was scared stiff of the things and my TDM850 custom was a little less than discrete.
That relationship failed and a few other life related issues occurred and even though the thought of getting back on a bike has always been there; something else always came up.
Until I recently took this VFR800i...
...as a part exchange for my Mazda RX8
I took the bike for a test drive and I swear it was like a piece of jigsaw that had been missing just slotted back into place.
I phoned for a couple of more than reasonable insurance quotes and all was going well until I noticed I didn't have a bike on my license. One of those "life related issues" was two month ban. As I was driving cars and had sold my bikes for a cohabitation deposit I never looked. Phoned the DVLA and they said obviously and for good reason because it had been over six months I had to start from square one. CBT, theory and test.
First I thought words not suitable for a family friendly forum but then realised this is going to be hilarious.
Now the VFR was great but whatever you ride it is never as good as your first bike.
No, not the 50 or 125cc neighbor harasser the bike the made you a biker.
For me it was this...
...my Suzuki GSXR250R
The extra "R" being for "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" When your ears exploded due to hitting the 18,000rpm redline. I loved this machine and got stopped by the Police loads of times because it sounded like an F1 car going down the road and they thought I was doing 160 not 60mph.
My RD50 was great, got me my first ban and my AR125 was a pain in the arse if I'm honest but at least it didn't try to kill me like my toffee gearbox'd TZR125. My race bike Aprilia RS125, RS250 and Kawazaki KR1S (TT) race bikes were, well race bikes. My GSXR250R was the bike that made me a biker. I was at the turning point where I was old enough to consider a driving test or stay on two wheels. Three seconds on that thing and I knew no car would ever make me feel as good (and so far none have including some very expensive and fast bits of kit).
I have kept in touch with most of my bikes or knew when they were crashed, stolen or scrapped and I found my 250 six years ago.
With the back to square one thought in the back of my head and knowing the chap who has been holding my bike to ransom also had a couple of mopeds I paid him a visit.
Offered the VFR in exchange for my 250 and some moped action. My nephew has just turned sixteen so one for him and one for me to hoon about on until I get my 250 back on the road.
That was the plan until I saw this...
Now I am a pacifist by nature but it took all of my collective will power not to
the off and shove it up his
I should have walked away, but my beloved bike would still be there and my nephew would have to keep getting the bus.
She was dug out today and I can see how much of a task is at hand and started a basic parts list.
Oh crap!
The things we do for love eh?
That relationship failed and a few other life related issues occurred and even though the thought of getting back on a bike has always been there; something else always came up.
Until I recently took this VFR800i...
...as a part exchange for my Mazda RX8
I took the bike for a test drive and I swear it was like a piece of jigsaw that had been missing just slotted back into place.
I phoned for a couple of more than reasonable insurance quotes and all was going well until I noticed I didn't have a bike on my license. One of those "life related issues" was two month ban. As I was driving cars and had sold my bikes for a cohabitation deposit I never looked. Phoned the DVLA and they said obviously and for good reason because it had been over six months I had to start from square one. CBT, theory and test.
First I thought words not suitable for a family friendly forum but then realised this is going to be hilarious.
Now the VFR was great but whatever you ride it is never as good as your first bike.
No, not the 50 or 125cc neighbor harasser the bike the made you a biker.
For me it was this...
...my Suzuki GSXR250R
The extra "R" being for "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" When your ears exploded due to hitting the 18,000rpm redline. I loved this machine and got stopped by the Police loads of times because it sounded like an F1 car going down the road and they thought I was doing 160 not 60mph.
My RD50 was great, got me my first ban and my AR125 was a pain in the arse if I'm honest but at least it didn't try to kill me like my toffee gearbox'd TZR125. My race bike Aprilia RS125, RS250 and Kawazaki KR1S (TT) race bikes were, well race bikes. My GSXR250R was the bike that made me a biker. I was at the turning point where I was old enough to consider a driving test or stay on two wheels. Three seconds on that thing and I knew no car would ever make me feel as good (and so far none have including some very expensive and fast bits of kit).
I have kept in touch with most of my bikes or knew when they were crashed, stolen or scrapped and I found my 250 six years ago.
With the back to square one thought in the back of my head and knowing the chap who has been holding my bike to ransom also had a couple of mopeds I paid him a visit.
Offered the VFR in exchange for my 250 and some moped action. My nephew has just turned sixteen so one for him and one for me to hoon about on until I get my 250 back on the road.
That was the plan until I saw this...
Now I am a pacifist by nature but it took all of my collective will power not to
the off and shove it up his I should have walked away, but my beloved bike would still be there and my nephew would have to keep getting the bus.
She was dug out today and I can see how much of a task is at hand and started a basic parts list.
Oh crap!
The things we do for love eh?
Okay, not my tools and I wasn't exactly polite about the front caliper extraction method.
Every sensible part of me screamed "Walk away you twunt!" but I couldn't.
Engine...
...at some point the exhaust has been pigeon poo welded and instead of spending a whole £20 on new gasket rings so much gumgum was used it basically closed the number one and two down-pipes. This had blown the head gasket. The new gasket set was ordered and arrived but at the stripping stage something else came up and she was left there for me to track down and find years later.
I have brought home a boot full of body panels to clean at work tonight. The exhaust to get the gumgum out, rub over with a wire and brush and see if it's worth rescuing or replacing...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311776676590?_trksid=p20...
...with the only used part on eBay or making a new one from Stainless.
I have noticed a couple of things going through the paperwork.
She was declared as a 1988 model GSXR250R when she is a 1989 GSXR250R-SP
Well according to these guys anyway...
http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-R-series/GSX-R250....
Right time to head off to work.
Every sensible part of me screamed "Walk away you twunt!" but I couldn't.
Engine...
...at some point the exhaust has been pigeon poo welded and instead of spending a whole £20 on new gasket rings so much gumgum was used it basically closed the number one and two down-pipes. This had blown the head gasket. The new gasket set was ordered and arrived but at the stripping stage something else came up and she was left there for me to track down and find years later.
I have brought home a boot full of body panels to clean at work tonight. The exhaust to get the gumgum out, rub over with a wire and brush and see if it's worth rescuing or replacing...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311776676590?_trksid=p20...
...with the only used part on eBay or making a new one from Stainless.
I have noticed a couple of things going through the paperwork.
She was declared as a 1988 model GSXR250R when she is a 1989 GSXR250R-SP
Well according to these guys anyway...
http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-R-series/GSX-R250....
Right time to head off to work.
So the end of day one and it's not as good as I hoped nor as bad as I expected.
Bodywork...
...went from so green I could have picked up Kawasaki bits by mistake to...
...I have seen worse on the road.
Carb' cleaning was a bit more of an issue. After an hour freeing the butterflies and choke...
...the linkage was broken and one of the plungers missing its end.
I only opened one of the float chambers as I don't have new gaskets yet...
...and it was full of water and corrosion.
The exhaust is a combination of pigeon poo welding and distortion.
Could be the excuse I've been after to buy a pipe bender.
Bodywork...
...went from so green I could have picked up Kawasaki bits by mistake to...
...I have seen worse on the road.
Carb' cleaning was a bit more of an issue. After an hour freeing the butterflies and choke...
...the linkage was broken and one of the plungers missing its end.
I only opened one of the float chambers as I don't have new gaskets yet...
...and it was full of water and corrosion.
The exhaust is a combination of pigeon poo welding and distortion.
Could be the excuse I've been after to buy a pipe bender.
The engine is out and it's good news/bad news again.
Bad...
...remember how one and two exhaust pipes were crammed with gumgum? Well two and three ports were just as bad.
More bad...
...not so bad but a job I didn't expect to have to do.
While attempting to extract the cam' cover the chap doing the engine (as part of the VFR deal he does the engine. I'm not that much of a masochist besides he bought the gaskets in 2003).
Good news. The engine turns freely, well, good compression feel and the valves all move properly.
One thing that concerns me is the valves. Usually I pull valves, put them in a bench drill and clean them with some wet and dry soaked in WD-40
These valves look so small I may have to get a Dremmel or something.
Bad...
...remember how one and two exhaust pipes were crammed with gumgum? Well two and three ports were just as bad.
More bad...
...not so bad but a job I didn't expect to have to do.
While attempting to extract the cam' cover the chap doing the engine (as part of the VFR deal he does the engine. I'm not that much of a masochist besides he bought the gaskets in 2003).
Good news. The engine turns freely, well, good compression feel and the valves all move properly.
One thing that concerns me is the valves. Usually I pull valves, put them in a bench drill and clean them with some wet and dry soaked in WD-40
These valves look so small I may have to get a Dremmel or something.
Chasing part numbers for consumables.
EBC front pads FA158HH - fitted to many bikes
Front brake discs - Suzuki number MD3003X - also fitted to several bikes.
Caliper seals and pistons should in theory also be a universal Nissin seal kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-GSX-R-400-GK73A-T...
P.S Edited to add, I'll be using this blog as a notepad for parts and bits so my watch list doesn't arouse an undue attention.
EBC front pads FA158HH - fitted to many bikes
Front brake discs - Suzuki number MD3003X - also fitted to several bikes.
Caliper seals and pistons should in theory also be a universal Nissin seal kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-GSX-R-400-GK73A-T...
P.S Edited to add, I'll be using this blog as a notepad for parts and bits so my watch list doesn't arouse an undue attention.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 8th April 21:12
She's home. Rather than commenting on every photo I'll post them and write a bit at the end.
Right then. It's not as bad as I expected. The Steel parts need brushing back and repainting (powder coating?) Aluminum parts need cleaning. The brake pistons aren't bad at all considering so I should be able to reuse them when I get the seal kit. The loom looks mostly okay but the fuse box is missing it's cover and the terminals look like they have been washed up on a beach. Wheel and headstock bearings are all good. The fork tubes show no signs of pitting and the new seals I fitted in 2002 are still in fine fettle. The wheels look reasonable but need stripping, painting (powder coating?) and the tyres are unsurprisingly completely to and back.
The dinky winkers on the back were also my fault. I kept kicking the original ones off when I got on or off. I still have them in a box in somewhere in my loft. No mirrors but they should be easy to find.
All in all not bad at all. I'm glad she's home, sorry for the state she's in but optimistic she will ride again.
Right then. It's not as bad as I expected. The Steel parts need brushing back and repainting (powder coating?) Aluminum parts need cleaning. The brake pistons aren't bad at all considering so I should be able to reuse them when I get the seal kit. The loom looks mostly okay but the fuse box is missing it's cover and the terminals look like they have been washed up on a beach. Wheel and headstock bearings are all good. The fork tubes show no signs of pitting and the new seals I fitted in 2002 are still in fine fettle. The wheels look reasonable but need stripping, painting (powder coating?) and the tyres are unsurprisingly completely
to and back. The dinky winkers on the back were also my fault. I kept kicking the original ones off when I got on or off. I still have them in a box in somewhere in my loft. No mirrors but they should be easy to find.
All in all not bad at all. I'm glad she's home, sorry for the state she's in but optimistic she will ride again.
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 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. :-)
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.
This chap...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/simon999999999?_trksid=p...
...has a shed full of bike bits so if you are struggling to find a part send him a message and see what he's got.
In the meantime.
For the price of the new filter fitted I got a spare air box.
Radiator that doesn't leak with a tidy looking fan (now tested and it works. Bonus).
Bum holders with the locating pin on the front one.
The missing front seat mount bracket and original tinted indicators so I won't have to go to Halfords for a pair of fifteen year old dinky winky's.
Cleaner rear set mounting brackets. So the single seat conversion is off the board.
Most important...
...a box of stuff. I had my best poker face when I rummaged. Spare starter solenoid and switch because the ones on the bike has been out in all weathers since 2006 and are more then likely , fuse box with cover (the missing cover has been troubling me more than it should), battery tray with the loom and relay mounts (mine are a little rustier so I'll use the best of the bunch), missing fairing brackets and stuff.
So unlike when women do a supermarket sweep mostly useful stuff and things.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/simon999999999?_trksid=p...
...has a shed full of bike bits so if you are struggling to find a part send him a message and see what he's got.
In the meantime.
For the price of the new filter fitted I got a spare air box.
Radiator that doesn't leak with a tidy looking fan (now tested and it works. Bonus).
Bum holders with the locating pin on the front one.
The missing front seat mount bracket and original tinted indicators so I won't have to go to Halfords for a pair of fifteen year old dinky winky's.
Cleaner rear set mounting brackets. So the single seat conversion is off the board.
Most important...
...a box of stuff. I had my best poker face when I rummaged. Spare starter solenoid and switch because the ones on the bike has been out in all weathers since 2006 and are more then likely
, fuse box with cover (the missing cover has been troubling me more than it should), battery tray with the loom and relay mounts (mine are a little rustier so I'll use the best of the bunch), missing fairing brackets and stuff. So unlike when women do a supermarket sweep mostly useful stuff and things.
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