First build

[Django]

Hi guys, just thought I’d introduce myself and my first project to the world wide web, but before I do I would like to apologise for my lack of grammar and spelling, when I was at school I didn’t pay much attention in English language, I thought as long as I can speak it that’ll do.

I'm Daz and I live in Wrexham North Wales UK and although iv been riding bikes of all sizes since I was 17 I never really got round to taking my test until now, I have just passed my theory and hazard perception and have my CBT booked in for next Thursday 4th July, after that I have two more tests and I should be legal to hit the roads.

About five years ago I approached the wife about getting a bike, her reply was basically “over my dead body” and while this scenario was acceptable to me it did seem a tad excessive....so here I am five or six years later waiting for my divorce papers to come through, both of my daughters live with me and money is tight but I have a bike parked in my hallway, a modest selection of tools and know-how and a huge amount of inspiration gleaned from this site.

The bike I have to work with is a Honda cb250n, I know its not fast, I know the frame design is shite but its what Iv got and I have to make do, the bike came with three boxes of spares
ranging from coils and cdi units to headlamps and wheels, I will be spending money on certain things, but for most of it I will have to beg steal borrow or make it myself.

OK that’s enough for now I will leave you all with a pic of the mean machine.

 

[yorkie350]

Welcome in mate hope ya test went ok , nice looking starter mate is she a runner ,get her all sorted then do the bling n styling bits check my build , i went in for the polish n paint etc now working round the near finished project to get her running proper agh ??? good luck wiv ya build fella always here for ideas n answers

 

[hursty]

Your Mean Machine looks great!

Good luck with it

 

[Django]

Ok even though I put the first post up yesterday iv had the bike for about three weeks now so here’s and update to what’s been going on.

The bloke I got the bike from took it as part of a house clearance, it has the last tax disc and MOT from 2004 and recorded mileage of 7170 miles, the clocks confirm this and the engine and frame numbers match the V5, with this in mind I decided to throw a battery on her and see what happened.....nothing, no signs of life at all, so out with the multimeter and two hours later I have found and bodged (for now) lots of connections and earth’s and now I have lights.

OK its crunch time, exhausts on, bike outside, temporary fuel tank (funnel), a leak from the right hand carb which promptly seals itself, a prod of the starter button and nothing, I can hear the starter solenoid clicking so on the off chance I prod the starter button again and at the same time kick the starter motor and she turns over and then fires, both barrels firing nicely, she responds to the throttle and even settles down to a nice tick-over, I am stoked, no rattles, smoke or nasties at all.

Things just keep getting better and better, I pulled all the stuff out of the three boxed of bits I got with the bike and found a pair of brand new shocks and bags and bags of nuts and bolts all sealed in plastic bags with labels on.

One of the things that I need to change is the overall look of the bike, I don’t want side panels on, and I don’t want that dirty grate monstrosity of an air/battery box on view either so I will need to relocate the battery or make my own box and use pod filters, this brings me nicely on to a mistake I made because I didn’t search the forum, I bought cheap Moxi filters and they have the ridge in them that is going to restrict the air flow so that’s £10 wasted.

At this point I would like to point out if I had searched the forum I would have not wasted my money, and I know now that this forum will save me from making costly mistakes again so I have scored the bargain of a life time....and become a site supporter for the measly sum of $10 or £6.50 and would urge anyone who uses this site to do the same if they Havant already.

Ok so back to the mean machine, the tank has to go so got a cb500 or 550 tank of ebay for £27, I does not quite fit so I am in the process of widening the tunnel just a little, and moving the coil to the other side of the bike, I should have pics later tonight so will post them up later.

Cheers Daz.

 

[Django]

OK here’s the tank on the bike, not sure which one it is but the fuel cap is offset to the right side of the tank, I like it...I like it a lot, there is some light rust inside the tank so I will be paying a visit to Asda for 15 litres of vinegar, some bicarb of soda and some WD40.

I have also cut the rear bracket/mudguard holder off and will be welding in a few cross members in its place, It doesn’t look like a superdream any more and I think that’s a good thing.

 

[yorkie350]

Thats brill mate wot a start those shocks gonna save ya some real coin the tank looks awesome already i tried three tanks before i got the easiest to fit i had the stock but nah sold on ebay bought a 250 super dream? tank put dents in for clip-ons but needed too much cutting etc underneath then a 500 /550 tank but its huge so ended up with a bog standard cb400 tank haha :-\ great news that she's a runner so wish ide done that first :-[ keep up the good work as always mate pics save a thousand words haha

 

[Django]

Aye up Yorkie, read through the whole of your build last night mate, you done a fantastic job there mate, mine aint goning to be anywhere near that clean, also i think im comming down with something....garage envy .
going to get the arc welder out tomorrow and weld the cross pieces in, also took a few more pics.

Even though im getting divorced it still feels like the ex wife is still here.....in stereo lol

 

[gregajo]

Welcome to the forum from sunny Florida. I see your family is not to keen on having the bike in the house. I brought mine in piece by piece and I don't think my wife has realized it is now ready to be reassembled in the spare room! Cheers, Greg

 

[Django]

yeah they give me some stick over it but its all in good fun, wish i could say its sunny here but its been lashing down all day and i wanted to weld the cross piece on too.
what bike are you about to put back together....Daz

 

[yorkie350]

haha had that feeling myself mate can't believe some of the guys here clean parts in the dishwasher and bake the new paint on in there oven my missus would av me nuts for earings haha ;D ime still needing to flat out n paint my tank but the weather is naff here too guess you'll make sure theres no oil leaks if ya keep ya project indoors

 

[coyote13]

guess you'll make sure theres no oil leaks if ya keep ya project indoors

Ain't that the truth? I can't imagine the mess I'd make if I were hacking around in my living room...

 

[Django]

ok guys i need some help here, after seeing the tank on the bike im thinking less out and out cafe racer and more sort of brat/tracker, iv been reading far too many build blogs and a chap from down under did one of these and it looks wicked.
this is it.

i like this one also

but this is my favourite

im 6' 2 and 13.5 stone, and this is how i look on the bike.

i dont want to look like i just knicked a kids toy so any sugestions or comments please.
cheers Daz

 

[coyote13]

Put on some tracker/Euro/supersport bars, and lose the rearsets.

You'll be infinitely happier, and so will your back.

 

[Django]

Put on some tracker/Euro/supersport bars, and lose the rearsets.

You'll be infinitely happier, and so will your back.

sounds like good advice, my back aint what it used to be ;D
a mate of mine says he has some drag bars with 3 inch pull back, after looking on the internet at drag/tracker bars there does not seem to be much difference to me, are they pretty much the same, hes coming over this weekend with them so i will try them out...Daz

 

[coyote13]

Try them out if you like, but I've found drag bars put your hands at a weird angle compared to your wrists. My wrists were sore after just a few rips around the block, and they went in the parts bin indefinitely.

They sure do look nice though....

 

[Django]

cheers i'll try them out, got nothing to loose if i dont like them he can take them back with him, will post some pics with them...Daz

 

[Django]

ok its still pissing down here so no welding for me today, on the up side my mate brought the bars round, they are not drag bars they are renthal superbike flat bars, iv put them on the bike and the riding position is much better (good call coyote130), think im gonna keep them as he only wants £10 for them. will try and get pics up tomorrow...Daz

 

[coyote13]

Fantastic luck!

 

[Windsorlad]

Nice start with the build, hows it looking ??