New to street bikes, hoping to change that.

[Catbird]

Hey guys!

Name's Catbird, hailing from south and west of Chicago. I've been a greasemonkey since I was old enough to read the numbers on the side of a wrench, but up until now it's been pretty exclusively automotive.

I've got buckets and buckets of experience with 4-strokes both modern and antique, having messed around with a couple of endurance cars (a fox-body Mustang and a turdlike Accord EX), and my daily driver for the time being is a 1965 Pontiac Tempest that, by now, causes some to remember that song about the Cadillac Coupe DeVille by Johnny Cash.
The whole thing must be hereditary... My father is the one who started this whole mess. He's been elbow-deep in just about every machine he's ever owned, possessed by a Tim-Taylor-esque need for *more power* in all things, up until recently where he's managed to become fixated on this idea of fuel economy.

In keeping with logic, he retreated, and I followed, to the penultimate compromise:
Bikes.

I've been screwing around on a Yamaha DT250 that looks like it belongs underneath a cigar-smoking, panama-hat and floral-shirt clad cocaine farmer in Columbia as he patrols his fields since I was about 16 or 17, and I figure it's about time to start getting down and dirty with two wheels.

I'm here to make some new friends, gather some new ideas, ask some dumb questions and have some fun.

 

[Catbird]

So I'm new to customizing bikes. My preferred aesthetic, performance range and fabrication background tell me that the cafe-inspired style is the way to go... Trouble is, I'm just getting into building bikes. I have a DT250 Yamaha but I'm a lot more comfortable with four-stroke engines, as I've been knee-deep in muscle cars since I was 7 and did a couple of race-car builds over the last couple years.

So... Will it be worth it to look into a beater CB or GS-series bike, if I want to get serious about this? Or can I expect reasonably little difficulty transitioning into building a two-stroke bike?

 

[smvirili]

Hey man. Nice twosmoke you have there.
Any updates??
You probably already know this, just incase -
www.yamahaenduro.com


it's impossible to find a better source for vintage 2 strokes. EVERYONE there is so helpful.
hope this helps.

 

[Catbird]

Yes! I had a stroke of conscience and decided to restore it instead of chopping it. It's too damn cute and I'm getting the electronics cleaned up.

And no, I didn't know about that, any resource I can get at this point is new to me.
It's running pretty slick, but it looks like I may have to replace the crankshaft bearings soon as it's getting a little growly.
Debating buying a whole new motor for it, as it may be cheaper.

 

[smvirili]

yeah, sometimes going new is just cheaper and easier. it's weird isn't it.
if you're going for a classic resto, definitely go to yamahaenduro. you will not regret.

i've got an 72' RT-2 and will be doing minimal chopping. probably shorten the frame around the seat just a tiny bit, and fit smaller blinkers and headlight all round.
the only thing i dislike about these classics are the huge lights! they look kind of weird.

i haven't really broke it to the guys over on YE that i wont be doing a complete restoration. hahahah gonna keep it on the down low till i start talking about paint and the lights.

i'm a complete amateur at this stage as this is my first build but i cannot believe how much you can learn from a single website.
if you pop over there, my user name is smv.

hope to see your project up there soon mate.
good luck from australia.
cheers.
s

 

[Catbird]

Much obliged, brother! I'll be sure to do so ASAP.