'80 CB250RS - First Project - Ground Up - Aus

[danmac]

Hey everyone!

Let me start by saying I am a complete novice in the bike modification world and since owning my CB250RS the last year I've been slowly tinkering and modifying to head towards a cafe racer style. Given my inexperience and excitement I realised I was patching up a dodgy bike underneath and going about it ALL WRONG. None the less, I've finally bought a car (The old gal has been my daily the last year) and I have begun stripping back to the frame. I'm fairly handy on the tools, I have the workshop manual and I really wish to learn as I go. I feel a little like i'm in over my head at times, but i've been loving the journey so far! Most recent mods were removing battery + airbox, it runs well off a 8000uF cap from Jaycar ($8) but now to start ground up.

The engine, wheels and rear shocks still need to come out. Plans are to soda blast engine and frame and then respray, slowly start purchasing what parts I can't restore and head towards a dual seat bratstyle seat/cafe inspiration themed bike. I think i'll keep my rear frame loop I welded, i'm happy with it for now. I'll just need to build a seat to fit the contours.

Would a prime and spraycan (I will get good paint) suffice for the respray of frame, engine & wheels? I can pay a professional, but I really do wish to do AS much as i can myself on this build!

Thanks for having me on board, can't wait to learn from everyone as I go along. ;D

BEFORE:

F*CKK! This snapped SO easily! Any suggestions, weld or replace?

 

[danmac]

Oh another question! The ride height at the moment with the current rear shocks will 'just' scrub when going over a bump. If i plan to carry a pillion, it definitely will. Not to mention the gap will be reduced once I squeeze a guard in there. What's my solution; to get longer shocks? Harder shocks? Or have i fucked it with my frame and weld. I don't want to create a dysfunctional stance either.

THANKS!

 

[Nevergrew]

Nice Dan.

Re. paint, I did my whole bike with spray cans. Prep is the key though. Some parts are gloss enamel and other parts are matt/satin/gloss acrylic. It's personal preference. Def loads cheaper doing it this way.

Re. Alloy brackets, get a repair quote from a welder then assess whether it's cheaper going second hand or not. Rarity of parts for these old girls is the issue

Re. Ride height, it's a bit trial and error with this. Maybe a combination of stiffer and longer shocks is the go. Mine are from a Honda Rebel and are low and hard, but I don't carry pillions and love lowered bikes.

Good luck with the build mate. eBay for parts was my saviour. Don't forget, you can also draw on late 70's XR250 and XL250's for engine parts. If I can't source affordable parts locally I use CMSNL.com the freight can be a killer but hey, sometimes you don't have a choice.

 

[danmac]

Nice Dan.

Re. paint, I did my whole bike with spray cans. Prep is the key though. Some parts are gloss enamel and other parts are matt/satin/gloss acrylic. It's personal preference. Def loads cheaper doing it this way.

Re. Alloy brackets, get a repair quote from a welder then assess whether it's cheaper going second hand or not. Rarity of parts for these old girls is the issue

Re. Ride height, it's a bit trial and error with this. Maybe a combination of stiffer and longer shocks is the go. Mine are from a Honda Rebel and are low and hard, but I don't carry pillions and love lowered bikes.

Good luck with the build mate. eBay for parts was my saviour. Don't forget, you can also draw on late 70's XR250 and XL250's for engine parts. If I can't source affordable parts locally I use CMSNL.com the freight can be a killer but hey, sometimes you don't have a choice.

Thanks man I'll check out that website.

Does anyone have any tips for the engine/frame cleaning prior to soda blasting? Should i both de-greasing anything or will the blaster get everything done? Alternatively, am I being silly getting it soda blasted and should I just attack it with elbow grease? The thought of it being absolutely spotless from soda blasting is appealing though.

 

[danmac]

So finally the day off work gave me some time to get the frame apart and the engine out. I'll be calling around tomorrow to find out some quotes for soda blasting and establishing what step next.

I'll be replacing majority of the bolts on the bike due to most being near to threaded.




Some older shots of her.

 

[strang]

I really dig the shapes on these bikes. They don't get enough attention in my book.

 

[PocketsVIC]

Hey mate. Bike looks cool already, cant wait to see what it turns out like. I'm in the same boat as you ( 1st bike, 1st build, learning as I go.) best I can recommend is to cruiz this site, you will get heaps of pointers.

As for the paint, I did my engine and frame in matt black from a can, and clear coat on my tank. It turned out really well. Having said that it took hours and hours of preparation for a 5 min spray haha. Check out my build to see if its the result your after.

Good luck bro. straya

 

[danmac]

Hey mate. Bike looks cool already, cant wait to see what it turns out like. I'm in the same boat as you ( 1st bike, 1st build, learning as I go.) best I can recommend is to cruiz this site, you will get heaps of pointers.

As for the paint, I did my engine and frame in matt black from a can, and clear coat on my tank. It turned out really well. Having said that it took hours and hours of preparation for a 5 min spray haha. Check out my build to see if its the result your after.

Good luck bro. straya

Cheers mate. Quite a long way to go with this one, more so because I wish to do everything 'right', functional and clean. I liked your build, good job with the wiring! Tempted to do the same for mine.

With your tank respray, what did you use to get the engine side cover polished back?

 

[PocketsVIC]

I cleaned them heaps and then covered in tape and painted the whole engine. Whe I was finished I just pulled the tape of.

 

[eglintonw]

I'd really love to see your progress! I'm in the process of building a cb250rs. I would love to see what you did with it?