'84 SR250 Garage build.

Hello
This was one of the first threads I have found searching info about SR250.
And i was wondering what has happened.
Good to see that there will be a follow up ;)

And 32mm stainless header+muffler are also in my plans :)
 
Thanks everyone. Going to be interesting to see what I can manage without spending too much.
I still want this to remain a cheap bike overall.
There are a lot of things I did when I first built this bike that I would not do now.

I just ordered a new headlight and grips. Going to have a good look over and see what else is needed.
New rear tyre, tube and rim tape is a definite.
Looking at a Dunlop K460 if I stick with the 16" rim.
If not I will buy an XT250 rear wheel and find a decent 17" tyre to suite.

Few different colour schemes running through my head at the moment.
 
A taller rear will make her set a little taller, which you mentioned earlier was needed. I'd go with a new front also if the one on it is as old as suspected - at least a new tube and rim strip. Then ridding the piss out of it again to see what else is really needed. But avoid over-cooking turns (new rubber and taller stance may help there).
 
Your not wrong Pid, a new front it needed for sure. Although the tread looks fine it is at least an 8 year old tyre. Just need to find something that suits the style I am after.
Different foot peg mounts and decent foot pegs are going to be a must as well. I don't plan to push it as hard as I do the W but I know I will. Only takes that one corner and the footpeg mount to contact again before the bike spins round and throws me for another turn.

I need to measure the stock W shocks to see how much taller they are than the current ones on the SR. After that I will get a proper set for the W and transfer the stockers to the SR.
 
Thanks everyone. Going to be interesting to see what I can manage without spending too much.
I still want this to remain a cheap bike overall.
There are a lot of things I did when I first built this bike that I would not do now.

I just ordered a new headlight and grips. Going to have a good look over and see what else is needed.
New rear tyre, tube and rim tape is a definite.
Looking at a Dunlop K460 if I stick with the 16" rim.
If not I will buy an XT250 rear wheel and find a decent 17" tyre to suite.

Few different colour schemes running through my head at the moment.
I hope you don't mind this SR250 Newb asking, but if one were to get a hold of a XT250 wheel, does the spacers/bearings brakes line up ? Can a guy use the brake from a SR250 with the XT wheel? I have found on CL a 18" Rear 1984 XT250 rim to try on my 82 SR250..... Thank you for the patience and info. I did find out the brake shoes are the same? but that doesn't guarantee anything. Also, it's an 18" rim vs 17".
 
Last edited:
The stock XT should be a 17". Looking at CMSNL part lists it looks like the spacers and bearings are the same.
I was going to bite the bullet and order one to find out. I am fairly confident that it should just slot right in.
The XT hub code and brake plate are different from the SR but the drive side is the same code.
 
For some reason I thought the xt500 18" fit too but I haven't found any info on it again. I've done nothing with my Sr long enough to forget everything I planned.

Do you know of anywhere on the coast with Sr parts? I've been keeping an eye on gumtree for stuff but surely there's a wrecker around with stuff like an exhaust or something?
 
The stock XT should be a 17". Looking at CMSNL part lists it looks like the spacers and bearings are the same.
I was going to bite the bullet and order one to find out. I am fairly confident that it should just slot right in.
The XT hub code and brake plate are different from the SR but the drive side is the same code.
Thanks! I found an 18" XT which makes no sense, but then the SR250 had that goofball 19" front wheel along with the 18"....? Luckily I got the 18" front on my junker, but the temptation to convert the rear to an 18 is tempting.

Those people that have the "Classic" SR250 are already off to a good start compared to the Disco Era Specials!

EDIT/ADD-ON.... So, it definitely is a 4.10x18 tire on a 18x2.15 rim, so I looked up the XT250, and it seems that they went through a later period of 18" rears and disk brakes, BUT- this wheel is drum brake. It's cheap enough to gamble on, but wow. This stuff is like black magic sometimes...
 
Last edited:
We never got the "Classic" over here. Just the specials. Not sure how it's special if it's the only choice.

18" front with drum and 16" rear with drum.

As for the XT. From what I have seen they changed to a dohc engine and a whole lot more after a few years. Looked like the ones we are after for parts is the old early 80s ones.

I have a lead on a few parts like an XT250 17" wheel and a kickstart assembly. Deciding if I want to lay the cash down or not.

Let me know how you go with the XT wheel if you do buy it. Seems to be a straight swap from what I can see but you never know. I haven't found any documentation on the swap but when these bikes were both popular the internet was still in the early days.
 
For anyone that doesn't know. Aluminium foil is a great way to clean up crusty pitted chrome. It will scratch the hell out of it but if you are starting with pitted green chrome it isn't going to be an issue.

Use it like wet and dry with a bit of water to help it glide and in no time your chrome part will look a lot better.

Enter object 1. The crusty rear fender.
IMG20220410172450.jpg


Bit of time spent with the foil and a quick wipe with mr sheen after and here is the result.
IMG20220410174017.jpg


After a small amount of work with some purple chrome polish
IMG20220410175322.jpg
 
Last edited:
I like to make a wad of foil, soak it in vinegar, and then go at the scrubbing. Rinse well and polish/wax after, of course.
 
Does the vinegar do much in that short of time? I soak old axe heads in it for clean up since it’s fairly mild, but that takes a day or so to do the job.
 
Does the vinegar do much in that short of time? I soak old axe heads in it for clean up since it’s fairly mild, but that takes a day or so to do the job.
Kind of surprising. I guess the aluminum oxide cuts surface red rust to let the vinegar get to the underlying oxide.
 
Thanks, Brodie! I log in this afternoon, and I have a whole bunch of helpful info to read. Thank you. Always welcome!

So, even though I don't need it and may not use it, $55 was too cheap to turn down if I ever "had" to go 18" on the rear. If not, it's another cool thing to hang on the garage wall.

I've never seen a SR250 Classic in person either; I'm guessing it's a Europe Thing only.

My daughter is always talking about moving to Australia (All of us!) and so just to appease her, I looked up what it would take- WOW. It's like applying to a Top Shelf College, A Super High $$ job, and asking for the Princess' hand in marriage all at once. And then, there's the whole "Everything Is Really More Expensive" thing. I don't know how you do it, but more power to you. I whine about how hard it is to find Motorcycle Stuff here in Oregon, but maybe it's not so bad?!
 
Last edited:
It's all a matter of perspective really.
We have a decent minimum wage at $20.33 an hour. It is difficult to find a job that pays that low though. Average low wage is about $22 and hour.

Our average wage is about $1300 before tax and average rent in my city is about $600 a week.
Fuel is up high at the moment at $1.85 a litre ($7.40 a gallon).

Parts are hard to find in my city. Everyone is into the sport bike or cruiser styles.
 
Back
Top Bottom