Hi All,
Just wanted to introduce myself and my two project SR250's. Okay, I also have a couple of BSA's, a CB500, and a Triumph but who doesn't?
The bikes were definite basket cases with lots of missing parts. I wish I could've bought running complete bikes and replaced bits from there as that would've been easier. However, it's easier to hide the true cost from the Missus by buying bits and pieces, one or two, at a time over the months.
I bought the majority of the SR parts three separate times and had to drive hundreds of miles to get them. There's no such thing as cheap vintage bikes in SoCal. Actually, they're early 80's bikes so not sure if they qualify as "vintage" yet but I'm sure they soon will be.
First purchase was a frame and two engines from a kid in Los Angeles' Chinatown that bodged the frame by adding two lengths of steel tubing to the rear subframe. I think he was trying to straighten the seat angle. I ended up cutting the subframe off and welding the rear from a '62 B40 that I had sitting around. Next purchase was a bare frame, rusty tank, and front end from Monterey in Norther Cal. Final purchase was a complete engine from an XT250 out in Apple Valley way in the desert.
I had a 70's cafe seat sitting around so I threw it on. Then I found a Lucas headlight off an old BSA I wasn't using so I threw that on. Also had a rusty cafe handle bar from a friend's CB500 he was throwing out. I ordered some small turn signal LEDs and imitation Lucas tail light from E-Bay. Re-packed all the bearings and ordered bits and pieces that were missing and bolted things on as they arrived in the mail. There's still some major things that need to be done like new tires, brakes, fork seals, and clean-up but I got her started.
The other SR I'm turning into what Triumph should be adding to their product line; a modern version of the Cub. Back in the days (early '60's, Triumph had a small single cylinder (250 or 350 CC I don't remember) motorcycle called the Cub. It wasn't fast but it was light, simple, and could take you anywhere. While I was perusing Craigslist, I noticed that people were taking parts off of their Bonnies as they were turned into Brats, Cafes, Desert Sleds, Choppers, etc. and selling them cheap. So I bought the rear fender, seat, brake lights, and turn signals off of a 2013 Scrambler. The seat is a bit big for the little SR250 but it's my fun project so who cares? This one is a far way from being finished. Tank has pinhole leaks, and I'm not sure what headlights to put on. I've got an oldschool nacelle that I'm thinking about putting on, the one with the build-in speedo.
Anyhow, I'm not one to do mock-ups and three versions of things. I just slap 'em on. If things don't fit, I put a grinder on it. I'm not a skilled machinist and can't build a side case out of a block of aluminum. I also have to consult a wiring diagram when working on the electrics. It's all for fun.
Pics are the before pic of my 72 CB500 (w/ CB550 engine). I ended up replacing/rebuilding pretty much everything on this bike, including the engine. The after pic is almost where it is now but I put on a new genuine leather seats with diamond pattern stiches and a Sparto tailight.
The other pics are the before pic of the SR250 and pics of what they look like now.
As you can see, I'm a fan of keeping the bikes looking old, dented, and oily. I don't like rust.
Just wanted to introduce myself and my two project SR250's. Okay, I also have a couple of BSA's, a CB500, and a Triumph but who doesn't?
The bikes were definite basket cases with lots of missing parts. I wish I could've bought running complete bikes and replaced bits from there as that would've been easier. However, it's easier to hide the true cost from the Missus by buying bits and pieces, one or two, at a time over the months.
I bought the majority of the SR parts three separate times and had to drive hundreds of miles to get them. There's no such thing as cheap vintage bikes in SoCal. Actually, they're early 80's bikes so not sure if they qualify as "vintage" yet but I'm sure they soon will be.
First purchase was a frame and two engines from a kid in Los Angeles' Chinatown that bodged the frame by adding two lengths of steel tubing to the rear subframe. I think he was trying to straighten the seat angle. I ended up cutting the subframe off and welding the rear from a '62 B40 that I had sitting around. Next purchase was a bare frame, rusty tank, and front end from Monterey in Norther Cal. Final purchase was a complete engine from an XT250 out in Apple Valley way in the desert.
I had a 70's cafe seat sitting around so I threw it on. Then I found a Lucas headlight off an old BSA I wasn't using so I threw that on. Also had a rusty cafe handle bar from a friend's CB500 he was throwing out. I ordered some small turn signal LEDs and imitation Lucas tail light from E-Bay. Re-packed all the bearings and ordered bits and pieces that were missing and bolted things on as they arrived in the mail. There's still some major things that need to be done like new tires, brakes, fork seals, and clean-up but I got her started.
The other SR I'm turning into what Triumph should be adding to their product line; a modern version of the Cub. Back in the days (early '60's, Triumph had a small single cylinder (250 or 350 CC I don't remember) motorcycle called the Cub. It wasn't fast but it was light, simple, and could take you anywhere. While I was perusing Craigslist, I noticed that people were taking parts off of their Bonnies as they were turned into Brats, Cafes, Desert Sleds, Choppers, etc. and selling them cheap. So I bought the rear fender, seat, brake lights, and turn signals off of a 2013 Scrambler. The seat is a bit big for the little SR250 but it's my fun project so who cares? This one is a far way from being finished. Tank has pinhole leaks, and I'm not sure what headlights to put on. I've got an oldschool nacelle that I'm thinking about putting on, the one with the build-in speedo.
Anyhow, I'm not one to do mock-ups and three versions of things. I just slap 'em on. If things don't fit, I put a grinder on it. I'm not a skilled machinist and can't build a side case out of a block of aluminum. I also have to consult a wiring diagram when working on the electrics. It's all for fun.
Pics are the before pic of my 72 CB500 (w/ CB550 engine). I ended up replacing/rebuilding pretty much everything on this bike, including the engine. The after pic is almost where it is now but I put on a new genuine leather seats with diamond pattern stiches and a Sparto tailight.
The other pics are the before pic of the SR250 and pics of what they look like now.
As you can see, I'm a fan of keeping the bikes looking old, dented, and oily. I don't like rust.
