1980 Yamaha SR250 - A Tracker named Mexico

[SteveG]

Re: 1980 Yamaha SR250 - A Tracker named Mexico

I've been plodding along stripping my wheels down and polishing the engine casing and brakes. While stripping down the front wheel I had to grind off 13 spokes, the back wheel was easier, they all came out apart from five that snapped. I've also been spending quite a lot on this bike over the last two weeks. So far I have bought:

Renthal ultra low bars in black
Blue Grandturismo grips
New centerstand
New swing arm
Black rubber gaitors
4 Chrome bullet indicators
Bridgestone Trail Wing TW40 rear tyre
Pirelli MT 60 Front tyre
Stainless Bolt Engine Kit
560 piece stainless bolt pack
New 335mm chrome shocks (30mm longer than standard)
Ballistic EVO2 4 Cell 8Ah Battery
Chrome slotted Horn
New full original exhaust system
New seat
New tank rubbers
New Gear Lever
Lucas Rear Stop & Tail Light
Full engine gasket set
Full set of front and rear stainless spokes with nickel/Brass nipples

And I'm nowhere near done. This is going to be an expensive bike.

Here are the shocks and seat:

 

[SteveG]

Re: 1981 Yamaha SR250 - A Tracker named Mexico

An SR250 in kit form. A lot of this is junk that is being replaced. And here are the spokes from the back wheel, there are four different sizes. I have to send a sample of each to the company making my new stainless ones. The front wheel also has four different sizes.

 

[SteveG]

Re: 1981 Yamaha SR250 - A Tracker named Mexico

Sample spokes have been sent off for the new sets making up in stainless. Had a bit of a result with the powder coating, I've been quoted £90 for the frame, swing arm, hubs and rims to be done - less than I thought - dropping them off tomorrow. Apparently my new tyres should be delivered in the morning. This is going slower than I had hoped - can't wait to start the rebuild.

 

[SteveG]

The new shoes for my bike have arrived. Bridgestone TW40 rear (120/90-16) and a Pirelli MT60 front (90/90-19). I couldn't find matching tyres anywhere, but these look close enough for me. Also having bought a new swing arm, the old one will make a perfect wheel alignment frame.

 

[shamus]

Good work man.

 

[tsbigdog]

Wicked shoes! Those are like a pair of Timberland's for your bike.

 

[SteveG]

Thanks Shamus, loving your build, especially those grips. Tsbigdog, glad you like them, I'm hoping they will give the bike a more aggressive look.

 

[SteveG]

Inspiration for my build:

And the Ad picture that caused me to buy her:

 

[SteveG]

My new Battery turned up today, it's 8Ah and good for multi-cylinder bikes of less than 550cc and for 350cc and under single cylinder bikes. This thing is tiny and weighs just over 3/4 of a pound. It cost £66 ($103) delivered to the UK from the US. Here are a few pics:

 

[shamus]

That's a neat little battery. Weighing options myself, might have to look into that.

 

[tsbigdog]

Steve,

If you search on this site, there's a guy that makes mounting brackets designed specifically for these batteries. He cuts them out of what looks like 3/16" steel using a water jet. The bracket slides down over the battery. It might help you with mounting.

 

[SteveG]

Cheers TS, I'll have a look. I'm hoping that when my new seat arrives there is a ideal spot under that to mount the battery. A couple of months ago I emailed the battery company suggesting that they made a flat four cell 8Ah battery, as it would sit invisibly under cafe racer e.t.c. seats. They said "watch this space".

 

[TB_J]

Hey Steve

It's probably a little late now, but there is a flat option of these battery's available that I'm going to use in my sr250.

Have a look here (four cell)

http://antigravitybatteries.com/?page_id=994

 

[SteveG]

Bugger, that would have worked. Looked all over for these batteries and didn't spot those. Ah well, mine should do the job, it's still small enough to hide under the seat, but a flat one would have been better.

 

[SteveG]

My new stainless spokes arrived today. Not a bad service, less than a week to receive the samples, make the spokes (8 different sizes) and get them back to me. All I need now are my shiny black rims and hubs back from the powder coaters and I'll rebuild them and true them myself. Will post a few pics of the process.

 

[MILKY]

Re: 1981 Yamaha SR250 - A Tracker named Mexico

Cheers Captmilk,

Also found these cracking shocks, which I feel are better than the originals. And an original style exhaust.

dude.. where did you get that exhaust? i want one tooooooo

 

[SteveG]

Milky,

You can get that exhaust HERE: http://www.motorcycle-exhausts.co.uk/shop.php?p=search_options&advanced_option_1=1980&advanced_option_name_1=year&advanced_option_2=Yamaha&advanced_option_name_2=make&advanced_option_3=SR250&advanced_option_name_3=model&advanced_option_4=&advanced_option_name_4=submodel&autoparts_search_secret_submit=Search BUT there aren't any available until September.

I've actually now found an original exhaust (new) from a company called CMSL in Holland. Surprisingly it is cheaper than the copy, see it HERE: http://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-sr250g-1980_model8747/muffler-assy-1_3y61471000/

 

[MILKY]

Milky,

You can get that exhaust HERE: http://www.motorcycle-exhausts.co.uk/shop.php?p=search_options&advanced_option_1=1980&advanced_option_name_1=year&advanced_option_2=Yamaha&advanced_option_name_2=make&advanced_option_3=SR250&advanced_option_name_3=model&advanced_option_4=&advanced_option_name_4=submodel&autoparts_search_secret_submit=Search BUT there aren't any available until September.

I've actually now found an original exhaust (new) from a company called CMSL in Holland. Surprisingly it is cheaper than the copy, see it HERE: http://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-sr250g-1980_model8747/muffler-assy-1_3y61471000/

nice one.. i just starter by build thread under "cafe racers"... sourcing parts... thanks again!

 

[MILKY]

just checkin in...

 

[SteveG]

Got my parts back from the powder coater and I'm very happy with them. It means I can start the rebuild over the weekend. Made a start tonight by lacing the back wheel up. It was a little confusing to start with, but I think the front wheel will be a lot easier. You will see in the first picture that I made a balls-up by putting the outer spokes in first :-[ - had to take them back out - you need to put all the inner spokes in first.