Newbie

[VNP249L]

Just bought a Honda CJ250 - plan is to modify it to a brat style. Just entering Buyer's Regret phase - should come out of that soon. :-\ Father and son project number 4 - but previous 3 have all been motocrossers. First road bike project.
Bike been sat for a while but runs and sounds nice. Low miles. Tank and panels all good.
Plan is to weld in seat loop, new flat seat, on/ off road tyres/ short exhaust, raised bars ( renthal ??) Not sure about pod filters - I like the look but seems that they cause a lot of running problems? Wheels will need refurb I suspect as some rust on them. Not sure if I can change wheels to cast ones?
Any advice on above gratefully received.

 

[beachcomber]

Welcome to the DTT/UK fella. You'll get loads of advice here from knowledgeable friendly people.

Pix always gets the juices flowing.

 

[whynot]

Welcome from Georgia USA, remorse will go away quickly.

Pix are the sh1t man.......

 

[NoRiders]

By the looks the CJ250 would brat with a few minor mods to the overall style. I turned my CBX550 into an urban scrambler (I'd not take it off road tbh) with tyre, tank, guards, seat changes. I chose to leave the engine/carbs alone as the diaphragm carbs don't like pod filters too much. I didn't fancy dicking with x4 when I knew the bike ran well enough with the stock airbox. As I had no plans for a skeletal frame, I stuck with what Mr Honda decided would work....and it works, yay. Not seen another one

Here's an image or two to maybe give you some ideas. You can see I disguised the airbox with a scrambler roundel and attache case (very handy).

 

[VNP249L]

I like it. Back end is similar to what I'm after. What tyres are they - they look good.
The more I think about it the more I think I'll stick with standard air box. I'm a bit worried now it will be too short as I'm 6ft. With a flat seat I may need to do something with foot pegs.

 

[CarbsAndCylinders]

Welcome, this is a great place!

 

[NoRiders]

I like it. Back end is similar to what I'm after. What tyres are they - they look good.
The more I think about it the more I think I'll stick with standard air box. I'm a bit worried now it will be too short as I'm 6ft. With a flat seat I may need to do something with foot pegs.

I notice pin n needles as the seat is at least 2" lower and I'm a short 31" legged 5'9". Lowering footpegs will also mean altering the brake and gear lever angles too :/

Tyres are Mefo Sports from Zenoverland, web: https://www.zenoverland.com/tyres_tubes/mefo_explorer.html

The rear guard was a used alloy thing off something or other, the light unit is a cheap trials/scrambler unit with optional rubber numberplate £10 the lot.
The plastic letter/numbers came from a swap meet and are scooter sized, nice find I reckon.

The only mod I did was to bore a few 22mm holes in the filterbox to aid airflow into the intake system, the rest is stock and cleaned up a little.

 

[VNP249L]

A fine and noble steed!! Picture as promised.
She runs and drives ok except for a sticking float on one side.
Noticed that the rear foot pegs are wrong / odd on one side. Need to find some pics to see which side is correct. Forks and wheels need re furbishing.
I need to get tape measure out to size up the frame hoop. Bit of end float on gear change input shaft. Selects gears ok though with no nasty noises.
I think a to do list is in order.
Thanks for guidance on tyres will look them up.

 

[NoRiders]

A fine and noble steed!! Picture as promised.
She runs and drives ok except for a sticking float on one side.
Noticed that the rear foot pegs are wrong / odd on one side. Need to find some pics to see which side is correct. Forks and wheels need re furbishing.
I need to get tape measure out to size up the frame hoop. Bit of end float on gear change input shaft. Selects gears ok though with no nasty noises.
I think a to do list is in order.
Thanks for guidance on tyres will look them up.

Here's a link for the seat hoops, this is for the flat version there's also a 20* bent version too (I have that one).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAFE-RACER-SEAT-FRAME-LOOP-HOOP-HONDA-XBR500-CB500T-CB450-CB350-/182798208517?hash=item2a8f9f4e05:g:GWwAAOSwKOJYIZQH
They ship with two internal fillets but I had to slice them down and squeeze to make them fit the internal tube on the CBX., no great issue.

Getting it running right is paramount, so a carb strip n clean will help. If you're bratting it maybe rear pegs will be surplus to requirement?

Can't beat Mr Silver for spares: http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/parts/

 

[VNP249L]

Well I've started now.
Other than wheel bearings being a git to remove ( found a neat trick with a rawlbolt - God Bless YouTube )
Calliper and wheels are off for refurb.
Forks are next job.
Then hope that my welding is up to scratch for frame hoop.

 

[beachcomber]

That's the start right there ! ;D Keep 'em coming VNP

 

[NoRiders]

Well I've started now.
Other than wheel bearings being a git to remove ( found a neat trick with a rawlbolt - God Bless YouTube )
Calliper and wheels are off for refurb.
Forks are next job.
Then hope that my welding is up to scratch for frame hoop.

Top tip. re seat/subframe hoop. Resist final welding until you have the seat made/supplied so you get the best fit of both.

Will you be going for the flat or angled hoop?

Carry on...

 

[VNP249L]

Bit of delay since last post. Been side tracked on a 125 project for my son plus a bout of illness.
Anyway - all welding on frame done now so she’s ready for powder coating.
Am making a seat base from a sheet of ABS and heat formed it to wrap over the frame. Bit tricky but with some help from son it looks ok So far ( see picture ). Need to trim edges using a Dremmel cutter then that can go for upholstering.
That will mean I have some space to reassemble front end and wheels.

 

[miffa]

welcome young man,nice little project ...

Not sure if I can change wheels to cast ones?......wrong move stay with spokes 10/10 oppose to cast,mag or comstars ,just relace into flanged alloy rims for a super cool bike ,but at the end of the day its your bike

get hold of my good friend tony Call: 01142 508 421
Email: completecaferacer@gmail.com
he stocks a massive range of brat seats plus allsorts of goodies to transform your bike ,check him out


cheers miffa

 

[VNP249L]

Miffa
Thanks - I’ll give your mate a call.
Have stuck with spokes- just coated rims and hubs. Really pleased with them.

 

[Titan performance]

Coating the rims and spokes is a good choice....it's a relatively cheap alternative, and looks good. As one of the other guys said, spokes are definitely the better look. My pal built a little Honda 125 cafe that had wheels needing a refurb, and he went the same way.......

 

[beachcomber]

Definitely a get out of jail card having wheels powder coated ! Mine cost £50 the pair and well pleased. Saved an absolute fortune over new rims /spokes/rebuild !