Sideswipe's XL250S tracker, codename:Project Crapbag

[Sideswipe]

So I've sold my car, and need a little runabout to get me to and from work each day.. COMMENCE PROJECT CRAPBAG!!!

BEHOLD, IT'S CRAP-NESS!!

So I picked up a '79 and a '81 XL250S for a song and a dance, and both of them need a bit of work. Deepwaterimports bought the one that needs the most work from me and left me with this technologically advanced work of motorcycling mystery.

At this point it's purpose is to become road registered ASAP and then I'll resume work on my CB900, and progress will slow on this.

 

[Sideswipe]

Ultimately though it will be completed as a home built tracker, with as little professional assistance as possible. So far I've gotten most of the way converting it to 12 volt (although there are some electrical difficulties as detailed in another thread

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=60043.msg679972#msg679972

Awkward moment when you realise the front headlight surround is on upside-down, whoops!!!

 

[deepwaterimports]

We do fairings upside down down under. Hurry up and get that crapbag on the road.

 

[Sideswipe]

Just got her back after a quick bit of work completed by Adam at Rebel Restorers up here on the central coast - just rewelded the bracket on the exhaust so that it actually lined up with the bracket on the frame, and made a slightly larger battery box to fit the 12V battery. Unfortunately on the way home the screws that hold the little terminals on the battery in rattled loose (they were not tightened) and are now MIA - I'll have to find some replacement items.

Also kinda sorted out the brake light issue - it turns on but the front brake lever does not spring back far enough tlo hit the switch and turn it back off again. If i tighten the brake cable any further, the brakes are one even when i dont oull the lever (and it still doesnt swing back far enough). rear brake is perfect

now, back to trying to sort out every other light on the bike... and the horn ???

 

[HerrDeacon]

Subscribed, thanks for letting me know about this thread. Nice to see some XL builds here.

 

[Sideswipe]

progress! After some wiring wizardry (i.e. Fuck you headlight you can have hard wired power, little bitch) all the electrics, except for the horn (which I will not hard wire to power lol) are working!!

I even wired up a little numberplate light Also see here some of the metal work completed by Rebel Restorers in the way of a larger battery box and a numberplate bracket. I did ask them for cheap and nasty as much as possible so they may not look fantastic but they do the job

 

[HerrDeacon]

My bike is missing the battery box, tail light and plate bracket, I like what you did with yours. May have to attempt something similar.

 

[Sideswipe]

So now everything is working, finally!

Here she is, off to go over the pits tomorrow ands get her registration check *fingers crossed* Good luck crap bag!

 

[Sideswipe]

Do despite everything that could possibly go wrong on the way there occurring (Petcock started leaking, lowbeam headlight blew, fuse blew, speedo started playing up, front brake switch got jammed) I managed to keep it all together and rego check was passed!!

now I'm on the search for some inspiration.. lately I've been thinking along the lines of a "rat tracker" so tracker looks but keep the rust and roughness.. not sure yet..

 

[mmaurin]

interested...

theres a yamaha dt on here that i really like... took the exhaust under the chassis and made a nice aluminum tail section
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=18701.msg191797#msg191797

 

[Sideswipe]

Project Crapbag is still alive and puttering along strong! I've changed the indicators to some Ebay triangular LED ones, and positions a little bit (as those round ones died so quickly). Replaced the chain and front and rear sprockets (can't remember the numbers on them will get them soon - and post some pics of the old sprockets they looked like a Ripcurl advertisement. It's been said you could put the old sprocket on a circular saw and it looks like it'd cut pretty well! lol)

Throttle cable snapped so I converted it to a single action jobbie. put a new throttle casing on it and shortened the cable the kit came with, put a new end on it. Single action throttle is so much better.. so much.

Engine and box are still feeling pretty nice so pretty stoked there

Rear Brake cable has snapped and the replacement provided by the local Bike store is too short (and took a week to come in from timbuck 2) so will have to get a 2nd hand cable of ebay it looks like (which I really wanted a new one.)

I've picked up a 21" front rim as the first part towards the rebuild now that I feel, once I have a new rear brake cable, I shouldn't see any more immediate issues *cross fingers*

and that's where it's at right now! for the past 8 months it's been ridden every single day to and from work so given it's age I'm pretty happy with the short list of breakages, so time to start amassing parts for the rebuild and redesign

 

[Sideswipe]

Who said i never do any work

 

[irk miller]

Subscribed. Good stuff, even if it's a crap bag.

 

[Tune-A-Fish]

These are turning up more every year. I encourage it! and these are way easier and faster to knock out

 

[grandpaul]

I had visions of a poweroll kit for mine, and stupidly, sold it.

 

[Sideswipe]

Aaannd shes done!! For now anyways. Im sure ill get the desire to put a hot cam in and bore it out.. But for now, heres the current product