Hey everyone, I picked up this 1981 GSX250 last week, all working and running pretty smooth, just a bit faded on the old tank and plastics. Was on the lookout for a project and after a few missed op's I found this. Initially I was looking for a cruiser to do a skinny lane-splitting brat/chopper type thing, but after I picked up the GSX, seeing as its complete and mostly orig still (even has the factory toolkit in the little glovebox) I've decided just to clean up and do some light mods. Its an odd bike, kinda ugly but thats what draws me to it, the only thing thats playing on my mind is how long the seat and rear cowl sit past the rear wheel, i dont want to chop anything (yet...haha) so i'm going to trim the cowl back and reshape it but keep the factory look so it appears stock. swap the bars for some fresh ones maybe a bit more rise [been dropped and the RHS is bent ], fit some nice vintage looking rubber (4.00 front and 4.50 rear firestones), reupholster the stock seat with a diamond stitch and maybe lower it 2". but i'll wait untill the tyres go on. anyway here is a couple pics, took the indicators off and rear tail light etc just to get a feel of what it could look like. as far as paint schemes go, the tank will be bare metal with a 2k clear over, and the plastics will be black for the time being. got my eye on a decal kit so once i decide on a colour i'll do the whole lot with those classic graphics again.
To be honest , i like the look of them , especially when there in stock trim. The only thing that made them look better was a small bikini fairing fitted , but i'm not sure if it was your year model bike you have.I keep on thinking it was the later models that had the fairing fitted but i could be wrong.
For sure, they do look neat, the more I look at it the less I want to change, just needs to look a little meaner Bikini fairing would finish it off nicely
Find a picture of your model when it was new and have a good look over it , they are a nice looking bike. With a new paint job and if all possible fine the correct original bikini fairing it would look mickey mouse. If your starting to change your mind to keep it stock trim , a lot of folks here will thank you for it. Another bike saved from being destroyed. Hint , there worth a lot more insurance wise in stock colour / trim.
If you want to cut it up, it is your bike, but don't be in a hurry to ruin a complete survivor. Better to get a wrecked/smashed one and do what you want to it. As 2valve said, they are worth a lot more original than something chopped about. In my humble opinion I would be giving it a complete service (including valve adjustment and changing the fork oil to one grade heavier) and replacing the 30+ year old shocks with something fresh and go and enjoy riding it. By fitting a fairing (either a genuine or ebay one) to the front will balance the 'big bum' look and make the bike classier. Here is a rundown of them. http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gsx250e 80.htm Here is the fairing and part number (same used on GS450). https://www.bike-parts-suz.com/suzu...Z-E2-E4-E6-E24-GSX250SZ-E24-/6/2416449/C/1371 https://parts.fo/suzuki/motorcycle/1983-gs450sd_1983_d-e9ff2e927b-cowling
Yep I agree ... they look oddly good .... it looks in pretty good shape and I actually like that livery Put some clubman bars on it https://www.thirdgear.com.au/clubman-handlebars-22-mm-satin-black/
This is why I’m glad I found this forum the more I think about it, the less I want to touch it, it’s still going to be a fun machine. Really as long as it’s got a nice exhaust note I’ll be happy
I wasn't aware that the bikini fairing are still available.Grab one if the budget allow's as it does really balance the bike out as the Murdo The Good Doctor has mentioned.There was a really nice looking GSX 250 with the O.E fairing for sale a while ago.I should have kept the picture of it , it would have come in handy for this occasion to show how good they look.
I got a Haynes manual yesterday, I know there are digital copies up here but I like to have the real one out to get covered in grease haha! Should have posted this first, the day I brought it home And just another garage shot, pulling bits and pieces off to see what needs cleaning/painting etc... I’m going to try clean up the tank over the weekend with some CLR had good success in the past getting rid of that surface rust.
They are really good bikes I've had seven or eight of em over the years and just picked up another about nine months back which is currently in bits awaiting me getting the frame blasted and sprayed. Give it a service new plugs oil and filters and see how she runs the cam chain tensioners can wear out so be watchful of that and replace if nessecary if it taps a bit after being warmed up take the rocker cover off and reset the tappits. There's a couple of other things to watch out for one of them is the chain and sprockets make sure these are not worn and that the chain is tensioned properly I've know a few of these throw it off over the years which either then ends up snagged between the rear sprocket and swinger and launching you off or it just ends up bunched up around the front sprocket area and genenerally ends up going through the casing so do check it over carefully. The other main thing is these Suzuki's are renowned for their electrical problems the regulators on them are HORRENDOUS what usually happens is all of a sudden you find it losing power it wont rev cleanly and all of a sudden it dies and refuses to start if it gets this far it's already too late. The Regulators start to die which then means you find you have to charge the battery more frequently whilst this is going on there is extra load being put on the generator which is having to work twice as hard eventually the reg rec dies the generator windings burn out and your battery soon follows suit and dies. Don't Panic there is a solution if in any doubt what so ever as to the reliability of your GSX's electrical system don't give it chance to let you down get in there and 'attack, remove and junk the standard Suzuki reg rec remove your generator and have it reconditioned by a specialist (I get mine done for £60 by a firm called Electrex here in the UK). While you're waiting for your geny to come back do a search either at your local breakers yard or on Evil Bay and track down and purchase a reg rec for a Honda 250N Superdream and wire in thus ..... 1.Black from reg rec to switched live from ignition (orange coil wire feed usually works same on the GS550's) 2.Red from reg rec to Battery live. 3.Green from reg rec to frame earth. 4. 3 Yellows from reg rec to generator, I've had it asked in the past 'does it matter which yellow goes to which, I've done this upgrade about four times on GSX250's and about five or six times on GS550's and just wired them as they look in the plug 1 2 and 3 in line and never had any problems and the electrics go on to last for years but you 'Must, 'to be sure, fit a recon geny AND a brand new battery Ps, its also a REAL good idea to examine your loom VERY carefully as if the bike has had bad electrics for a while or in the past it can and does melt and fuse wires together if you don't account for this and it turns out this 'has happened and you go fitting new parts chances are you'll be buying 'more new parts within a week. Lastly I don't think I need to say it but I will anyway as you've now potentially done all this and spent your money 'before connecting up your nice new battery go through and check all your looms connections these are old bikes when all said and done so chances are you'll have some dodgy worn frayed rusty or green connections somewhere so be meticulous ... ooroo
Oh on the subject of handlebar fairings or 'nose cones these old GSX's have a great classic look so putting something modern and updated on there like for example one of those Predator style fairings etc isn't going to look right so if you're going to fit a fairing take your time look around do some research and see if you can come up with something 'in keeping, something that will compliment the looks and lines of the bike. Back in the day there was a handlebar fairing called the 'Invader they don't come up very often and those that do have been around for a while but with a bit of work you can have them looking like new again and sprayed to 'match your bike, they really do look the B******s.
It's fresh, good pick up! If you want check out mine, it's an example of a slightly more cut up GSX250.. Unfinished of course..
Cuda, thats some fantastic advice on the rec/reg I will add that to the to do list, the electrics and looms are pretty good everything does work fine minus the horn currently, the plugs and sockets under the tank and side covers are pretty good, the only ones that i'll replace are up at the headlight. also the fairing i'm going to keep an eye out for, especially on yahoo auctions japan, i'm come across a goldmine of GSX's over there. progress has been a bit sporadic with a newborn at home, but getting some little things done when I can, fitted some new bars, same as stock for now just to replace the old bent ones. gave the gauges and surround a clean up and a coat of paint, found some 280mm shocks aka 'chromed spring holders' cheap and fitted them just to get a visual on stance, i like it but i think i'll stick with something close to standard, and fit a 120/90 or 130 rear tyre, only a 110 pizza cutter on now. next up hopefully this coming week i'll get the forks apart to clean up and change the oil, get the wheels off, strip the tyres and give them a once over, see how they clean up or prep them for a respray. the end of the brake lever has busted off and the master cyl appears to be leaking due to paint bubbling off, so i'm looking for an alternative, would any other OEM ones work, or go with a repro one? i'll get a new clutch lever to match while i'm at it. might be jumping the gun here but if i fit a new exhaust (2 into 1 system like Ben's old beige GSX cafe) and leave the stock airbox setup (not planning on removing it anyway) what am I most likely going to change as far as jetting? keep you guys posted on progress, i'll get some more pics this week. also getting the seat retrimmed in the next few weeks, really diggin this two up pleated style that Z-Father Japan do something different but still sticking to the original styling of the bike.
These work ok. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/7-8-14m...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Doubt if you will need to change jetting, but try it first as you may need to change only the slow speed jet (if at all). Like the seat. Don't go too big with your tyre size (maybe one size up from standard max) as it will effect the way the bike goes around corners.
Now that last pic of a lovely GSX 250 shows how much shorter the tail end of the seat looks with the original rear mudguard fitted, love that humped seat to. This lovely bike would even look better if you didn't intend to carry a pillion, by fitting a cafe racer style seat to shorten up the rear end even further, & to do this you do not need to hack off any of the frame.
