Project Bens GSX250 Cafe Project

Hahaha Nah mate, hipsters are a dime a dozen in Melbourne

 

I have made a discovery. If I power past the 7000rpm mark (flat spot in the carburettor) the bike opens up, and these carbs deliver some serious power. I'm actually really surprised!!! Makes me a little nervous when it gets going. What an amazing feeling.

 

I've had some dramas...

Firstly the battery charging issue. The battery I had in the bike had popped a cell, so that explains the low charge all the time, once I had changed that however I rode over to the mechanic and they discovered that 1 of the 3 phases coming out of the bike wasn't operating. After re-insulating the cable coming out of the engine it was fixed and ready to ride

Until I got 500m down the road...... dead.

Walked it back and after 20 mins diagnosing with a voltmeter it turns out the 3rd phase becoming active fried the regulator/rectifier. So after a $12 R/R replacement the bike was fine again. Took it for a shakedown around the block 2 times just to make sure and the cam chain tensioner popped off... I heard a massive rattling and turned the bike off, the mechanic tightened the tensioner, but then the bike wouldn't start.

Turns out (a week later) that the cam tensioner coming loose had jumped 3 teeth on the timing, I hadn't kissed any valves luckily! So after a replaced cam tensioner the bike was starting and riding. But because of the CR specials being rather large venturi carburettors I need to get the bike tuned. Wide open throttle is fine! And fun, but its really not appropriate or comfortable in all situations. I'd rather pay the money to have it tuned propperly and not:

1. Blow smoke (rich)
2. Change spark plugs every ride
3. Die when I open the throttle too much out of a corner and low-side into a Honda odyssey

So, in two-ish weeks I'll have a gopro video of how it rides for all of you who are too far away to come see it and or come for a ride

 

Thank you Albertus. Yes, I'm rather proud of my work after all of this.

Firstly, I would prefer to be asked before my material was taken from this site and used elsewhere, given the option to list my bike first, or at least approve before it goes public, would be a much more satisfactory approach for my liking. I've read your Fair Usage policy and your T+C's and being that I didn't post the content I did not yet agree to the usage of my material. Something to keep in mind for future requests.

Secondly, yes that's fine, you can post a higher resolution photo. As long as the link threads back to this forum and the information remains the copyright of me and or 2fiftycc.

Thanks ~B

 

Picture Update

 

The bike has been in the shop for a few weeks trying to sort out a slapping noise inside the rocker cover, turns out these chain tensioners can be really particular in how they are set up. After tightening it properly my bike is back on the road. I've also found a wrecker with a 1985 engine in factory black with less kilometres on it so I might buy that as a backup, or work on it on the bench for a while and drop it in.

Took it for my first night ride today, she's not fast but shes loud! Turns some heads.

I'm buying a gopro hero 4 tomorrow so look out for some videos

 

Thanks Grey, I still think she sounds a little rattly, but going back to the original video I had recorded of it when I bought it it has a mechanical kind of clack to it. Do you know what I mean? Not like these super modern inline fours etc where there's no noise.

I think i'll still purchase that second engine tomorrow as a bench project to see if I can get the CR specials to run on it. Imagine what I can do.

Also a model turned up on set the other day with a GS500 and it LOOKED as if the engine mounts were in the same place. Perhaps I should find a wrecker and measure it up first, see if I can get that engine into the lighter bike and the CR specials might suit it better.