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Cafe Racer Project (kiffsta's old GT250)

Discussion in 'Suzuki 250cc 2 Strokes' started by napolian_was, Feb 12, 2013.

  1. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    hello, everyone


    For a long time i was looking for an old bike to restore and make into a cafe racer, i just love the old school racers and streetfighters. finding a bike was not up to me the bike was to find me, what i wonted was something 70's 2 stroke looking at H1's, t500's, gt380's and what i really wonted was the gt550. but every bike i looked at was going to cost too much or too far away. so one day on my every day ebay run about's i found kiffsta's 73 gt250k at the rite price and only about an hour away, needing a major Restoration i knew i was getting my self into a big job but i thought to my self there is no better way to pick up skill that to drop your self in the deep end.


    sent my crank and G-box into the shop to get them to press the new bearings and seals, looking through a bucket of parts i found  a 2fifty.com card that the man give me then i picked up the bike and here i am.
    ok i would say im about 65% done with most of the major parts done.


    some bits and peaces from along the way.... i'm going to try my best to keep you all updated.  ;D


    [​IMG]
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  2. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    hey Napolian_was how are you mate, that's coming along nicely, cant wait to see it done !! :thumb_ups:
     
  3. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Its worth it just for the 70s spoke wheels :lolsign:

    Definately keep us updated with plenty of pics.....should be great all spruced up :thumb_ups:
     
  4. PD186

    PD186 Member Premium Member

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    Hi napolian_was
    Looks like you have your hands full taking on a project like that to start with.
    Looks like you are well under way and keep the photos coming.
     
  5. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    perforated the disc and of when i got the wheel back for being done up.
    [​IMG][/[​IMG]
     
  6. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    hey i haven't really told you what has and hasn't been done so here goes.


    wheels have been full done: re-chromed rims, new spokes cleaned up the hubs and new bearings.
    front brakes have been full rebuilt top to bottom with braided line.
    tank is all ready for paint and put a cbr cap on to keep it flat.
    have got my cafe seat that took me about 6 months to find the one i wonted.
    front and back mud guards have been cut down.
    repaint the triples, clip-on's, clean dash cluster with small tech.
    got some semi rust free forks and new bearing's in the head stem.
    oh yeah i got some RG500 pipes to go on :)  (and rg500 is a 4cyl so 4 X 125 )

    ok now the big part that i have been working on for the last 6 months, the engine.
    over the 6 months i was buying bits here and there, i needed to replace every bearing from top to bottom, it looked like it had water sitting in the G-box for years.
    it wasn't that it was really hard to find the parts but finding them at the rite price, i saved hundreds by shopping around.


    i will put some pics up of the engine up soon its all cleaned up and looking really good.
     
  7. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    hey guys just some more pics of my cleaned up casings, painted head, dash set and rz pipes.





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  8. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Good progress there! :thumb_ups:
     
  9. olonus913

    olonus913 New Member Premium Member

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    Nice one :thumb_ups: cant wait to see the finished product!!

    Alot of bikes look great but i have a real soft spot for personal styled cafe racer builds!
    Its not something you want to buy outright but something you want to progressively work on overtime and great satisfaction once completed :drinks:

    Cool stuff!!
     
  10. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    not much of an up date guys, haven't got my crank and gbox back yet :mad: hey look i put a shelf up haha

    [​IMG]
     
  11. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Nice shelf ... did it take you from Feburary to get that done? :lolsign:

    So where is the gearbox and crank? :D
     
  12. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    Well done mate, the bike looks good, OK so does your shelf!! Whats the time frame on the gearbox. Keep us updated.
     
  13. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    my crank and gbox is at a bike shop a town over, he does a lot of MX race bike stuff so all that comes before my job but i will be getting a really good price for the work i just have to wait :(
     
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  14. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Definately worth the wait then! :thumb_ups:
     
  15. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    250Frame.jpg First of all keep up the good work!
    I know I am showing my age here, oops!
    I used to reinforce the frame of the Suzuki 250s by running straight tubes as shown by the arrow in the pic. Thin walled (1.2mm) chrome moly is fine and gas weld it. That way it normalizes as you weld. Suzuki used to make race kits for their 250s and had porting specs etc available, but I am not sure about the GT250. I used to make my own expansion chambers based on Gordon Jennings Two Stroke Tuner's Handbook. I grabbed a copy and hosted it here
    http://litetek.co/docs/2StrokeTunersHandbook.pdf
    You should make your own pipes too. It is easy and if you can't do the welding then just make the cones and get someone to help with the welding part. Next, Akront or Borrani Alloy rims, the ribbed type not the dirt bike ones. All us cafe racer two stroke blokes fitted them. Can't think of what else right now.
    cheers
    Blair
     
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  16. napolian_was

    napolian_was Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    thanks man cant wait to have a read of that.
    getting the frame n stuff ready for blasting but i just got to sort out brackets for the seat first :)

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    Looking at that photo brings back memories when doing up my X7. Took the frame and swing arm to be blasted before powder coating. Good luck with it mate, sure it's going to be awesome when finished.
     
  18. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    If you are powder coating, don't forget to tape up areas like steering head bearing recesses and the insides of mounting holes, eg the triple clamps. Threaded holes can be protected with an old screw or bolt. Of course you probably know all this! :)
    How about the paint scheme? Tell us all about it! Here is my vote it has the same rims that I mentioned before.
     

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  19. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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  20. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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