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Yet another bike project!

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mercman Part of things Posts: 235	Yet another bike project!mercman @mercman
	May 20, 2009 20:31:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	I was on our local bikers forums and asked if anyone knew of a suitable cheap bike for me to renovate to use as a commuter. I had one reply which said- "I've got one in the barn. It's been there since 1992. Free if you want it?" Now, the great things about "Free" are - No haggling (although it can be 'entertaining' sometimes) The wife can't argue about you spending too much It leaves more cash to spend on the bike/car/van etc I knew what it was before I saw it so I thought the only possible surprise would be the general condition. Yes, it's rusty but the gears all select, it turns over, it's 95% original, it's had 6 owners, 17k miles and has good compression on all cylinders. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you!................A 1979 Kawasaki KH250!!!! An air-cooled 2 stroke triple!! They don't have the 'Coolness' of the RD Yams or the GT Suzukis but I like it because it's different. When I saw it, I was 17 again!! Earlier models like the S1-S3 250 were faster but, on inspection of the V5, it has been fitted with an S model motor that would have put out a mind-blowing 28bhp in it's day. Later models were strangled by emission legislation etc. Here's the standard I'm aiming for with this one- Again, sorry about posting 'Yet another' motorbike project Ian


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jaykay South East Posts: 857	Yet another bike project!jaykay @jaykay
	May 20, 2009 21:14:37 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	a beautiful machine. i got a 350lc it bits, and i had two rd250's...but i would trade them all for a kh..


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mcbodge Part of things Posts: 191	Yet another bike project!mcbodge @mcbodge
	May 20, 2009 21:30:30 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	How lucky are you?!??! Excellent stuff. Good luck with that.


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chopnpop Part of things Posts: 156	Yet another bike project!chopnpop @chopnpop
	May 20, 2009 21:50:40 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	minus the indicators... thats beautiful! love it good luck with the build
	1955 Ford Popular 1989 VW Polo

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mercman Part of things Posts: 235	Yet another bike project!mercman @mercman
	May 20, 2009 22:24:10 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Thanks for the comments guys. This one will cost a good bit more than Z750 but I'm ahead of the game, cash wise, now plus my ZZR1100 is up for sale so the funds will be there to do it justice. AND! When I came back from collecting the KH250, an old mate had left a message with the wife asking if I wanted his G/F's old Honda CA125 Rebel "Cos he likes a good project" he said. Once I get some room, I'll collect that one too! It's as rusty as the Z750 was when I got it. Options for the Rebel are- 1- Ratty Bobber type which I like but has been done to death but would also solve the rusty bits issue or 2- Fit an extended quadbike rear axle and trike it as I know folk that have the bits I would need to do it. You decide! Our lines are open! Ian


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redgt2 Part of things praise the lowered! Posts: 863	Yet another bike project!redgt2 @redgt2
	May 20, 2009 22:58:45 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	very nice..... readin the classic bike mags these are making a comeback..forgotten gems seen a few recently done to the standard of the one you pictured...good luck with it..it's gonna cost a bit but at least it's all there.... shame the front mudguard and rear shocks are there..but i'm sure they can be swapped for more appropiate ones...nice one...


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pedalcarjoe Posted a lot Posts: 2,104	Yet another bike project!pedalcarjoe @pedalcarjoe
	May 21, 2009 9:48:19 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	trike route for me


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mercman Part of things Posts: 235	Yet another bike project!mercman @mercman
	May 21, 2009 21:01:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	May 21, 2009 9:48:19 GMT pedalcarjoe said: trike route for me Yes, I'm thinking more towards the trike too. I was very interested in MadMarts trike build as it used a similar bike. Using the quad rear end would simplify things for me as the parts are available locally. Would need spacers made up for the swingarm mounts and the rear sprocket could be lined up using a spacer. Handbrake? I think I would remove the existing caliper mount and fabricate an extended one to hold both the existing hydraulic caliper and a cable operated one. Chain tension? I'm thinking of utilising a heavy duty tensioner from a big trail bike and making up a sturdy chainguard from a sheet of 3mm stainless I have lying around. I've had a chain snap on me and still have the scars to prove it. Will the quad rear end take the weight? Yes, because of the loads a quad deals with, the rear end will cope easily. I would also go to a single seat and junk all the curse word that doesn't need to be there. I would stick with the twin shock set-up to. SVA? No, as MadMart mentioned, SVA wouldn't be required as it would be a bolt-on conversion and would be able to revert back to 2 wheels. Power? Depending on the gearing, I would be looking at happily cruising at 50mph with a top end of say 65? As standard, it's a bit of a slug but there's a chap round here that had a similar engined CD185 that was tuned to do 95 and there are kits to open it out from 125cc to 170cc. Would be easier to fit the CD250 motor though? Still, that's one for the future Ian


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TerraRoot Posted a lot Posts: 1,685	Yet another bike project!TerraRoot @terraroot
	May 22, 2009 17:33:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	that kh is sweet, my old man has a kh500 in the shed would love another for smoker ride outs.
	Dirty gritty and on fire the perpetual build thread and blog My Build thread

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curlie467 Part of things Posts: 428	Yet another bike project!curlie467 @curlie467
	May 26, 2009 10:53:24 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Fantastic, you lucky man, these are getting very popular nowadays. Good luck.
	i49.photobucket.com/albums/f254/johnbpowley/opelwheelie.jpg

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DutyFreeSaviour Europe Back For More heartbreak and disappointment..... Posts: 2,944	Yet another bike project!DutyFreeSaviour @gtvsaviour
	May 26, 2009 12:29:56 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	How cool is that! Especially at the price - aiming high with the finish too, good luck to yah
	Back from the dead..... kind of

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