Ryanh's XS250 - first ever build

[Ryanh]

Hi guys, my name is Ryan and I'm 19 from Northern NSW Australia.

This is my first bike build

I picked up this XS250 after seeing it advertised locally, he had 650 on it but i ended up getting it for 400,*

Plan is to just build a bike that I like to ride, I will be pulling inspiration and idea from other bikes and builds but really it's just going to be built to my tastes and of coarse the strict rule and regulations over here..*

Anyway I'll let the pictures do the talking and hopefully I can get some good advise and Ideas from you guys!*

When I picked it up


After a bath*


Started to pull it down*


Everything that came off*


The trash


Trimmed the fat


Frame now


Gave the frame a degrease at the local car wash


Picked up this tank and rear ducktail yesterday after a 9 hour round trip to get them.. Came with 2 fuel taps too

Cost me $60!*

Build cost so far is $472..

Cheers any comments or advice is appreciated!

[GSX Gilly]

Looks like a good start!

[HotelBushranger]

Good stuff mate, I used to work on an XS 250, send me a PM if you have any questions.

[Sumfun4me]

It's always good to see someone new taking on their first bike project. Good luck with & I'm sure you'll get plenty of help & advice from the guys on this forum.

[Ryanh]

For some reason I can't post?!

[Ryanh]

Well there you go I can haha

Anyway I Put my forks and swing-arm back on and test fit the tank, and ducktail, don't think I will use the ducktail and bag rack though..


Tank fits good but the bike still weighs a tonne! Any ideas on how to make it lighter? I think most of the weight is in the back wheel assembly

[Ryanh]

Ok so I wanna get rid of any unnecessary electrics, by that I mean I just want power to start it then once it's going run my dash and lights...

Can anyone explain to me a battery eliminator?

[brethren22]

you should be able to run an eliminator or capacitor thingy if you have a CDI based ignition system. not sure whether it works on points systems though which i'm guessing your 250 has

as for the weight there's probably a heap in the old cast alloy wheels. you could build up lighter spoked rims but otherwise there ain't much you can do to shed that weight. there's only so much unnecessary metal that you can cut off the old girl

tank looks cool. what seat are you going to use instead of the duck tail?

[Ryanh]

Ok yeh, I was just using a kick start, but I was told in another forum I can't use an eliminator, so now I have to work out where to mount my battery I'm going to be making my own seat I think...

[Blu3y_666]

good luck bud, im on my first build too and its heaps of fun....

[Ryanh]

Thanks mate, I'm looking at building the seat now, just have to work out where my electrics are goin

[pink bits]

subscribed

I picked one of these up not long ago and it was to be my first project but something else popped up in the mean time so she is waiting patiently for me. Going to get her pit worthy first then cafe the girl.

I will be watching yours closely, have fun!!!

[Ryanh]

So I got started on the seat a bit, this is the rough idea still a ways to go yet, probably just use this as the plug and make it from glass...






Probably gonna make it 1cm lower and flatter on top...

[SE3DY]

lookn good dood keep the pics coming

[Ryanh]

So I scrapped that idea haha

Going to use the original cowl that came with my tank, i won't be using ply though.. All plastic/fiberglass.



Let me know your thoughts/advice!

Anyone with a gsx250 - I have a bag rack and the mounts for it here that I'm not using

[Ryanh]

This is what is should roughly look like in terms of frame tank and a rough seat idea...

Plans are to make the seat one peice and upholster it, change the shocks out to some better quality straighter ones, add bars and lights, run short pipes on short headers, still undecided on the front end - either stock or rs125... And I don't know enough about rearsets or what's involved so unsure their too. I plan to shorten the front fender at the front to where the blue line is.

[Blu3y_666]

looking good mate, like the new tail section for sure! bit sportier!

[Ryanh]

No real progress just saving money to buy parts and paints and polishes, I still have no idea what seat I'm gonna use, I made up a seat using the GS ducktail and I didn't like it so back to the drawing board for me..
Merry Christmas everyone!