Suzuki RM250 Project

nine1seven
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373
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Magnolia, TX, USA
5/19/2012 3:55pm
leeroy wrote:
[img]http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa119/leeroy199/2003travispastrana-2.jpg[/img]ok, lets compare ! travis 03 race bike !
ok, lets compare ! travis 03 race bike !
Barkhard has the SOBE graphics and had some DeCal Works backgrounds made up.



These original graphics were from 2003 and had shrunk so I had to spend a lot of time with a heat gun stretching them as I put them on. They turned out good though. I left the tank potions off, as the tank that I put on is the old one that we can put gas in. He has a new tank that I'll put the graphics on that will never have gas in it. I also need to replace the swingarm and airbox graphics.



After putting a Boyesen Water Pump cover and impeller on, I filled it with coolant and oil and then started it upl. It sounds pretty good! I've never put a video on here but I've seen others do it so I'll try and work it out.

All that is left is to put the brakes together and bleed them and put the tall seat foam and cover, bar pad etc. on. Should look pretty close to the original version then.
TR3NT
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30
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5/10/2012
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AU
5/20/2012 3:09am
looks amazing and cant wait to hear it in a video. How much to build another and send it over here to me in Aus? Wink
OW38B
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Coto de Caza, CA, USA
5/20/2012 5:55pm
Outstanding! That came out really great.
reded
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3682
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USA
5/21/2012 5:14am
Looks great, should be a fun bike to play with!

The Shop

TR3NT
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30
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5/10/2012
Location
AU
5/29/2012 6:17pm
any more updates?
barkhard696
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Location
Houston, TX, USA
6/1/2012 7:57pm Edited Date/Time 6/1/2012 9:07pm
>any more updates?

Well I work 12-14 hour days and DJ is raising three small kids, so completing this project is going to be a few more weeks.

I hadn't seen the bike in person since DJ stripped it to start the project. When I saw it with the graphics here on Vital, I have to confess that I was concerned the bike looked dated. Boy were my concerns misplaced. Seeing it in person, the bike is *EXTREMELY* striking. DJ's done some amazing stuff!

barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/1/2012 8:03pm
The graphics should be completed in the next couple of weeks, with the remaining detail items to be completed before July. DJ fired it up last night -- and it is obvious that the bike is modded -- it's very raspy. The RG3 A-Kit is worn out but boy would this be a fun bike to take out when finished.





rm250c2
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3
Joined
6/6/2012
Location
Dayton, OH, USA
6/6/2012 6:51am
Anyone have a source for the Suzuki Excel yellow rims? Ken
6/7/2012 10:12pm
Boy, looking at these RM-250's is giving me the shakes. I got to get rid of this RMZ 4 stroke and get back to the

2 stroke RM-250. Thanks for the pics, simply awesome bikes.



fatalxsunrider43
barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/10/2012 6:23pm
>Anyone have a source for the Suzuki Excel yellow rims? Ken

I think DJ (the builder of this project) knows where to get them. Try IM him through this site. He's really busy with his flying and raising his three small kids, but he's always happy to help out with stuff like this, especially anything two-stroke.

I bought the rims I don't know, maybe 2? years back, through some guy I'd found who had a connection with the factory... In fact I bought up the last set for a 250 that he had on hand-- and he was unhappy that Suzuki was clamping down on how many he could get (because he was selling them to the public).

Things may be easier now? I understand RAD Mfg. can make pretty darn close reproductions.

Pro Wheel makes yellow rims, but the set I had were more a greenish-tint. To be fair, I didn't notice this until I got the Excel rims and could compare them to the PWs, side-by-side. (I traded the PW rims to a buddy.)
barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/10/2012 6:37pm
I'm trying to figure out if I can make a Hammerhead billet shifter for a DR-Z400 work on the bike. All the photos I have of Pastrana's '02/'03 SX bike have a works shifter. I imagine Hammerhead's as close to "works" as you get.

I also need to find a place or someone that has Pastrana's signature handguards. Any ideas, guys?

barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/13/2012 6:57pm
Scored a set of yellow Pastrana-style handguards (not exact copies, but close), and a set of ENZO fork tanks like on Travis' 02/03 SX bike. I should have them next week, and am hoping DJ and I get together and have everything done by the weekend after next.
TR3NT
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30
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5/10/2012
Location
AU
6/13/2012 7:00pm
this thing just keeps getting better and better!
leeroy
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150
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6/14/2007
Location
corona, CA, USA
6/14/2012 6:15am
hey, the bike is looking great ! good job....
newmann
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24437
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4/1/2008
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USA
6/14/2012 6:40am Edited Date/Time 6/14/2012 9:59am
leeroy wrote:
hey, the bike is looking great ! good job....
Please don't tell us you have "extra" time to be hanging out here! That wouldn't be a good sign.Wink

Give me a better description of the Honda forks you were looking for as I have someone looking for me. And then get back to work before this season gets boring.

Edit: Might have found you some forks. E-mail sent.
barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/15/2012 10:26pm
Quick update.

I've FINALLY found a set of the exact type of Acerbis handguards TP used in 03 -- which are used (since Acerbis hasn't made them for quite a while). Waiting to see how these look when they get in from eBay -- y'all know how pictures can look a lot different than the actual object when it arrives.

I have a couple of other handguards, but they are of the different (darker) yellow... But at least they are all new with no wear.

The other thing is, DJ and I have gone back and forth on this, right now we're using the RG3s I found (the forks in SoCal, I tracked the buyer of the shock in Italy and bought it back). These are well beat up, and really don't come particularly close to what Pastrana was running on his SX bike in any case.

On the other hand, I have a set of very, very low hour PC A-Kit forks for an '06 RM-Z450. The forks will bolt up, but need the bigger RM-Z axle to fit. The PC shock would need to be rebuilt to fit the steel frame -- this requires a different shock body (which I have).

I'm thinking I should put the RG3 kit on my '00 RM125 and have the 06 PC A-Kit on the RM250. The RG3 is well worn out, so basically the bike is not really rideable with the RG3. The shock is so worn just DJ sitting on the bike nearly bottoms it.

Likely we'll finish this project for now with the RG3s, but I'm strongly inclined to think the PC A-Kit would ultimately be more appropriate.

Sure would like to get the PC A Kit on the RM250. THAT would be a special bike, and this is what is on the Pastrana bike LEEROY has.
barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/17/2012 10:14am
What are the decals on the top part of the handguards? "BOOST"? "NO FEAR"? They look like some kind of star burst or cross-hair design. Now tht I've found the right handguards, I need to figure out what decals these are.

Pat327
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USA
6/17/2012 1:43pm
Pat327
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686
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USA
6/17/2012 1:54pm
Here's a good look at it. The small one next to the Acerbis logo is an ARC sticker.



barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
6/19/2012 5:41pm
Thanks, guys!
barkhard696
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Houston, TX, USA
7/4/2012 11:39am
Hey, I know it's been a while with no updates. Got most of the parts to complete the project, hopefully if family commitments don't interfere, I'll be able to get it finsiehd up this weekend. Then, onto my '95 project re-take with DJ.
nine1seven
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373
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Location
Magnolia, TX, USA
7/8/2012 6:44am
I got out to the shop and shot a video of it running. Does anyone know how to get a video embed code?

After that I put on the new tank and graphics, cut off all the rear brake guard mounts to clean up the look and reduce unsprung weight. I put a stainless brake line on but need a brake bleeder to draw the fluid down the line. Maybe someone here knows a trick to doing it without a bleeder. Also mounted a Lightspeed front disc brake guard.

Just need to mount the tall seat foam and cover and Barkhard can take it home!



CamP
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Colleyville, TX, USA
7/8/2012 9:44am
Nice!
OW38B
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Coto de Caza, CA, USA
7/8/2012 11:14am
Outstanding, Great Job!
jtracing6
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11/26/2009
Location
Dundalk, IE
7/8/2012 1:19pm
nine1seven wrote:
I got out to the shop and shot a video of it running. Does anyone know how to get a video embed code? After that I...
I got out to the shop and shot a video of it running. Does anyone know how to get a video embed code?

After that I put on the new tank and graphics, cut off all the rear brake guard mounts to clean up the look and reduce unsprung weight. I put a stainless brake line on but need a brake bleeder to draw the fluid down the line. Maybe someone here knows a trick to doing it without a bleeder. Also mounted a Lightspeed front disc brake guard.

Just need to mount the tall seat foam and cover and Barkhard can take it home!



I had the same brake bleeding problem on my bikes. I used a big syringe to draw the brake fluid down and it worked well and it's cheap.
mazza159
Posts
41
Joined
7/9/2012
Location
NZ
7/9/2012 2:00am
Awesome job! that is some attention to detail, are you going to ride/race the bike or just keep it as an ornament?. how does it handle compare to stock rm 250???.

Currently deciding weather to get a new 08 RM 250 or 2013 KTM 250.
are you saying you can not buy works suspension for RM 250's any more?.
barkhard696
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1469
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Location
Houston, TX, USA
7/9/2012 2:09pm
>are you going to ride/race the bike or just keep it as an ornament

It's a garage queen, like my other projects. Some day I'll be back at the track, but not on this bike. These projects end up taking so much time and money, you don't want to take them out!

>Currently deciding weather to get a new 08 RM 250 or 2013 KTM 250

I'd get the KTM. It has an up-to-date chassis, suspension and parts support. Plus, I think the bike makes around 50 HP which is probably more than any RM250 can even with a Pro Circuit top-end and race gas.

>are you saying you can not buy works suspension for RM 250's any more?

I think you may be referring to A-Kit suspension. You can't get actual, true works suspension for any bike, these are on the factory bikes, and to get a factory bike, you have to be a factory rider.

A number of companies sell Showa and KYB "A Kit" suspensions, which are simply higher-level suspensions than stock-- like the difference between a Mustang GT (stock suspension) and a Shelby (A KIt). A Ferrari Enzo would be the equivalent to works. The factories spend $40-60K and more on their suspensions.

The only "works" suspensions that are available to the public are the A Kits that Pro Circuit sells. These are used on the PC team bikes, and do use some genuine, handmade works components. PC will sell these A Kits to anybody. These are long since unavailable for an RM 2-stroke of any year. They run about $7500 + clamps. PC could charge more, but their goal is to sell enough of the suspension kits to recover their racing team costs.

On the other hand, Factory Connection will sell you a kit suspension, but it's not truly works-- more like a Shelby. FC charges shamelessly for their kit suspension-- $10,000.

FC may still be able to make a kit for a Suzuki 2 stroke... In fact, I'd bet on it.
nine1seven
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373
Joined
9/13/2009
Location
Magnolia, TX, USA
7/16/2012 8:11am
Mark the RM project complete. Thanks for following and all the comments!

We put Enzo sub tanks on the forks. He'll have to get different adaptors on at some point to work with the A-Kit forks.



Barkhard mounted up his hand guards and I bled his brake and mounted new seat foam and a cover. We also applied clear Grip Tape to the airbox and side plates.










MCfan4life
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5731
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6/25/2009
Location
Qld, AU
7/18/2012 9:52pm
Outstanding!!!
TR3NT
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30
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5/10/2012
Location
AU
7/18/2012 9:56pm
x2!! what i would do for the bits on this bike!

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