I have not raced much in the last few years. Due to my increasing waistline and my lack of wanting to exercise, I have decided to swing a leg over the old girl & get some saddle time this coming season.
I have always liked white bikes. To me they look clean and surgical. A bitch to clean, but you have to give something up, eh?
This is what I started with. A clean low hour 2007 YZ250 that has been in my possession since new.
The above pic already has the front fender installed.
I started out by ordering the only white tank in stock capacity I could find here in the states from Clarke Mfg. and a Acerbis white plastic kit from my local dealer. The kit came in first & after a little head scratching trying to fit parts on the bike, I looked at the label & the kit was for a 2015 YZ125/250. Rats...
As some of you might know, the front fender bolt pattern changed in 2015 (or 14?) so that would not work. The rear fender bolted up but was not happy with the 07 side number plates. The 15 number plates will not bolt up without using the 15 air box. The shrouds did bolt up. Looked kinda gay with that pointy plastic past the fork tubes. Boxed the kit & returned to my dealer.
Ordered off of Ebay an Acerbis F&R fender. I prefer Acerbis when they are available. Acerbis did not have white shrouds for a 07 so I ordered a set of UFO white ones. Never used UFO before. We will see once they come in. Also ordered a Cycra front disk cover. I will reuse (at this time) my stock number plates & fork guard.
The Tank came in. At first glance I was pleased. Once I transferred the mounts & petcock & tried to fit it, my pleasure disappeared. Instructions tell you to use a thin pad under the front of the tank. Well ok, but I had to space up the rear of the tank a total of 1/2" for the tank to clear the frame. The Frame to tank mounts were WAY off also. perfect...
I was not pleased & called Clarke & they wanted me to submit pics of said issue (last Friday). I did so and slept on the issue. Went out Saturday and started anew not worrying about the position of the mounts in relation to the frame. I finally ended up with a 1/4" alum spacer under the tank mounts, thin rubber on the front & the 1/2' spacer in the back.
Now I have an issue with the back of the tank where the Rubber strap hooks to the tank.
More fabrication is necessary, but I think this tank will work, although it still touches on the rear. I am curious to hear what Clarke has to say about the fitment. As far as I am concerned the end user should not have to be a fabricator to install a plug & play tank. Shame on you Clarke!
Additionally I ordered from Argentina, a seat cover. Never seen this one before anywhere. It loooks trick & in my mind it is going to go with my scheme.
I am planing on a pipe also. I have not decided, but from what I have read, I be leaning too a FMF Fatty or a DEP, with DEP getting the nod at this time. I need to do more reading before I make a decision.
That is all for now. Waiting on parts & pieces to come in. Where is that brown truck!!
I have always liked white bikes. To me they look clean and surgical. A bitch to clean, but you have to give something up, eh?
This is what I started with. A clean low hour 2007 YZ250 that has been in my possession since new.
The above pic already has the front fender installed.
I started out by ordering the only white tank in stock capacity I could find here in the states from Clarke Mfg. and a Acerbis white plastic kit from my local dealer. The kit came in first & after a little head scratching trying to fit parts on the bike, I looked at the label & the kit was for a 2015 YZ125/250. Rats...
As some of you might know, the front fender bolt pattern changed in 2015 (or 14?) so that would not work. The rear fender bolted up but was not happy with the 07 side number plates. The 15 number plates will not bolt up without using the 15 air box. The shrouds did bolt up. Looked kinda gay with that pointy plastic past the fork tubes. Boxed the kit & returned to my dealer.
Ordered off of Ebay an Acerbis F&R fender. I prefer Acerbis when they are available. Acerbis did not have white shrouds for a 07 so I ordered a set of UFO white ones. Never used UFO before. We will see once they come in. Also ordered a Cycra front disk cover. I will reuse (at this time) my stock number plates & fork guard.
The Tank came in. At first glance I was pleased. Once I transferred the mounts & petcock & tried to fit it, my pleasure disappeared. Instructions tell you to use a thin pad under the front of the tank. Well ok, but I had to space up the rear of the tank a total of 1/2" for the tank to clear the frame. The Frame to tank mounts were WAY off also. perfect...
I was not pleased & called Clarke & they wanted me to submit pics of said issue (last Friday). I did so and slept on the issue. Went out Saturday and started anew not worrying about the position of the mounts in relation to the frame. I finally ended up with a 1/4" alum spacer under the tank mounts, thin rubber on the front & the 1/2' spacer in the back.
Now I have an issue with the back of the tank where the Rubber strap hooks to the tank.
More fabrication is necessary, but I think this tank will work, although it still touches on the rear. I am curious to hear what Clarke has to say about the fitment. As far as I am concerned the end user should not have to be a fabricator to install a plug & play tank. Shame on you Clarke!
Additionally I ordered from Argentina, a seat cover. Never seen this one before anywhere. It loooks trick & in my mind it is going to go with my scheme.
I am planing on a pipe also. I have not decided, but from what I have read, I be leaning too a FMF Fatty or a DEP, with DEP getting the nod at this time. I need to do more reading before I make a decision.
That is all for now. Waiting on parts & pieces to come in. Where is that brown truck!!
4SS-24181-00-00
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/yamaha/YP-4SS-24181-00-00.html
BTW- DEP pipes ROCK!!!!
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
The end result was using the larger rubber pad and not being able to hook the stock rubber tank strap. Honestly I don't remember what I ever did there.....I might have just put a zip tie on it and left it I can't quite remember!
I also used a white Clarke tank on my 2015 build and it fit very well. So maybe it's a year thing.
Looks good, will be following!
I will be running my local shops graphics, they are being printed as we speak. I am going for a white, red & black scheme.
i have read up on pipes more & I believe I have settled on a DEP nickle pipe with a Pro Circuit 304 long silencer. I really like the bare pipe look, but in the long run, I know it is going to be a mother to keep looking nice. The PC pipe I would really like to try some day. I will keep an eye on fleabay & pick up a "cheap" one to try out. FMF has a very nice looking bare pipe too. That pipe, from what I have read, would be my 2nd choice, nickel plated for obvious reasons.
I did look at the Rtech conversion plastics. At this time I am not down with the updated look. I always told myself that if Yamaha decided to update the plastics on the 2T models to current model, I would purchase one. Even though my 07 runs just as good as the 17 model. I did look at a 17 KTM 250SX. It is hard to pass up an extra 5 or so HP stock. That is one tall machine. I decided to keep mine & that decision started the "make over".
remember the 91/2 magenta (pink) bikes? I had one back in the day. As a matter of fact I have a 91 with an Ohlins kit (for sale here on Vital) on my build table as we speak. I briefly flirted with that scheme on my 07. I figured it would be much to hard to find a seat cover in that color. It would be an eye-catcher though! I do have a Technosel pink cover for the 91, I think I will see if it fits. Hummmm...
Still waiting on the brown truck. MLK day is putting a cramp in my style...
Finished product is in my avatar.
The brown truck brought to me the rear fender, seat cover & Cycra disc cover. They all went on without a hitch. I did have to trim the disc cover for clearance around the caliper.
Next is the DEP pipe & PC silencer. Fit & finish is excellent. I might add that the clearance between the pipe and left frame rail is minimal. It does not hit, but it is close.
Next is graphics. Stay tuned.
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