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Rich_leek2040 Started a new thread 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 11:37pm
Hello all, Just thought I'd share my restoration with you. Bit of history first, the 1990 was my first ever brand new bike and I always regretted selling her. About 4 years ago an old mate bought an 81 RM125 to restore which spurred me on to buy the above little gem.
This forum thread has 28 replies.
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 11:37pm Cheers. I know I still can't believe how great the condition of the pipe was. I do plan to race the 90 next year but work might get in the way.
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Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 3:18pm A 94 I believe. I'm going to,do a Splitfire replica if I can get the bits
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 3:16pm
I enjoyed every minute of this project. Sourcing the parts, a polish here and a paint there. Did it cost too much? yes. Do I care? Not one bit. Will I do anther? Hell yes I've already bought one.
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 3:08pm I bought all new UFO plastics, the genuine ones were more than double the price. I searched for 1990 graphics but couldn't find any that included covers for the tank. I eventually decided upon Thorpe SR500 replicas from EVO-MX with a seat cover to match.
Wearing my race number for 1990, the old girl is finished apart...
Wearing my race number for 1990, the old girl is finished apart...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 2:59pm I wanted Dunlop 752 tyres as that's what mine came with back in the day. A pair of 952's did the job.
New chain and sprockets next.
New chain and sprockets next.
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 2:53pm I had a pair if braided brake lines made to suit, off the shelf just didn't fit correctly. Only £40 made to measure with the correct bends. I also,replaced the front master cylinder with one from an 01 500.
I originally bought a replica seat cover from the Far East, it looked ok but was very thin and creased from...
I originally bought a replica seat cover from the Far East, it looked ok but was very thin and creased from...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 12:36amRich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 12:29amRich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 12:20am I cleaned and serviced the front forks. The oil inside was thick, black and didn't smell good. Most of it was missing. I cleaned the aluminium parts and made them shiny.
Both calipers were re-furbed, I kept the Pistons...
Both calipers were re-furbed, I kept the Pistons...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/11/2015 12:10am One of my biggest problems was the bikes wheels. The rims were scrap, especially the rear, the spokes were rusted solid and the hubs disgusting. I couldn't justify over £500 for a set off the shelf so the search began. I broke them down with bolt croppers and refurbed the hubs.
I found a set of cheap...
I found a set of cheap...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 4:18pm
Engine cases back from the vapour blaster, all new seals and every bearing replaced.
Now came a steep learning curve. My crank came back from PJME in Wolverhampton complete with its new PROX rod kit. Engine rebuild didn't go too badly other than I didn't realise Kawasaki don't run a centre gasket so I had to...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 4:07pm No new suspension parts other than the bearings. I sprayed the shock spring with Halfords appliance blue, not a bad match
I cleaned and sanded the airbox before buffing with a lambs wool mop to bring back some shine
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/07/114383/s1200_image.jpg[/ The silencer was cleaned, re-packed and painted with hear resistant paint. A new UFO mudguard finished the...
I cleaned and sanded the airbox before buffing with a lambs wool mop to bring back some shine
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/07/114383/s1200_image.jpg[/ The silencer was cleaned, re-packed and painted with hear resistant paint. A new UFO mudguard finished the...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 3:54pmRich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 3:49pm
Every bearing was replaced as was the rear brake reservoir, the rest was cleaned and polished with my dremmel. New oversize rads from Australia £70 delivered. They almost fit as well
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 3:42pm
I was pleased with how my fixings and brackets turned out, I found a local guy that restores Suzuki Kettles who had this done. I refurbed the original footpegs and spent a few hours cleaning my headstock and shock mounts.
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/7/2015 3:37pm Hi SOHC, First job was a new workshop, supplied and built by the secure shed company.
I sent my frame for powder coat along with my sub frame and swing arm for blasting. The frame came back nice but the abrasive blasting made a mess of the ally stuff. Many hours of sanding just about bought them back from...
I sent my frame for powder coat along with my sub frame and swing arm for blasting. The frame came back nice but the abrasive blasting made a mess of the ally stuff. Many hours of sanding just about bought them back from...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/6/2015 12:19pm
A few more of the rip down. Much of the bike I left in the old chaps garage, I just took a few bits home to mess with in my small workshop including the engine. Apart from being in a stained and tarnished mess on the outside the inside wasn't too bad. Barrel needed re-plating, crank was...
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/6/2015 11:55am I spent about 18 months searching for and buying bits here and there. Cradley Kawasaki's website gave me schematics and part numbers. To give you an idea, one list for bolts and fixings alone came to £300. Not a chance.
Rich_leek2040 Added a reply to 1990 KX250 restoration - Labour of love
12/6/2015 11:39am There was no unlimited budget so I had to be thrifty without cutting corners. It's surprising what you come across from around the world though. The problem is though that once you start, all the things you'd though would be OK turn out to be parts for the bin.
Forks back in with new guards and some nice KYB stickers
Back wheel complete with new disc
New Wiseco piston and the barrel went back on.
Along with the original sorted exhaust