I have had images of this process for some time now. Not years but months easily. I wanted to gather up as much material as I could up front and slowly keep the thread alive as I complete it.
I was absolutely inspired by many of you who have chosen to embark upon this type of effort. From full on custom, back to stock, mostly to stock and whatever else falls between there. There weren't many that I didn't learn something from in going forward on my own.
It is important to preface my own posted efforts by thanking all of you who took the time to document your own builds. Wheel building, suspension and cleaning up casting marks are just a few of the subjects I was able to dive into on my own despite my lack of experience. I certainly cannot be the only guy here so inspired. As you know it takes patience and focus just to capture images before just diving in.
A special shout out to Cameron Niemela and the work he has done on CRs. Those fiber 3m wheels he sells on his website are incredible. I have used much smaller versions on my Dremels not realizing there were 8" ones for bench grinders. If you are working with metal of most kinds these wheels make the work significantly easier.
I will add that I have had experience in working with my hands for years. I am fortunate to be in a place where I have a bike to ride currently and I was on no particular budget. I do not offer this as anything more then my process. I absolutely could have done many parts of this differently and just may on the next one. I bought another 95 250 slightly less hammered then this one was.
The bike..... Purchased for the princely sum of $1300.00. I didn't care too much since I expected to tear it all down anyways. The seller met me in Bakersfield Ca which was a several hour drive for him too. I did pay him extra to do so. I really didn't even look at it and just loaded it up. In fact I have never fired it but the seller assured me it runs. I'm going through the motor anyways.
Walmart parking lot Bakersfield Ca... It doesn't look that bad sitting there.
Images I took before even starting the tear down. Again it doesn't look as bad as it will turn out to actually be. I would have still purchased it since it was pretty much stock which is what I wanted.