Posts
81
Joined
1/6/2017
Location
Los Angeles, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/15/2020 9:48am
Little backstory - around Christmas 2003 I found a brand new RM250 on ebay (from Canada!) and convinced my mom that this would be a worthy Christmas gift for my dad. I was 16 at the time ripping around on a 99' YZ125 and thought a 250 two stroke would be an "easy" bike for my pops to hop on and ride with me. Long story short, he rode it 3 times and hung up his boots.
Fast forward 13 years - I moved out to Los Angeles and left the bike back home in Georgia. I figured when I visited my family I could restore it as it would give me something to work on in the evenings. It became pretty clear after a few visits that if I ever really wanted to finish this bike I would need it near me.
So I ended up driving the bike from GA to LA in the back of my truck in pieces. I wish I took more pictures, but I did get some pre-tear down pics.
At some point, someone (me), had taken the rear wheel off and when I put it back on, I didn't slide the the rear brake caliper bracket "groove" into the slot on the swingarm. You can see it in the picture below. Anyways I had a heck of a time getting the rear axle out, not sure if it was because the bike was run with the bracket like this for who knows how long creating a bind, or maybe the lack of axle grease or combo of the two but it took some PB B'laster, a few hours and many wacks with a rubber a rubber mallet to get it out.
Got to work the motor, here's the piston =x
Went ahead and sent the cylinder off to Eric Gorr to get it replated and the Mo betta porting done. Also cleaned up the outside with some green scotch brite pads.
Crank was in spec so I didn't split the cases this time around. Just inspected everything and replaced the crank seals on both sides.
I debated for a long time what to do with the frame. The paint is in great shape minus the wear on the side, so I decided to leave it as is and give it a good cleaning. If I do decide to paint it in the future I'll keep the stock pewter color, it has a nice sparkle in the sun and doesn't show as much wear as black IMHO. Or maybe even a raw steel look!
OG Canada stickers
Started cleaning up the swingarm. My trusty heat gun at work.
Took the wheels apart to send off to TCR. Going to have the hubs turned down and coated. New Excel spokes on the front and I had replaced the rear spokes as some point in the past, they were in great shape just needed a little cleaning. New bearings all around and SKF seals. Also scored a set of yellow Excels!
That's it for now.... My plan is to have it all put together for the the Wiseco World Two-Stroke Championship race in a few weeks. Also my dad doesn't really know what I'm doing with the bike so I'm excited to show him the finished product on his next visit out to LA.
Fast forward 13 years - I moved out to Los Angeles and left the bike back home in Georgia. I figured when I visited my family I could restore it as it would give me something to work on in the evenings. It became pretty clear after a few visits that if I ever really wanted to finish this bike I would need it near me.
So I ended up driving the bike from GA to LA in the back of my truck in pieces. I wish I took more pictures, but I did get some pre-tear down pics.
At some point, someone (me), had taken the rear wheel off and when I put it back on, I didn't slide the the rear brake caliper bracket "groove" into the slot on the swingarm. You can see it in the picture below. Anyways I had a heck of a time getting the rear axle out, not sure if it was because the bike was run with the bracket like this for who knows how long creating a bind, or maybe the lack of axle grease or combo of the two but it took some PB B'laster, a few hours and many wacks with a rubber a rubber mallet to get it out.
Got to work the motor, here's the piston =x
Went ahead and sent the cylinder off to Eric Gorr to get it replated and the Mo betta porting done. Also cleaned up the outside with some green scotch brite pads.
Crank was in spec so I didn't split the cases this time around. Just inspected everything and replaced the crank seals on both sides.
I debated for a long time what to do with the frame. The paint is in great shape minus the wear on the side, so I decided to leave it as is and give it a good cleaning. If I do decide to paint it in the future I'll keep the stock pewter color, it has a nice sparkle in the sun and doesn't show as much wear as black IMHO. Or maybe even a raw steel look!
OG Canada stickers
Started cleaning up the swingarm. My trusty heat gun at work.
Took the wheels apart to send off to TCR. Going to have the hubs turned down and coated. New Excel spokes on the front and I had replaced the rear spokes as some point in the past, they were in great shape just needed a little cleaning. New bearings all around and SKF seals. Also scored a set of yellow Excels!
That's it for now.... My plan is to have it all put together for the the Wiseco World Two-Stroke Championship race in a few weeks. Also my dad doesn't really know what I'm doing with the bike so I'm excited to show him the finished product on his next visit out to LA.
The scotchbrite pads I get at the dollar store, you get 5 pads for $1 and I make little buffing wheels for my dremel. I cut the pads into small squares, poke a hole through them and attach them to a cutoff wheel mandrel. I spray a little wd-40 on the part and go to work.
You can also go the easy route and just buy the buffing wheels off amazon
The Shop
Not quite sure why I had to have these motion pro rim locks but I did.
Mounted the Galfer Tsunami 280 kit for the front.
Bought a rear wave rotor off ebay and got burned....Looks good from the package.
And it's the stocker. If anyone has a rear wave rotor that they have laying around let me know - I'd like to buy it!
Got a "MSR" sprocket on the rear, just a rebranded Dirt Tricks.
The cheapest part of the bike so far... Best $0.99 I've ever spent!
Got the carb all cleaned up and rebuilt with some new hoses. Used a Shindy rebuild kit. I'll need to figure out jetting but starting with the following:
- 45 pilot
- 170 main
- Stock needle on 2nd clip
- 1.5 turns out on the air screw.
- Stock slide.
I'll be running a 50:50 race/93 mix and start with 32:1 oil ratio. Any local two stroke guys riding at "Glen Helen elevations" here on the west coast that might have some insight please let me know if Im in the ballpark with this.
Also for those of you interested in some bowl screws that don't get stripped, there's some off the shelf screws at your Lowe's that do the trick.
It's getting there!
Also swapped out the clutch basket with a billet aluminum one. The basket has steel inserts that the plates sit in. The theory is the steel inserts are tougher than aluminum, and are replaceable when they start to wear. I've never used a clutch basket like this before so we'll see how it goes!
Went with a Barnett clutch pack. Never tried one of these either but quality seems to be solid.
And finally put in a 10oz Steathy flywheel weight.
Pit Row
The bike is finished but for theatrics sake, I'll post pictures as if I'm still building it!
Shock/forks stripped and cleaned. Ready to be sent off to Enzo for their touches. I debated buying forks from an 04+ RM250 as they switched to TC Showa's but I figured since I'd be getting them re-valved, I might as well try them out and see how they ride. I also scored a set of sweet carbon fiber Enzo sub-tanks that I want to try out.
Cleaned up the radiators. They are in really good shape given the abuse I put on this bike as a kid. I might get them seam welded...
Applied clamps with 22.5mm offset, down from 24.5 which came stock. New bearings of course.
Got a Magura hydraulic clutch. Such a difference over a cable pull.
Got the engine put in the frame, cut some grip tape slapped on there. Got a new rear brake fluid reservoir with aluminum cap. Cleaned up the clutch cover and installed a hammerhead brake tip on the stock arm.
Did a compression test for reference...
For those interested, the KTM Raptor Titanium pegs are direct swap for the RM. (you do need the spring kit though as the OEM springs and inserts are different)
And finally a little tease on the graphics.... Im a fan of the holographic dragon!
Puppy pic for size reference...he's grown a bit since I started this...
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