2008 KX250F Retro Rebuild

ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing
Edited Date/Time 8/27/2018 3:17pm
Hey guys, I lurk a lot but don't post much around here but I figured I'd share the rebuild of my bike with you guys and just in advance I apologize to all the two stroke lovers around here, hope this isn't seen as a sin...

Hope you enjoy.

Below is what I started with- (paddle tire is only on in this photo due to my dad wanting to hit Dumont the week before)



Here is what I wanted to end with-



Here's the journey-











And the finished product (pending blue seat cover that is on back order, blue Talon sprocket, chain, and Lightspeed frame guards) -

















Thoughts? Good? Bad? Flame on.
1
|
Adam43
Profile picture for user Adam43
Posts
3185
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
WF
Adam43 4/27/2013 6:04pm
4/27/2013 6:04pm
Numbers don't fit with what you're trying to do.
chrisbuehler
Profile picture for user chrisbuehler
Posts
3350
Joined
2/9/2009
Location
North Stonington, CT US
chrisbuehler 4/27/2013 6:06pm
4/27/2013 6:06pm
Adam43 wrote:
Numbers don't fit with what you're trying to do.
X2. Frame looks cool but something isnt quite coming together
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 4/27/2013 6:09pm
4/27/2013 6:09pm
Adam43 wrote:
Numbers don't fit with what you're trying to do.
chrisbuehler wrote:
X2. Frame looks cool but something isnt quite coming together
Suggestions on number styles? More Plain?

The Shop

See All »
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 4/27/2013 6:15pm
4/27/2013 6:15pm
zlowery wrote:
Beyond cool. Respect.
Thanks! It was a fun project for sure, and I'm not sure it's done yet, a few spendy things I'd like to add but it'll take more time, this only took me just over a month from the beginning of the teardown. I've been dying to ride though so I can;'t wait to get her on a track, first stop is most likely Zaca
wacker
Profile picture for user wacker
Posts
197
Joined
8/29/2006
Location
Murrieta, CA US
wacker 4/27/2013 6:31pm
4/27/2013 6:31pm
Bike looks rad. In my opinion, and the things I would do if it were mine:

1. Lose the DecalMX stickers on the front fender
2. Lose the Lightspeed decals on the rotor guard and fork guards.
3. Route the front brake line properly
4. Green rear side panels.
5. Black backgrounds, no outlines, old-school N-Style numbers.
6. If possible, source the retro Kayaba decals for the forks to set it off.

Everything else looks damn, damn good.
Brad460
Profile picture for user Brad460
Posts
3679
Joined
5/15/2012
Location
Richfield, WI US
Fantasy
736th
Brad460 4/27/2013 6:35pm
4/27/2013 6:35pm
Looks awesome! I wonder if its the black side plates that are making it look off a little. ..
MR. X
Profile picture for user MR. X
Posts
6917
Joined
6/24/2010
Location
North Tonawanda, NY US
MR. X 4/27/2013 6:52pm
4/27/2013 6:52pm
Much respect for your choice of inspiration , i always loved the blue fork Kawasaki . It would be cool if they had a retro year and did that .
SEE ARE125
Profile picture for user SEE ARE125
Posts
5575
Joined
3/28/2012
Location
TN US
SEE ARE125 4/27/2013 6:58pm
4/27/2013 6:58pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 7:01pm
It needs a decal on the frame in between the plastic to tie the front part of the shroud with the rear.
Numbers need to be more old school. (Although those looks great, it doesn't fit the "retro" theme.)
What's up with the head pipe? Looks TINY compared to what was on the older bikes.... I kid.

Other than that I love it!

EDIT: Anyone notice how the LightSpeed logo is an exact copy of the Speed Channel logo?
braaap
Profile picture for user braaap
Posts
473
Joined
1/5/2007
Location
TX US
Fantasy
2193rd
braaap 4/27/2013 6:59pm
4/27/2013 6:59pm
Yeah, it's the side panels that aren't quite right.

Green side panels and blue seat will make it complete.

Cool project. Made me go look at some pics of my old '92 KX.
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 4/27/2013 7:18pm
4/27/2013 7:18pm
I may go with the green side plates if I can find some new numbers I like. I like the idea for fork stickers and I also am getting a blue seat cover to complete the look but it'll be a couple weeks since its on back order. Thanks for all the input guys, it's better than hearing from a few close friends "that's sick" or "looks great" I enjoy a little constructive criticism and good 2 stroke jab See Are haha
slipdog
Profile picture for user slipdog
Posts
10044
Joined
7/25/2009
Location
Nor Cal, CA US
slipdog 4/27/2013 7:27pm
4/27/2013 7:27pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2013 7:30pm
The only thing I'd suggest is using green side plates like the early 90's KX's.

Otherwise she looks like a pimp!

Edit: I must admit I've been drinking some margaritas so I didn't really read where others already suggested the green side plates...
Trav138
Profile picture for user Trav138
Posts
1472
Joined
3/8/2012
Location
PA US
Trav138 4/27/2013 7:44pm
4/27/2013 7:44pm
Nice really like the silver rims and blue hubs, minus the blue nipples. Cool project
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 4/27/2013 8:09pm
4/27/2013 8:09pm
EZZA 95B wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/27/389012_601817733163439_757654547_n_218740_697062.jpg[/img]
Thanks for the visual man, the green side panels are a must, I'm gonna keep the carbon up front and maybe the stickers on the fender too. You're photoshop skills are always on point.
Wandell
Profile picture for user Wandell
Posts
7563
Joined
12/17/2008
Location
Cairo, GA US
Wandell 4/27/2013 9:02pm
4/27/2013 9:02pm
I like it! I think the blue seat is gonna tie everything together more.
EZZA 95B
Profile picture for user EZZA 95B
Posts
9113
Joined
11/3/2010
Location
AU
Fantasy
1151st
EZZA 95B 4/27/2013 11:27pm
4/27/2013 11:27pm
ChingLongBing wrote:
Thanks for the visual man, the green side panels are a must, I'm gonna keep the carbon up front and maybe the stickers on the fender...
Thanks for the visual man, the green side panels are a must, I'm gonna keep the carbon up front and maybe the stickers on the fender too. You're photoshop skills are always on point.
Thanks for the props mate... Got a bit carried away with the fork guards and disk guard.

seth505
Profile picture for user seth505
Posts
9374
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SD, CA US
Fantasy
1271st
seth505 4/28/2013 2:03am
4/28/2013 2:03am
Sick! I agree about the green side panels. Nice work
1

Pit Row

See All »
catatonic
Profile picture for user catatonic
Posts
1575
Joined
3/20/2008
Location
Cape cod, MA US
catatonic 4/28/2013 3:53am
4/28/2013 3:53am
looks good......respect to bikes from back in the day is cool.
1
mxdude105
Profile picture for user mxdude105
Posts
628
Joined
12/5/2011
Location
MD US
mxdude105 4/28/2013 4:37am
4/28/2013 4:37am
Looks great man. As others have said I think the green side panels would be an improvement. Really like the rims. With the black rim craze these days its easy to forget how clean a set of silver excels look. Well done.
1
Donny O'Slow O'Hara 4/28/2013 4:39am
4/28/2013 4:39am
You did a awesome job, I agree with Ezza, I would go with white fork and disk guards, definitely period correct, also I would go with white number plates as well, like this.

queen of spodes 8/27/2018 12:22pm
8/27/2018 12:22pm
Adam43 wrote:
Numbers don't fit with what you're trying to do.
chrisbuehler wrote:
X2. Frame looks cool but something isnt quite coming together
ChingLongBing wrote:
Suggestions on number styles? More Plain?
I know black backgrounds were correct 125 color, but yellow would look so much better. Even white would look good.

Love the silver rims and blue hubs too.. and the frame is tits. Realize this is 5 years old but fucking cool bike build.
Xracer
Profile picture for user Xracer
Posts
504
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Xracer 8/27/2018 12:36pm
8/27/2018 12:36pm
2008 is retro? I hate getting old...
2
Racer111
Profile picture for user Racer111
Posts
2767
Joined
5/23/2009
Location
Concord, NC US
Racer111 8/27/2018 12:40pm
8/27/2018 12:40pm
chrisbuehler wrote:
X2. Frame looks cool but something isnt quite coming together
ChingLongBing wrote:
Suggestions on number styles? More Plain?
queen of spodes wrote:
I know black backgrounds were correct 125 color, but yellow would look so much better. Even white would look good. Love the silver rims and blue...
I know black backgrounds were correct 125 color, but yellow would look so much better. Even white would look good.

Love the silver rims and blue hubs too.. and the frame is tits. Realize this is 5 years old but fucking cool bike build.
You realize this is a 5 year old post?
1
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 8/27/2018 12:43pm
8/27/2018 12:43pm
queen of spodes wrote:
I know black backgrounds were correct 125 color, but yellow would look so much better. Even white would look good. Love the silver rims and blue...
I know black backgrounds were correct 125 color, but yellow would look so much better. Even white would look good.

Love the silver rims and blue hubs too.. and the frame is tits. Realize this is 5 years old but fucking cool bike build.
Man, this IS a relic. Thank you though!

I never updated again but she's finished for the most part now. Here are some more recent photos (that's NOT oil in the first 2 pics, just some water) along with a few in action (don't mind the amazing style points) at Zaca before they shut down recently... Found an old seat cover from an original and made that work, replaced the number plates, etc.





5
ChingLongBing
Profile picture for user ChingLongBing
Posts
196
Joined
6/15/2011
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA US
ChingLongBing 8/27/2018 1:14pm
8/27/2018 1:14pm
queen of spodes wrote:
How much did it cost to have your fork uppers anodized blue? Super awesome build. Also, you could get some [url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-2008-Kawasaki-Kx250f-Fork-Guards-Kx250f-Oem-Color-White-Polisport-835120000/132596613821?epid=171178975&hash=item1edf5fc2bd:g:XaYAAOSwt0xa34IG]white fork protectors[/url] to be more...
How much did it cost to have your fork uppers anodized blue?

Super awesome build. Also, you could get some white fork protectors to be more era specific.
I don't recall the price off hand but I know it could not have been more than $100. I want to say it was less than that but I can't say for sure.

I think I'll have to get the white fork guards as suggested. I think originally it was hard for me to part with the carbon guards right after I had bought them haha
aeffertz
Profile picture for user aeffertz
Posts
9319
Joined
7/16/2015
Location
Eau Claire, WI US
aeffertz 8/27/2018 3:17pm
8/27/2018 3:17pm
I like what you ended up doing with the number plates! And I have to agree, white fork and disc guards would look much better and blend everything together.

Post a reply to: 2008 KX250F Retro Rebuild