Suzuki NZ 250 commuter/project.

[James Deuce]

I'm wondering if I can make this a yearly thing, you know.

Oh, just in case you can't cope, this post and subsequent thread is going to be about motorcycles. Not telly programmes, not music, not dating, not your usual KB arse.

With the Katana gone my once dormant bike fiddling gene is getting itchy again.

Thankfully there are still some nice people left in the world. pzkpfw practically let me steal his gargre-bound NZ250 along with his two boxes of bits and a service manual. One of the boxes has another full set of body work plus an artfully "repaired" tank. The tank in the box kind of resembles an NZ tank, though I'd really like to know just how it ended up dented in those two places. Hopefully crazefox will be able to work his magic.

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/left.JPG> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/left.JPG)

It's tiny. It's like sitting on a 10 year old's push bike. 125kgs dry! The dash is amazing for 1987. Speedo, rev counter, fuel gauge (!), and a top gear indicator. Crikey!

Lots of the bits are exactly the same as on the Katana. This is why I love old Suzuki munt rather than any other manufacturer. Their parts catalogue probably only runs to 100s of numbers rather than 10000s like Honda's.

Does anyone know if "Full Floater" meant that even Suzuki thought their product was shit, or can I use this thing as a jet ski and avoid rush hour traffic?

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/Rust_Mites.JPG> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/Rust_Mites.JPG)

I have bar-end mirrors on the shelf. I reckon they'll look great on this thing. Along with a round headlight and a little Givi screen.

The pillion seat is the widest part of the bike. I blame those fat-arse Japanese girls.

Hmmm, paint scheme.

Gunmetal grey with a chequered flag stripe down the centre of the tank, continued onto the tiny little tailpiece.

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/DSC04455.JPG> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/DSC04455.JPG)

Centre stand! Accessible oil filter! Magneto! (There's a grease nipple on the steering head stem!)

Old Skool rocks!

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/Right.JPG> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/Right.JPG)

First goal is to get it WoFed, registered, and start using it for commuting to work. 33km/l (allegedly), here I come! Lemme see, 11l fuel tank.... 341 kms! Exactly the distance of my fortnightly commute!

[Guided_monkey]

Good luck with the project. The good thing is that the old Suzuki motors are reliable and last for ages.

Had an old GSX400 (2 cylinder) and even after sitting for 4 years it fired up after new fuel, oil and carb clean. Ran well for over 6 years.

:niceone:

[xwhatsit]

My approval is thorough and tangible.

They really only 125kg dry? Shit, that's as good as my RS -- and you've got more horsepower and an engine that doesn't crack heads :)

Hopefully even more fun through the twisties than that gorgeous 400 Kat -- will your fat old arse cope with the paltry ~33hp?

[James Deuce]

My approval is thorough and tangible. Good! :)


They really only 125kg dry? Shit, that's as good as my RS -- and you've got more horsepower and an engine that doesn't crack heads :) That's what the (probably Socialist, and therefore prone to exaggeration) manual says.


Hopefully even more fun through the twisties than that gorgeous 400 Kat -- will your fat old arse cope with the paltry ~33hp?

Yes you cheeky man, it will! It's not what you've got, it's how you use it!

[xwhatsit]

Do tell us how you get along with those rusty spokes, if you decide to bother with them. Don't aluminium rims and a black engine just scream 80s sports...?

[JimO]

i have one of these for sale on tardme and it comes with a parts bike and a manual it is wofed and reged, save your:2thumbsup time and buy mine.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=154760046

[James Deuce]

I've never seen a post with less logic in it jimjim, even from some of the womenfolk that post on KB. Don't give up your day job.

[JimO]

I've never seen a post with less logic in it jimjim, even from some of the womenfolk that post on KB. Don't give up your day job.

oooooooooooo

[James Deuce]

Looking at the manual, it looks like a piece of cake to strip this thing. Combine extensive photography during the strip down process and the service manual and I might have a very tidy little bike, very quickly. The engine ("must be from the right side removed" - I love '80s Japanese manuals) take minutes to remove from the frame.

[Skunk]

I hate you Jim. I've been looking for a affordable one.

It's OK, I hate everyone who has one until I get one.

[Deano]

From Tard Me:

"And one more for someone considering this one: I had 3 of them. Managed to scare one up to 180Km/h. Sold them as my boy moved to bigger bikes. There is heaps of parts around and she is easy to work on. Can't go wrong. posted by: axzon "

180km/h out of an NZ250 ?

[Hitcher]

Given that this is an "NZ" 250, presumably the pillion seat was designed for fat-bottomed girls of the Kiwi persuation? After all, they do make the rocking world go round.

I shall watch progress with interest!

[James Deuce]

180km/h out of an NZ250 ?

Obviously rode it off a cliff. I had a GSXR250 I bought new in 1990. That could rustle up 180km/hr on the speedo with a tailwind. I was a lot littler then too.

[Storm]

Well done that man, another thread where I can watch and dream.
Carry on the good work:D

[Trudes]

Woo hoo, a project, I love projects!! Keep us posted on the progress Jim, looking forward to seeing you terrorising the morning traffic on it!!:yes:

[Mikkel]

Good one. Congratulations on the buy! Sounds like you got some nice plans for it. :niceone:

DeviantEsquire was pretty happy about his - they are rather quick around the corners :yes: There has been more than a couple of times he's been ranting about people passing him rather quickly on the straight bits only to hold him up in the next section of twisties...

I am sure he'll be happy to share his experiences with you :)


It's not what you've got, it's how you use it!

I wouldn't know...

[Swoop]

Excellent!

I look forward to your restoration Jim. The Kat thread was very educational as well as entertaining.
Did you ever go into publication of the restoration project, as you mentioned doing?

[et al]

Good one Jim - bit of a challenge there for you (which is why you are doing it of course). Looks nice and skinny (the bike that is) so should make it easier to squeeze in beside those bloody scooters in the Jim2 Memorial Bike Park. Any idea what the "NZ" designation is about - is it unique to that particular model?

[James Deuce]

It has a centre stand, so I'll be able t park like a flipping scooter.

I've had a jolly good look at the project today and I've decided to go nuts.

Phase 1: Disassemble. Crikey, I hear you say. Well the frame and swing arm need repainting, along with all the subframes, triple clamp and hangers, and the right footrest hanger needs replacing or welding. That will be the biggest task of all, so I'll do that first, then I shouldn't ever have to touch it again. crazefox is a very reasonably priced chap! The rear shock needs rebuilding (and *ahem* respringing). Scrub exhaust with a wire brush and paint matt black.

Phase 2: Reassemble. Replace all bearings. Swingarm, steering head, check suspension linkage bearings, replace brake lines. I bled the brakes today. The brake fluid in there had gone off, but bleeding made no difference to lever feel and the lines flex visibly under stress. Maybe they really DID mean replace brake lines every 4 years like it says in the manual.

Phase 3: Ride to work while I save money by only spending $10 a week on gas to afford the next few phases.

Phase 4: Paint body work. Gun metal grey, like the Katana, a chequerboard stripe on the front fender continuing down the middle of the tank and tailpiece. The bit where it says NZ250 SACS on the side panels will get replaced with a chequerboard.

Phase 5: Givi vintage screen and round headlight.

Phase 6: Enjoy my own little Cafe Racer/Commuter.

[F5 Dave]

. . .They really only 125kg dry? Shit, that's as good as my RS -- and you've got more horsepower and an engine that doesn't crack heads :). .

I always wondered why these didn't sell better than GNs, people must be dumb. Although the only issue is that they did have with them is a propensity to crack heads. Probably doesn't bother them much. If compression is ok after a decent thrashing to reseat the rings I'd be happy.

[JimO]

my boys rode their one from Dunedin to Alexandra for the Vincent rally, sat on 110 to 120 ks for a couple of hours no sweat...all you people lusting after a project buy mine.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=154760046

[Pussy]

Looking forward to another minter emerging from the garage of chez Jim2

[James Deuce]

1. Get rid of those geeky mirror stalks.

2. Install shiny bar end mirror.

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/Front_Quarter.JPG> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/Front_Quarter.JPG)

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/620/medium/From_Behind.JPG>

Simple, eh?

Looking at it though, it definitely needs a round head light and the instruments dropped about 5cm, plus one of these:

<img src=http://www.givi.co.uk/downloadfree.asp?lib=Immagini&ID=780&UT_ID=0>

[xwhatsit]

I always wondered why these didn't sell better than GNs, people must be dumb. Although the only issue is that they did have with them is a propensity to crack heads. Probably doesn't bother them much. If compression is ok after a decent thrashing to reseat the rings I'd be happy.
Yes, if they're anything like the RS, the wee crack just fills up with carbon and blocks up pretty good. Doesn't affect compression particularly.

Is that genuine CRG Hindsight? How'd you get away with putting a mirror worth almost as much as the bike on it? :laugh:

[et al]

Dunno mate - looks pretty mean the way it is. I reckon that if you put a round headlight on with a screen it will lose its character and could end up looking like a "Coronation St" / "Pipe & Slipper" type of thing.

[Trudes]

Get some Buell twin headlights, street-fighter it!!!

[bungbung]

"Coronation St" / "Pipe & Slipper" type of thing.

You'll note Jim2's advancing age by his bike choice. The project to follow this will be a CX500

[James Deuce]

Dunno mate - looks pretty mean the way it is. I reckon that if you put a round headlight on with a screen it will lose its character and could end up looking like a "Coronation St" / "Pipe & Slipper" type of thing.

The paint job will demand a round head light and a little screen.

[James Deuce]

You'll note Jim2's advancing age by his bike choice. The project to follow this will be a CX500

There was a nice pic of a CX500 that had been "Cafed" posted a couple of weeks ago. If the NZ works out well then a CX would be fun I reckon.

[Trudes]

The paint job will demand a round head light and a little screen.

The plot thickens!!!<_<

[et al]

The plot thickens!!!<_<
or... "the plot sickens". Can't wait to see that paint job then - didn't realise they could be such demanding little feckers.

[Conquiztador]

From Tard Me:

"And one more for someone considering this one: I had 3 of them. Managed to scare one up to 180Km/h. Sold them as my boy moved to bigger bikes. There is heaps of parts around and she is easy to work on. Can't go wrong. posted by: axzon "

180km/h out of an NZ250 ?

Yep. That was mine. Trust me these things can scream!!

Things to watch out for:

- Tank. Rusts from inside in seams at the back. If you are gonna use the original one and not swap to something else, then splash around some tank sealer before you do anything else!

- CDI. Bike starts to fart and do strange stuff when starting up. But after 10 min of warmup she is OK. Had problems with two of them. Cut them open and re-soldered the joints.

- Throttle cable. Very short and if not spot on in right position she will rev up when turning right (or was it left..hmmm)

- Shims for valve adjustment. Not available anymore from Suzuki. But as you will need thinner ones as the valves settle in you can have them machined by a good engineering shop.

- Exhaust. That box under the motor rusts and is a pain to fix.

- Sparkplug. Tricky to get out w/o right tool. And you really need to take the tank off first.

Use good oil! The cam seats are prone to wearing as there is no bearings, but the cams sit straight agaist the alloy in the head. But if oil is swapped on regular basis you be OK.

And, and.... I think thats it re issues. The motor is a dream to take apart and put together.

And to who questioned the 180K/h. Balanced crank, HP coated head, valves and piston, total seal rings, change of sprockets, as it was the S model already had a small faering, tuned carbi, and opened up the breathing a fraction... These girls have air and oil cooling.

One day when I have nothing else on... I will get another one of these and see what some stroking can do. Recon I should be able to scare close to 50Hp and over 200K/h out of her. Should not be that hard: offset crank pin (as there is space in the crank housing), raise the cylinder, longer cam chain. Might even see what some bigger valves and a sharper cam with a fraction longer and higher profile would do...

One day.

Good luck with the project. My plan was to make a Player Norton lookalike out of one of them. But then my oldest moved to bigger bikes, so I sold off all I had of these.

[James Deuce]

Guess what fired up tonight?

Topped up the almost dry battery this morning (I have a new Yuasa to pick up next week) and put it on the charger. A splash of fresh gas, a bit of choke, and 30 seconds of cranking and it putted into life.

No weird rustling noises, not rattles or knocks, just chuffing. I think the carb needs a clean. Maybe I could just clean up the carb in the box of spares and install that :).

Noice.

All the electrics are sound and all the bulbs and stuff do what they should.

I can turn my headlight off. Nyah, safety nannies. I'll HAVE to get an open face helmet too, and I know just the one that will match the paint job I have decided on.

[James Deuce]

Despite feeling less than scintillating I just RODE IT ROUND THE GARDEN.

Twice.

It works!

[James Deuce]

Started dismantling yesterday. I spent a couple of hours labeling boxes and getting bracketry together to be painted.

I also took a large number of photos so I can re-route cables and pipes and see how things bolted together.

I've made an album (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=290).

[Hitcher]

Cool! Maungaraki Chopper.

[xwhatsit]

Can I send my RS to you for a couple of months? It could really do with the excessively anal Jim2 treatment :)

Painting brackets, pah! :laugh: