The RS is back!

[xwhatsit]

Some of you might remember me having a wee oopsie where an old man pulled out in front of me at 70kph and caused the, er, `showroom condition' 250RS to suffer a little bit of damage to the tank.

Borrowed GiJoe1313's A100 until I fouled the plug -- he ended up picking it up in his van, poor bastard! I was disappointed, that was a hilariously fun bike.

In the mean time I plugged the hole in the fuel tank with some Araldite and continued to ride the RS. Finally, insurance got going and I dropped the RS at Holeshot. Rode GiJoe1313's RZ250, Daisy, which was frequently an exercise in sheer terror (miserable wet weather, exciting power-kick at 5,500rpm and a piss-poor solid vinyl rear tyre).

I then pissed off to Australia and got used to riding a TRX850, which did 150kph if I sneezed.

So, after sorting out some paperwork (`we can't give you the bike until you can find us the fax number of the insurance people... they won't return our calls...'), I picked up the RS with some trepidation. It looked shit-hot -- our man MSTRS carved some gorgeous old-style Honda wings from vinyl for next to nothing and in a very short timeframe, and the paint looked marvellous. Starting it was another matter -- I swapped the spark plug, drained the carb, and actually bent the centre-stand I was kicking so hard and so long. Finally got it fired up and gave it a good thrashing over the Harbour Bridge to uni.

Felt like a toy motorised mountain bike! So low, so light, so gutless... so fun! Once I got over the terror of almost riding into the gutter in every corner (it does turn in a fair bit faster than a TRX), I felt at home. This bike fits me like a glove. Whoever designed it -- if it really was you, RSC -- you must've had me in mind.

All in all I'm quite happy with everything. I'd recommend Holeshot, so long as Rob sticks around, who was fantastic w.r.t. communication and sorting shit out, and growing a mean beard. State and GAB Robins (I think that's the right acronym) were quite friendly, if a little slow and confused sometimes. MSTRS does some wicked vinyl work.

So now the RS is looking quite shiny. Now I just need to put that spare headlight shell on... and make a single-seat... and fit a new front guard... and get a two-into-one exhaust... and replace the rear suspension... and fit a TLS drum brake... and fit that CR33 Keihin smoothbore carb... and throw away the airbox... then build that 350cc monster engine......

[PirateJafa]

Kicking her?

I thought you'd wimped out and got your electric start working again Tom? :P

[Ixion]

lectic start? REAL bikes don't have one of them.

[xwhatsit]

Kicking her?

I thought you'd wimped out and got your electric start working again Tom? :P
As the Nana said -- 'tis a REAL bike!

T'aint even got a battery.

You might've been confused a while back -- I replaced the coil/CDI and it was starting real easy. Then I pulled the carb to bits to replace the main jet...

[gijoe1313]

Noice, real noice like, s'good work you doing. Keep at it! :niceone:

[tri boy]

Oooh it's all clean n shiny. :eek:
Chuck a bit of mud at it.:devil2:

[xwhatsit]

Oooh it's all clean n shiny. :eek:
Chuck a bit of mud at it.:devil2:
I was pulling off the bent centre stand (actually cracked a weld) night afore last. Blimey! I thought I cleaned the bike, but there's still sand and hunks of gravel and muddy creek shit from Kawhia up under there! :shutup:

Would love to be joining you guys again to make it look proper-loik, but uni etc. is heavy going. Nothing to do with being a pansy!

[yod]

lectic start? REAL bikes don't have one of them.

lol feel free to come over and kick start the 1100 whenever ya like then

[Kickaha]

and fit a new front guard... and get a two-into-one exhaust... and replace the rear suspension... and fit a TLS drum brake... and fit that CR33 Keihin smoothbore carb... and throw away the airbox... then build that 350cc monster engine......

It needs a a single seat as well

[henry]

You should stick an xr 650 motor in it.

[James Deuce]

It needs a a single seat as well


You should stick an xr 650 motor in it.

Wot they said.

Hurry up and get it done.

Maybe an XL500 would look more "authentic" and lends itself to a high level pipe (you'd want to lag that and make a nice perforated polished aluminium heat shield).

[Big Dave]

How long till you graduate?

[xwhatsit]

It needs a a single seat as well

Now I just need to put that spare headlight shell on... and make a single-seat... and fit a new front guard...
I didn't edit it, neither.

Wot they said.

Hurry up and get it done.

Maybe an XL500 would look more "authentic" and lends itself to a high level pipe (you'd want to lag that and make a nice perforated polished aluminium heat shield).
Yeah, yeah, money, money, no time, lack of skill, to busy riding etc. I'm seriously looking at big-boring my spare 250RS motor (well, I have two munted ones) into a 350. I've now heard of a couple of people who've done it. I think the XL500 is too rare (expensive, unless I want to buy a whole bike, and that's still expensive), and would make it handle like a pig. High pipe, eh? Mebbe. Anyway, don't hurry me, I haven't heard much about the NZ250 lately...?

How long till you graduate?
Next June. Do I have a time limit now?

[Cruisin' Craig]

Some of you might remember me having a wee oopsie where an old man pulled out in front of me at 70kph and caused the, er, `showroom condition' 250RS to suffer a little bit of damage to the tank.



This was the scenario where you were having a bit of difficulty getting them to cough up with the dosh for the repairs, is that right?

How did you get on in the end?

[xwhatsit]

]
This was the scenario where you were having a bit of difficulty getting them to cough up with the dosh for the repairs, is that right?

How did you get on in the end?
Nope -- that was previously, where Twunt Mk.I reversed over my bike while it was parked. He coughed up eventually; before I organised the repairs for the bike, a few months later Twunt Mk.II pulled out in front of me and I couldn't stop in time. His insurance (State) were very forthcoming and quite eager to chuck money at me.

[James Deuce]

Mebbe. Anyway, don't hurry me, I haven't heard much about the NZ250 lately...?



Been in a neckbrace and suffered from a paralytic ileus for a few weeks due to spinal nerve irritation during a bout of 'flu. Nearly OK enough to spend time in the gargre. Pulled the front of the Zed to bits yesterday, gave it a "mega" clean and installed bar end mirrors.

Took me two days to finish because of all the lie downs and the liquid "pain relief".

I think I put everything back. Found a shock linkage bolt loose today. I think I lubed it yesterday. I don't remember. I'll find out on the way to work tomorrow.

Not up for heavy lifting yet.

[xwhatsit]

Yikes. Not good to hear. Don't start with that, you're making me all guilty by having valid excuses. Did I miss the thread why you ended up in a neckbrace -- not a normal symptom of a ileus? I'd make the supposition that it was caused by banging your head against a wall due to workplace stress, but you did quit that job.

Two days is OK to put bar-end mirrors on, though -- even a semi-100% me still can't do it right, my sole mirror fell off at 100kph on the Northern motorway on Friday. I would've looked to see where it had gone and maybe picked it up, but it's kind of hard to see behind you without a mirror. Good thing I had another in the gargre (they're reversible). Only cost me $20, not like your fancy CRG carry-on.

[Big Dave]

Next June. Do I have a time limit now?

The sooner you enter this century the better, young man.

[Big Dave]

Not up for heavy lifting yet.

All that nodding must be a biatch.

[jrandom]

I'd recommend Holeshot, so long as Rob sticks around, who was fantastic w.r.t. communication and sorting shit out, and growing a mean beard.

Wot 'e said. Rob's a good c00nt, inne?

I instinctively trust mechanics with beards you could hide a spanner in.

[xwhatsit]

The sooner you enter this century the better, young man.
The sooner they produce a bike that interests me... :innocent:

H'actually, I picked up a copy of that mag you scribble for to read on the plane; that DRZ400SM looks like fun, don't it?

[EJK]

Thats one nice shiny RS man! :D

Can't believe still I havn't seen it!

[Ixion]

The sooner you enter this century the better, young man.

Why. It's very overrated

[Mountlocal1]

Nice... I had an RS as my 2nd bike.. Bullet proof old things.. Like the cafe racer look too.... Yeah... Throw an XR motor at it... :yes:

[Big Dave]

Why. It's very overrated

You haven't ridden what I'm riding.

[Ixion]

You're riding a two smoker ?

[Big Dave]

You're riding a two smoker ?

That would be: I don't see what you're riding.

[Ixion]

Of course you don't see what you are riding when it's a two smoker. All you SEE is a huge cloud of smoke, but y'know there's a ringa-a-ding-dinga in there somewhere.

[vifferman]

Now I just need to put that spare headlight shell on... and make a single-seat... and fit a new front guard... and get a two-into-one exhaust... and replace the rear suspension... and fit a TLS drum brake... and fit that CR33 Keihin smoothbore carb... and throw away the airbox... then build that 350cc monster engine......
LOL!

I didn't bother reading your post at first - just looked at the pix. Then I thought I'd post:
"Yeah, looks shiny alright, but it needs a single seat, and some Cycleworks pipes, and an XR500 donk, and some better rear shocks...."
Warped minds think alike?!?

[xwhatsit]

LOL!

I didn't bother reading your post at first - just looked at the pix. Then I thought I'd post:
"Yeah, looks shiny alright, but it needs a single seat, and some Cycleworks pipes, and an XR500 donk, and some better rear shocks...."
Warped minds think alike?!?
How'd your XB500RS mutant handle? Have you ever ridden a stock 250RS to compare? That XL500 lump would be fun, but I can't help thinking it'd make it handle like poo.

[vifferman]

How'd your XB500RS mutant handle? Have you ever ridden a stock 250RS to compare? That XL500 lump would be fun, but I can't help thinking it'd make it handle like poo.
Dunno. Didn't do much about handling etc when I had it, so it probably did handle like poo, what with having stock suspension and all. And I don't think I replaced the fork oil. :confused:
Nope, never ridden an RS.
The XR500 motor wouldn't be significantly heavier - the bottom end's essentially the same - it just has a fatter, taller barrel.

At the time I had it, it was just a cheap, fun runabout, after a few years without a bike. It cost me all of $600, which was tyres, paint, and a few bits'n'pieces. I'm sure if I rode it now, I'd think it was a piece of crap, as I've had a few much, much more sophisticated bikes in the mean time.