Checking out a CBR250 RR?

[macros87]

hey guys, I am going to check out a 1990 cbr250 rr for a friend tomorrow, and while I know all the basic things to look out for, bleeding forks, state of the chain, leaks etc... I was wondering if the cbr has any known faults that I should specifically be looking out for?

[Phreak]

From experience with mine, you'll want to check for excessive rust on the rear sub-frame (under the seats)...

Another indicator as to the bike's general wear and tear is the state of the visible frame (visible under the front of the petrol tank) - shouldn't be too dis-colored or pitted... If you can, open the fuel tank and look for any rust particles in the petrol - old bikes like these tend to have problems with the inside tank walls being pretty shit.

Of course, try and listen to the motor running as well, should idle around 1500rpm when warm, and blipping the throttle it shouldn't hesitate or do anything weird when returning to idle (ie hanging at high rpm or dropping below 1500...)

And I would also check the tires - I've heard that Arrowmax rubber is shit, but I've always had Michelin Pilot Activ's on mine (they're great!)

Same as with any bike, check for leaking oil or fluids, blah blah blah...

Cant think of anything else of the top of my head.

[macros87]

From experience with mine, you'll want to check for excessive rust on the rear sub-frame (under the seats)...

Another indicator as to the bike's general wear and tear is the state of the visible frame (visible under the front of the petrol tank) - shouldn't be too dis-colored or pitted... If you can, open the fuel tank and look for any rust particles in the petrol - old bikes like these tend to have problems with the inside tank walls being pretty shit.

Of course, try and listen to the motor running as well, should idle around 1500rpm when warm, and blipping the throttle it shouldn't hesitate or do anything weird when returning to idle (ie hanging at high rpm or dropping below 1500...)

And I would also check the tires - I've heard that Arrowmax rubber is shit, but I've always had Michelin Pilot Activ's on mine (they're great!)

Same as with any bike, check for leaking oil or fluids, blah blah blah...

Cant think of anything else of the top of my head.

thanks thats all the kind of stuff I am looking for, yeah the engine stuff I should be ok, I am on my second zxr, I am really looking for model specific things, sort of like how zxr 250 need their cam chains and tensioners checked and reg rectifiers cause they are known to have problems with that.

[SMOKEU]

Fuck all goes wrong with the MC22. Pay careful attention to the frame, forks etc to look for crash damage. Just about all of these bikes have been binned at some stage and many have been fixed with dodgy repairs. Since these bikes are JDM, you never know how they have been treated in Japan.

[The Pastor]

just check for crash damage and normal things like chain / sprokets / brakes etc.

Not sure about the rust on an alloy sub frame..... I've never seen a rusty one?

They are great bikes and need NO work on them, provided you do the oil every 5000k.

zxr's are quicker only due to the better suspension they have.

[Phreak]

I've personally seen three (including my own) with a bit of rust on the rear sub frame section, had it cleaned off before powdercoating...

[macros87]

well my friend bought the bike. it has a nice yoshimura exhaust, just been repainted yellow, no crash damage I could see. the bike though was owned by a guy who knew nothing at all about bikes, bought it last year rode it a few times during the summer then never touched it again, I didn't know that at first though...

the chain was rusty, the back shock was super soft even though the guy said it was on the maximum setting so I was sure it was shot, the back tire was absolutely bald but only in the middle so i have a pretty good idea of what kind of riding he was doing (and the guy before him since he didnt ride it that much. and when i took it for a test ride it was back firing and had flat spots in the rev range I was wtfing hard....

i told my friend all about that... and he still wanted it cos it looked mint and sounded awesome... i told him all bout how difficult it would be to find another shock that wouldn't have been raped for 20 years, he was still keen, i added on that the cost of rear tyre he was still keen, added the cost of the rego since it was out, he was still keen... told him i couldn't really comment on the how much the engine work might be but told him mechanic labor is about 80 - 90 an hour... he still wanted the dammed thing...

so he went to a dealership to get chain oil for the rusty chain then...

he bought it for 2500 and I got on it, and the guy assured us it had more than enough gas to make it to the gas station in the bombay hills.. it didn't, but in the way the bike massively backfired.. and then started acting normally, turns out that when he said he had put gas in it, he meant LAST FUCKING YEAR.

after running the tank absolutely dry (and having to push it 600m up a motorway exit uphill while somebody went to fetch more gas) and putting a half tank of fresh gas in it... the bike went sweet!

so at least that turned out ok, upon further inspection at home turns out the suspension is set to 2 out of seven almost the softest setting. so now does anyone know what tool you need to change it to a harder setting?

[Phreak]

Yeah, it's called a C-Spanner, probably be easiest to take it into a local bike mechanic and get them to turn it up a bit. Save your mate the trouble of buying his own cause he'd only use it once (or maybe twice). How heavy is your mate? I'm about 85kgs, with all my gear on, have my rear shock on 5 (I think!)...

If it still needs a new shock, you'd be surprised what you can find on Trade Me, do a search for 'MC22'...


Pics?

[Gibbo89]

the bike though was owned by a guy who knew nothing at all about bikes,

that explains how he was sure the suspension was on the firmest it could be on.

bought it last year rode it a few times during the summer then never touched it again,

that explains the petrol issue lol

I have no idea how much a chain costs, but for 2.5k it seems like you got a reasonable deal.

Get your mate to send the bike in for a service so the carbs are balanced etc and the valves cleared...

Even if the service costs alot, (lets say 1k?) you'll be getting a mc22 for 3.5k that is now ready for summer riding.

here's hoping it isn't a lemon.

+1 on the pics

Also, how many k's has it done? Are the fairings mint, or are they a bit scratched up?

one more thing, was it off TM?

[macros87]

Yeah, it's called a C-Spanner, probably be easiest to take it into a local bike mechanic and get them to turn it up a bit. Save your mate the trouble of buying his own cause he'd only use it once (or maybe twice). How heavy is your mate? I'm about 85kgs, with all my gear on, have my rear shock on 5 (I think!)...

If it still needs a new shock, you'd be surprised what you can find on Trade Me, do a search for 'MC22'...


Pics?

he said he weights just under a hundred, so maybe set him to 6? I will recommend taking it somewhere but he does everything on his car so i think he wants to be the same with the bike and as you have seen he is hard headed.

that explains how he was sure the suspension was on the firmest it could be on.

that explains the petrol issue lol

I have no idea how much a chain costs, but for 2.5k it seems like you got a reasonable deal.

Get your mate to send the bike in for a service so the carbs are balanced etc and the valves cleared...

Even if the service costs alot, (lets say 1k?) you'll be getting a mc22 for 3.5k that is now ready for summer riding.

here's hoping it isn't a lemon.

+1 on the pics

Also, how many k's has it done? Are the fairings mint, or are they a bit scratched up?

one more thing, was it off TM?

chain and sprocket sets are about 170 apparently, and I NOW don't think it might be a lemon just a bike that was left sitting for far too long.

it was off TM in huntly, it is bright yellow and i kid you not cosmetically it is mint... barely a scratch anywhere, I think a recent owner, not the last guy though, might have bought a set of chinese fairings of ebay, because for a while i thought it might have been a good idea for mine and was looking into it, and one of the thing i notice was that alot of the sets came without holes for the screws and you had to drill your own, there is two places on the fairings where there quiet obviously needs a screw and there isnt a whole... I suppose the the tank was then repainted to match...

I was going to link the trademe auction but its been completely removed now.

has 80k on the clock... high but we hope mc22s are as bulletproof as people say

I will drop by his place and take some photos... I am just weary on riding to his house I think if he sees me geared up on my bike (only transport I have) he will want to go for a ride with his bold tyre and possibly no rego... might be a couple of days before I can post photos but I will make sure I do

other than that I will keep you posted on anything unexpected that turns up with the bike

[Phreak]

Yeah, if looked after properly, MC22's should be pretty bulletproof. Just had a thought, Mike at Drury Performance Centre (Drury Tires) would be a good man for your mate to go and see to make sure everything on it is 100%. He'd probably be able to sort out a C-Spanner for your mate without too much hassle. Get that back tire sorted out too.

Setting the rear shock to 6 or even 7 should be fine - I'm no expert when it comes to this though, just found what works well for my scrawny body...

DEFINITELY make sure the chain and sprockets are replaced by a professional! It's a prick of a job, and not one you want to stuff up. Then, make sure your mate keeps the chain clean and lubed up often!