1990 ZXR250 going for a complete rebuild!

[ZXCharlieR]

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd share the whole process with you as when the bike arrived, all I could think was strip, strip and strip some more!!

I have got more off her now than in the photos, I will post newer ones tomorrow but I am progressing nicely!!

The wheels will be going for a powder-coat next week, hopefully, and I'll be blasting the frame to get all the gunk off, she's not in too bad condition but I want her to look the dog's b's the day I take her for the M.O.T. (Vehicle inspection test here in the UK).

I must admit, I thought she'd be in better condition that what she is but there's only a few cracks in the fairing and it'll be going in for a full respray once the dollars are readily available!! going to take her original "Telefonica" colours as she should be, not that ugly paint-job that she has right now.

I do need some help as I posted here the other day, the custom made piston rings are NOT much of an option here so if anyone knows the exact dimensions (external bore, internal bore and thickness of each) so I can be more specific, or if anyone knows of a workshop there that makes them, would be very handy, I don't mind paying the expensive postage, just got to have them.

Apart from that, I can get pretty much the other parts needed, thank god, expensive but I think they'll be worth it in the end.

Will keep you all updated as and when things happen and if I do come across any parts for these bikes that you haven't, I'll post links just in case some UK bikers also need them!!

Cheers

[ZXCharlieR]

Hi guys,

Here's today's progress:

I started with the subframe to get it ready for it's sand blasting but lo and behold I came across the famous last screw that just wouldn't shift, so I had to leave the rear fairing plastic and protective plastic on it until I get my easy-out kit that comes tuesday, so, brakes on until then but I have progressed and I was amazingly surprised at ALL the bolts coming off the headers, wow, that saved me a lot of grief!!!

The one thing that made me worry was seeing some really ugly gunk in the water tank, it looks like part of a seal, something went wrong somewhere along the line eh...??? lmfao!!! oh well, onward and upward

Here's some of the photos:

[ZXCharlieR]

Here's the others:

[ZXCharlieR]

The last for today!! Heheheeeee!!

[R6_kid:Me]

When did Telefonica ever sponsor Kawasaki? Correct me if I'm wrong but they only ever sponsored Honda and Suzuki as far as I'm aware.

The current colour scheme is what it SHOULD look like if you are going to keep it original. The link below shows the original Kawasaki green/white/blue paint they came out with in 89/90, there is also a blue, and a red equivalent too.

[ZXCharlieR]

When did Telefonica ever sponsor Kawasaki? Correct me if I'm wrong but they only ever sponsored Honda and Suzuki as far as I'm aware.

The current colour scheme is what it SHOULD look like if you are going to keep it original. The link below shows the original Kawasaki green/white/blue paint they came out with in 89/90, there is also a blue, and a red equivalent too.

Hi mate,

Not to judge your knowledge of bike history but we refer to the "Telefonica" Kawasaki due to their colour scheme in the late 80's early 90's, not for their sponsoring, you see, Telefonica had, at that stage in modern day life, a Green, White and Blue logo hence the reference.

I lived in Spain for 18 years and if you refer to any ZXR in that era, you would ask if you "had the 'Telefonica' paint scheme or ... what other colours are there?", very famous bike and even more famous colour scheme!!

Here's a link for you to see:

http://www.google.es/search?sourceid...w=1280&bih=709

It may just be a Kiwi thing that you refer to it differently.

Cheers

P.S.: Link?

[R6_kid:Me]

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gal...R250R%2090.jpg

So what you were meaning. No one in NZ would ever call that "telefonica"... that's classic early 90's Kawasaki

[Chancebmx25]

should look awesome when complete. give it a one piece tail and digital tachos. will be awesome. kit it out with xenon lights and what not and that thing will be dubbed lol.

[macros87]

Always nice to see people putting up their ZXR250 work. I am on my second 1990 zxr250, other than the cam chain needing to be changed every so often and the regulator rectifier having a nack for burning out on you they are awesome bikes.

Out of curiosity why a zxr250? when i look for parts online I barely ever find any out in the UK, tons of zxr400 parts though... its gota be pretty rare over there.

[ZXCharlieR]

Always nice to see people putting up their ZXR250 work. I am on my second 1990 zxr250, other than the cam chain needing to be changed every so often and the regulator rectifier having a nack for burning out on you they are awesome bikes.

Out of curiosity why a zxr250? when i look for parts online I barely ever find any out in the UK, tons of zxr400 parts though... its gota be pretty rare over there.

I originally wanted a CBRR250 due to the complete and utter rareness factor, they are like gold dust here but the ZXR are rare, just not AS rare, so I opted for one when I saw her for sale on ebay.

I knew there were problems with her but I didn't think there'd so much to do on it, then again, I do love a good challenge!!!!

There are almost NO parts here in the UK for this bike, have to have the rings custom made from some guy in Bradford, gaskets are not too much of a problem as Corby Kawasaki can accommodate quite well!

This is my first ZXR250, I chose this over the CBRR as I think it actually looks sexier but the maintenance is a bit higher from what I understand.

I do prefer the CBRR's sound but you really have to be a patient man if you want one as they appear once in a blue moon.

[ZXCharlieR]

should look awesome when complete. give it a one piece tail and digital tachos. will be awesome. kit it out with xenon lights and what not and that thing will be dubbed lol.

Hi mate,

I'm not going to mod her in any way possible, I like bikes as original, I do like your idea but I just think modding would ruin it's charisma, I love standard bikes, specially when they are classics like this one!!

Cheers for the thought though!!

[imdying]

There are almost NO parts here in the UK for this bike

Consider very carefully eBaying it and getting a ZXR400 then.

[ZXCharlieR]

Consider very carefully eBaying it and getting a ZXR400 then.

And where would the fun be in doing that?

[imdying]

And where would the fun be in doing that?

That's the point, ride both and you'll see where the fun is

[ZXCharlieR]

That's the point, ride both and you'll see where the fun is

Hi mate,

Can I ask, as per my intuition tells me, how long you've had that 400 for?

I can appreciate what you are saying but I have to say, after 30 years of biking, first dirt bikes then legal road bikes for the past 20 years, I have found that this is just one of those out of the blue situations that I had take advantage of, how many of these bikes are left and how long are they going to last?

I have had the lot from Gixer Slabsides to Vespas and I just love any bike that I find is rare and collectable, if I would permit myself, I would never have sold any of the bikes I have had and become the Jamiroquai of bike collectors.

The one I am most gutted about is my GPZ750 Turbo I had back in 93, now that I SHOULD have kept, gutted!!!

I am currently looking at a Matchless G3, although my heart says "Buy it", I have to stick to one project at a time.

This bike is going to stay with me for years to come and she'll be extremely well looked after, I am not in it for the fun of just riding, I am in it for the fun of rebuilding and enjoying everything about bikes, not just cos one is faster than the other.

Don't take all this the wrong way at all mate, I love all bikes and have, possibly, tried all the bikes I have ever loved, my ideal bike is actually the 1920's Indian Scout, now you Kiwis should be more than familiar with that bike!!

I hear what you are saying fellah but I couldn't care less if I am leading the pack or just plodding on happily behind!!

Cheers!