Xr250z

**fridayflash** · 30th November 2014, 19:01

**fridayflash** · 30th November 2014, 19:18

..i was meant to post this in the xr500 page, but tapatalk isnt my strong suit, anyway this is the xr250 i got from invercargil a few weeks ago..i wont say how much i paid for it, but suffice to say it was waaaay less than feck all. turned out to be a one owner bike, bloke bought it new in early 1980 when all the 1979's had sold out honda nz sourced some of these from a usa market consignment, thus a mph speedo...its only done 7500 miles
bloke put a don vesco tank on it and preserved the original by fillling it with oil, apparently he used it on the road during carless days when his tin top
had to stay home. i originally got it for bits for my xl500 as i prefer the xr headlight/single speedo/small tail light/tool pouch etc as a bonus the seat is orig and mint. but can i bring myself to pull bits off this beauty? it had been parked up for over 20 years all up, although previous owner had got it out 10 years ago, changed the oil, fitted a new plug, air filter and tires, cleaned the carb and got it running (fitted the orig tank at this point ) then parked it back in his garage under the stairs until i got it. i drained the float bowl then started it first kick on the 10 year old gas in the tank...no bullshit.
pretty happy with it, and the orig ownership papers with just one name on 'em

**mossy1200** · 30th November 2014, 19:34

Are you going to open that engine for a look?
No smoke etc.
Idd like a find like that.

**fridayflash** · 30th November 2014, 19:51

i reckon ill look at the top end, its sound..runs good but a faint whirr or fine ticking noise in the top end, not a tappet sound or cam chain so ill go in for an investigate..am trying to think what else could be up there making that kinda tune... decomp mechaism maybe? no smike tho, and plenty good compression. rear guard is a shitter and non orig..musta flipped it eh! actually he musta fallen off on some trails a few times as handle grips 'bars
and levers are non orig, tailpipe isnt either...didnt those stock ones last long at all?

**dino3310** · 30th November 2014, 20:58

tidy looking ride bro.

i had a faint whiiirrr in my first 81 XL250 after the camchain was done came right after a few hundy kms figured it was just tight and wearing in

**unstuck** · 30th November 2014, 21:03

Bloody good score dude.

**mossy1200** · 30th November 2014, 21:13

Originally Posted by fridayflash

i reckon ill look at the top end, its sound..runs good but a faint whirr or fine ticking noise in the top end, not a tappet sound or cam chain so ill go in for an investigate..am trying to think what else could be up there making that kinda tune... decomp mechaism maybe? no smike tho, and plenty good compression. rear guard is a shitter and non orig..musta flipped it eh! actually he musta fallen off on some trails a few times as handle grips 'bars
and levers are non orig, tailpipe isnt either...didnt those stock ones last long at all?

Is that the original number plate I see on it.
Is it the model you don't need indicators on?

**Muzz67** · 1st December 2014, 05:55

whir could be cam chain too tight, decomp makes a clatter/clickclick sound.
If you do pull it apart, it is possible to fit a wedge type camchain tensioner from a later 250.

**Oscar** · 1st December 2014, 09:23

That is nice!
Brings back a lot of memories that baby.
The only non-standard bit I can see is the muffler.

**fridayflash** · 1st December 2014, 13:58

thanks all, yep original number plate with last rego sticker being 1988. i have heard its poss to retain old rego plates when re-vinning? anybody ever heard of that? and yep these things are on the exemption list for indicators and brake lights..just need to add a squeeze horn thing on the 'bars to get a wof
thanks for advice muzz, ill back off the tensioner..although im not entirely sure how they work

i know theyre not sprung like the rfvc type

**fridayflash** · 1st December 2014, 14:06

muzz...now youve got me thinking about my xl500..its making a clatter sound up top..nothing scary but is kinda prominent when cold, fades a bit when warm..might have to investigate decomp..i had wondered if it was a rocker pivot. engine has done less that 20,000km doesnt smoke at all but does consume a lot of oil

**unstuck** · 1st December 2014, 14:17

Originally Posted by fridayflash

doesnt smoke at all but does consume a lot of oil

Not going back into the airbox is it?

**Stylo** · 1st December 2014, 16:15

Good score, if it was mine I'd be doing a full resto on it, can you still get 23" front tyres from somewhere ?

I think they called them 'claw action' or similar , silencer might be hard to find but a new rear sprocket would be easier to source

**Muzz67** · 1st December 2014, 16:44

No resto needed. A well maintained bike thats been used as it was intended should be allowed to wear it's scars as a badge of honour.
Theres plenty that have been thrashed and trashed and been tarted up.
Just use it and look after it.

**unstuck** · 1st December 2014, 16:52

Originally Posted by Muzz67

No resto needed. A well maintained bike thats been used as it was intended should be allowed to wear it's scars as a badge of honour.
Theres plenty that have been thrashed and trashed and been tarted up.
Just use it and look after it.

I tend to agree, sometimes they just lose something if it is a full on resto. But a little tidy up and good service can do wonders.