So I brought a bucket.

[Asher]

I actually haven't paid for or picked it up yet but it's a 2001 FXR150.
I haven't let that small detail from stopping me day dream about potential upgrades.
The bike has already been converted into a bucket and has had some engine work and is running rs125 slicks.


Most of the potential upgrades will be coming from my spare vj22 rgv250.
I was thinking of swapping in the front end; triple clamps, clip ons, forks and brakes. Looking at keeping the fxr wheel or possibly changing to a rg150 wheel.
I would like to change the rear shock to a fully adjustable unit. Was thinking of picking up a cheap modern shock out of a super sport off trade me. Not sure what would be required to make it fit, would adjustable length dog bone links make this easy?
Currently it's using a front slick off a rs125 on the rear and I have read that the rear slicks aren't a great fit although I haven't been able to find exactly what sizes the rs125 rear slicks are. I read that the stock rear tyre size is 110-90-17 which sounds like a superbike front bike will fit well (at least in my head). Otherwise I will look at what work is required for the swingarm, brake and chain to accept a rg150 rear wheel.
Currently the bike has a gn250 carb but the seller said after the engine work the carb seemed to causing a flat spot. It's probably something I can tune out of it but I have a set of 30mm mikuni vm flat side carbs out of a rgv. Has anyone tried this carb setup?
I will also look at moving the muffler under the bike so it doesn't get ruined in a crash and the bike currently has no dash and has been deloomed so I want to put a rev gauge back into it, I figure it's as simple as splicing a wire from the coil?

Hope to see you guys out at the next bucket race at ruapuna 😀

[Pumba]

Congrats on the bike, but before head off down a path I will pass the following comments about your plans

RG150 wheels? Personally I feel you are wasting your time as they are pretty much the same width as the FXR. If you want to look at wider rims really you need to look at doing the GSXR or Impulse rim conversion. RS 125 rims are 3.0 front and 3.5 on the rear I think.

A front off a 600 will fit on the rear (there are plenty of guys that do), but the RS slick on the back does make too bad a profile if I recall so I don't think there is much to gain.

VJ22 front end is not a straight swap. Steering stem on both the VJ21 & 22 are longer than the FXR, although at least the 21 and the 22 with RWU forks do run the same steering head bearings if I recall correct. Unless you are talking about VJ22 USD forks? I looked at it and they are HEAVY!!! and I wasn't convinced they were going to make any real difference.

IMHO you wold be better off spending the money on a set of emulators for the front forks and keeping the front end standard.

[speedpro]

nice looking bucket

Forget the rev counter it's just a distracting waste of time.

If the RGV carbs are anything like the ones I've looked at they have slightly complicated air bleed arrangements. You will have to reduce the air bleed to put a 2T carb on a 4T. Typically the air bleed orifice is drilled and tapped and a small keihin main jet screwed in. It may be a simple case of blocking everything off and just fitting the restrictor jet.

A shock upgrade could be useful, I'm not sure. Check out the higher spec pit bike shocks. they are designed to work on a bike with no linkages and are plenty adjustable. The one on Dave Manuell's bike is actually quite nice and it was only $300 odd.

[chrisc]

RS 125 rims are 3.0 front and 3.5 on the rear I think.

2.5" front and 3.5" rear is ideal and you should be aiming for this for those tyres.
Early RS125s have slightly skinnier wheels.

Edit: personally I think you are wasting your time swapping the front end. These bikes are heavy enough and the forks work good enough to never be a problem. A service, the right amount of properly weighted oil will do wonders to them!

In my opinion there are 2 things wrong with a FXR which are worth considering to have a competitive bike.
1 - weight. Mine weighs 106kg which is a boat compared to the sub 70kg buckets out there.
2 - power. They're very gutless out the box but offer a good platform
3- they're not a 2 stroke (kidding).

This being said, the FXR is a brilliant bucket base. Keep it reliable, don't overcomplicate things (track time is the best investment you can make), then ride the tits off it.

[Asher]

Thanks for the info, all food for thought.
The spare forks I have are the 91-95 rgv USD versions and they are heavy but as I already have them I considered it a free/cheap upgrade. I think my mate has a complete zxr250 front end that might be better?

So the fxr's shock mounts from the swing arm straight to the frame? So no linkages? I guess that means I can only replace it with a shock of similar length

[F5 Dave]

2.15" & 3.0" will work just fine, but 2.1" & 3.5" are optimum. Anything else is not ideal & you should work to locating wheels in the good sizes. I went for early RS as they are light work with the right tyres.

They aren't a 2 stroke so they will be fat and sound dreadful, but easiest bike to get on & have fun.

[Askor]

Alternatively you could race it as is, decide what you don't like about it, then start fucking with it..

[Grumph]

While you will receive plenty of advice on gearing, I'd still put a tacho on it. On the big tracks down here it's an invaluable tuning aid.

[Asher]

While you will receive plenty of advice on gearing, I'd still put a tacho on it. On the big tracks down here it's an invaluable tuning aid.

I was just thinking of a led bar behind the screen and a shift light.

Alternatively you could race it as is, decide what you don't like about it, then start fucking with it..

But where is the fun in that

[mossy1200]

Come on Asher I put a RSV mille front end on mine. Worked a treat.

[Asher]

Looks good. Whats required to get the triple clamps to fit? Can you just swap around bearing races and trim the steering stem to fit? or is there more to it then that?

[mossy1200]

Looks good. Whats required to get the triple clamps to fit? Can you just swap around bearing races and trim the steering stem to fit? or is there more to it then that?

I used some Matag commercial washing machine bearings that I had and a long bolt that I ordered. I made a crush tube like a wheel has. The bearings are a lot like taper bearings so they support what would normally be sideways movement.
Its not a bucket racer if it doesn't have some appliance parts in it.

[ducatilover]

ZXR forks are as heavy as fuck mate.
But I might run them on the bucket I just got because I have them

[Muzzab]

Good to see you brought it, glad to think the bike will get an airing again.
I'd give it a go before deciding what to change on it, the previous jockey used to do pretty well on it as is.

[Yow Ling]

just race it as it is, why change something when you have never even ridden it. Look at Lewis Dray on his stock framed fxr. Rg wheels are heavier , VJ22 forks are way heavier. Just put a tacho on it if you want, FXR ones are almost free.