Newbie With FZR 250 Questions

[NZBLASTER]

Hey guys. Just got my first bike. 88 fzr 250.
Just wanted to know if someone could tell me a few things about what maintainence etc to do on this bike and how often? Also whats the best oil to use and how often should it be changed. I commute on this bike. About 250ks a week. I dont know a lot about bikes but im sure someone on here can help me out.
Cheers
Scott

[mynameis]

Hey guys. Just got my first bike. 88 fzr 250.
Just wanted to know if someone could tell me a few things about what maintainence etc to do on this bike and how often? Also whats the best oil to use and how often should it be changed. I commute on this bike. About 250ks a week. I dont know a lot about bikes but im sure someone on here can help me out.
Cheers
Scott

Hey Scott,

Welcome, first good thing to do would be to actually download the manual and keep it handy, it will have information you need like grade oil to use ect.

How many k's has it done? Probably best to get it checked up by a mechanic to see if you have any probs in it or not and then go from there. If there are then get them fixed first.

Few things to check are the basics like chain, sprockets, sparks, brake pads, tyres, discs, swing arm, bearings, oil, oil filter, calipers and nuts and bolts, battery, suspension, forks seals, and other basics like indicators ect..

Now most of these would have been done with a WOF so best is to take it to a mechanic and get him to test ride see if he can pick up any major probs and get them fixed up.

Based on the K's of the bike other major work like cleaning and balancing the carbs and valave clearence should also be looked at.

Good luck njoy riding keep safe and that was my 2c worth

[Folcan]

In my Fizzer I got some 10w40 motorbike oil... its a great bike

[NZBLASTER]

I bought it from a dealer. Its got 14000k's, New WOF and carbs been done. New oil and filters etc. how many ks should i do between oil changes? Is there anything else anyone can tell me about FZRs. Id be very greatful.
Cheers

[Folcan]

sign up at FZR250.com I found many useful tips there

[scracha]

Hey guys. Just got my first bike. 88 fzr 250.
Just wanted to know if someone could tell me a few things about what maintainence etc to do on this bike and how often? Also whats the best oil to use and how often should it be changed. I commute on this bike. About 250ks a week. I dont know a lot about bikes but im sure someone on here can help me out.
Cheers
Scott

You'll be doing the valves every 16 weeks then! Don't screw the arse off it...the inlet valves bend (talking from experience ). Run on fully synthetic oil..the Silolene stuff is good. When the motor goes bang just stick in a fizzy 400 one. Not an ideal learner's bike.

[mynameis]

I bought it from a dealer. Its got 14000k's, New WOF and carbs been done. New oil and filters etc. how many ks should i do between oil changes? Is there anything else anyone can tell me about FZRs. Id be very greatful.
Cheers

Hey Scott,

Low K's on an old bike like that is really good. You'd normally find bikes which are 18 years old with more than 50 or 60 000 k's on it aye. look after it well and maintain it well you should not have any probs with it then.

Oil changes generally every 5000 km aye and try and work on the head before it hits the 30 000 km mark, if you have the $ then. As for oil only use fully synthetic it is generally twice the price of other oils but you wouldn't wana put cheap oil on it.

Here are a few sites for interest :

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yam...r_250_1988.php

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Yamaha/1988/FZR%20250/

Good Luck !

[mynameis]

Hey mate,

What I meant was work like cleaning and balancing the carbs and valve clearence

[scracha]

Hey mate,
What I meant was work like cleaning and balancing the carbs and valve clearence

If it's been sat in a shipping crate for a while then clean and balance the carbs (and change the tyres to something nice like Bridgesone BT45's as they'll probably have lots of tread but be well past their sell-by-date). You'll need lots of vaseline on the rubbers to get the sodding things back on though. Otherwise, unless it's really bad then I wouldn't bother. If they're slightly out of balance it'll only affect it at low revs and lets face it, the 250's and 400's can't pull the skin of a rice pudding below 7 or 8 though RPM.

Valves...I'd say it depends how hard you ride it. On my old fizzy I found the clearances tightened up and basically it'd be a bitch to start so I'd know it was time to do the valves. This was ever 5000Km's if I screwed the arse off it (you know...sitting at high speeds/high revs for long periods of time).

If you ever take the head off the motor [1] then give it a good decoke....made a HELL of a difference on mine. Porting the exhaust valves (makes it nice and smooth for the exit gases) also helps. Otherwise take out one spark plug at a time and chuck some redX or similar down the hole. Ummmm...spark plugs...fitted Bosch one's with the 4 electrodes. Make it start easier and seemed smoother.

If you're intending on keeping it for a while I'd find some spare coils as they tend to fail due to their stupid location. You'll find a surprising amount of Yammy parts (FZ, FZR, FJ, TDM, XJ, TRX) are interchangeable.

Other than that keep the chain oiled, run it on synthetic (shouldn't use ANY oil [3] between changes), service the brakes (they tend to bind if ridden in the wet) and she'll fly.

[*1] A long story involving an articulated truck, bent inlet valves and the nice warm feeling [2] you get when your rebuilt motor finally fires into life after a 1/4 mile tow-start.
[2] Not to mention the nicer feeling you get when it's run in and putting out about 30% more power compared to pre-rebuild.
[3] Unlike the 5 valve Yam's that seem to use more oil than petrol