srx250

[Dangerous Dane]

Hey everyone, Dane here from Dunedin.

I'm new here, just grabbed my first real bike, a 48,000km 1990 SRX250.

Anyone wanna share any faults etc they may have encountered with them?

Its pretty gutless, probably half due to needing its carbs tuned (I'll get around to it)
I was gonna have a crack at putting a high comp XT250 piston in it, fabricating my own exhaust and running it on AV gas too, how destructive would that be?
Its just a toy I dont need it to commute.

I'm not the most knowledgable on bikes etc so advice/ info would be appreciated

[Ixion]

Welcome , and congratulation on the bike.

dunno about gutless, a matter of what you compre it with I guess, I suppose compared with an MV Augusta it's pretty gutless. But for a single cylinder 250 they crack along pretty well, fast enough to lose one's licence at any rate, and what you lose on the straight you'll make up in the corners. Bear in mind like all such bikes 6th gear is an overdrive so maximum speed will be in 5th.

It's a single carb (I know it looks like two, but it's not) and it's weird beyond belief.

Pretty well no faults (except maybe that stupid decompressor port plug - grrr) but I'd be cautious of playing with pistons or cylinder heads . As far as I am aware the standard XT250 has lower compression so a high compresion XT250 piston (and bear in mind it has to be the DOHC XT250 which was only made for about 2 years) will only bring it up to standard SRX level. The single cam XT250 piston doesn't fit. I'd be hesitant to increase the compression ratio anyway , it's already high and they have been known to crack heads.

Zorst is straightforward single cylinder stuff. If you want a performance zorst for it just bung on a reverse cone mega. Sorted. But you'll need to sort the jetting and there are no jet kits available for those carbs. So choose your drill size with great care.

If it's a toy, don't waste time or money tuning it, spend the money on good tyres, just go find the twistiest road you can, and it's in its element.

[Dangerous Dane]

Cheers mate. Yeah its not slow-slow but it isnt exactly eager to raise its front wheel either. But what can I say, I got it dirt cheap.

Clutch needs work but I haven't had the chance to crack it open and take a look yet. Anyone know of any online manuals ?

Would Av gas make much difference?

[Motu]

Early models used to crack heads - well my experiance was with the TT,but as we know,it's the same motor.I'm pretty sure 1990 would be into the ''late'' era,but look for cracks around the sparkplug area.Apart from that a real neat little bike.

[Ixion]

Cheers mate. Yeah its not slow-slow but it isnt exactly eager to raise its front wheel either. But what can I say, I got it dirt cheap.

Clutch needs work but I haven't had the chance to crack it open and take a look yet. Anyone know of any online manuals ?

Would Av gas make much difference?

Never will be keen to "raise the front wheel". It's 16 inch , so the geometry is all downhill. Why would you want to anyway ? If you're thinking of taking it off road you'd need to change the whole front end, and the gearing. Though you CAN pull the front up if you really need to , just the usual log jumping technique

Clutch is simple as , standard bike practcie -the cover gasket is an eyewatering price though.

AV gas won't make any difference at all . Why should it if you are on standard compression?

[Dangerous Dane]

Its a late model with the 17 inch front wheel.

Yeah to be fair I dont know shite about bikes, just figured if I could raise the compression with a higher comp piston (now I realise this isnt an option) and add some av, it'd go harder.

Should probably stick to playing around with my cars and enjoy the bike how it is, (that wont save it from a respray) cheers anyway.

[Ixion]

Ah, that model had the detuned engine. Not sure if it's practical to bring the engine power back up to the same as the earlier ones. Prolly a bit pointless anway, as you say . 250 cc is never going to be big news for straight line speed. If that's the game , get a big cruiser. But there'd be few bikes could outrun an SRX if the roads twisty enough.

[imdying]

If it's a toy, don't waste time or money tuning it, spend the money on good tyres, just go find the twistiest road you can, and it's in its element.

Yep, what he said. You might get it up from its 20 odd HP to 22 odd HP (10% isn't a bad gain), but whoopie... just enjoy riding it.

[imdying]

But there'd be few bikes could outrun an SRX if the roads twisty enough.

I don't think they make roads that twisty anywhere in the world sadly

[Dangerous Dane]

I don't think they make roads that twisty anywhere in the world sadly

Ha, shatter my dream.

Anyway I'm just stoked to be back on a bike again. Should probably see about getting my license at some point too.

[Motu]

I don't think they make roads that twisty anywhere in the world sadly

Not in Christchurch anyway.

[Tickler]

Hey

Yeah they are good little bikes, but i have to say, i certainly feel likean ass when i get left behind by my mates RGV and his brothers CBR. GRRRRRRRR

Ive had my bike for a couple of years, and as long as you just keep an eye on maintence they are all good. But i surpose any bike would be ok.

Apparently these bikes can blow their circuit breakers which are apparently located under the seat (No fuses) , but i read that somewhere. ?????!!!

Also if you find an online manual give me a yell id be keen to find one, see if i can tune my carb a wee bit better.

Go Hard

[Dangerous Dane]

Sorry, posted twice...

[Dangerous Dane]

Hey


Apparently these bikes can blow their circuit breakers which are apparently located under the seat (No fuses) , but i read that somewhere. ?????!!!

Yeah I read that too, which doesnt quite explain the 20a fuse on the right side of the frame under the seat. Think it must have been from an earlier model.

Heres a pic of the bike:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wka5ho8lEl.jpg

I'll be ripping it apart and giving it a moderate rebuild and a nice respray soon.
Anyone give me a rough idea what its worth? I think I may have shafted the owner a bit haha.

[Dangerous Dane]

Can anyone tell me what the torque setting for the head bolts should be?

Either blew a head gasket or the head bolts have slackened off too much, either way I got a leg covered in oil...