What are good/practical modifications that are within a low budget for an ol' 250?

[zeocen]

Gidday !

So I was riding along today, admiring my old 1990 beauty that is the gpx ninja 250. And then my eyes turned to her many imperfections, which lead me to wonder what I could do to 'spruce' her up.

She's still running good (as good as a 17 year old bike should) so it's mainly cosmetic that I'm looking for.

I a) wouldn't know where to start and b) wouldn't know where to find anything for said bike!
I'm in a good position right now as I work from I don't need to rely on my bike to be in working order for going to and from work, so I would like to try my hand at getting some things done myself (within reason, I'm a complete novice.)

Just to show you how much of a novice I am, these are the things I have done to date: Replaced indicator, removed fairings to replace headlight bulb, replaced tail light bulb, put in new clutch cable. All of these I had an extreme sense of satisfaction on completetion, even though they're every day tasks hehe. So hopefully that shows my 'background' on my way around a bike (lack of..).

Anywho, she has a cracked fairing and some marks from my first off from when gravity turned on me in my first week of riding, but to be honest I'm not too fussed with them, I think they give it character and I'm not ashamed of them. My windscreen is definately needing a replacement, I was thinking a double bubble one but I haven't found any local places that sell them for the gpx model.

I'd also like to look into a new exhaust, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, and I above all people like being loud and noticed. But sometimes I feel it can be more irritating than loud (high revs sound fine for me, but for passer-by's it sounds very tinny and intrusive). So I was thinking either a nice quiet sound or a grunty loud but no tinny rattling sound (wishful thinking on a 250?).

There's many, many other things wrong with the bike but I'd like to leave some character in her, if anything to rub off on me!

Sorry, I prattle on a lot.. Once I get talking about my bike it's hard to stop

So yeah, could anyone with GPX or similar knowledge point me in the direction of some reasonably priced parts that would make her a bit more unique? I was thinking of a really nice paint job but that would probably cost quite a bit, plus I'd need to get some welding done and fix the fairings a bit I think.

Oh, here's a picture of her looking her best, it's not much.. I know. But it's my first bike and my first love!

Many, many thanks in advance !!

[PS. This isn't because of a certain shiney red ZZR 250 taking the kawasaki glory, I swear... ..why don't you believe me? It's true, damnit!]

[FilthyLuka]

I'd also like to look into a new exhaust, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, and I above all people like being loud and noticed. But sometimes I feel it can be more irritating than loud (high revs sound fine for me, but for passer-by's it sounds very tinny and intrusive). So I was thinking either a nice quiet sound or a grunty loud but no tinny rattling sound (wishful thinking on a 250?).

nope, not wishfull thinking... ive heard some grunty sounding 250's...

you could drill the baffles if your cheap... or you could take it to custom chambers (or equavalent) and get a new exhaust made up... a shiny one

[Pwalo]

Have a look at this site. Everything that you could possibly want to know about the GPX and modding.

http://www.ninja250.com/

Wish I'd had one when I was learning.

[zeocen]

Cheers Pwalo, a good site!
Hopefully they have some info on what I can get in NZ !

[Marmoot]

the direction of some reasonably priced parts that would make her a bit more unique?

Magnesium or Carbon Fibre wheels. From BST (check out your bike magazines) from ONLY 1985 poundsterling special offer. Don't miss out.
Cuts 6-8kg from your unsprung weights

I would if I could........

[zeocen]

I wouldn't mind, but I was thinking unique for cosmetics and comfort rather than getting any more power out of it, that's later on for when I get my full

The ninja250 website didn't have much in the way of new zealand products

[James Deuce]

Start with suspension. Do fork oil and fork springs. Replace your rear shock with something that works. A good Hagon monoshock for your bike is around $795. Sounds like mental money, but the improvements will outweigh any capital expenditure pain immediately.

Everything else about riding a bike stems from your suspension working right.

Then replace every driveline bearing, every bushing, rear cush drive, and your steering head bearings.

All of the above are GUARANTEED to both improve comfort and help you ride faster and smoother.

[F5 Dave]

in a similar vein: Change the fork oil. Nobody ever does on old bikes & Small kawis are renowned for having incorrect qty fish oil from new. Easy job to undertake one self if you can work out how to prop the bike up safely. Google the oil level. 10 weight would be fine.

[James Deuce]

I said that, Dave

[F5 Dave]

I might have skipped over that bit & thought it was odd you went straight to the shock. But instead I'll be belligerent & claim that I said it better.

[James Deuce]

You always were belligerent, Dave.

I started with Fork oil and fork sprinegs. Sorry Zeocen. We shouldn't be having fun in your thread.

[kiwifruit]

Rider training and the best tyres / suspension you can fathom

[F5 Dave]

Change of tack. Perhaps strip the paint off the wheels & polish them, chrome the tank, gold plate the instruments & fit purple bar ends.

YoYo. X-ibit sez I'm going to Pump your Rump, or Gimp yor Pride, (or summit like that)

May help you forget that it is drinking oil like a student downing $4 jugs in happy hour. (more politically correct anecdote than your other thread).

[zeocen]

haha, thanks for the replies guys.

I'm not really sure about working on the suspension and all that, I'd rather just improve it comfort wise (better seat, better mirrors etc) than worry on mechanics, I won't be on this bike much longer but I'd like to give it a spruce up, if only it is skin deep.

[mark247]

If you do take the baffles out of the exhaust to make it louder and sound cooler you may want to get the carbs rejetted or just tuned to run richer because it may make the bike run lean as and cause damage to the engine. But take it to the shop and they can do that, it wouldnt cost much... oh and debaffling the exhaust defently makes it sound more powerful but if you dont do the jets as well, it will probably make it lose power...