Suzuki NZ 250 commuter/project.

**James Deuce** · 14th May 2008, 23:54

I'm wondering if I can make this a yearly thing, you know.

Oh, just in case you can't cope, this post and subsequent thread is going to be about motorcycles. Not telly programmes, not music, not dating, not your usual KB arse.

With the Katana gone my once dormant bike fiddling gene is getting itchy again.

Thankfully there are still some nice people left in the world. pzkpfw practically let me steal his gargre-bound NZ250 along with his two boxes of bits and a service manual. One of the boxes has another full set of body work plus an artfully "repaired" tank. The tank in the box kind of resembles an NZ tank, though I'd really like to know just how it ended up dented in those two places. Hopefully crazefox will be able to work his magic.

It's tiny. It's like sitting on a 10 year old's push bike. 125kgs dry! The dash is amazing for 1987. Speedo, rev counter, fuel gauge (!), and a top gear indicator. Crikey!

Lots of the bits are exactly the same as on the Katana. This is why I love old Suzuki munt rather than any other manufacturer. Their parts catalogue probably only runs to 100s of numbers rather than 10000s like Honda's.

Does anyone know if "Full Floater" meant that even Suzuki thought their product was shit, or can I use this thing as a jet ski and avoid rush hour traffic?

I have bar-end mirrors on the shelf. I reckon they'll look great on this thing. Along with a round headlight and a little Givi screen.

The pillion seat is the widest part of the bike. I blame those fat-arse Japanese girls.

Hmmm, paint scheme.

Gunmetal grey with a chequered flag stripe down the centre of the tank, continued onto the tiny little tailpiece.

Centre stand! Accessible oil filter! Magneto! (There's a grease nipple on the steering head stem!)

Old Skool rocks!

First goal is to get it WoFed, registered, and start using it for commuting to work. 33km/l (allegedly), here I come! Lemme see, 11l fuel tank.... 341 kms! Exactly the distance of my fortnightly commute!

**Guided_monkey** · 15th May 2008, 00:04

Good luck with the project. The good thing is that the old Suzuki motors are reliable and last for ages.

Had an old GSX400 (2 cylinder) and even after sitting for 4 years it fired up after new fuel, oil and carb clean. Ran well for over 6 years.

**xwhatsit** · 15th May 2008, 00:28

My approval is thorough and tangible.

They really only 125kg dry? Shit, that's as good as my RS -- and you've got more horsepower and an engine that doesn't crack heads

Hopefully even more fun through the twisties than that gorgeous 400 Kat -- will your fat old arse cope with the paltry ~33hp?

**James Deuce** · 15th May 2008, 00:31

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

My approval is thorough and tangible.

Good!

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

They really only 125kg dry? Shit, that's as good as my RS -- and you've got more horsepower and an engine that doesn't crack heads

That's what the (probably Socialist, and therefore prone to exaggeration) manual says.

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Hopefully even more fun through the twisties than that gorgeous 400 Kat -- will your fat old arse cope with the paltry ~33hp?

Yes you cheeky man, it will! It's not what you've got, it's how you use it!

**xwhatsit** · 15th May 2008, 00:42

Do tell us how you get along with those rusty spokes, if you decide to bother with them. Don't aluminium rims and a black engine just scream 80s sports...?

**JimO** · 15th May 2008, 06:56

i have one of these for sale on tardme and it comes with a parts bike and a manual it is wofed and reged, save your

time and buy mine.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154760046

**James Deuce** · 15th May 2008, 07:09

I've never seen a post with less logic in it jimjim, even from some of the womenfolk that post on KB. Don't give up your day job.

**JimO** · 15th May 2008, 07:19

Originally Posted by Jim2

I've never seen a post with less logic in it jimjim, even from some of the womenfolk that post on KB. Don't give up your day job.

oooooooooooo

**James Deuce** · 15th May 2008, 07:56

Looking at the manual, it looks like a piece of cake to strip this thing. Combine extensive photography during the strip down process and the service manual and I might have a very tidy little bike, very quickly. The engine ("must be from the right side removed" - I love '80s Japanese manuals) take minutes to remove from the frame.

**Skunk** · 15th May 2008, 08:23

I hate you Jim. I've been looking for a affordable one.

It's OK, I hate everyone who has one until I get one.

**Deano** · 15th May 2008, 08:40

From Tard Me:

"And one more for someone considering this one: I had 3 of them. Managed to scare one up to 180Km/h. Sold them as my boy moved to bigger bikes. There is heaps of parts around and she is easy to work on. Can't go wrong. posted by: axzon "

180km/h out of an NZ250 ?

**Hitcher** · 15th May 2008, 08:40

Given that this is an "NZ" 250, presumably the pillion seat was designed for fat-bottomed girls of the Kiwi persuation? After all, they do make the rocking world go round.

I shall watch progress with interest!

**James Deuce** · 15th May 2008, 08:50

Originally Posted by Deano

180km/h out of an NZ250 ?

Obviously rode it off a cliff. I had a GSXR250 I bought new in 1990. That could rustle up 180km/hr on the speedo with a tailwind. I was a lot littler then too.