Yamaha Zeal FX250

Linkin · June 30th, 2016, 12:23 AM

So, my R6 blew up. Did a big end, #1 cylinder liner had multiple cracks, and the 2nd gear dogs were toast. Uneconomical to repair. Sold it and bought this. An FZX250 Zeal. It's the same FZR250R engine with a milder cam, 26mm carbs instead of 28mm, softer suspension with twin rear shocks and larger, more comfortable seat. Power is 40HP and it redlines at 15,000RPM. Still more power than a standard ninjette

This one had obviously been stolen. No ignition barrel and looks to have been hotwired. I made sure it was not reported as stolen before I bought it.

The result of this mess? A dead ECU and blown up coil. I had spare FZR250 coils (they're the same), but ECU and wiring harness I ordered 2nd hard from Japan through Buyee/Yahoo Auctions Japan.

Carbs, insides are clean, outsides are filthy. The bike is now running but I'll need to clean the jets out by hand.

It also had new mirrors, new aftermarket standard ones

Right now its a hover bike, as I'm taking the rims in for new tyres tomorrow. The tyres are dunlop arrowmaxes and I hate them. Heavy carcass tyre, no feeling through them, and absolutely terrible in the wet. On the FZR, I had multiple scares with the rear stepping out in the wet. I am replacing them with the Michelin Pilot Street Radials. Usually I'd go for Pirelli Sport Demons or the new Sport Dragons, but I wanted a radial construction tyre. I loved the Pilot Road 3's on the R6. Dual compound and still great in the wet!

MrAtom · June 30th, 2016, 01:50 AM

Strange little bike. I like it! Keep us posted

sharky nrk · June 30th, 2016, 07:04 AM

Never heard of it, but neat bike. Interested to see her turn around.

RacinNinja · June 30th, 2016, 08:00 PM

A 4 cylinder water cooled 250? Oh hell yes! Please do a nice 4-1 system and rev the crap out of it. The ZX2R 4 cylinders sounded like an indy car at 18,000 RPM.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Linkin · July 1st, 2016, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

A 4 cylinder water cooled 250? Oh hell yes! Please do a nice 4-1 system and rev the crap out of it. The ZX2R 4 cylinders sounded like an indy car at 18,000 RPM.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Yep they do sound good when you take the end can off.

I actually have a few FZR250 exhausts with EXUP valve lying around that will fit this motor. The ECU even has the plug for the servo motor, be interesting to see if it works, as the Zeal never had EXUP.

I got new tyres fitted, pilot street radials. They've put the front on backwards... http://motorcycle.michelin.com.au/ty...-street-radial

HoneyBadgerRy · July 1st, 2016, 07:44 PM

Wait, there is a 4 cylinder 250 that revs to 15,000 rpm? Hold up, I'm getting a new bike.

Seriously though, did they ever release one in America?

Alex · July 1st, 2016, 07:59 PM

Neat bike!

Linkin · July 1st, 2016, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoneyBadgerRy

Wait, there is a 4 cylinder 250 that revs to 15,000 rpm? Hold up, I'm getting a new bike.

Seriously though, did they ever release one in America?

No, they are grey imports. They were only sold officially for 2 years here, but they put some ugly bikini fairing and screen on the front, so sales weren't good.

MrAtom · July 1st, 2016, 11:24 PM

Linkin · July 3rd, 2016, 01:47 AM

A quick carby clean and its running like a top... but its idling high due to the plate where the throttle cables hook up not fully returning... Some cleaning and further investigation is warranted. But otherwise runs great in all gears. Gonna get the tyre changed around tomorrow.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Linkin · July 3rd, 2016, 01:50 AM

Bonus - Kawasaki Balius with no end can, straight out the headers. Kwaka version of the Zeal

Link to original page on YouTube.

Koala · July 22nd, 2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linkin

Bonus - Kawasaki Balius with no end can, straight out the headers. Kwaka version of the Zeal

Link to original page on YouTube.

Can a Ninja 300 be made to sound like that???? That was pure music to my ears

RacinNinja · July 22nd, 2016, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koala

Can a Ninja 300 be made to sound like that???? That was pure music to my ears

You would need two more cylinders.

No, it cannot.

Linkin · September 9th, 2016, 02:49 AM

Done some more to the bike. Got a genuine tool kit and radiator cowls from Japan. Put a 4-1 exhuast from an FZR250, removed the EXUP as its not required with the Zeal's cam timing being different. The M4 pipe I had way back from when I had my Ninja.

Link to original page on YouTube.

JohnnyBravo · September 9th, 2016, 03:39 PM

Sweet ride... I want more cylinders

Linkin · September 12th, 2016, 04:14 AM

What's better than more cylinders? Bigger cylinders! Behold, oversized GSX250 pistons with a diameter of 49.5mm. They have a 1mm higher compression height though, and I will need to trim the skirts and cut more valve relief for the exhaust valves. I will use an extra base gasket as a precaution considering the higher compression height.

This should bring it up to about 266cc and change the bore to stroke ratio from 1.39 to 1.43 - I won't be doing any big valve or porting/polishing. I know the big end can handle it as the same big end handles an extra 3,500RPM with piston speeds of nearly 4400 feet per minute on the FZR250's. I have yet to weigh pistons and little ends.

June 30th, 2016, 07:04 AM	#3
sharky nrk Fighting Texas Aggie '05 Name: Neil Location: Hutto, TX Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '07 ZX6R, '08 Versys, '09 250R Track, '93 F2/F3 Track Posts: A lot.	Never heard of it, but neat bike. Interested to see her turn around. __________________________________________________ Keep it rubber side down and enjoy the ride Get healthy - Get Fit - Change Your Life Click Here Or PM Me To Find More - Advocare

June 30th, 2016, 08:00 PM	#4
RacinNinja Vintage Screwball Name: B Location: Washington Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '16	A 4 cylinder water cooled 250? Oh hell yes! Please do a nice 4-1 system and rev the crap out of it. The ZX2R 4 cylinders sounded like an indy car at 18,000 RPM. Link to original page on YouTube. __________________________________________________ Goin' fast on slow bikes!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 1st, 2016, 07:44 PM	#6
HoneyBadgerRy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Ryan Location: Beaufort SC Join Date: Aug 2015 Motorcycle(s): 05 Ninja 250, 04 KTM 625 SMC, 01 Xc250 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	Wait, there is a 4 cylinder 250 that revs to 15,000 rpm? Hold up, I'm getting a new bike. Seriously though, did they ever release one in America? __________________________________________________ Because Unregistered sucks at riding.

July 1st, 2016, 07:59 PM	#7
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Neat bike! __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 9th, 2016, 02:49 AM	#14
Linkin Down Under Name: Linkin Location: Sydney, Australia Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki ZXR250C Ninja Posts: 296	Done some more to the bike. Got a genuine tool kit and radiator cowls from Japan. Put a 4-1 exhuast from an FZR250, removed the EXUP as its not required with the Zeal's cam timing being different. The M4 pipe I had way back from when I had my Ninja. Link to original page on YouTube.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 30th, 2016, 12:23 AM	#1
Linkin Down Under Name: Linkin Location: Sydney, Australia Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki ZXR250C Ninja Posts: 296	Yamaha Zeal FZX250 So, my R6 blew up. Did a big end, #1 cylinder liner had multiple cracks, and the 2nd gear dogs were toast. Uneconomical to repair. Sold it and bought this. An FZX250 Zeal. It's the same FZR250R engine with a milder cam, 26mm carbs instead of 28mm, softer suspension with twin rear shocks and larger, more comfortable seat. Power is 40HP and it redlines at 15,000RPM. Still more power than a standard ninjette This one had obviously been stolen. No ignition barrel and looks to have been hotwired. I made sure it was not reported as stolen before I bought it. The result of this mess? A dead ECU and blown up coil. I had spare FZR250 coils (they're the same), but ECU and wiring harness I ordered 2nd hard from Japan through Buyee/Yahoo Auctions Japan. Carbs, insides are clean, outsides are filthy. The bike is now running but I'll need to clean the jets out by hand. It also had new mirrors, new aftermarket standard ones Right now its a hover bike, as I'm taking the rims in for new tyres tomorrow. The tyres are dunlop arrowmaxes and I hate them. Heavy carcass tyre, no feeling through them, and absolutely terrible in the wet. On the FZR, I had multiple scares with the rear stepping out in the wet. I am replacing them with the Michelin Pilot Street Radials. Usually I'd go for Pirelli Sport Demons or the new Sport Dragons, but I wanted a radial construction tyre. I loved the Pilot Road 3's on the R6. Dual compound and still great in the wet! Last futzed with by Linkin; July 3rd, 2016 at 01:58 AM.

June 30th, 2016, 01:50 AM	#2
MrAtom . Name: . Location: . Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot. MOTM - July '15	Strange little bike. I like it! Keep us posted

July 1st, 2016, 11:24 PM	#9
MrAtom . Name: . Location: . Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot. MOTM - July '15

July 3rd, 2016, 01:47 AM	#10
Linkin Down Under Name: Linkin Location: Sydney, Australia Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki ZXR250C Ninja Posts: 296	A quick carby clean and its running like a top... but its idling high due to the plate where the throttle cables hook up not fully returning... Some cleaning and further investigation is warranted. But otherwise runs great in all gears. Gonna get the tyre changed around tomorrow. Link to original page on YouTube.

July 3rd, 2016, 01:50 AM	#11
Linkin Down Under Name: Linkin Location: Sydney, Australia Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki ZXR250C Ninja Posts: 296	Bonus - Kawasaki Balius with no end can, straight out the headers. Kwaka version of the Zeal Link to original page on YouTube.

September 9th, 2016, 03:39 PM	#15
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	Sweet ride... I want more cylinders __________________________________________________

September 12th, 2016, 04:14 AM	#16
Linkin Down Under Name: Linkin Location: Sydney, Australia Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki ZXR250C Ninja Posts: 296	What's better than more cylinders? Bigger cylinders! Behold, oversized GSX250 pistons with a diameter of 49.5mm. They have a 1mm higher compression height though, and I will need to trim the skirts and cut more valve relief for the exhaust valves. I will use an extra base gasket as a precaution considering the higher compression height. This should bring it up to about 266cc and change the bore to stroke ratio from 1.39 to 1.43 - I won't be doing any big valve or porting/polishing. I know the big end can handle it as the same big end handles an extra 3,500RPM with piston speeds of nearly 4400 feet per minute on the FZR250's. I have yet to weigh pistons and little ends.
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

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