Back on a 250!

[Hero Danny]

Well, a KLR 250, but still kawasaki

I decided to pick up my first dual sport, she's old (1987) but a good bike. This is my second bike, in addition to my cbr600rr. I do have some plans for the bike. She's old and needs a lot of love. I picked her up for $1,400 with 5,400 miles. I know she's going to need maintenance, I already ordered a repair manual for her and a motorcycle center lift.

Things I will need to do.

-Valve adjustment
-Carb clean
-Change oil & filter
-Coolant Flush
-Clean air filter (maybe get a new one)
-Re-Paint the engine and header -Black-
-New Tires (dual sport 50/50 tires, knobbies not so good on road)
-Maybe new sprockets and chain
-New Spark Plug
-Various Relays and lights to get her to pass inspection

I'm sure i'm forgetting about a lot of other things I will need to do.

Some mods, gonna be on the minimal with mods, just trying to get used to the bike but here's what i'm thinking.

-Braided brake lines (more of learning experience on how to install)
-Stunt clutch lever
-HID headlight
-Better mirrors
-Better grips

I bought this bike mainly because I wanted a dual sport to go off roading and on roading with. But even though I could have afforded a brand new bike, I decided to go with the nearly 30 year old bike because I wanted something to work on, something to "restore" (yes I use that word lightly!) I love the character of this bike! I want to learn how to wrench a bike and I think this will be a perfect example, it's fairly easy to work on and parts are rather cheap.

I have more photos but currently photobucket is having a meltdown, i'll add them later.

[subxero]

looks good for an old bike, be nice to her.

[Motofool]

[csmith12]

[snot]

Any cart tracks close to you? They are a blast on cart tracks.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by snot

Any cart tracks close to you? They are a blast on cart tracks.

I have no idea? I don't even know what a Cart Track is lol. I'm going to look around for some MSF course but for dirt? I'm pretty bad off road, still getting used to it all and need some coaching for sure.

So far I learned to only use my rear brake in loose terrain and try to keep my weight over the back wheel. (This was advice given to me by a more experienced rider, not sure if completely true, made sense though)

[cadd]

Wow, for a 30 year old bike, it looks nice!!!!

[snot]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I have no idea? I don't even know what a Cart Track is lol. I'm going to look around for some MSF course but for dirt? I'm pretty bad off road, still getting used to it all and need some coaching for sure.

So far I learned to only use my rear brake in loose terrain and try to keep my weight over the back wheel. (This was advice given to me by a more experienced rider, not sure if completely true, made sense though)

Go cart track... Most of them allow small bikes as well as go carts.
Honda in Troy Ohio has a dirt course for MSF, so they do exist.

[motodancer]

You can paint bikes? Would I be able to paint a ninja?

[CaliGrrl]

Congrats! I hope you get some good miles on her.

[snot]

Originally Posted by motodancer

You can paint bikes? Would I be able to paint a ninja?

Yes you can.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by cadd

Wow, for a 30 year old bike, it looks nice!!!!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by snot

Go cart track... Most of them allow small bikes as well as go carts.
Honda in Troy Ohio has a dirt course for MSF, so they do exist.

I will have to look. I know that the place where I did my MSF course has a little dirt area where they were teaching kids (like 10 year olds) I think I would feel a bit funny being with them lol. I'll call and ask if they have adult sessions (that sounds kinda dirty lol)

Originally Posted by motodancer

You can paint bikes? Would I be able to paint a ninja?

I don't see why not?

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Congrats! I hope you get some good miles on her.

Thanks!! Gotta get rid of the knobbies and go with a 50/50 tire before I do any real miles though.

[verboten1]

Nice, what tires are those? cant see in the shadows, but those look pretty good, typically as long as they are DOT knobs they are pretty good everywhere. A great tire if you are going to hit dirt is the T63. It still rails the corners, a true 50/50, Shinko 244 is pretty good, like a 70/30, Shinko 705 is good for 80/20 (ish).

a great Combo is a D606 rear with a MT21 front, thats more 40/60 or maybe even a bit more agressive.

That little 250 is slow, but I'm always amazed at how well they keep up with me on the FS roads and trails when I am on my KLR.


*Edit* Saw your other pictures, rear looks like a Kenda TrakMaster? great off road, and pretty dang good on the road. Mixed Riding should see about 1500 miles on the KLR650, so I'm guessing You'll get more, with less knob tearing torque. If you are going to learn dirt, go learn it on a good tire while you have it! Wear it out, I wore one out in 5 days, so it wont take much.

[sharky nrk]

Now I want an old little DS

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by verboten1

Nice, what tires are those? cant see in the shadows, but those look pretty good, typically as long as they are DOT knobs they are pretty good everywhere. A great tire if you are going to hit dirt is the T63. It still rails the corners, a true 50/50, Shinko 244 is pretty good, like a 70/30, Shinko 705 is good for 80/20 (ish).

a great Combo is a D606 rear with a MT21 front, thats more 40/60 or maybe even a bit more agressive.

That little 250 is slow, but I'm always amazed at how well they keep up with me on the FS roads and trails when I am on my KLR.


*Edit* Saw your other pictures, rear looks like a Kenda TrakMaster? great off road, and pretty dang good on the road. Mixed Riding should see about 1500 miles on the KLR650, so I'm guessing You'll get more, with less knob tearing torque. If you are going to learn dirt, go learn it on a good tire while you have it! Wear it out, I wore one out in 5 days, so it wont take much.

The rear is a TrakMaster K760. It handles fairly well off road (although i'm no expert, lol) on road it does okay, the front gets pretty wobbly though.

I saw a used set of rims for a KLR250 on craigslist. It was $250 and they came with shinko 705's with "95% tread" So I think i'm going to pick those up. That way I can just swap whenever I want.

Originally Posted by sharky nrk

Now I want an old little DS

You should get one!

[verboten1]

yeah, the front is a bit weak, but on that little bike, will be fine. the feeling of learning how to ride knobs hard on pavement can be a bit weird, but super fun!

[Hero Danny]

I'm proud of myself. For the first time ever I adjusted my valves (I made sure engine was TDC and I adjusted them slightly on the loose side, went by repair manual), changed the spark plug and rejetted the carb. I also shimmed the needle with one washer. I changed the oil and am going to replace my air filter. The bike runs great and pulls really hard for a 250. but she's hard to kick over sometimes. Once in a while she will start first kick, other times it can take 10-15 kicks. I'm worried she may need a top end rebuild, not sure... I'm just going to ride her and see what happens.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I'm proud of myself. For the first time ever I adjusted my valves (I made sure engine was TDC and I adjusted them slightly on the loose side, went by repair manual), changed the spark plug and rejetted the carb. I also shimmed the needle with one washer. I changed the oil and am going to replace my air filter. The bike runs great and pulls really hard for a 250. but she's hard to kick over sometimes. Once in a while she will start first kick, other times it can take 10-15 kicks. I'm worried she may need a top end rebuild, not sure... I'm just going to ride her and see what happens.

Play with the idle mixture screw. Small singles can be picky about the setting, and won't start well unless it's in just the right place. Usually the starting point is about 1.5 turns out. Some carbs will have a idle mixture screw that adjusts the air bleed, others will have one that adjusts the fuel bleed. It's nice to know which you are dealing with. Turning an air bleed in makes it richer, turning a fuel bleed in makes it leaner.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Play with the idle mixture screw. Small singles can be picky about the setting, and won't start well unless it's in just the right place. Usually the starting point is about 1.5 turns out. Some carbs will have a idle mixture screw that adjusts the air bleed, others will have one that adjusts the fuel bleed. It's nice to know which you are dealing with. Turning an air bleed in makes it richer, turning a fuel bleed in makes it leaner.

Thanks for the advice!! I'll play around with it when I get home from work today. I also think part of the problem could be my technique too. I've never owned a kick starter bike so I think I will need to also work on my form as well.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

Thanks for the advice!! I'll play around with it when I get home from work today. I also think part of the problem could be my technique too. I've never owned a kick starter bike so I think I will need to also work on my form as well.

Some also like a slight twist of the throttle as you are kicking when hot. Technique is important. You'll get it! I prefer kick starters. Dirt bikes with electric start only (some don't even have a kick starter anymore) are annoying!

As far as the idle mixture goes, one way to set it is to get the engine fully warm, then adjust the idle to the highest speed with the idle mixture screw. From there i usually go richer about 1/8 of a turn, which smooths out the transition as you open the throttle. After it's set you may need to use the idle speed screw to drop the idle back down a bit.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Some also like a slight twist of the throttle as you are kicking when hot. Technique is important. You'll get it! I prefer kick starters. Dirt bikes with electric start only (some don't even have a kick starter anymore) are annoying!

As far as the idle mixture goes, one way to set it is to get the engine fully warm, then adjust the idle to the highest speed with the idle mixture screw. From there i usually go richer about 1/8 of a turn, which smooths out the transition as you open the throttle. After it's set you may need to use the idle speed screw to drop the idle back down a bit.

Just figured I would update you and say that I've gotten the technique down. I think my problem was I wasn't using enough of my weight to kick it. Hard to explain but I center more of my weight over my right leg and it starts 1-2 kicks now.

One issue that it does have is that if I choke it all the way and kick it over, I have about 2 seconds to turn the choke off or the bike will die. I don't know why but even cold the bike doesn't like to be choked, yet it won't start unless it is choked (weird I know).

[Jono]

Nice pick-up!