Bobber 250 **Retro Ninja**

[Retro Ninja]

Here is a few pics of my bobber style bike I have been building over the last month. I am still not finished and want to still peruse putting on a set of spoked rims to complete the look, but I am still looking for a good $$$ on a set. And a few other small things I want to do, one of them being a new custom exhaust system.

A few pics of my original build "3rd Gen 4th Gen Hybrid" --> http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=130030

I sold the custom front fairing to A.Kozak and he drove all the way down from Canada to pick it up. Looks awesome shown here-->http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135096

A few details of my current bike shown below:

Raw steel tank, brushed one direction/polished then 3 coats of clear
Custom seat/upholstery/rear plate
Custom LED tail light
Custom license plate mount/plate light
Custom fairings
Cut/chopped/welded new rear frame
Custom gutted/fiberglass packed exhaust
Ol'skool foam grips
6"round headlight
Bar-end mirrors
retro cat-eye front/rear turn signals
Aluminum coolant bottle
Woodcraft 26mm clip-ons
front tire Pirelli Diablo 110/70-16
rear tire Pirelli Diablo 140/70-16
Galfer SS front brake line
cellphone mount which I use for my speedo
air-pod/jetted
2012 Ninja 250 adjustable rear shock
Pager Alarm
















Will get some better pic's soon, has been raining

[csmith12]

Dat tank is ****!

[lgk]

i like the skulls, its a nice touch

[KawiKid860]

The gas tank is BAD ASS

[sowega]

The gas tank is awesome; I did the same on my racebike, but didn't get a thick enough coating of clear so there's some patina showing. It's an interesting look, but not the one I was hoping for.

[Jono]

Digging the gas tank!!!


And are those handgrips off a razor scooter?? Haha

[choneofakind]

2 things:

1) you got a 140/70-16 to fit? How much clearance in the swingarm? Just wondering because it's been brought up before, not because I'm planning on getting one. I've only gotten within 1/4"" of the edge of my 130.

2) That plate's gonna dragggggggg

[Retro Ninja]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Dat tank is ****!

Originally Posted by lgk

i like the skulls, its a nice touch

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

The gas tank is BAD ASS

Thanks

Originally Posted by sowega

The gas tank is awesome; I did the same on my racebike, but didn't get a thick enough coating of clear so there's some patina showing. It's an interesting look, but not the one I was hoping for.

Thanks, yes clearing raw steel can be tricky if you are not experienced with it. Need's a minimum of 3 coats of clear as mild steel is porous as well as the correct product (catalyst). Also if you don't neutralize the steel first, it can actually start rusting underneath the clear coat.

Originally Posted by Jono

Digging the gas tank!!!


And are those handgrips off a razor scooter?? Haha

Thanks, they are UV stabled dual-stage foam grips for cruisers that fit 7/8 bars

Originally Posted by choneofakind

2 things:

1) you got a 140/70-16 to fit? How much clearance in the swingarm? Just wondering because it's been brought up before, not because I'm planning on getting one. I've only gotten within 1/4"" of the edge of my 130.

It fits just fine, almost 1/2" clearance

Originally Posted by choneofakind

2) That plate's gonna dragggggggg dfhfdhfdh

Negative, already tested it

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Retro Ninja

Negative, already tested it

I demand chicken strip pictures to prove lean-age Also would help me for better seeing if the tire is pinched or not. Suggested rim width is 3.5-4.5", ours is 2.5"
https://www.denniskirk.com/pirelli/r...prd/543220.sku

But really, how did that not scrape??? I've scraped pegs and toes when using bad BP, and that plate is the lowest thing on the left side.

[Retro Ninja]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I demand chicken strip pictures to prove lean-age Also would help me for better seeing if the tire is pinched or not.

But really, how did that not scrape??? I've scraped pegs and toes when using bad BP, and that plate is the lowest thing on the left side.

I think it's the pics/camera angle that actually look skewed (seems better in pic #2) When I adjusted the plate/angle I positioned it to the lowest possible point without hitting. The peg will actually still hit first.

Besides that, this bike/build is primarily for an around town errand hopper. If I want to hit the twistys or go out of town for distances, I will take my EX650

[Retro Ninja]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Also would help me for better seeing if the tire is pinched or not. Suggested rim width is 3.5-4.5", ours is 2.5"
https://www.denniskirk.com/pirelli/r...prd/543220.sku

Just an FYI, you can get a better deal elsewhere $$$.

Where would you like me to take some pics for you? Not pinched at all, and plenty of clearance.

[choneofakind]

Oh, I'm not looking there for buying, just the first place I could find a suggested rim size. I use diablo scoots, I know I can find better deals elsewhere

I trust you if they're not pinched. Just teasing you a bit.

[CC Cowboy]

That motorbike is rather nice.

[iplante]

I do not like the tail, but to each their own. The tank, however, is SICK.

[verboten1]

That's awesome. I've been staring at our 250 for 2 years trying to figure out how to make it look nice. You did it by chopping the ugly tail off, looks great!

[a.kozak]

Damn that looks sick Retro! Completely different direction from your last build.
That gas tank looks amazing! Glad to see your new build workout for you!
Looking forward to seeing how the bike will turn out with spoked wheels.

[4x4mike]

Your bike inspired me to pull bike that has been in storage for last four years. I had just gotten tired of the stock appearance it had become dated and looked like a mini touring bike. I used some of your styling cues but only enough so as not to be a copy but definitely inspired by your bike. Will post some pics as soon as my son can show me how, I can build things but computers still throw me. Thanks for showing me a way to breath new life into an old machine gathering dust.

[Snake]

Looks awesome. The bobbed rear end makes it look like the swing arm is stretched.

[Retro Ninja]

Originally Posted by 4x4mike

Your bike inspired me to pull bike that has been in storage for last four years. I had just gotten tired of the stock appearance it had become dated and looked like a mini touring bike. I used some of your styling cues but only enough so as not to be a copy but definitely inspired by your bike. Will post some pics as soon as my son can show me how, I can build things but computers still throw me. Thanks for showing me a way to breath new life into an old machine gathering dust.

Thank you for taking the time to sign-up and post, I appreciate it. Nice to know I inspired someone else with the idea to pull their old bike out that has been sitting/neglected and refreshing it giving it a new life.

[namoura]

I'm turning my own 250 into a cafe/streetfighter.

Mods up to date:
- Clip-ons
- Streetfighter headlight (built in turn signals)
- Bar end mirrors

Major mods TODO:

- Chop the banana frame
- Re-install wiring system properly
- Tuck battery and electrics behind airbox

Minor mods:

- New coolant reservoir
- LED strip tail light and tail turn signals


Struggles?

- Wiring system is a mess, I've burnt out the signal relay, headlight shorted, and clutch switch potentially needs changing (It might be electrical).

- I haven't done enough research on chopping off the current seat and welding the new bonds. (+ proper structure for proper weight support etc.)

Have been looking into JB weld as an alternative to metal welding.

Any advice would be awesome!

Stan

[Klondike1020]

Street Fighter ! Nice

[Klondike1020]

Originally Posted by namoura

I'm turning my own 250


- Wiring system is a mess, I've burnt out the signal relay, headlight shorted, and clutch switch potentially needs changing (It might be electrical).

- I haven't done enough research on chopping off the current seat and welding the new bonds. (+ proper structure for proper weight support etc.)

Have been looking into JB weld as an alternative to metal welding.

Any advice would be awesome!

Stan

Don't do it ! Drilling holes and bolting it together after bending it be heating it with a map has torch could work.

But if you don't want to be a hack and risk your butt on a tail section that is built rickety .... Find a friend who welds

A few short welds it like 1 hour of effort

If you were nearby I'd weld it for you.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by namoura

Have been looking into JB weld as an alternative to metal welding.

JB weld is a two part epoxy with small fragments of steel used as filler material. It is not a replacement for metal welding and absolutely will not last on the frame of a motorcycle as a structural weld. You could use it to fill in holes, or scratches, or something like that, but don't be fooled because they advertise its tensile strength. It's drastically weaker than any weld material you would use.

search around locally and find someone who can do it, or worst comes to worst, take it somewhere and pay. Don't glue your frame together.

[csmith12]

Hell, even in KY, JB weld is a last resort option to make two things stick together. Having used more than my fair share of JB weld on stuff, if the bond is good it does OK'ish at holding stuff together over a period of time. There is a catch though... JB weld does not hold up to strong vibration or hard impacts.

[namoura]

The reply timing amazes me.

I've soldered metal bonds frequently with no problem.

I understand welding requires more finesse and patience.
Welding machines used go for about 80$ for a good purchase.

I can hack off the end with a 25$ grinder from Walmart and a metal saw.

Finally, I know triangular structures are sturdy therefore the following steps are what I'm planning:

1- Remove exhaust mounts on sub-frame
2- Remove passenger hand handles on sub-frame
Assume sub-frame length = 30"
3- Hack through top two metal bars at 13"
4- Hack through bottom two metal bars at 20"

This will allow me to join the bottom two to the top two right at the corners (maybe with a little excess which can be used as license plate or tail light mounts)

This will form the triangle. And allowing me to store relays, fuse boxes and battery in that new space behind the air-box.

I would then cover it up from the side like the gentlemen did in the first post.

Mind you, check this out!
http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/att..._ninjatard.jpg

[Obi-Ron Kenobi]

Love the tank. An entire bike done like that would be bad!!

[Sirref]

Sick build, is the license plate still on? and if it is how scraped to hell is it?

I'd consider a similar build but being able to ride 2up is too important to me.

[Obi-Ron Kenobi]

Love the tank. Building my own from a stripped down 06. Attached a few pics of aluminum under seat belly for electronics, relocated key switch, Vapor install, and ugly tank bolt holes hidden. I used some hard brake line and some right angle compression fittings. How did the coolant reservoir work? I'm working on one and more pics would be great of that.

[Saenz4931]

Originally Posted by Retro Ninja

Here is a few pics of my bobber style bike I have been building over the last month. I am still not finished and want to still peruse putting on a set of spoked rims to complete the look, but I am still looking for a good $$$ on a set. And a few other small things I want to do, one of them being a new custom exhaust system.

A few pics of my original build "3rd Gen 4th Gen Hybrid" --> http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=130030

I sold the custom front fairing to A.Kozak and he drove all the way down from Canada to pick it up. Looks awesome shown here-->http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135096

A few details of my current bike shown below:

Raw steel tank, brushed one direction/polished then 3 coats of clear
Custom seat/upholstery/rear plate
Custom LED tail light
Custom license plate mount/plate light
Custom fairings
Cut/chopped/welded new rear frame
Custom gutted/fiberglass packed exhaust
Ol'skool foam grips
6"round headlight
Bar-end mirrors
retro cat-eye front/rear turn signals
Aluminum coolant bottle
Woodcraft 26mm clip-ons
front tire Pirelli Diablo 110/70-16
rear tire Pirelli Diablo 140/70-16
Galfer SS front brake line
cellphone mount which I use for my speedo
air-pod/jetted
2012 Ninja 250 adjustable rear shock
Pager Alarm
















Will get some better pic's soon, has been raining

Where did you get the exhaust?

[Triple Jim]

Originally Posted by Saenz4931

Where did you get the exhaust?

Retro Ninja hasn't been on this board since 2013, but if I had to guess I'd say it's a modified stock system. It looks like he shortened the mufflers and moved the end caps forward. The black bands around the rear may be where he painted the welds he made.