Racer X's cafe racer

[Racer x]

I had to relocate everything on the bike. I tried to use all new wiring . But the plug to the ignition box and voltage regulator had a special connector. I know I can get a new one with the pins . But I am on a budget and just soldered new wire one inch from the plug and used heat shrink tubing to insulate hold and cover the old wire piece. I used new color coded wire and made a new wiring harness. That was not how to do it on cafe racer.net

[choneofakind]

...glad I'm on ninjette.org geez.

[Racer x]

I don't mind being told I did something wrong . But you would think he would explain what is wrong . Rather than just saying I should not use solder on motorcycle wiring. The funny thing is ,I think the 250 ninja is a perfect platform for a cafe racer. It has a twin cylinder engine and a steel frame . Parts are easy to get and cheap. They run well have disc brakes and 16 and 17 inch wheels. Why not promote that rather then cutting up the last remaining 350 Hondas? Not that there is anything wrong with doing that. But as a first project or even as practice the 250 ninja is cheap.

[choneofakind]

hmm if I had a second bike, I would consider turning the 250 into a cafe racer.

[Racer x]

Having done it with this bike. I learned alot. It is easy to do but like anything it is easy to fail. I am thinking of building a second one for the street. There is a lot I would different.

[choneofakind]

I'd probably start with a front brake and a headlight.

But seriously, what would you do differently?

Now that you've done head work, would you do it again to the street-oriented one or not? If so, to degree would you consider to not be over-kill for benefit on a bike just meant for street use? Just trying to pick your brain here.

[Racer x]

I would do what ever I can to the engine to make lots of reliable powe. The main thing I would do is send the frame to Frame Crafters. They can do a better job of stretching the frame and making a seat and rearsets than I feel I can do without a jig. The rest would be more show than go. The bike I have now is a pure race bike.

[Racer x]

I am getting the bike ready for the Ohio Mile speed trials in three weeks . While I have the body off to set up the nitrous I took some better photos of the bike with out the fairing.This is how I drag race and run it in the modified class land speed racing.

[Countersteer]

Great looking bike, man! Inspiring!

[Mountain Dew]

She's a beauty man. Still totally jealous. My cafe still looks like crap

[alex.s]

eric don't you know, you're supposed to fuse wires together with bubblegum and ducttape, not solder!

if you could guestimate, roughly how much time and money have you spent on this engine / bike setup? its a pregen with nitrous, port/polished, high compression pistons and ignition timing? stock valve timing? like 36hp without the nos right? you have 17 inch rims on it though right? are they from the new gen? i thought you said this in another thread somewhere but i can't find it.

i'm wondering how much work it is to make the ninja 250 competitive with the aprilia rs125 2 stroke

[Racer x]

Originally Posted by alex.s

eric don't you know, you're supposed to fuse wires together with bubblegum and ducttape, not solder!

if you could guestimate, roughly how much time and money have you spent on this engine / bike setup? its a pregen with nitrous, port/polished, high compression pistons and ignition timing? stock valve timing? like 36hp without the nos right? you have 17 inch rims on it though right? are they from the new gen? i thought you said this in another thread somewhere but i can't find it.

i'm wondering how much work it is to make the ninja 250 competitive with the aprilia rs125 2 stroke

The bike is a 2008 ninja. I bought it new and rode it as my sole means of transportation for two years. when I first started to raced.
Time wise I have spent everyday for five seasons working on the bike. Money wise I have not spent that much. I don't have any money so mostly it is time.
The engine is a 4mm over stock bore 265 cc engine from a 2009 Ninja, The head is ported and polished. Cam timing is just a little advanced on the exhaust cam, compression is 12.5 to 1. On the dyno the engine is about 34 hp. Then the Wizards of nitrous system should add another 30 to 40.

I am competitive with a RS125. around 110 mph. When I go with the nitrous. I hope to be competitive with a Yamaha TZ250 . That bike went 137mph no fairing. That would be nice but I don't think it will happen. for now I amstill trying to go 125mph or 200 KPH on a 250 ninja. It has never been done before,

[Racer x]

A cool photo from the track. I love the look . Is that noise really coming form a 250?

[alex.s]

no front brake? hehe

[k-os]

Originally Posted by alex.s

no front brake? hehe

Looks like a drum brake.

[choneofakind]

front brake /removed

[Racer x]

No front brakes.
Saves 11 lb and aerodynamic drag. Not only from the brake rotor but the lever and master cylinder was a big problem to fit inside the fairing. The back break works really well.

[alex.s]

this might be a bad idea but.... remove the rear and go flintstones style?

[Mountain Dew]

Why not just remove the rear brake too and upgrade your engine brake pads?

[Racer x]

Have to have rear brakes. Front brakes are optional untill 175 mph.

I don't use the brakes at all, just on the pits . But even the. I am only doing 10 mph . Usually I just drift up and Flintstone it.

[Bob2010]

Soo glad I saw this thread. I love everything in here. Great job on your bike. It looks perfect!

[Racer x]

Thanks I just love this bike.

[Somchai]

Eric, just this days I've been reading about the famous Friedel Muench (Creator of the Muench Mammut) again and I think his "Daytona-Bombe" is just looking like your cafe racer.
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/attac...1&d=1343131679

[Racer x]

I love the pipes. What size engine is that?

[Somchai]

the engine is from a car and has 1200 cc with 88 hp. in the car the engine has 65 hp. this was in 1966 and later the man build the same engine with injection designed by him self and the last mod was a turbo-version before in 2000 he came with a complete one designed engine with 2000 cc with 156 up to 250 hp with turbo.
this man is the absolut genius in motorcycles, important to say that he created everything by himself without using computers for design and long before the japanese companies or BMW came up with anything comparable.
Here you can read a little bit from him: http://www.muenchmotorbikes.com/en/h...el-muench.html

I forgot his most famous word, he always said in hope to translate it correct: "does not work - there's not..."

[675Raisinator]

one of the most incredible bikes I have ever come across. You should be very proud of it man. Would love to hear more about the process of the build particularly weight reduction strategies and where you aquired guages from.

[Racer x]

Thanks
I got the gauges from Koso North America. This was the first 250 ninja to get a Koso dash. I put it on in 2008. For weight reduction I mostly remove everything I don't need . Make everything out of aluminum and eat salad for lunch. The bike and me are under 500lb.

[Racer x]

I painted my wheels gold to match the original Aermacchi 250rr.

All the bikes with mag wheels had them a gold color. The silver wheels had spokes

[Racer x]

I am retiring the Cafe Racer.
This bike ran at the Ohio Mile for four years. It set multiple records and is currently holding the top no supercharged /modified 350-4 record at 123 mph. It had a great run. But the competition is ramping up and a new bike is needed to compete.

[greenaero]

You have had a great run with the Café Racer.
Best wishes on your next moto.

[Racer x]

Thanks Vic
That bike did good. Four years at Maxton then four at Ohio.

35 land speed records

first 250 ninja to go over 120 mph at Maxton and still the fastest 250 Ninja on earth.

It won three top ten points championships

and is the fastest non supercharged bike in the 350 class.

[akima]

Racer X:

That's an impressive record.

What will you do with the bike now that you are retiring it? Sell it? Polish it up and bring it indoors?

What are you going to get for your next bike?

[Racer x]

The bike will be a display in my shop. I'm going to build a shelf. Without the engine I can hang it from the ceiling with wires and have it sitting on a small shelf. Then just put it together enough to look like a complete bike.

My new bike is a 2010 ninja 250.
I used all my old parts from this bike plus some new stuff. The old bike was developed over a long period of time. The new bike will go from nothing to the starting line in four months.

There are so many little things I am doing to the new bike. It will be much better.