1986 Project

[GeekyReese]

Long time forum stalker, first time poster.
I came across this little beat-up 86-87 GPZ250R/EX250E, and for a wonderful $200 she's now mine. This is my first restoration project, so I know I'll eventually have a LOT of questions. Hope ya'll can help when the time comes.

[csmith12]

Welcome Reese!

Awesome score for 2 big faces! I love the first gens, very classic lines.

[dcj13]

Hi, Reese! Welcome! Looks like you're gonna have a lot of fun!

[Ghostt]

Welcome, I'm digging the the original Ninjette, good luck, and enjoy the restoration. I've done a few myself, and it's very rewarding experience.

[The Red Scourge]

Congrats! I love those '86-'87s. For $200, that's a steal! They seem to be pretty rare these days, even in that shape.

[reggae5]

Restoring can be fun. I've restored two Honda Helix's ( everytime I got done with them someone wanted to buy them)
I was lucky mine weren't in quite as rough shape as you'rs but then I had to pay more when I bought them.
You're just in time for a winter project
My last project upon completion

[GeekyReese]

Thank's for the welcome everyone!

And Reggae5, I hope that when I'm done that my 86 looks as good as your last project, how long did it take you to restore that?

Update:
So Yesterday I was so excited after loading up the bike and getting her home, that I stripped her down and started getting dirty. From what I was told and could figure out by eye, here's what I've been able to come up with.

The bad:
I need to Rebuild the engine, carbs, and petcock
I need a new right side peg plate/bracket, break pedal, coolant housing, gauge housing, battery, and a new gas tank. (I took a closer examination of the gas tank and it seems whatever happened to it, it was/is pretty bad, tons of small holes where it was welded, so whomever did the job, did it poorly)

The good:
The electrical looks fine (just took a glance at it, I'm hopeful), Brakes are new, Tires, Wheels, Frame is straight (has some rust here and there), Forks (there seems to be small rust and a little pitting towards the triple clamps), Lamps and bulbs are good, Radiator.

Question(s):
I know that the 88-07 250's have some interchangeable parts, but I was wondering if anyone knew about the 88-93 500's, I'm looking at the gauge housing and handle bar clamp/clip, are they compatible with the 86-87 250?

[reggae5]

Thanks GeekyReese Not sure how to figure the total time since I didn't work on it on a regular basis just as I could afford parts. That one in the picture is a 1987 one. ( retirement and SS doesnt combine for a big month paycheck lol )
Are you thinking of making your project a naked bike? You might want to consider it espically when you start checking the prices of even used fairing and plastic parts.

[GeekyReese]

Originally Posted by reggae5

Thanks GeekyReese Not sure how to figure the total time since I didn't work on it on a regular basis just as I could afford parts. That one in the picture is a 1987 one. ( retirement and SS doesnt combine for a big month paycheck lol )
Are you thinking of making your project a naked bike? You might want to consider it espically when you start checking the prices of even used fairing and plastic parts.

Gotcha. She's a beauty, do you still have/ride her?
(Don't tell me that, I can't wait for retirement )

I'm looking at fairings right now and their conditions... its ridiculous to say the least, but understandable considering how rare the bike is.
Eventually I'd like to restore her completely, but for the time being I'll be focusing on just getting her up and running again.

[alex.s]

that gas tank is sorta terrifying

[GeekyReese]

Originally Posted by alex.s

that gas tank is sorta terrifying

Your telling me! The photos of it don't do it justice on how scary the tank really looks.

[GeekyReese]

Here's the latest on this little babe.

Engine rebuild - done
Carb rebuild - done
Petcock rebuild - done
Seats - Re-upholstered
Fluids - flushed
Oilchange - done
New Coolant housing - received
New(ish) Side Pegs plate/brackets - received
New(ish) Break pedal - received
New(ish) Gas tank - received, rust removed, and painted.

Now I'm just waiting on the new solenoid, clutch and brake levers, handle bar grips, gauge housing, mirrors, and turn signals.

As of now she starts up, I have to adjust the carbs though because she's struggling to idle

My little (and messy) work area












Here's what she looks like as of now.

[Flying]

Looking good so far, great rescue effort.

Any estimation of the cost so far for those who are curious?

[spooph]

Damn, you move fast! Keep up the good work!

[GeekyReese]

Originally Posted by Flying

Looking good so far, great rescue effort.

Any estimation of the cost so far for those who are curious?

Sure!
Aside for the cost of the bike, I've spent the following;

• Used tank - $25
  Can of Rustoleum spray paint - $10 (2 cans)
  Various washers - $6
  Petcock rebuild kit - $12
  Engine rebuild - $0 (A friend had an old totaled Gen Two laying around, so I frankensteined what I needed off the motor for the rebuild. If you were to go to a shop, it'll run anywhere from $300 to $500 to rebuild it.)
  Carb kit - $30 ($15 for both carbs)
  K&N air filters - $5 per
  Used Coolant reservoir - $8
  Used Foot Brackets - $20 per side (the rear brake pedal came included)
  New Solenoid - $6
  Handlebar grips - $8
  Seats - Cloth $8 for four yards(Joanns fabrics was having a sale,normally around $6-8 a yard), industrial staples (unsure, I already had them. Check HomeDepot)
  Oil Filter - $8
  Oil - $8
  Coolant - $12
  New Battery - $40

Total spent so far = $231 (tack on another $15 - $20ish for staples and sand paper)

Ebay is your (and my) best friend. All the prices I listed include the Shipping and handling costs. Surprisingly most Ebay vendors were willing to haggle for their parts even though they didn't have a "Best offer" listing.

Originally Posted by spooph

Damn, you move fast! Keep up the good work!

Thanks! I would have posted this sooner, but I was waiting on parts to arrive in the mail.

[sharky nrk]

love it man, great job

[jkv45]

Great job!

Congrats on pulling off a complete resurrection on the cheap!

Quite a mess when you started.

[csmith12]

[Yamahawk]

There are two fairing halves on eBay that did not sell, I will post the links for you. $9.99 start bid and shipping, contact the fellow and see if he still has them, he did not relist them and they didn't sell.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161860390929...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161860390725...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I have an 86 that i am going to make a race bike from, there is ONE black fairing half listed also, here is that listing... pretty pricey, though!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310179807143...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Charlie
the Chaplain

[Yamahawk]

Question(s):
I know that the 88-07 250's have some interchangeable parts, but I was wondering if anyone knew about the 88-93 500's, I'm looking at the gauge housing and handle bar clamp/clip, are they compatible with the 86-87 250?

I can say for sure that the gauge clusters are identical, except for the tach face being only to 11,000 rpm, I combined the gauge housing from a 1989 EX500 with my 86 EX250, I can say for sure they are identical. The front plastic gauge cover is interchangeable and the rear housing is also. I actually took two of the rear housings, and plastic welded them together to make a single good rear housing. The wiring seems to be the same, also, I am not sure if the speedo is the same, but i would hazard to say it is. The outer black cover/shade is not the same, but there are so many similarities, the you could possibly trim it to the same shape as the EX250. Hope you can find a good one from an EX500 with intact mounting points. If so, you could swap it all from your EX250 into it.
Good luck brother!