The Low Budget Yamaha SR250 Custom is Complete! EP 7
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- čas přidán 27. 10. 2019
- From a non-running bike to a low-budget Yamaha SR250 custom build in two months - it's been a challenging, fun, and educational journey! I hope you've enjoyed watching these vids as much as I've enjoyed making them. In this video I take the bike for a ride through the countryside and think back about the build, explaining some of the choices made and challenges encountered along the way. If you haven't watched the other videos in this build series you can use this playlist to see them all: bit.ly/344S2uR
Here are links to parts used in the build. As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner I earn from qualifying purchases:
Gas Tank: ebay.to/2MhGRaV
Headlight Grill: amzn.to/2OM4w6n
Fork Boots: amzn.to/2MhkV0V
Handlebars: amzn.to/2MFfJmn
Grips: amzn.to/2OWZFiX
Rear Tire: ebay.to/2LRYqzC
Primer: amzn.to/2J9iStI
Burgundy paint: amzn.to/2oXGUkE
Semi-gloss black paint: amzn.to/2P5n0yW
Clear coat: amzn.to/33IGInW
Metal cleaner/polish: amzn.to/2P6GFhQ
Steel wool: amzn.to/2BvAagG
If you enjoy this video I hope you’ll give it a “like” and will consider hitting the subscribe button. Have a comment or thought? Please leave it below…comments are always encouraged and appreciated! For more content you can also follow me on Instagram at / jimmytmoto and at my website, jimmytmoto.com .
This channel is for motorcycle riders, mechanics, and enthusiasts who enjoy the simple joys of motorcycling, from dual sport riding to fixing up old bikes on a budget. My videos also consider the perspective of short motorcycle riders (when it’s helpful and relevant) in choosing and modifying bikes and equipment.
I’ve been hooked on motorcycles since 1975 when, at the age of 11, my dad brought home a shiny new Suzuki TM75 for me and a Suzuki TC185 for himself so that we could trail ride together in the hills of West Virginia. Since then I’ve worked as a mechanic, owned countless bikes, and even worked in the motorcycle industry for a number of years as a photographer and journalist. Now I do mainly video production and enjoy nothing more than making and sharing these motorcycle videos on CZcams.
Thanks again for watching. Ride safe!
- jimmytmoto - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Thanks for the great support for this build series! The very best part of this journey is connecting with other SR250 owners and hearing your stories and memories...please keep them coming.The SR was only imported here in the U.S. for three years but it has such a faithful following. It really is the definition of the simple, small, fun motorcycle.
Where can I get the carburetor rebuild kit that you used? I just picked up one of these bikes today that I plan to rebuild myself.
Loved the video's.
I was 17 back in October 1980, and I bought a brand new SR250. It cost me £799!
In the UK, they were called US Customs and later Specials.
The Dealer was Tony Rutter Motocycles, who was a racer, and later, his son Michael Rutter who followed in his Dad's footsteps.
Bought one new in 1981 and had a lot of fun with it. It was an interesting bike!
I loved this whole series. Watched it in one go from episode 1. Well done.
I like the tank bracket idea
I just completed all the episodes. Why was I watching? Well, my interest in finally starting to ride along with my neighbors, who have been riding for years, has put me on the search for an older 250 to start out with (I have never ridden before). I am not a gear head, nor am I mechanically capable to do much with a bike for any type of restoration. However, on my search about 250's, I came across this video series and I was just drawn to the production of this series and learned so much along the way. All I can say is thank you for sharing your passion, your project so wonderfully that made watching so much more enjoyable.
I really appreciate the kind words, kezug, it's great to have you along for the ride! I'm glad the videos are a help and that they're helping you begin your journey into motorcycling. Best wishes and keep us posted!
Liking the handlebars. I've got an SR125, with Renthal ultra low road bars on it. The Yamaha SR250 are rare in the UK.
Great information Jimmy, I have just bought one of these and am using, your video's to help me do the different jobs on it. Thank you so much. Mike in the UK 09.08.23.
My dad had a BSA B25 Starfire with a metal tank. This bike reminds me quite a bit of the BSA right down to the bend of the bars, the grips and the fork boots. I remember an Exciter 250 being in the showroom when I bought my '82 Yamaha Seca 400. Nifty little bike. I like what you did with it.
Thanks a bunch! It's quite a compliment that this reminds you of your dad's BSA...my dad's Triumph was an inspiration here, too.
“I don’t remember any motorcycle company doing that.” That’s 80’s Yamaha for you. Always innovating, always pushing the limits. Sometimes it caused the model to be a sales flop. Other times it caused the bike to sell like tea in England. That is why Yamaha has all these die hard fans. Because no other Japanese motorcycle company had the balls to do what they did.
There are three Yamahas in the garage right now, though that was never the plan, and I'm definitely in a Yamaha phase. Now I'm remembering some of the funky stuff they did on the YZs in the 80s...a rear brake master cylinder tied into the rear shock, I think? The BASS system? One of those that was probably best forgotten.
I remember those linked brakes. Some liked em’ some hated em’. And that Brake Actuated Suspension System always kicked in whenever you hit the brakes.
Just reaffirms my love for the SR250. I also live in Ohio and ride a custom 81 exciter.
I’m in Georgia and bought one from a guy in Ohio, I guess they sold well there
i like u ideas and way u tell u storys amazing .
One of the best build videos I've watched on CZcams to date, I absolutely love this bike because it was the first bike I ever owned 😁
Thanks a bunch, I love the SR250, too!
Hey Jimmy, thanks for the wonderful video, and for all your detailed thoughts. Not enough people take the time to share what was going through their minds when it comes down to the true details of a project like this one, what it honestly costs, what it honestly takes. I am here with you, and determined to share my deeper thoughts, because I have a 1982 SR250 that I love very dearly (plus an entire second bike worth of parts), sitting neglected in my garage, that all may well be too far gone to bother. If you had your dad's original bike still in the back corner, but all rusty and worn out, you would surely feel the same kind of torn between "I can do this" and "It's not worth it." There has been a solid decade where too many other priorities (my kids) took precedence over "I can do this." My SR250 is my dad's original bike, that he rode with me while I was on my SR185, and that I inherited from him when he quit riding. It's hard to let that go, but between my XT250 and my XT225, it's hard to find the time not riding to bother.
Now, I have a single point of criticism, regarding fixing that tank (don't throw it away): you could have soldered it yourself, or if washing it out completely with hot water and strong dish soap wasn't enough to ease your healthy fear of explosions, then you could have epoxy patched it. I raise this criticism not because I think you were wrong to buy an aftermarket tank, that's a fair enough answer to provide perfectly equal function (hold lots of gas) to the original. I raise this because other people may be in the same situation, but want to keep the original tank for whatever reasons, and they should be encouraged that it's honestly easy enough to patch some bottom-of-tank rust pinholes using epoxy or solder. Anyone with the basic skills to be sprucing up an SR250 almost 40 years later, is going to be very well capable of doing a sufficient job of this common repair. It isn't magic, no special products or expert professional service providers are required, any old epoxy will work 100%, or else any torch and solder (and flux). If you can solder copper plumbing pipes, you can patch this tank in the time it takes for the solder to cool (after sanding it clean and applying flux). If you can mix some $1.50 Dollar Store 5-minute epoxy, you can do the same with epoxy, and maybe you need to add something, any kind of fiber(even toilet paper, Q-tip fuzz or dryer lint), to help bridge the widest gaps. And if the tank is already fully spotless inside from vinegar and salt, then maybe you could pour some epoxy inside too, even if it's just a couple of tubes of that $1.50 stuff, to let it settle in the very bottom corners where water in the gas settled to cause those rust spots in the first place.
That should be enough said to spark the imagination of anyone facing this problem. Now to spark your imagination, I will suggest what to fill your rear space with, and pitch my case for a FUCKOFF HUGE box on the back: I present to you the 24 gallon Rubbermaid Actionpacker www.rubbermaid.com/ProductDisplay?catalogId=30051&productId=52766 . No, I am not kidding, there is one of those 24 gallon boxes on the back of my SR250, bolted to some plywood bolted to the metal carrier on the back. It is the best thing I've ever had on the back of a bike, it almost completely bridges the gap between bike and small car, in terms of what you can carry in it. Need to go grocery shopping? No problem, feed your family. Want to do a camping trip? You can include the kitchen sink and a king size bed in your packing list. After living with this box on the back, I will never be able to undo the change in perspective I gained by how useful it is. The magic is that such a huge box weighs almost nothing, and is honestly unbreakable, which is probably a unique combination of properties for anything with that HUGE volume. My only complaint was that my 24 gallon box was mounted too far back and too-wide sideways, out behind the passenger seat. You can mount it length wise and much farther forwards by putting it right behind your short front seat. That was my plan, if I ever revived my SR250. And it may well be my plan for how to move forward on my XT225, given the practical reality is that I don't double anybody but my doggy who rides in the box on the back. The problem being that the normal kind of (generic rubbermaid style) plastic bin I currently have on the back, is already broken because it just wasn't strong enough to handle the bike falling over against a tree when I chickened out riding up a slippery bluff in the rain. Those action packers are honestly indestructible, it's a miracle of modern materials science that they exist at all.
My XT250 has the 8 gallon action packer on the back, literally tied down to the stock rear handles and the (weird) tail light mount using very strong braided nylon string. It adds almost nothing to the weight, but can accommodate a useful small grocery shopping trip, and most normal random town trips. It does the job without being FUCKOFF HUGE, and it cost something like $40 instead of the $400 you would expect any "proper" motorbike box to cost. It's also bigger than most "proper" carrier boxes, and that's still only 1/3 the size of the 24 gallon miracle that still weighs almost nothing and cannot be broken.
Hey exploder69 I always enjoy and appreciate your comments, thanks for everything you're adding. That we both have XT225s and SRs is pretty unreal...now I need to go get an XT250 to keep up (I actually sat on one yesterday)!
I go through phases where I really enjoy working on bikes and then phases where I just want to ride...but, as you've said, there's only so much time. And my mountain bike has been gathering dust the past couple years and it would be great if there's was time for that, too. As for your dad's bike, I totally get it. What I've realized about myself is that it's hard to commit to a full-on restoration and doing one often takes WAY more time and money than something is worth in just $$$ because you can go crazy in pursuit of perfection. Plus, I'm not much on fixing something up just to look at it, they're made to be ridden, in my mind. That said, I have unlimited appreciation for people that DO have the patience and skills to do full-on restorations. Maybe someday I'll get there. But if I was in your position I'd think about spending a couple weekends doing the basic stuff on the bike, checking compression, spark, cleaning the carb. If you can get the engine running then that might encourage you to continue, or maybe not. Thinking of my own dad, he'd probably be more appreciative just knowing it was running, rather than looking all nice and shiny.
As for the SR250 tank, that's a totally fair criticism. I've definitely held onto it and it's sitting on a nearby shelf. Maybe I'll make a restoration vid with it this winter...??? There was some hesitation on my part with it, also, because I was torn between just patching it to get it going or doing a nice restoration. Then, when the eBay tank appeared I knew that's how I wanted to go with it. Problem solved. But I have a feeling the SR tank will be revisited.
I dig your plug for Rubbermaid and love the nickname for the 24 gallon box. It's on the list. :)
Hey just wanted to say this video series was amazing. Bought myself a 1980 SR 250 for my first motorcycle in 2017 and overhauled mine similar to the way you did , under the supervision of my dad. Great bike, I plan to ride it for many more years!
Thanks, Josh! It’s such a great first bike to learn on for both riding and wrenching. I especially like that you did it with your dad…that’s how I learned and the memories are priceless. Ride safe!
Very cool build! Sounds like it's vibrating.
Thanks, Mark! I'm glad you enjoyed the build, it was such fun to work on. I haven't listened to the video in awhile but haven't been aware of any vibrations. I'm actually really sensitive to that stuff, including little noises...they drive me crazy!
Loved the video! I hope I find one of these for bargain someday too. Love small engine bikes!
Thanks, Matte! And just keeping looking for one of these, it took me over a year of checking Craigslist before one turned up. It was worth the wait, though, and the bike has been a blast!
A tip about what I experienced lately. If the break light is constantly BRIGHTER (regardless you hit the break or not) , make sure the switch/connector (right hand side, just left of front break handlebar, color grey on my bike) is properly attached to each sides. Simple is that! Don't look elsewhere.
Really enjoyed watching the build!! I really want to do something similar eventually
You can do it!
Thanks for the ride Jimmy, and your personal thoughts too.
I like the "small" bikes for their low weight and nimbleness and am considering replacing my KLR650 with something similar if I come across one in decent condition.
Keep Safe
Keep the rubber side down
Regards from S Africa
Clive
Good luck with your small bike search. I'd think the KLR would be perfect for travels but the small bikes are such a blast around town and on the trails. Let me know how it goes!
I’ve got one of these but mine has the storage compartment. It may look goofy but I love the thing. I may have to grab a second seat to swap it with when needed though.
I passed my CBT on a SR125 it was an ok bike but a little small for me, Ive enjoyed watching this series I like your style, much like my own with my gsx project! enjoy the bike and ride safe!
Right on! And thanks for mentioning your channel, I just subbed. Ride safe!
@@jimmytmotoThanks for the sub much appreciated!
PSSST
Your signal is still on. xD
I think the 'Big Funky Trunk' was for courier duty.
I had bought my first bike 87 bmw k100 rt to learn to ride and learn maintenance on. After that nightmare of fixing the previous owners screw ups (over torqued screws and cross threaded nuts) I just want something simple. Doing the work isn't hard from what I found, it's getting the confidence to fuck something up fixing it again haha. That's why I want a little sr250/500; Simple and basic.
100%! Coming from the Beemer, working on one of these is a breeze. The SRs are all super simple and they used basically the same engine in the street, off-road, and dual sport models...it was such a simple time. I even really appreciate things like the drum brakes, they're just a cable, shoes, and a couple springs. Let me know if you locate an SR!
@@jimmytmoto will do! I plan on doing a restoration/scrambler build series when I get it.
Hey, where did you buy that tank?
Fantastic job glad to see it running like a champ!! I bought a Sr185 9 years ago bought all the parts to turn it into a bobber and never finished it still sitting in the garage you gave me inspiration to finally complete the project!! Is it much different than yours or is it just a smaller engine on the Sr185?? Thank you so much and Ride Safe brother!
Good luck with the project, Leo, it's great to hear you're taking it on! I honestly don't have a lot of info on the SR185 so I looked up tire sizes and the SR185 has a smaller front. So I wouldn't just assume the parts will interchange. If you're looking for a specific part you can look up the OEM parts on bikebandit.com, click on the part number, and see if it cross references to another model. Now, here's something interesting...the SR185 crankshaft appears to be the same as Yamaha's popular TW200 (but not the SR250)! Thanks heaps for watching and keep me posted!
@@jimmytmoto Thanks for the reply! And that is something I had no idea same crankshaft as the Tw200! Sweet I will pull it out this weekend and see what I have now that I think about it it might actually be an Sr250! Never really checked and honestly havent paid much attention to it in 9 yrs . I wanted to build classic Indian scout inspired bobber.. will upload some videos on here so you can see my hopefully not so epic fail! Will sure keep you updated man you got some skills! Your bike looks beautiful! And thank you again for your info on how to find parts I didn't know were to begin!
Not sure if u still respond to comments but I’m just now watching these since I’m trying to restore a sr250 of my own that’s been sitting around for a few years. I don’t know much ab motorcycles and in the middle of its last ride it just stopped running and was bad enough that it skidded to a stop. Any idea what might’ve happened?
How fast do these things go
Love it.. I am a huge fan of SR250. Have two of those, 81 & 82. When I got the second one for parts purposes, then, turned out works perfectly. I also experienced heavy/flat tire issue at purchasing. Tires did not have enough air in them, and, it was almost impossible to get wheels turning. Funny, enough!!
Can I ask you/everyone a favour? Since SRs are quite old and we don't have original engine sound in my ears, would you mind making another video about sound of the engine you have when idling and a bit revving on stand.When riding during your video, seems quite silent but was not sure if you had noise cancellation on your camera. Thanks for sharing.
It's cool to hear you have two SRs and what a bonus that the parts bike is a runner, too! And I'll definitely make a video with engine sounds before long. With the stock exhaust it has a distinctive "putter" at idle, to my mind, and the bike revs freely. On this video I was so concerned with capturing voice that it happened at the expense of the engine sound.
I would look into the 'roll pin' mod for oiling the camshaft!!!!!
My exhaust was rusted out under the bike myself, and seems too common.
@@jimmytmoto Super! Looking forward to that.
@@corvairkid17 I have been thinking about that camshaft noise too. Not terrible but don't mind improving it. Would you mind elaborating on 'roll pin' mod? Thanks,.
Ken To There was a TSB issued by Yamaha. I don't have it handy. The crankshaft apparently sucks too much oil due to centrifugal force, and at high RPM the camshaft will starve for oil.
If there's not a "dot" punched above the "-" [dash] in the engine serial number, it hasn't been done. Like 3y6-86383 after "3y6" there should be a dot.
You hammer a roughly 6.5 or 7mm into the right side of the crankshaft. It will be of a specified length. There's a genuine Yamaha part for $20. I bought a $2 roll pin. I hammered the SHIT out if it, and every hammer blow made me cringe. It marred the pin up too, and I had to hand scrape it to the proper inner diameter.
In conclusion, I would give the $20 roll pin a try if I did it again lmao
And yes, it increased oil flow. My intake rocker was DEAD at 7,500miles. Did the oil mod, and the camshaft gradually wore until it was noticably slow at 14k miles.
Mature guy!! Don't need new shit, just need to know how!!
Right on!
Whats the top speed of that motorbike. .? The real top top speed. ..
With the stock engine and gearing it tops out around 75mph...as long as there's no head wind.
WHO DISLIKED?
sorry that speedo is butt ugly. cool build though
Thanks, Jeff! I totally get it on the speedo...it's an oddball. But at some point I changed my mind and thought, hey, maybe it's so ugly it's actually kinda cool. It's certainly unique.