What an amazing job you've done...2 years in the making but OMG how worthwhile is it Congratulations Ben!!
Well done Ben ..... its looks great ...... did u have to pay for that cool dude to pose on your bike during the photo shoot?
Nice work Ben. Perhaps you should go down a main jet size in each carb and see if that improves the throttle response.
I have made a discovery. If I power past the 7000rpm mark (flat spot in the carburettor) the bike opens up, and these carbs deliver some serious power. I'm actually really surprised!!! Makes me a little nervous when it gets going. What an amazing feeling.
I can confirm that it doesn't sound anything like a standard GSX250. Those carbs and the 2 into 1 shorty exhaust give it a nice sound at idle and ear-shattering brutal noise at revs. Sounds like it revs higher than a standard bike too. Ben has done an excellent job and developed a very unique bike. I'm looking forward to going for a ride with him in the near future.
I've had some dramas... Firstly the battery charging issue. The battery I had in the bike had popped a cell, so that explains the low charge all the time, once I had changed that however I rode over to the mechanic and they discovered that 1 of the 3 phases coming out of the bike wasn't operating. After re-insulating the cable coming out of the engine it was fixed and ready to ride Until I got 500m down the road...... dead. Walked it back and after 20 mins diagnosing with a voltmeter it turns out the 3rd phase becoming active fried the regulator/rectifier. So after a $12 R/R replacement the bike was fine again. Took it for a shakedown around the block 2 times just to make sure and the cam chain tensioner popped off... I heard a massive rattling and turned the bike off, the mechanic tightened the tensioner, but then the bike wouldn't start. Turns out (a week later) that the cam tensioner coming loose had jumped 3 teeth on the timing, I hadn't kissed any valves luckily! So after a replaced cam tensioner the bike was starting and riding. But because of the CR specials being rather large venturi carburettors I need to get the bike tuned. Wide open throttle is fine! And fun, but its really not appropriate or comfortable in all situations. I'd rather pay the money to have it tuned propperly and not: Blow smoke (rich) Change spark plugs every ride Die when I open the throttle too much out of a corner and low-side into a Honda odyssey So, in two-ish weeks I'll have a gopro video of how it rides for all of you who are too far away to come see it and or come for a ride
Geez Ben, you've been to hell and back with your GSX... the next one will be a walk in the park for you. Talk soon. Frank
Nice project Ben. Your efforts paid off big time. The bike came a long way. Your build is being featured in the BikeBuilds.net directory here: Ben Mulligan's GSX 250E Cafe Racer Build. We’re currently displaying only a reduced-size photo (similar to what you’d find in Google Images). We'd like to ask for your permission to publish the original full-size image with your build listing. If anyone would like to have a build of their own listed, just shoot me a PM with a link to the build thread and we’ll take care of the rest. If you wish to add your build personally, please feel free to peruse our Submit feature. No registrations required. Admins, kindly delete this post if deemed inappropriate. Al
Thank you Albertus. Yes, I'm rather proud of my work after all of this. Firstly, I would prefer to be asked before my material was taken from this site and used elsewhere, given the option to list my bike first, or at least approve before it goes public, would be a much more satisfactory approach for my liking. I've read your Fair Usage policy and your T+C's and being that I didn't post the content I did not yet agree to the usage of my material. Something to keep in mind for future requests. Secondly, yes that's fine, you can post a higher resolution photo. As long as the link threads back to this forum and the information remains the copyright of me and or 2fiftycc. Thanks ~B
The bike has been in the shop for a few weeks trying to sort out a slapping noise inside the rocker cover, turns out these chain tensioners can be really particular in how they are set up. After tightening it properly my bike is back on the road. I've also found a wrecker with a 1985 engine in factory black with less kilometres on it so I might buy that as a backup, or work on it on the bench for a while and drop it in. Took it for my first night ride today, she's not fast but shes loud! Turns some heads. I'm buying a gopro hero 4 tomorrow so look out for some videos
Hi Ben, Good to hear you're back on the roads. Shitty Melbourne weather should be more helpful today. I have a GoPro Hero3 Black Edition that I've never used. Happy to sell it to you for a reasonable price. Ring me if you're keen. Catch up for a ride now that you're out and about again. Cheers Frank
Hi Mate! Great to hear you're on the road. ME TOO!! They aren't very quick are they ha ha but they are loud! Also...I'm running pods/uni filters...and i'm not having any issues. I hope yours is running sweet too!
Thanks Grey, I still think she sounds a little rattly, but going back to the original video I had recorded of it when I bought it it has a mechanical kind of clack to it. Do you know what I mean? Not like these super modern inline fours etc where there's no noise. I think i'll still purchase that second engine tomorrow as a bench project to see if I can get the CR specials to run on it. Imagine what I can do. Also a model turned up on set the other day with a GS500 and it LOOKED as if the engine mounts were in the same place. Perhaps I should find a wrecker and measure it up first, see if I can get that engine into the lighter bike and the CR specials might suit it better.
As good as the barkes are...I think a gs500 in that little frame etc, the brakes won't be good enough. :-(