So picked up a 1985 yamaha sxr250 with SA rego plate still attached (no compliance plate so seeking exemption to use on the road) search shows chassis numbers all match to original. Surprisingly engine runs well and all gears work. Needs a few missing pieces replaced but mostly there. Im not doing original as just dont think the end result is worth the $$ Looking for thoughts on if I should sell to someone as original, part out or finish my build as parts seem hard to find and expensive. Photo attahed is bike as is and an idea of what im thinking for build(with changes to keep road legal)
Hi. Here's my two cent's worth and no offence on the following.To me , finding a bike that has matching engine and frame is a bike worth saving. Your's has matching number's and it hasn't been butchered and it's mostly all there , and what i can see it's in really nice condition another bonus.There getting hard to find these day's as most have been abused / un-loved. I'f your going to chop it up and fit balloon tires off a enduro bike as like the bottom picture show's , sell the bike to someone that will bring it back to life how the bike was designed for , a tar road. I'f you'd like a bike like the second picture show's , just buy a big bore KTM motard. As a owner of a SRX 250 myself , they are one beautiful bike to ride , so smooth / nimble / super light / and to me one nice looking bike. Like any rebuild it's going to cost money , but done right they will alway's be worth money and if kept original it will hold value even more , insurance wise that is. Look up my old post and see how mine turned out.Trust me , insurance wise you'd be surprised what they can be valued at. OR , just hang onto it / store it well / look after it and start looking for the part's you need.You may change you mind.
Welcome to the forum The missing compliance plate wont mean anything different when going to register it. Just download and print off a MR1 Form from EZYREG and fill in the detail's and take the form in and transfer it into your name and register it, wont be a problem as you have the old number plate still. https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/15553/MR1.pdf Here is @2valve 's SRX250 thread https://2fiftycc.com/index.php?threads/yamaha-srx-250cc.9089/ @Andych 's SRX250 thread https://2fiftycc.com/index.php?threads/yamaha-srx-250-3wp.9076/ And @Oigy 's SRX250 thread https://2fiftycc.com/index.php?threads/1984-yamaha-srx250-51y.10613/ Have a read through these if you haven't already and it may help inspire you to fix it up originally I don't think the part's you need would be too hard to find
Thanks for your thoughts, I wasnt really sure what it was when I got it but thought it would be a fun project. Plan atm is get bike road legal and rego sorted. I might then see if someone wants it for restoration before doing any mods. If I cant sell then I'll prob go ahead with basic modification
Good... I see you found us here... welcome aboard. I am with @2valve with what I believe you should do with it... before you go modifying it in any way... get it registered and ridable (roadworthy) and take it for a spin.. I think you will find out why we say to keep it as per factory (I am probably the last one to advise on this lol). If you decide to go down the modification route... best to try as hard as possible to NOT cut anything etc and to ensure it is able to be returned to original specs. That bigger picture shows it is in pretty good nick.. at least aesthetically. Mechanically they are easy to work on and pretty solid and reliable.. Stuff like side covers, Air box (dont use pods... you will never get it tuned right) are easy.. I think I have spares here that would work. I even have a rear mudguard, tail-lamp for it (my build to 3WP spec uses a slightly different one). Dont worry too much about no front fairing.. they were available as a naked bike from the factory as well as the same as @2valve bike. By the way.. @2valve 's bike is probably the top end of restorations on these.. and he will be the first to tell you it isnt cheap but you dont need to go to that level to have a great little road bike.
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for asking our opinion about what to do with your new (35YO) bike. As you can tell, the majority of our SRX owner/members would prefer you didn't cut or customise the bike, but it is your bike. I can only agree with the other comments posted. Having owned several SRX250's I can also confirm how great these little bikes are. I'm writing because I did a resto on one, a minor change on another and a Rat Bike with another. When I decided to move on from the SRX (still regret it) they all sold quickly as different buyers had different motivations. The resto went to a collector as it was in "original" condition. He never even rode it. My wife's SRX went to a young lady who was learning to ride and loved the look of the bike and low seat. Even the Rat Bike was snapped up quickly by middle age guy who loved the look of the bike (back then Matt Black was a rare colour). At no point did I cut any of the bikes so all of them could have been put back to standard look and factory specs if someone wanted to spend the money. It was way easier (and cheaper) for me to customise than to restore. Getting it road legal and rego sorted is a good start. Cheers
Nice little bike, I have one myself, love it, I agree with the previous comments about not cutting anything from the frame etc so that the bike can be returned to its original specs, however you now own the bike in a modified spec, and pleasingly so if you don't mind me saying so, unfortunately this site doesn't seem to like free expression when building up a bike, after all doesn't building something one off give you a challenge & uses your imagination to complete the bike as you dreamed of. Check out my version of a Cafe Racer build of one of these little beauts. Go to Non 2 fifty projects Yamaha AG 100 R project & read the end of it, there you will see pics of the project & problems I came across. But yes please, change those Tires. P.S. these DOHC 4 valve twin throat carb engines produce over 30 bhp @ around 10,000 rpm not the miserly 17 hp that a lot of publications state
Thanks for everyones feedback, What has everyone found is a good tyre for these for both handling and looks, dont seem to be a huge selection on offer for front's
I have a contact that has been super helpful. I'll find the email for you. Has some good info that will help. Pretty sure he's your way also.
Air box vs pod filters Has anyone done a tune to suit pods instead of the airbox? If so what jets did you use And if there is no great way if tuning does anyone have an airbox to suit lying around?
Hi Buddy , the smart guy's on the Forum say's that pad's do not suit CV carb's.I just stayed with the factory set up as the airbox also hold's the battery and also other electric's for the bike to run.Plus the airbox is part of the rear mudguard.Also what i was informed via a Yamaha agent , is before i fit the NEW O.E oiled foam filter is to squeeze the excess oil out , i wasn't aware of this so will have to pull the filter out to check.
My XT250T 4V (pretty much the same engine/carby) has a foam filter fitted inside the original airbox, i needed to fit 1 size smaller on the main jet to get it running sweet at wot or close to it
