Hey guys, New member here, first time posting and have only just signed on after stumbling across this forum whilst researching my little "project" bike that I keep losing/regaining interest in... The beasty in question is a 1978 Suzuki GT 250 X7. I came across it whilst looking (dreaming) through a JUST BIKES rag and I was instantly intrigued... I could feel myself falling for it as every time I picked up the magazine, I couldn't open it up to the page the bike was on quick enough! The asking price wasn't too offensive but with 2 children and another on the way, one wage and work needing to be done on the family car and house, I just couldn't get the spare funds in hand as they were already spoken for... Well, I must of talked about the bike alot at work because the boss said to me if he loaned me the money for it would I shut up about the effing thing?!? Haha...!! I made the call, the bike was still available, I pretty much bought it sight unseen over the phone and the following Saturday morning it was loaded onto the back of my F-100, heading back to Melbourne from Geelong. Stoked was an understatement. My cheeks were sore from grinning the whole 90 minute drive home lol... So the bike used to be a racer, the (previous) owner told me. He mentioned a bloke by the name of Ron Read and Isle of Mann, but I wasn't listening. I was fantasising about how good my first ride was going to be once I got it through the pits and fresh rego... 10 years on I really do wish I was paying attention as that sort of stuff means more to me now. He mentioned something about a new motor and that it needs to be tuned and something about taking it easy until that's done blah blah... I was soon to regret not heeding the man's warning... Long story short, I hurt the motor. Gave it a big rev (showing off) after a few beers with some of the boys and she started making a rattling sound from within (I think) the bottom end. Dammit! When I'm sober I'll have to check that! The next morning I sheepishly approached the garage, wishing the events the day before were only a dream but, no, when I cranked it by hand there was that rattle again... Idiot!! I lost interest and basically ignored it for the next few years. Tried (not very hard) selling it a couple of times to no avail... So she came with spares... A Haynes workshop manual, a milk crate full of bits and pieces, random plastics, headlight, speedo etc, a set of forks that had a spare front alloy wheel bolted in, and an almost complete second GT 250 X7, missing barrels, pistons, top end and carbies. It looked like I had everything to make a road going missile out of the race bike! (I wish I hadn't blown it up!) So moving forward to present day z just a few days ago I decided to look up GT 250 X7's on You Tube and I started to get excited again! I was soaking everything up I could find which led me here, which I'm super happy about as there seems to be a very nice vibe about this place with a solid knowledge base and friendly atmosphere (which is appealing for the types like myself who don't have much of a clue) So, yeah, I just wanted to say hi and see what you guys thought of the old girl and what I should be doing. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to split the cases unfortunately... Here's some pics! First ones are when I got it and the other's are yesterday. I think you'll be able to tell... Thanks guys, and I look forward to chatting with some of you especially if you've got a soft spot for these old vert twin 'smokers... Cheers for now, Crackles. https://photos.app.goo.gl/pPMgx2ZFnvt7dNfP7 I'm not sure if that link will work. If it doesn't bare with me I'll do some individual pics.
Hello Crackles. Welcome to the forum , and WOW what a grand entrance you've made with the X7. Was a bit of a bummer that the history of the bike is mostly lost , but you never know , pictures might jog peoples memory's and you may find more info on the bike. No problem with the link , it loaded up fine for me. As per the pictures , yep i can tell there is a bit of difference , the picture of the bike above look's really sad and un-loved and needs a cuddle BUT the other's are after rebuild , well , you've done a cracker of a job . As for beer and the big rev of the bike , fifty lash's across the back for hurting the bike .
Welcome aboard Crackles. Your story telling skills will come in handy on this forum. We all love a good story. There are plenty of 2-stroke fans and experts on here, so you're among friends. There's a thread on here somewhere (I couldn't find it) that was posted years ago by another X7 owner who did a great custom build. But, in the interim, one of the Brisbane crew recently rebuilt (more like brought it back from the dead!) an X7... https://www.2fiftycc.com/index.php?threads/gt250-fun-and-games.10673/ Edit: Found it... https://www.2fiftycc.com/index.php?threads/cafe-racer-project-kiffstas-old-gt250.1052/page-4
Hey Crackles, this guys YouTube channel is a good watch if you’re restoring https://www.youtube.com/c/AndysMotorcycleObsessions
