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KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:33 pm
by NickHine
Hello everybody, I’ve just become an owner of a 1984 kr250a Japanese import, it looks like it’s been standing for many years but only has 4500kms on it. I’ve imported many bikes over the years but I’ve only ever had twi Kawasakis (I think) before. It’s hiding (from my wife) in the garage at present. Probably shouldn’t have bought it but couldn’t resist a tandem twin two stroke. Although quite tidy, it has crossed my mind to carefully remove all the road going kit and use it for track days and sprinting etc, or is this sacrilege?

Before I start any work, if anyone is looking for a project, it stands me at £1391, including delivery, just running it by you guys. Pictures etc to follow but I bought it from dk’s On eBay last week so it’ll be searchable. Any advise greatly appreciated

Cheers, nick

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:48 pm
by NickHine
Hello again

Current status of the project, stanchions have a decent amount of surface rust but will be useable with a wet and drying, some corrosion on the alloy parts as you'd expect. Right hand fairing bulge has been repaired in the past and the lh side panel is missing. No keys, I'm hoping there's a code on the barrel? It turns over nicely and apparently it runs on easy start according to DK's. A little surface rust on the tank and on some of the fasteners. SOmebody has sprayed it with Duck Oil. Most of the other plastics are in good order. It looks like the brake fluid has been drained, it rolls very easily. Will need new tyres, pads, chain and a service etc.

Question is, should I keep it, repair it (not restore it), register it and ride it. Or keep it, remove all the road going kit, store it carefully away and turn it into a track bike/sprinter/hill climber or sell it (and never tell my wife it was ever in the garage)

It's a fabulous thing, and now I'm starting to think anything with a measley single crank is just rubbish, and that I have to ride it.

any thoughts?

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:33 pm
by Cexley
Hi there. Welcome to a fairly exclusive 2 stroke club! 45k is next to nothing, so engine should be sound. It's up to you what you choose to do with it, but definitely remove or get some cheap replacement panels if you intend racing it. I've just recommissioned my 1984 Kr250A and can recommend you do the following.

Change cone sur filter. They disintegrate and get sucked into the carbs. Yam 350 banshee is a straight swap.

Carefully dismantle and ultrasonic carb bodies. The various galleries and choke clog with ethanol sludge and prevent cold starting.

Flush all brake fluid and anti dive system. I'd do fork oil as well.

Flush fuel tank.
Flush and bleed oil tank and lines. Set pump. Check for pin hold leaks in oil injector pipes!! If you don't spot them you can say goodbye to one of your cranks!

Replace coolant with magnesium grade coolant.

Replace gearbox oil. Don't overfill or it will come out breather into belly pan & back tyre...

Fit new battery or it will run like shit and you'll be chasing electrical and charging gremlins that don't actually exist.

Put some decent modern tyres on it!

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:51 pm
by StrokerBoy
Welcome.

You definitely need to ride it first, see what you think. Maybe you'll hate it, maybe you'll love it. Then you can decide what to do.

I've done a couple of trackdays on mine but I don't really get the riding-round-in-circles thing. Be cool to see yours out on track though, always good to see something different. Nice to see modified ones too, no need to be precious about it, but I recommend you hang on to any standard parts you take off.

Get it running, take it for a thrash, then let us know how you got on.

If it's a pig to start, don't worry, that's how you know you've got a good one. :mrgreen:

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:59 pm
by StrokerBoy
I've had that bike in my watch list for a while, think you've done well at that price. Upper silencer cover present and correct, you'll find another sidepanel on Yahoo Auctions Japan eventually. Looks like you might have a fuel leak though - the tanks go around the tap if old fuel's been left in it.

Oh, and don't paint it green/white FFS, it's great to see another one in those rare factory colours. (What am I saying, mine will be worth more if it's the only red/black one left... :roll: )

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 9:12 am
by NickHine
Thanks for all the advice, there is a temptation to sell parts to fund any modifications, but as we all know, getting hold of them in the future would only be harder. One thing I must learn to do is take plenty of photos during the dismantle. I recently put a h***a BROS back together and spent 2 days getting the cables, hoses and wire routing right because I hadn't taken enough photos.

It appears as though one side of the fuel tap has come adrift and the leak has stained the frame, but I'm sure that'll polish off. I'm considering buying a ultrasonic cleaner as I'm sure I'd use it many times.

I'm not a butcher type, so I'll take a lot of care removing things and storing them away properly, no irreversible mods and the colour stays!

Good advice on riding the thing first, if I can't stop smiling then I'll have to keep it.

Once I've figured out how to upload photos I'll start posting, but first I have to fix my van.

Thanks again, Nick

Re: KR250 new owner saying hello

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:41 pm
by maccas
PM sent.

Dan