newbie saying hi from the UK

redratbike · Jun 20, 2011

Hi all,

new here so thought i'd pop by and say hi

just bought the rattiest looking xs250 you've ever see ..non runner so def a project..needs lots of work so will not be restored so leaning towards the flat-tracker or bobber look.

i'll get outside and post up a pic as soon as its stops raining :-( bike will live outside under cover so it will be a slow going project as and when weather and funds allow.

got a few bits on order to hopefully get it up and running ..had the engine turning over by shorting out the solenoid but no spark

thanks in advance for all the silly questions i'm hoping to get answers to

drewpy · Jun 20, 2011

Welcome red, nice to see a fellow brit here.

where do you reside?

redratbike · Jun 20, 2011

Hey Drewpy

i take it us Brits are in the minority here

i'm down in kent ..been looking at your tracker build..very nice..would love to say mine would be that good but some how i think not..lol

happy61 · Jun 20, 2011

Welcome! Love the U.K. and you Brits. My ancestors are Welsh but don't hold that against me. I'd rather be sitting in one of those neighborhood pubs right now having a pint than almost anywhere!

drewpy · Jun 20, 2011

aye theakstones "old peculiar" is very very nice :cheers:

drewpy · Jun 20, 2011

redratbike said:
Hey Drewpy

i take it us Brits are in the minority here

i'm down in kent ..been looking at your tracker build..very nice..would love to say mine would be that good but some how i think not..lol

nice one

did you see the xs250 tracker on ebay? he did a good job, but no charging system on it and no lights.

saved the picture

redratbike · Jun 20, 2011

drewpy said:
nice one

did you see the xs250 tracker on ebay? he did a good job, but no charging system on it and no lights.

saved the picture

JESUS! that looks like a proper racer ..like the monoshock..and i do like the idea of a bigger disc and caliper as i'm used to an Aprilia Mille and that has awesome brakes ..although of course the speeds will be no where near ..lol

i fancy one of those seats with the number boards ..but firstly need to get mine running

then look for another tank and the seat

Question..how muck longer are custom forks over the standard? and do you recomend jacking the rear to match?..thanks

redratbike · Jun 20, 2011

happy61 said:
Welcome! Love the U.K. and you Brits. My ancestors are Welsh but don't hold that against me. I'd rather be sitting in one of those neighborhood pubs right now having a pint than almost anywhere!

thanks for the welcome..no harm meant by the lack of Brits.. the only thing you need to hold against you is a sheep with that welsh blood

i normally hang out on Aprilia sites as i've got an Aprilia Mille but fancied something small and cheap to run around on..have wanted a tracker for ages and a £50 old rat bike seemed like a good start ..although you may think differently when you see the pics

drewpy · Jun 20, 2011

redratbike said:
JESUS! that looks like a proper racer ..like the monoshock..and i do like the idea of a bigger disc and caliper as i'm used to an Aprilia Mille and that has awesome brakes ..although of course the speeds will be no where near ..lol

i fancy one of those seats with the number boards ..but firstly need to get mine running

then look for another tank and the seat

Question..how muck longer are custom forks over the standard? and do you recomend jacking the rear to match?..thanks

that's what I did to mine, the special front forks are about an inch longer.

managed to get cheapo rear shocks from Stafford classic bike show the correct length. it transforms the look of the bike.

As for mono shock I like the Milvin xs400 with the shock under the frame. I did see an xs650 on cafe racer with the shock at the front

redratbike · Jun 21, 2011

drewpy said:
that's what I did to mine, the special front forks are about an inch longer.

managed to get cheapo rear shocks from Stafford classic bike show the correct length. it transforms the look of the bike.

As for mono shock I like the Milvin xs400 with the shock under the frame. I did see an xs650 on cafe racer with the shock at the front

Great , thanks for that..one leg has nearly rusted through near the yokes...but the rest of the bike isnt as bad as that although its not good

i''ll keep my eyes out for bits then ..

happy61 · Jun 21, 2011

redratbike said:
thanks for the welcome..no harm meant by the lack of Brits.. the only thing you need to hold against you is a sheep with that welsh blood

i normally hang out on Aprilia sites as i've got an Aprilia Mille but fancied something small and cheap to run around on..have wanted a tracker for ages and a £50 old rat bike seemed like a good start ..although you may think differently when you see the pics

I always loved the old Benny Hill line. He described a "Welsh rarebit" as a virgin from Cardiff!

CadXS · Jun 21, 2011

Welcome to the site mate :thumbsup:

If you are an Aprilia fan, like the look of the tracker Drewpy posted and are after a larger front disc brake think about fitting the RS125 forks. They swap in really easily apparently with just a change of bearings in the headstock.

Good luck with your build :bike:

CadXS · Jun 21, 2011

In case you need some wheels....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130532762549&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

redratbike · Jun 21, 2011

CadXS said:
In case you need some wheels....

ha ha already watching them..lol

as for the rs125 forks i cant believe but i sold a set a few years back had to clear out my lock up and sold a complete xs750 in bits and an old tracker /bobber project that i had a set of rs125 forks fitted into ..complete with wire wheel of an old trials bike matching rear .. but it all had to go so ..just starting again really with a project bike

Click to expand...

redratbike · Jun 21, 2011

ok then as promised photo's of the £50 wreck i bought in reality slaeagble bits are frame+swingarm,engine,wheels and wiring loom the rest is shot to bits

dig the seat made out of duct tape!!!

blue tube and funnel as a quick source of fuel

and anyone know what this plug is for ? cant see anything it should mate up to ?

so there it is

got someone who can shotblast the wheels and frame/swingarm and powder coated for a drink ( cheap!!) but first i need to get it running.

i'll be asking all those annoying newbie questions so bare with me..

frwinks · Jun 21, 2011

welcome aboard :thumbsup:

that's a signal flasher plug...yours obviously missing :wink2:

redratbike · Jun 21, 2011

frwinks said:
welcome aboard

that's a signal flasher plug...yours obviously missing

aha well done another thing to buy..lol although not sure if i can run without flashers / indicators on this year plate in the uk

plan is to get it running ..get all electrics and switches working then pull it apart to chop frame etc etc

CadXS · Jun 21, 2011

Before you buy anything ask on here first. I've managed to replace just about everything on my bike and have spares kicking around and I'm sure Drew and some of the other UK members have too.

drewpy · Jun 21, 2011

I don't need flashers as its a '78. don't really need lights either, but it helps to see and be seen. need to check your date of manufacture and check the MOT regs.

redratbike · Jun 22, 2011

CadXS said:
In case you need some wheels....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130532762549&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

bought the wheels but missed out on his other stuff

put a wanted listing for handle bar switch gear

newbie saying hi from the UK

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