XL 250 build - Page 3

pommie john · 07-22-2012, 08:56 PM

First race meeting, and it went well, after some hassles.

It was a very small, low key race but great fun.

In practice it wouldn't work on an even throttle. Mid corner it was popping and banging and dying. I raised the needle and went out in the first race hoping I'd fixed it. Well, it was a little better but not much, then after a few laps it died completely.

This ended up being a good thing because I then had a total failure to trace instead of a difficult running problem, and as we all know it's easier to find a terminal problem than an intermittent one.

The advance retard mechanism had completely fallen off!

When I put it back on it ran like new. clean crisp and tons of mid range power. It had obviously been loose all along and giving me variable timing.

I was racing with some K4 Hondas and a couple of two stroke Suzuki twins. Once I got used to the bike I managed to beat the Hondas in every race and all but one of the Suzukis, so I'm really pleased with the way it went. It handles very well, despite everyone telling me the front tyre's too big. I may have to move the footrests soon as they started to hit the ground when I got into the swing of it.

I got infront of the Honda

Never caught that Suzuki

brucifer · 07-23-2012, 06:20 AM

Nice! Good job, man!

anonny · 07-23-2012, 08:26 AM

Beauty, nice work John

rpet · 07-24-2012, 08:06 PM

Nice build man

pommie john · 10-30-2012, 05:50 PM

Took the XL for a race at Townsville. It's a kart track really, but quite well suited to a little bike like the XL.
Notice the puff of smoke. There's a score in the cylinder that I hoped wouldn't matter, but I guess it needs a rebore. and new piston.

cam14 · 10-30-2012, 08:35 PM

Looks like a lot of fun and you've done a great job re-purposing that XL250. If you do a leak down test and results are acceptable, then would not be too concerned with a little smoke.

BIG ED XT FAN · 11-02-2012, 08:57 PM

I have about 5 of them XL250, and never think of roadracing it. Great job!! Thanks for posting the movie.

07-22-2012, 08:56 PM	#31
pommie john ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Brisvegas, Australia Oddometer: 1,115	First race meeting, and it went well, after some hassles. It was a very small, low key race but great fun. In practice it wouldn't work on an even throttle. Mid corner it was popping and banging and dying. I raised the needle and went out in the first race hoping I'd fixed it. Well, it was a little better but not much, then after a few laps it died completely. This ended up being a good thing because I then had a total failure to trace instead of a difficult running problem, and as we all know it's easier to find a terminal problem than an intermittent one. The advance retard mechanism had completely fallen off! When I put it back on it ran like new. clean crisp and tons of mid range power. It had obviously been loose all along and giving me variable timing. I was racing with some K4 Hondas and a couple of two stroke Suzuki twins. Once I got used to the bike I managed to beat the Hondas in every race and all but one of the Suzukis, so I'm really pleased with the way it went. It handles very well, despite everyone telling me the front tyre's too big. I may have to move the footrests soon as they started to hit the ground when I got into the swing of it. I got infront of the Honda Never caught that Suzuki __________________ The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. Bertrand Russell

07-23-2012, 06:20 AM	#32
brucifer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Eureka, Ca. Oddometer: 1,624	Nice! Good job, man! __________________ 2006 KLR650-2002 Husaberg FC550E w/2008 FE550E engine-2000 Buell M2 Cyclone-Plated 1995 XR600R-1984 Honda CR500R-1984 Honda XL600R/XR650L Hybrid-1984 Yamaha TT600L-1981 Honda XR500R-1980 Honda CB750F

07-23-2012, 08:26 AM	#33
anonny What could go wrong? Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Beautiful Revelstoke BC Oddometer: 4,960	Beauty, nice work John __________________ Kawasaki H1 build thread 71- 450 Honda CL re & re Just another pathetic sheep following the herd

07-24-2012, 08:06 PM	#34
rpet Awesometown Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Brooklyn, California Oddometer: 325	Nice build man __________________ '76 Xl250 '04 XR250R '09 DR650 '10 TR450

10-30-2012, 05:50 PM	#35
pommie john ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Brisvegas, Australia Oddometer: 1,115	Took the XL for a race at Townsville. It's a kart track really, but quite well suited to a little bike like the XL. Notice the puff of smoke. There's a score in the cylinder that I hoped wouldn't matter, but I guess it needs a rebore. and new piston. __________________ The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. Bertrand Russell

10-30-2012, 08:35 PM	#36
cam14 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Oddometer: 112	Looks like a lot of fun and you've done a great job re-purposing that XL250. If you do a leak down test and results are acceptable, then would not be too concerned with a little smoke.

11-02-2012, 08:57 PM	#37
BIG ED XT FAN Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Finger Lakes Western New York Oddometer: 1,039	I have about 5 of them XL250, and never think of roadracing it. Great job!! Thanks for posting the movie.

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