18 years ago this Christmas, I bought myself a RS250 to do track days.
I knew how to go straight fast, but I wanted to learn how to drag my knee through the corners with ease. A TZ250 appeared to be too maintenance intense, and my RZ350 to old and slow....so a RS250 (which I drooled over when they were new and saw them at tracks a few years earlier) was the perfect ticket in my mind.
Went through the bike for the 2008 season, that winter, and repainted it as well. Spring came and I made my first track day without hurting myself or the bike. Then shit fell apart all around my world....as with many people in 2008-09.
Managed to keep the bike through it all, but it has never gone back to the track.
And I realized a few weeks back, that even if I'm too old to ride, I can still build bikes, but if I'm going to ever use this Aprilia, I better do it while I can still get on the bike.
First thing is to investigate the condition, and then I can go from there.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8957-jpeg.7354463/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9005-jpeg.7373865/)
Good compression, and held 5psi for well over an hour, so the engine itself is still in pretty good shape luckily.
Also forgot I had some worked over reed cages in this thing, which is a bonus.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8990-jpeg.7373849/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8991-jpeg.7373867/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9041-jpeg.7388843/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9045-jpeg.7388847/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9064-jpeg.7400771/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9063-jpeg.7400769/)
Interested to see more! :pop:
:clap:
I like your method of holding the exhaust plugs in for the leakdown - very clever.
:thumbs:
Bought some parts for this a few years back, when I was putting together a MK1 version for a Aprilia forum member. His bike ran so good after, I bought the same for mine.
Still sitting unused, but at least I beat the tariffs coming from Europe.
:cool:
Billet power valves, billet heads, billet power valve pulleys, Zeel ignition, pistons, pins, bearings, gaskets, and so on.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8959-jpeg.7354467/)
Cylinders look pretty good inside
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9080-jpeg.7407101/)
Bike was using a set of Suzuki SP straight plug heads already, so not sure how much help the billet ones will give
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9083-jpeg.7407105/)
Using a set of Suzuki SP cylinders as well when set up originally years back
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8995-jpeg.7373851/)
Also has Kit intakes that do not have the cross over mounting tubes, just rubber nubs
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9004-jpeg.7373863/)
I do have a few sets of Aprilia cylinders I might try using, if the cylinders on the bike now do not measure out good, when I pull them off for better inspection.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_8997-jpeg.7373857/)
Carbs are still spotless inside luckily
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9042-jpeg.7388845/)
Pipes just need a bit of cleaning up, and some new high heat black...
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9046-jpeg.7388851/)
:thumbs: :pop:
Although the engine tested out really good....I can't leave well enough alone. I have all winter, so I might as well go a little deeper and make sure I don't have issues from long term neglect when I get to the track.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9095-jpeg.7412519/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9096-jpeg.7412523/)
Found a nice set of Aprilia cylinders with good nikasil in a spares box, so I'll clean these up and probably use them with the new pistons I have.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9098-jpeg.7412537/)
Making sure I have all the parts I'll need for these Aprilia cylinders.
Will do a bit of soda blasting on them one more time, as I missed a few areas when I did them 10-15 plus years ago...
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9101-jpeg.7414453/)
The next thing I need to find is a MK2 oil tank, then I think I will have all the parts to go back to a pump.
...have pump, and cable, new hose and clamps, and have a spare powervalve motor with the oil pump over ride pulley and cable.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9102-jpeg.7414477/)
After I get the clutch cover off I will see if all the internal gears are gone for the pump...I think I have some spares for that also somewhere.
But can't use any of it without that specific tank...
New tires showed up today, here with my 20 year old tires with 200 miles on them...
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9181-jpeg.7441527/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9183-jpeg.7441529/)
Doing the tire swap myself.
Using Continental SuperMoto tires, as they were designed for super light bikes.
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9184-jpeg.7441531/)
(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/img_9187-jpeg.7441535/)
Hopefully I'll get more use out of these than the ones I had on the bike when I first attempted to do track days.
_______