2 Strokes Down Under

Afternoon all, I'm from Melbourne and I'm a ranga, do I need to say anymore?
Spray painter panel beater by trade and a young fella at only 34, I'm no stranger to bikes owning a couple as does the missus. She has a hayabusa, cbr600 and a dr650 and I have a 600 bandit with gixxer usd front end etc and 260,000km on the clock, an fjr1300 with just under 200,000km on the clock set up for IBA rides, a dr650 that wouldn't look out of place on the Dakar starting line with 120,000km on it, a postie bike that I've ridden all over eastern oz and tassie, a husky 610 motard with a rather twisted frame, don't ask how that occurred.... And as of yesterday, an 81 rd250lc, or more technically correct as I'm finding out I guess, an rd250h as it has a frame no starting with RE1.













The frame is orright, nothing a quick splash of paint won't fix, the front wheels needs re rolling, the forks will come up,a treat with a quick linish, the pipes appear to ok, not visibly rusted out, but the engines?

One is in a box, it's missing crank, pistons barrels and half the gearbox, and the mostly complete engine is missing the crank and pistons. I haven't pulled the covers off to see what else is missing. It's also missing a fuel tank and front guard.

For 120 bucks I'm not going to whinge about the missing bits...

I'm hoping to have this thing running by the first week of July in time for the BMW icicle ride, I turn up every ear on a different bike and why not do it in style this year? The missus reckons I'm biting off more than I can chew...

I took a risk on a tank on fleabay in Melbourne last night, it looks a bit dodge but there might be enough of it there for me to work with.

I've also got most of the bits in the garage to do a front and rear rgv conversion, just need to decide what swingarm I want to use so I can get rid of the other one I have. Oh and find the drawings for the swingarm setup.

The bank acct isn't going to like me...

Welcome aboard! Er.. RE1? Im hoping its 5E1 more like...?!

Good score for only $120 tho! Bargain!

Err yeah, mutter mutter bloody iPad, 5e1 it is and the two engine cases I have start the same too.

Ahh mystery solved....

5E1 is a 250 5E0 is a 350.... simple stuff when you know how LOL

And the jigsaw puzzle starts coming together! Hahahahaha a workshop manual is the first thing I need to get.

Had a chance to pull the side covers off the more complete engine this arvy.







A few bits missing.... And some score marks on the bores. I think I've got my work cut out ahead of me.

I reckon youve got a good start point, just keep going and you will be done in no time, July is a long way off so youve plenty of time, I know a couple of local guys who would do that in a few weeks easy. Not me tho... hmm....

Welocme Thommo

thats not a bad buy but you will have a few more grey hairs to come...LOL

The cranks aren't thateasy to find in good condition so beware. The common problem is corrosion of the big end journal as the pin is integral to the inner crank web. replacements are available, but I'd factor in a crank rebuild if you find a used one for peace of mind.

banshee crankshafts (same as later YPVS) are available from the USA but they are 1mm wider across the outer flywheels and need some additional work to fit. The two stroke shop up in Queensland can help with advice, but they can be picked up brand new from the USA for around $600 delivered. Make sure its a standard 54mm stroke item though.

The missing cycle parts may prove fun to find, but if you are planning a special that may not be toomuch of an issue. i would recommend keeping the std airbox as they run much better.

There are many good suppliers of parts - mainly overseas - which is one of my biggest gripes.

Thanks Jools, I'm finding out that cranks and good tanks are harder to get. I've heard of the two stroke shop, I'll get in touch with them soon. And I'm also finding out that there are lots of parts overseas and the freight traps that sometimes can catch you out!

JonW, this'd be the thread you referred to then.
BUMP to top.

It be.

I always like to get a new crank if I can.
Did you know that Yambits do new cranks these days?
Yambits RD350LC crank

Id agree i also like a new one wheni do em, but that's not what id call cheap as such, and I wonder where it is sourced, hmm... RDLCCRAzy has then cheaper i think, worth asking Norbo for sure if buying from the uk.

From memory, Norbo's are recon exchange cranks, not sure who he gets to rebuild them. Seem to remember much cheaper than Yambits.
Are TSS cranks known to be good will be my question, as the Yambits cranks look nice, are brand new, but are 400 English quid, presume plus post and the risks therein. Exchange rate last year might have made them attractive, but less so this year.
Anyone got experience of any of these suppliers?

My alternative in this part of SA seems to be more complicated, I'd rather stump up for a brand new crank if I could, save recon and rebuild for when I don't have a frantic timetable with kids and commutes.

When buying from UK you should get them to remove VAT which will bring it to about 330 pounds.
Shipping should be around 70 to 100 pounds.

Yes, no vat when buying from here... unless the business is small, as some are not vat registered, its a bizarre system, eg norbo is not vat registered.

I always work on the premise that it will be the full price (incl vat) when landed here, its usually about that...


£400 = $750... so defo not cheap!