Honda CB250n SuperDream Refurb: BEFORE #49

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

BEFORE #49

Since breaking up for Xmas, I've been spending a lot of time out on the Yam, so the Honda project has been ignored. I kept going into the garage to have a look for something to do, but couldn't really get motivated. I knew that the thing which would make me feel like I'd moved forward significantly, would be the refitting of the front end, so with miserable grey clouds in the sky, I decided to stay indoors today and crack on with the job.

Also did a bit of work on the engine. Wonder if that 1700 would go in the frame? LOL

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi there. I have recently be following your blog as I am rebuilding a 79 superdream CB250 into a cafe racer. I am up to this point in dismantling the bike and I have a quick question I hope you can answer. Can you remove the front forks from the frame without dismantling the forks? I just want to remove it all in one peice from the headstock. Cheers.; 7 June 2009 at 06:34
Tom McQuiggan said...: Hi Ewan,
Sure, you can remove the front forks without a complete stripdown. Just take the front wheel off, unbolt the brake caliper and mudguard, undo the chrome nuts on the top yoke, slacken the bottom yoke pinch-bolts and drop the forks out.; 7 June 2009 at 20:55

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IN THE BEGINNING....

Way, way back in August 1980, I was working as a young steel-erector in Newcastle Upon Tyne and around the corner from where I worked was "Ken's Motorcycles" on the West Road. In the window was a brand new CB250N Superdream in shiny black - and I wanted it! So I got got the brochure (shown below), begged my future father in law to act as guarantor and signed on the £820 dotted line.

I loved that bike - it got me back and forth between Bolton and Newcastle with no problems or hiccups and lots of fun. From memory, it did something like 60 miles per gallon and could burn off most cars. What else does a young lad want?

Anyway, 28 years later, I decided to get another one and refurbish it over the winter months. I've done similar projects in the past and really enjoyed them, so I'm hoping that this one turns out as well as the others. Having said that, this project will be a REFURB as opposed to a rebuild.

The donor-bike looked to be in pretty good shape at first glance, but as usual, it all turns pear-shaped when you remove your rose-tinted glasses and start to see what's REALLY there!

The first thing that I want to do, is spend a little time finding out whether or not the engine needs a rebuild. If it doesn't really need it, so much the better. If it does need doing, then there'll be a significant delay as I spend time clearing out the garage to give me a lot more space.

I estimate that this project will take 3 or 4 months to complete but due to other interests/hobbies, it may go longer.

So, I'll start off with a few photos of the bike in its current condition and then log the progress of the refurb as I go along. Please feel free to comment or offer advice. Hope you enjoy!

Tom

http://www.mcqart.com/

SEE ALSO... HONDA CB450 K1.