T250j

[MarkCR750]

Here's my T250j , got it a while back as a non runner (took less than a minute to make it run, I don't think the previous owner was much of a spanner man), anyway here it is.

[kettle738]

That is very pretty and makes me feel quite envious.......my first proper bike was a blue T250J exactly like yours bar the high pipes.

Always fancied another, but never taken the plunge yet......cracking little engines if it's a good one.  The only major annoyance was that left side kick start....who starts a bike with their left leg?

Looks like a lucky find though.......

Mick..........kettle738

[MarkCR750]

Yes the left hand kick start is odd, I had a GT250 back in the day and had completely forgotten about the kick start, I've got chrome low pipes for it as well but prefer the "scrambler" look with the high pipes, engine is good, I recently had it rebored to first oversize, it's actually very nippy, with 33bhp and only 140kg your doing 70 before you know it, I've seen 90 on the clock with my 15.5 stone so it's going well (I'll fit my sat nav soon to see what it's really doing, 80?), a joy to ride really with the 6 speed box, the only downside is the front brake!, it's twin leading shoe but although I'm reasonably sure it's now adjusted properly it's pathetic compared to modern disc brakes, I read somewhere recently that it should stop within 35 feet from 30mph, I'll check that to prove its adjusted properly but it's a bloody liability!😀

[Rozabikes Tim]

Same basic bike as the hustler???

[MarkCR750]

Yes it is a Hustler, manufactured 1972, UK registered 1973 so it's one of the last before the GT, the only difference is the high pipes that I got for a bargain £120 the pair, they sound great , almost like expansion chambers, they were mainly fitted to the US Scrambler II version, in truth it's a better bike with the low pipes fitted, high pipes make it difficult to get at the carbs and you have to take one off to get the air box out, also it moves the centre of gravity up, on such a light bike it's actually noticeable!, look good though so I'll keep them on 😀

[UK Pete]

Nice bike, looks quite clean and tidy , is it a keeper?
pete

[MarkCR750]

Yes I think so Pete, it's very original (apart from the pipes) and it's great fun to ride, apart from the front brake!, this actual bike was featured in motorcycle mechanics in 2007 see below,  just need to either get the front mudguard rechromed or replaced with a good one the chrome is peeling off in sheets on mine!

[Rozabikes Tim]

Yes love the pipes. Weird. I used to hate us look scrambler look but now prefer it (see also CL versus cb 450 etc) Also us spec meridian Bonnie best looking in my opinion....

[kettle738]

I had some issues with a dreadful twin leading shoe drum front brake on a Yamaha XS1.....I was convinced I had set up the shoes correctly but it was still quite spongy and performed so badly it was a worry.

Long story short.....I was using a pattern front brake cable and it was compressing the outer slightly when the brake was applied, a NOS Yamaha item transformed it into a working brake.

Mick.............kettle738

[MarkCR750]

I had some issues with a dreadful twin leading shoe drum front brake on a Yamaha XS1.....I was convinced I had set up the shoes correctly but it was still quite spongy and performed so badly it was a worry.

Long story short.....I was using a pattern front brake cable and it was compressing the outer slightly when the brake was applied, a NOS Yamaha item transformed it into a working brake.

Mick.............kettle738

That's worth a look on mine, I fitted a pattern cable as I wasn't sure how old/good the original was, I'll swap the original back on and see if it makes any difference if the "stop within 35' from 30mph" test fails badly, cheers.

[Sgt.Pinback]

Too cool.