Ok.
I've got a few minutes before jerk.
I mean work. ;)
There wasn't so much evolving to my bike, just doing what I do to all of my just-purchased bikes, be they new or used, along with some choice mods I really feel the bike is begging for.
The evening I brought my 2008 WR-250X home this past December.
All stock except for a DRC taillight, aftermarket LED blinkers, and some 3rd grade-spec stickers on the fenders and acid trip paint stripes on the tires:
After I rode the bike three times before the weather got too cold for comfort, I started taking it apart in order to do the usual annual maintinance I give my street bikes, which is the same stuff my dirt bikes get, just with longer intervals.
The rear suspension gets a teardown for lubrication:
It's easy to either forget or neglect (or both at the same time) all of those cute little bearings, spacers, collars, and oil seals in there working their little butts off so that you may have a functioning suspension under your ass:
The shock, itself, was sent down to Mr. Go Race at Go Race Suspension in Virginia for his work on overhauling the innards of the unit.
Mine really needed it since it was actually leaking oil past the shaft seal.
No good.
Not only were the insides redone and revalved, but a softer rate spring was installed for my slim-and-trim 150 pounds:
After the rear suspension was put back together, the steering head bearings got some love.
They weren't dry as a bone and desperately in need of grease, but, the point is to do it, do it correctly, and ride in peace knowing you did it and did it right:
With the right tools, this is a pretty easy and straight-forward job:
The front fork got an oil change to asssure the fluid in there was nice and fresh as a daisy.
I used the same oil as specified in the Service Manual:
KYB 01 fork oil, the good stuff.
Initially, I set the oil level to the stock 105mm.
After a few rides at the begining of this season, I lowered the level to 115mm to better balance the bike with the softer shock spring:
The fork oil used, along with one of the important mods added:
Another of the mods done.
The airbox inlet is now a proper opening where the air can actually flow into the engine:
Another biggie is getting rid of the rediculous tree-hugger moon gearing and installing something correct for the 250cc powerplant that moves the bike down the road.
I'm using 13/49 sprockets and a longer DID 520V chain with a rivet master link, thank you very much.
Advice:
Don't be scared of hearing the engine turn some RPM while going down the road.
It's not an 1,800cc Gold Wing, and never will be.
If you desire to have the bike practically idling down the freeway, it won't get out of it's own way when you want it to.
Unless you like that kind of stuff. ;) :
This shit it basically that - shit.
The ONLY reason the bike comes with it is to please some silly regulations that rate right up there with the world rapturing your ass on May 21st and Al Gore speaking the truth when ever he opens his private-jet-planed-around-the-world-while-you-are-told-to-conserve mouth:
Do you know that your brake calipers need to slide back-and-forth on little pins sealed by cute little rubber booties?
Yes, over time, the grease inside there will dry-up and need to be cleaned and lubricated:
Other mods done were the AIS bullshit removal, FMF Q4 muffler and Megabomb head pipe, 12 O'clock Labs speedometer recalibrator, 2009 model black OEM plastic, custom-made shroud graphics (that mimic the classic Yamaha "speed block" design as used on the 2006 50th Anniversary Edition Yamaha YZs), Graves Motorsports EXUP Eliminator, Yamaha OEM brushguards from a 2000 TT-R250M, black seat cover, and Michelin Pilot Power tires:
This is where I'm at and how she looks today.
It's a very fun and highty manouverable sport bike that can slice and dice and change direction like a guided missile.
The Michelin tires are magic, and the rebuilt shock actually works as you'd hope a 2008 suspension would work.
I'm pleasantly surprised at how good the front brake is (my past motard, a 2009 Suzuki DR-Z400SM, had a poor stock front brake), and, all-in-all, I'm very satisfied with the bike. :)
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