Miami Vice VTR250

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Hey Old Fogey - can you recommend a tire setup? I haven't explored that yet but went into this little project knowing that parts were seemingly hard to find, but I haven't had any problems so far, and they're actually pretty cheap - all the better! I do have a Honda shop manual for it but haven't done much to it yet except try to pick the gas lock with those keys, which was ineffective - I think those keys are for car doors and the like - but there's five wafer locks in it, so I ordered some wafer lock picks for it, see what that gets me.

The bike actually is in pretty good shape except for the old gas, surface grunge and stuck ignition switch and gas cap, so the plan is to get some fresh gas in it and see what happens. I noticed the petcock switch is turned to "off", so that may be good, I don't know yet - the carbs are pretty well tucked in under the fairing so I haven't had a chance to drain them yet and see if there's anything in there. Model-wise, I think what you meant to say was '1988 - 1990'...this is an '89, and from what the ID plate says is only the 520th one to roll off the line. I know they didn't make them for many years.

She's teeny, though, about the size of my Honda Dream, and you have to really tuck into her and hug the tank to get your feet on the pedals. I'm 6'1" and a svelte 235 lbs but I'm looking forward to seeing what she's got. I agree, the reviews on this bike are pretty awesome, one of the reasons I bought it ($500).

Cliff! Yes, I totally agree...!

Ascot: yeah, I'm looking. I still have yet to take the switch out, but good to know about the helmet and fork lock. I'll take a peek.

[pidjones]

I'd look at Shinko tires. May not be high-dollar, but for LIGHT bikes they seem pretty popular.

[Old Fogey]

I would have said Shinko too, I have them on both my GL1000s and really rate them. But no 16" in their range.
But there are some good choices (in the UK)
https://tyretectrading.co.uk/tyre-finde ... d-rating=h
I would go for the BT46. They do both your sizes.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Thanks for that link, O.F. - and they're about the same price here...

I take that back - they're cheaper over there than they are here! Those Bridgestone Battlax tires in those sizes are pretty pricey over here; I guess if you figure in shipping it all equals out...

According to the Honda VTR250 shop manual, the front tire is a tubeless 100/90-16 54S; the rear is 120/80-17 61S.

I suck at translating acceptable tire sizes...so, for instance, can I run a 125/80R17 on the rear...? Those original tire sizes are kind of hard to find. (I have no idea what the 54 S and 61 S is; is that a speed rating...?)

What do those tire sizes translate to...?

[Old Fogey]

I checked US Bridgestone website for both sizes - they do them. So maybe contact them for a seller in your area.
Yes, those are speed and weight ratings
https://www.bridgestone.com/products/mo ... ail/pr176/

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yes, Chaparral Motorsports has them for about $250 a set; at least I now know they have them here too. I'm going to check out the Shinko's too, if I can track them down.

Right now she's wearing Bridgestone Excedras front and rear, I haven't checked them out yet.

[Old Fogey]

Yes, Chaparral Motorsports has them for about $250 a set; at least I now know they have them here too. I'm going to check out the Shinko's too, if I can track them down.

Right now she's wearing Bridgestone Excedras front and rear, I haven't checked them out yet.

Shinko don't do a 16"

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Looks like I'm probably going to have to go with the Bridgestone Battleax BT46's; at least they are available in both sizes.

Still no success trying to get into the gas cap, but I got the switch out today, looking for a number on it and there wasn't one anywhere - so, Hmmmm...

[ritalz]

The BT46 gets great mileage. I have one on the front of my 1800 (I know it says rear) and it currently has 20k miles on it. From the looks I don't expect to change it any time soon.

[5speed]

Thanks for that link, O.F. - and they're about the same price here...

I take that back - they're cheaper over there than they are here! Those Bridgestone Battlax tires in those sizes are pretty pricey over here; I guess if you figure in shipping it all equals out...

According to the Honda VTR250 shop manual, the front tire is a tubeless 100/90-16 54S; the rear is 120/80-17 61S.

I suck at translating acceptable tire sizes...so, for instance, can I run a 125/80R17 on the rear...? Those original tire sizes are kind of hard to find. (I have no idea what the 54 S and 61 S is; is that a speed rating...?)

What do those tire sizes translate to...?

don't know if these are any cheaper then what you can get State side but they have them in stock.
https://fortnine.ca/en/bridgestone-batt ... front-tire
https://fortnine.ca/en/bridgestone-batt ... -rear-tire

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Well, I haven't gotten to that point yet, I'm busy doing some repairs right now to try to get her to run first. I have the gas tank soaking in Evaporust (finally got a key made), and I'm trying to replace the seals on the forks.

The manual says to pull out the fork and then give it a few brisk jerks to free it from the slide, but this one just is not coming; it looks like someone put some sort of adhesive around the oil seal, and it is NOT coming out! See that little thin white line around the outer edge of the seal on the left, there...? It's hard as a rock and goes pretty much all around the outer edge of the seal. I thought it might have been a circlip in there, but I can't even get a pick in between it and the tube wall...

IMG_2946.JPG

Anybody ever see anything like this before...? Any ideas?

[pidjones]

Well, that IS the circlip.

clip.jpg

[Sagebrush]

Yup, looks similar to the ones on my 1800.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

So how do you get it Out...? I've tried prying it, getting under it with a pick, harsh language, brute force and all of the above...

[pidjones]

Find the end of it and pry on that I've never seen them give more than light resistance. Just a small flat screwdriver should do.