Bike build want opinions

[mainlinecoffee]

Hey everybody I'm about finished with round one. Picked up a gz250 on cl for 500 bucks and wanted to do something cool with it ended up replacing wiring harness due to hacked connectors. While it was down I hit the frame replaced the gas tank and clipped a few springs on the shocks and installed pod filter with jet kit and a new pipe. So what do ya think? Ugly or awesome?

[jonathan180iq]

Holy shit! It can defy gravity?!?

Personal opinion, I would pick a single color theme. Kind of fits the whole Rat Bike approach that way.
I can love it, if it was all one color.

[mainlinecoffee]

I can't seem to figure out how to get the tires back on the ground... Kinda frustrating. I wasn't a big fan of the chrome so I blacked everything out with engine primer,was thinking about ditching the front fender and do the tank black too.

[mainlinecoffee]

Does have a chrome vice grip on the top of the clutch mount on the left case,hand clutch foot shift to save on extended cables.

[JohnC]

Right side down

[FLAJIM]

For the money, I like it. How does it ride ??

JIM

[Goose51683]

I love it, but I'd love the front fender. Just my personal preference though.

[grasshopper]

thanks for fixing the pic johnc . it was hurting my neck trying to look at the original. wow how tall are those ape hangers? bike looks good! how does it ride?

[mainlinecoffee]

It rides like a dream! A bit loud but it is smooth and stable in turns,18 inch ape hangers are comfy as hell anywhere but stop go traffic. I got this awesome hood ornament of a chipped old chrome swan that I want to bolt on the front fender. My truck broke Down today though so it looks like I will be joining the blue knuckle club again. I think it's coming along for having barley 700 in it.

Thanks for the feedback on this it really means a lot to me.

[Water Warrior 2]

The bike doesn't appeal to me that much but do not feel insulted. I'm just an old guy with different tastes in appearance. It is your bike and your opinion/desires should be the most important concern. If you like it then all is good.

[mainlinecoffee]

To each there own,I like simplicity and offbeat shananagans,when I started riding it was out of necessity. Not a lot of cash just a handful of tools and basket cases on the cheap. Have built a few bikes out of spares in local garages. There's a few guys around lexington that are dedicated to vintage pedal start mopeds and have been a huge help. I just dig rusty and crude for the sake of a cheap thrill.

[iMoon1221]

I love it! How did you wire for apes? I want some BAD

[ImaginativeFig]

It looks really unbalanced front/back. I mean visually, like there's a lot going on visually in the front, but the back just kind of disappears... the lack of color unity is also kind of jarring, plus I still think ape hangers are weird conceptually, so overall I don't really like it, but I can totes appreciate the frugal, offbeat, did-it-myself-and-now-it's-truely-mine-ness of it.

[mainlinecoffee]

I bypassed all wiring for handle bars by scraping turn signals hard wiring on off switch to headlight and ditched the starter for a screw driver to jump the connection,the clutch is hand operated...agree 100% with balance,gotta get the back fender and sissy var on to restore the natural order of visual awesomeness.

[mainlinecoffee]

I love it! How did you wire for apes? I want some BAD

If you are handy with tape you can make your own by extending the harness under the triple tree,14 inches should accomidate 18 inch ape hangers. Your on your own for a clutch cable though. Just be sure to stagger the splices or there will be big buldging lumps in the strands.

[alantf]

I think soldered joints and heat shrink would be the way to go (staggered) to keep the harness looking slim. :tup:

[Goose51683]

I'm with Iffy, I'm not a fan of ape hangers but everyone I've talked to that is a fan says that they are incredibly comfortable to ride with. I'd be interested in riding a bike with them on just to try them out.

[shaunCW78]

I am in the same boat.

[iMoon1221]

That sounds very intimidating. Im ok with wiring but what Iv read makes it sound pretty complex. Is it as hard as people make it sound

[alantf]

Depends what you're trying to do. It's ok for me because I was an electrician until I retired, but I've made drawings and instructions for most of the GZ components, so if anyone has a specific problem, I can post the drawings and try to give a simple explanation of testing etc. Just remember that sometimes it's difficult to come up with an answer straight away over the computer, without being actually hands on. :)

[iMoon1221]

Do you know a link for a "how to" for wiring apes

[alantf]

Can't remember any, but the easiest way seems to be...Disconnect the battery...Snip through each existing wire, a few inches from the controls, then, when you've installed the apes, just add extra cable, soldering colour to colour, then heat shrink the joints, using a larger heat shrink to encase them all. Can't remember how many cores go to each control, but you'll see how many cores you need in the new cable when you start work. Just remember that the larger heat shrink should go an inch or so over the outer sheath of the cable for a neat appearance and strength. :tup: