Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

1978 Yamaha XS250

Any opinions aor advice on this as a first bike, always like the XS, my dad used to have a 400, think it would make a nice cafe racer. Anyone have any input on them?

How would I go about getting a V5, then MOT'ing this:

32cc two stroke.

Shouldn't need to be registered at 32cc afaik.

I think in the UK a Moped is 1-50cc, so it does need a tax disc, MOT and insurance

Oh that's a nuisance. It'll probably need lights and indicators also then no?

Believe there is a way to register for day use only - no lights...?

Also, loOks like someone's stuffed that into a wall at full 32cc oomph.

they were just improving the clearances, it's more aero now.

I've been hankering after a triumph thruxton for years - even though i know they are a bit more show than go - and this lil vid just made me want one even more.
It's Better In The Wind - 2011 Trailer 2 on Vimeo

Where can i find a spare 5K? Any ideas?

B.

one of these cruised past me on great eastern street the other day, love them.

1978 Yamaha XS250

Any opinions aor advice on this as a first bike, always like the XS, my dad used to have a 400, think it would make a nice cafe racer. Anyone have any input on them?

Quick paint mock up for XS 250 cafe racer. What do you think? Side mounted license plate probably a respray, not sure on colour, maybe the classic XS black with gold and gold rims. What do you think?

I think in the UK a Moped is 1-50cc, so it does need a tax disc, MOT and insurance

If you know what year it is then you can work it out from the tester's manual, available here:
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/mc_contents.htm

Generally speaking if it was legal once (and it has a number plate so I guess it was) then it can be legal again. You will need insurance and you will need a tax disc once it's MoT'd. Apply for the V5 if it doesn't have one. You may not get the original number. You might also need to add certain things like chassis or engine numbers to the bike to get it registered. You could try registering it abroad (say on Maltese plates?) and 'importing' it if the trail is cold at Swansea.

You certainly won't need indicators or mirrors on anything that old. Don't need them on anything pre 1984 I don't think. You may need a speedo, but a bicycle computer is fine. Also, not many people are aware of this, but if you do have a speedo it doesn't even need to work. You need effective brakes, sound bearings, and all the normal stuff that make a vehicle safe. You don't need to have min 1mm tread on your tyres but you must have tyres with visible tread all the way round, not worn out ones.
If it has lights they must work. If it doesn't you can get a daytime MoT. Not sure about strength and beam patterns but my Vespa always passed with a continental headlamp about as bright as Jade Goody.

Your horn can be a bulb horn, but you must have one,.

You don't need a brake light.

You need 2 brakes if it's post 1927

There will be no emissions limit, being a 2 stroke, or noise limits, being a pre-84 bike.

NIce bikes, bit slow even when they were new but solid and reliable and a 400 motor drops straight in. Torquey enough to do distance two up if you wished to but you won't be breaking any speed records.

Bottom line? Better than a honda wet dream.

1978 Yamaha XS250

Any opinions aor advice on this as a first bike, always like the XS, my dad used to have a 400, think it would make a nice cafe racer. Anyone have any input on them?

reminds me of an old raleigh i had a few years ago. there was originaly a mosquito engine that could be wingnut fitted under the bottom bracket. the person that sold it to me kept the engine.

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Mosquito, winged wheel, Cyclemaster and Trojan mini-motor were all slightly different makes/configurations.

I wonder if it is still a moped if the engine is off? i.e. does the requirement to tax and insure it vanish when you are simply pedaling it?

That's an awesome Raleigh btw Gerald- what did you do with it?

an autocycle might not fall under the same rules as a moped.

somebody is hopefully making merry with the raleigh in the usa. thats where i sent it. just added a pic of the speedo that was attached.

if you want to while/wile away 30 minutes or so looking at some beautiful examples click on this link below

http://www.autocycles.co.uk/index.htm

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I think the standard practise these days is to flat track those XS's. There's a load of parts available and they make great town bikes. Check out here:
http://www.redmaxspeedshop.com/parts.html

They also do cafe racer bits so have a look. I think they do alot of XS's but it might be the 600s. It's amazing what a little fettling can do.

Are you going to do it yourself? If not i found some guy that's supposed to be very good that could do alot of it for you. Think he charges 100 quid a day but he can do a lot in a day and does whatever - engine fettling, welding, remachining some new hubs or mounts, fabrication. I was intending on doing my bike myself but just don't have the time or space. Only problem is he's near norfolk somewhere... He's going to do my carbs and some rewireing and make me a battery box. Hopefully in the next few weeks so i'll be back on the road in time for the spring. Yee ha.

B.

^£475. I want this quite a lot.

Great new shop opened in Ilkley, West Yorks

http://www.route65.co.uk/416955/index.htm

I think the standard practise these days is to flat track those XS's. There's a load of parts available and they make great town bikes. Check out here:
http://www.redmaxspeedshop.com/parts.html

They also do cafe racer bits so have a look. I think they do alot of XS's but it might be the 600s. It's amazing what a little fettling can do.

Are you going to do it yourself? If not i found some guy that's supposed to be very good that could do alot of it for you. Think he charges 100 quid a day but he can do a lot in a day and does whatever - engine fettling, welding, remachining some new hubs or mounts, fabrication. I was intending on doing my bike myself but just don't have the time or space. Only problem is he's near norfolk somewhere... He's going to do my carbs and some rewireing and make me a battery box. Hopefully in the next few weeks so i'll be back on the road in time for the spring. Yee ha.

B.

I'm near Norfolk, would be interested in this.

What is this and where is it from? Custom I guess?

I'm near Norfolk, would be interested in this.

Euph?

Euph?

Nope

here's some sr400 insperation for you:

http://www.8negro.com/2011/02/sr400-by-heiwa.html

B.