Dons XL 250 Motosport 1972

Post date: Nov 23, 2011 10:43:10 AM

I came across this bike on an earlier occasion and passed it up because it was a piece of junk in so much it was rusty and there was not a single piece that would not require some serious work to get it in order. When the price got right it went into my garage along with a donor engine from a later model.

The bike turned out to be a bit of a find in the end. A numbers check showed it to be a 1972 model - so called K0 or the first ever XL250 and it appears to have travelled only 13,000 km. It had been down the road but the damage was quite minor. There were a number of parts missing and my bill with Malcolm at Econohonda soon crept to the $2,000 mark not the least of which was $500 for a pair of fork tubes. I stripped the motor because the top end was seized and I took the opportunity to install the better designed lay shaft from the donor engine. Despite the bikes engine having no oil in the crank case, the bottom end internals were in excellent condition. Powder coating, zinc plating and chroming is a familiar process to everyone.

The decals came out of the US and this time Noel Coory did the painting. The electrics proved troublesome in some areas - the terminals were corroded and some components did not work at all plus I had to find a suitable set of blinkers. Paul D to the rescue. Much to my surprise it started first kick and so all there is to do now is deal to the minor issues of leaking petrol tap and carburettor , no brakes and no power.

This is the first 4 stroke I have done since my British bike days - the engines are sure heavy after 2 strokes. So there it is - I have gone over to the Dark Side.

Don