End of the line....The last Suzuki 250 street stroker...

[busa1300]

Sorry about the keyboard.
Looks like this VJ23 project might get put aside before I get it done. Just started the process of buying a different house, so there will be major amounts of moving EVERYTHING in the garage....
But it will be a fresh start in another 30X50 building, so I wont be losing any space....but will need to figure out how to arrange better.

[Thebrandonbeezy]

Looking good busa, i think i saw you post about this bike on gsr?? Not sure. Anyways, im holding you to high expectations after you got botm last month hahah

[busa1300]

It won't be a restored, nut and bolt complete redo like the GS...but every nut and bolt on the VJ23 is getting attention.
This will be more of a sympathetic restoration, leaving most of the original finish and patina. The poor GS had no choice but to go all the way.
It is somewhat on hold as I am waiting on parts from 3 continents, so I can finish it up before I move...(hopefully).....
......As I dug deeper into the parts while cleaning, I found many issues I had to straighten out in order to put the bike together properly.
Parts I had not ordered/found over the winter...

[busa1300]

Still waiting on some parts from Japan, so I can get the cylinders bolted back on....then everything else that mounts up after.
Tracking shows boxes should be here next week
One issue I did have was the Zeel programmable ignition I got....was missing a wire...WTF...!!!
So that will set me back a bit, and I'll have to use the restricted ignition box till the new Zeel shows up
Thought I'd throw the bodywork on since I can't do much else at the moment....just so it looks like I'm getting somewhere.

[rubbersdown550]

Cool bikes. I just vapor blasted a set of these engine cases and carbs for a guy on Friday. So light, engine cases and complete carbs weighs just 18lbs when I shipped them back.

[busa1300]

Yes, light weight was a priority on this version. Almost every part on it weighs less than the same parts on the earlier VJ22 model.
Many parts that were steel are aluminum on the VJ23...or magnesium. And many of the aluminum parts are thinner or lighter castings also (wheels especially)
About 20 pounds less total, and only being a 250, that's a big difference.

[johnu]

Beautiful looking bike

[busa1300]

Thanks

It should look better now as it is in one piece for the first time in over 11 months....
And cleaner than it has been in about 20 years
Also the first time ever to run on American roads today.... Just in time, as my garage is getting shut down and moved in about 2/3 more weeks...

[busa1300]

You Tube...

https://youtu.be/u5Z-bcWeQbU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jabcb]

Congrats on a job well done.

[busa1300]

Thanks.
They always take twice as much $$$ as planned and take 3 times longer to finish than ever expected.
Just never give up on the vision...

[garry55]

great result - looks well pretty

[busa1300]

Thanks...
If it was a V model like you have, I doubt I would have put the Sugaya pipes and the Zeel ignition on.
Since it's not the rarest of VJ23's I don't mind a little upgrade and ride it hard when I have the chance
I'm hoping to have a 500 4 cylinder stroker soon also.....but it will be a square 4 not a V 4.....

[sportston]

looks feckin gorgeous that bike, lad!
A got a touch the green eyed monster looking at it.

[busa1300]

Thanks.
It was a lot of effort/worry getting the boxes from Japan to me.
And then a lot more time and $$$ getting it all together into a bike I could ride with no worries.....
.....except maybe leaning too much and scraping my knees