Suzuki 2 Strokes

Introductions first!
Im Steve from the UK, i've owned my 1979 Gt250 C for the last 4 years, 3 of which it stood idle while i was dealing with other projects.

I bought the back in 2013 with 11400 miles as an MOT'd running bike however upon receiving it found it had been poorly repaired and was downright dangerous to ride so i took it off the road. The bike was Mot'd just before i bought it but it transpires the last time it was on the road was 1993. The MOT must have been a "mates" MOT as it simply wasn't roadworthy. I reported the garage it came from shortly afterwards. Unfortunately the buyer disappeared off the face of the earth and while i didn't pay a huge amount for the bike, about 800 quid, i was stuck with it. So i then began what would be a 4 year long restoration on it.

Unfortunately because it was so long ago pictures are quite scarce. so apologies in advance.

Having kicked the Bike over it ran poorly. Starting with the motor checked it for air leaks and low and behold it had a hell of an air leak. So taking the opportunity to strip the motor i rebuilt it from the ground up, crank was balanced, new seals, rods and pistons, the bores were honed as remarkably they were in decent nick. Got the motor back together and into the bike. The original exhausts were bent, rotten, welded and beaten beyond any use so they were junked in favour of some brand new higgspeed pipes. Carbs were rebuilt and put back on the bike, rejetted for the new pipes. Seat pan was rotten. Managed to find a salvage part at a local scrappers which i had refoamed and recovered in the original design.

Moved onto the front end, the stanchions were too far gone but were straight, so i had them rechromed. Front suspension was serviced while it was apart with new seals and oil. Internal components were not showing signs of wear so they were cleaned and reassembled. Front brake was totally seized up. Took it apart and put a new piston and seals kit in, gave it a jolly good clean and paint with a new goodridge braided line. This was about the time i realised the master cylinder was worn out too. Unfortunately the inner bore was beyond repair so this was junked in favour of a bandit master cylinder i had lying around(this will be changed to a suzuki vintage new one when i get chance). New set of handlebars finished it. Front end was all sorted.

Rear shocks were leaking terribly so replace them for a new set, probably going to put hagons on at some point but for now a new set of chrome shocks set the bike off.

Wheels aren't great but are still round and true so for now these have stayed as they were. Looking to change refurb these this winter all been well. New tyres on as the old road runners were shot.

Bodywork, this was a big one. The front and rear mudguards has been painted, along with a chain guard and the headlight ears. Me, in my naivety, thought it would just be a case of stripping the paint off and rechroming. I was wrong. Someone had welded the original guards and then slapped a good INCH of filler across the entire thing. Completely beyond repair so my search began for a new set of guards. From 2013 to 2016 i slowly picked up these parts where in september last year i found the correct front mudguard and could continue rebuilding the bike.

A new set of mirrors went on with new switchgear. New NOS ears and headlight with a set of indicators and we are left with this:


Last couple of parts have been ordered today so hopefully in the next couple of weeks it will be MOT'd and riding.

Things to sort:
Wheel refurb
Repaint tank and side pods
Refurb the side panel badges
Re-chrome the mudguards.

It will never be a concourse bike as 1. i have no interest in building a bike i wont ever ride and 2 it just didn't have enough decent original parts. But it will be used, it will be at shows and i take great pride in knowing that had i not bought this it would have probably been parted out or scrapped. More pictures to come in the following weeks including its first ride out in about 24 years

Good work! I'm sure it feels good to have the bike at a point where it looks good and is safe. Have you had a chance to ride it yet and do a shake down?

Not yet, due to go in for an MOT in next couple of weeks. Once its passed i'm going to take it on a 20 to 30 mile run across the moorland near me. My mates going to tag along with some extra tools should it throw a wobbler at any point on the ride after haha

Well im sure you are excited, good luck! Keep us updated how it goes too.

Wow and I thought only I got bad bikes thrown my way. As you said had you not persevered with it, it would have ended up as a parts bike or scrap to be crushed.
You did a very decent job to revive it and use it as a daily rider, maybe a little more cosmetic work here and there in the future as time goes by.
I'm sure you know thats the wrong tail lamp and fender on there as well as the wrong colour on the side covers. The side covers are the same colour as the tank with strips and black along the lower section.
Your bike is quite rare since not many were sold and a lot less have survived. Being you are in the UK 1978 was a transition year for the GT250. Somehow Suzuki were late there with the models and the 78 models like your bike were still on the showroom floors when the first MK1 X7s arrived.
Photos of the bike are also difficult to find and these are what I have on file. Being its a low production model bike for 78 its worth showing and you will enjoy doing so.

Hey pal,

Yeah i know, i prefer the earlier tail lamp on it to be honest, side covers yep absolutely I'm going to get them in for paint when i send the tank in. The rear fender i know what you mean. I'm going to keep an eye out for an original for this year but they are becoming increasingly difficult to find these days as I'm sure you are aware.

Thanks for the pictures pal, one thing i was going to ask. Where is the steering lock located on these bikes, i have a new one but god help me i cant find where its supposed to go hahahah

The steering lock should be mounted on the head tube at the lower front section. The pin in the lock goes down into a hole in the lower tree when the handlebar is turned over to the left. Its possible your frame had the welded on bracket removed.

Suzsmokeyallan wrote:The steering lock should be mounted on the head tube at the lower front section. The pin in the lock goes down into a hole in the lower tree when the handlebar is turned over to the left. Its possible your frame had the welded on bracket removed.

Yep it has, guessing it seized on at some point in its previous life. I'm thinking i may get the frame powdercoated / painted next year so if anyone has a picture of the bracket can the drop me it through. Id like to get one made up and welded on:)

Last bolt has just gone on, MOT tomorrow!

Fingers crossed it passes!

Good news! It passed with flying colours. Absolutely made up about it. Ran really lovely all the way, sounded epic went like the clappers.

Then....

It ran out of electric on the way home

I Haven't had much time to do more than a quick glance but i can see a bit of corrosion on some of the connectors so im have An Auto sparky friend have a look at it in a couple of weeks. Gutted yes, but loved the small run i did manage on it and at least it passed the MOT!

Its the most miles its done in 20 odd years aswell!

Updates to follow once i get it figured out

Nice bike.

The 1977 GT250B was the last year sold in the US.
If your C model has the same electrical setup, then you can get a little more electrical output by installing a modern rectifier/regulator & running the alternator wiring directly to it.

good shout pal, ill pass it onto my sparky

Certainly looks like you've earned that one.
Good job and maybe see you at Squires in Sherburn in Elmet over the summer.
Not too far away in Barnsley.

Alan H wrote:Certainly looks like you've earned that one.
Good job and maybe see you at Squires in Sherburn in Elmet over the summer.
Not too far away in Barnsley.

Sounds good to me mate, should be there soon!

Little update - the electrical issue has been chased to the ancient rectifier. new parts on order to convert it to a single reg/rec system instead of the current set up. Hopefully make it run that little bit cleaner!


Job after this will be to swap out the points for a newtronic system