Yamaha XT250 – 1983 Restored Motorcycle

Yamaha XT250 – 1983

Year:  1983
Gears:  Five-speed manual
Manufacturer:  Yamaha
Start Type:  Kick start
Model:  XT250LC
Drive Type:  Chain
Type:  Trail Bike
Colour:  White
Date of 1st Registration:  01/04/1983
Engine Size:  250
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Restored 1983 Yamaha XT250LC Dual-Purpose.

Bought as a collection of parts in boxes in February 2012 and has been 99% restored.

The only things left to do are the wheels.
Rear rim is OK with original off-road tyre and a few rusty spokes, front wheel has a hybrid tyre, again OK but the gold-coloured front rim is faded (see photos).

There is a little surface rust just starting to appear on the exhaust headers, only to be expected.

Valve cover, cylinder head and barrel have had the blasting treatment and have been sprayed with matt black EHT (extra high temp) paint. This only cures properly either in the oven or when the engine has been running for a while.

Exhaust headers and silencer have had the same treatment.
Exhaust heat shields are custom-made polished stainless steel items.

The engine top-end has been overhauled – one valve shim was out of spec and was replaced, all the valve stem seals have been replaced, cam chain has been checked for stretch and is within spec. All new gaskets and seals.

Tank was stripped back to bare metal, any dents repaired and then given the etch primer coats plus four coats of white polyurethane enamel paint.

As many of the fasteners as possible have been replaced with stainless steel bolts, most of them have been polished. All bolts are the correct sizes; most are cap head (Allen key) screws.

List of new parts – frame and bodywork
Front mudguard
Front fork oil seals and gaiters, black, red ones supplied with bike, stainless steel clips
Front headlight (non-original 7″ round one, original rectangular one and bracket supplied with bike), headlight has custom-made polished stainless steel mounting brackets.
Clock tray, carries speedo and tacho
Clutch lever, mounting bracket and rubber cover
Brake lever, mounting bracket and rubber cover
Handlebar grips
Both mirrors
Ignition switch (non-original with custom made stainless steel bracket) with 2 keys
Renthal handlebars
Filler cap with 2 keys
Front and rear indicators
Seat cover
Tool bag
Brake light switch
Tail light lens
Battery (new 10A fuse holder fitted)
Chain guard

New mechanical and Engine parts
Oil filter with machined billet cover
One valve shim (other 3 were within spec)
All necessary gaskets – including valve cover, cylinder head, cylinder base and crankcase cover gaskets
Swing arm bearings
Suspension arm bearings
Carburetor piston with diaphragm
Drive chain and both sprockets
Clutch cable
Speedo cable
Decompression cable (operates when you kick start the engine – clever piece of design!)
Throttle tube
Spark plug and plug cap
Indicator relay
Drive chain guide

The frame has been powder-coated in red.
The tank decals are not original; these came with the bike.

Engine starts about third or fourth kick from cold and first kick when hot. It runs quietly with no rattles, no smoke or undue noises and when warmed up it settles down to a lovely XT idle. On the road it pulls like a train; its only a 250 but has plenty of low-down torque just like its bigger brothers.