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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 14, 2018 10:56:51 GMT
As a new member thought I would give a bit of history on my ownership of the bike to date, its a bit of a saga so turn off now if you are easily bored 
CHAPTER ONE
Bought the bike on impulse, about ten years ago (so oops taken me a long time to join the forum) was just getting the urge to do a bit of spannering and although I never owned one back in the day (was in my early twenties by the time the superdream came out) was familiar with Hondas of that era.
It was on the road when I got it, fairly high mileage thirty odd thousand, and even though engine and frame matched the rest of it was a bitsa. But a strange mix of bits, some c**p and some good and recently fitted but didn't look like an abandoned project and then oddly really simple things hadn't been done for instance the cam chain was rattling away, just needed the adjuster loosened and retightened ditto the balance chain but have to say overall it was a nail really  .
Managed to find a couple of pics from when I first got it, very distinctive red painted wheels, maybe somebody on here remembers it...   |
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Post by kickstart on Apr 14, 2018 18:38:15 GMT
Always good to hear about our biking experiences, your bike looks quite good really 👍
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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 15, 2018 14:42:16 GMT
Thanks but things always look better in the pics.
Glad you like hearing the story, here's the next (but not last) chapter of the "saga"
CHAPTER TWO
(TAKE STOCK OF WHAT I'VE GOT)
BAD BITS
Tank leaking plus dint in the top+filled the carbs with rust and the remains of an earlier attempt to line it, first time I put it on reserve filled the carbs with rubbish (barely got home) later found the filter was missing from the petcock altogether. Oh and not the right one for a deluxe anyway.
Handlebars bent and chrome on bars and headlight rim so bad they were only fit for the bin.
Front indicators a mess I think it might have had a fairing on at one time.
Side panels with broken lugs that had been repaired by re-fixing them with self tappers.
Rear hugger/mudguard rotten.
Rear brake no adjustment left linings nearly down to the metal.
GOOD BITS
Quite tidy motad exhaust.
Not very old chrome aftermarket shocks.
Nice seat and tail unit with undamaged honda seat cover (not for the deluxe though)
Front calliper with braided hose in really good condition complete with hardly worn Tokico pads, might even be OE.
Fork stanchions with good unpitted chrome, seals leaking a bit but maybe that's what saved the chrome.
Decent aftermarket front mudguard.
So the result (this is about eight years ago) after lots of time and rattle can paint and not too much money (got a bit carried away buying some new chrome though) was this.
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Post by kickstart on Apr 15, 2018 16:53:08 GMT
Looks very nice, a credit to the hard work put in👍
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Post by tommie on Apr 15, 2018 19:36:09 GMT
Looking good
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2018 20:36:13 GMT
Great stuff.....please keep updating us. Members like you make forums work, never think we are not interested.
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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 18, 2018 13:46:49 GMT
I'm back
Thanks for the kind words your gluttons for punishment, but suppose I'll only be telling this longgggg story once.
Sorry the pics coming up are a few weeks old but compromised at the moment trying to move the bike.
The tale continues...
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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 18, 2018 14:02:25 GMT
CHAPTER THREE (the engine incident)
I have no illusions about the performance to expect of the 250n even from new, but given that the engine of this one prior to my ownership would it seem been denied even basic maintenance and probably oil changes and was over twenty five years old and had nearly 40,000 miles on the clock (it was a testament to Honda that it was still running at all) it was not surprising that even with all adjustments and tuning done it was struggling, it was a poor starter from cold, hills were a real challenge and even thrashing it 70mph was only barely attainable steep downhill or with a very strong tailwind/slipstreaming on the flat.
Despite its and my best efforts it had inevitably become a superslug.
Checked the compression and only 90psi even with the throttle wide open, but what's this I spy on fleabay, a set of new rings being auctioned also a full gasket set, get them both total cost less than thirty quid, result.
Done engines before so think this will be a pretty quick job, head and barrels off fit new rings + grind valves in, a performance boost at small money, easy peasy...
But guess what, start stripping it and (some of you are nodding wisely already)the front head bolts pull the threads out of the crankcase,  superdream turns to supernightmare.
Start looking into helicoil / inserts but then get really lucky and see an engine up for sale quite close.
Nice bloke allegedly clearing stuff that his brother had left in his mums outhouse about twenty years before, engine had seized up for some reason as he remembers it but bike hadn't done that many miles...
Go and have a look, head and barrels are off and its not very pretty but its all there (including the head bolts) and most importantly the crankcase threads are good so got to be worth a punt.
Thirty quid (again)gets it out of his way and in the back of my car also get a cdi unit that's been left in the box of bits.
Start stripping it and confirms what I could see when it was on the shed floor, balance chain snapped and gone up one of the bores but does seem to be a lowish mileage engine so maybe never adjusted from new + being maybe (literally) revved to death.
In for a penny in for sixty quid and counting, order all new oil seals add lots more time, both engines completely dismantled and with about two thirds of the new and a third of the old used and I've dug myself back out of the hole.
Take the bike out and even riding very steady starting to run it in I can feel the difference and not just pulling better the gearbox clutch everything.
Then a small setback occurred which in tandem with other things lead to the last (honestly) chapter of the back story of the bike.
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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 18, 2018 14:46:32 GMT
CHAPTER FOUR(rebirth)
Start running the rebuilt engine in and only done a few miles and notice that there's actually a small oil leak from around the head gasket, only a bit but would need sorting, sort of snag to expect I suppose, engines built out of second hand parts and an after market gasket set and even though I work in factory maintenance I am not a motorcycle mechanic.
But it really p***ed me off, final straw and all that, had ended up spending too much time on it, felt like the thing had just become a chore.
Coinciding with this "life" intervened and there was suddenly no longer the spare time for projects like this and then tax, mot, etc runs out so that was that, sorned, carbs drained and shoved hard up against the garage wall with an old pair of curtains thrown over it + other clutter accumulating as the time went by, ended up being there for best part off six years.
Fast forward to last summer and the situation finally changes the wheel of life for my family having (sadly) completed one of its turns the previous year, so I am making my way through a to-do list of the less important things that have inevitably accumulated and have finally got to the thing under the pile of boxes with a flat tyre.
Sorry if I offend anybody on here but I was still in the mindset of just what's the best way to get rid of the thing, just shove it on ebay together with the spares I'd accumulated, to join all the other superdreams dragged from the back off garages/old sheds etc etc that are listed every week, be ar**ed breaking it, definitely get more but for a lot more trouble, you know how it goes.
So drag it out, not seen it completely uncovered since 2011, tentatively turn it over a it using the rear wheel then jump leads and spin it up until the oil light goes out, all seems ok so bit of fuel in and choke out and give it a go  I am amazed makes me jump in fact, starts instantly and sits there ticking over as though it's six hours since it last ran not six years.
Give it a wipe over with WD40 (other sprays are available) stand back look at it and suddenly I get my mojo back. 
Upcycle a second hand but serviceable battery from my regular bike, a tight squeeze but made it have it, put it back on the road (with the words, I thought you were getting rid off that ringing in my ears  ) and then on to fleabay to finish the project, first thing I notice is Ouch prices have gone up but undeterred source and fit over the next few months the following.
Genuine Honda top end gasket (really much better quality)
Correct deluxe tailpiece( modded my standard seat to match the profile)
Honda twin wall headers with sound original balance box, heat shields, exhaust clamps etc still attached,off a CM from the states.
Pair off after market silencers, some pitting but a bargain
Honda front mudguard, think its off a CX again probably from the states.
Pair of original shocks (from Germany) cosmetically very good...
Avon road rider tyres, went for original skinny dimensions 90/90 100/90
EBC front pads
Have finished running the engine in and now climbs steep hills at 60mph and probably the north face of the Eiger at 50, its actually got a power band (yes a 250n)above about 6500 revs and overtakes are possible again also you can add at least 10 mph onto its previous top speed, and that's measured with a satnav tie wrapped to the bars, so not far off alleged performance of the bike as new which was 84mph prone/75mph normally seated, Oh and I'm over 6 ft.
A certain patina but quite smart at least at a short distance away even if I say it myself. 
You did say you were interested... Wake up at the back 
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Post by peakdreamer on Apr 18, 2018 14:50:16 GMT
Bugger posted a wrong image try again  |
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terryc
Forum Accommodation Specialist 
I'll put you up ,plenty of room in my box
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Post by terryc on Apr 18, 2018 19:41:50 GMT
Those black reverse comstars look awesome on a red bike must admit I've been tempted more than once to paint my wheels black on my 400NC but so far I've resisted and they remain gold  |
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carlthebandit
Moderator 
Midlands Meets Organiser
You can never have too many bikes :)
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Post by carlthebandit on Apr 18, 2018 20:48:23 GMT
Great post thanks
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Post by paulsd1 on Apr 19, 2018 8:00:36 GMT
Enjoyed your story and pictures.
Glad you still have it,
Ride and enjoy.
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samc
Junior Member
Northern Ireland
Posts: 49
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Post by samc on Nov 10, 2023 18:00:31 GMT
Most interesting story and fab photos. Hope you are still enjoying this lovely restored SD in my favourite colour!
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superdream turns to supernightmare.
I am amazed makes me jump in fact, starts instantly and sits there ticking over as though it's six hours since it last ran not six years.
) and then on to fleabay to finish the project, first thing I notice is Ouch prices have gone up but undeterred source and fit over the next few months the following.
