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Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:10 am
by Mickl
hey friends,

i have recently picked up a GPX250 , trying to find exactly what it may be called or what it would've looked like originally, as its a bit tattered and torn, dirty and some bits been smashed,

on the compliance plate its says,, EX250-F and dated 11/1988

as i am trying to source parts for it from one end to another online, i wish to try to confirm its REAL NAME, MODEL, WHAT IS CALLED?
its not tracey or Stacey harr harr,, not Rhonda coz its not a Honda...

I just want to confirm whether its a GPX250R?, EX250F , not F2 ? is it a NINJA?
its all pretty new to me, but learning as things unfold the past month. would it be classed as a 1988 model or 1989 ?
U see, i am looking at ordering parts online for fork seals kit, front an rear rotors, pads .. could be some different option depending on what the go is.

any hints to uncover the mystery for me?

thanks for your help . :D
the VIN # EX250-F 0089XX . ( i hid the last 2 digits)
Black Wheels, no leather seat strap, its a Single front Disc,

got some potential , I wana ride it!, also looking for some sort of workshop manual, i found a link the lead me to this site here, for a workshop service manual download but needs some encrytion code password, ?? ?


in the distance i hear a rumble.... ..of the engine

Mickl ;)

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:56 am
by loubre
EX250F is Kawasaki model code, sold here as GPX250, in the US sold either as EX250 or Ninja, for parts all you need is the year and that it's a GPX250, model was virtually unchanged right through their life, eg my old 98 has an 03 tank on it, parts are very easy to get!

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:56 am
by mike-s
EX250F is the model sequence for the bike in the US, over here it is the GPX250R, and the F1, F2, F3 relates to the year of production, yours is most likely around an 1988, 1989 or maybe even 1990 model as from memory F1 is from around 1987-1988 (i had an 1987 GPX750R, and it had the designation of F1).

Hope that helps.

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:03 am
by jefflthomas
what's a compliance plate?...LOL

if it's an '88 model year it's a EX250-F2 which was marketed as both a Ninja 250R & a GPX250

if it was assembled in 11'88 it's an '89 EX250-F3

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:12 am
by jefflthomas
on second thought just write in your VIN# here...

http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.as ... EHICLE.ASP

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:56 am
by ZXR750
It is a GPX250. The EX250 is the marketing code and will be shown on the ESN. eg JKAEX.......... E=2 cylinder(in line only) X= fairing bike.
eg ZR = Z=4 cylinder R= naked bike.

I would not worry too much as said earlier the GPX is very popular and parts are very easy to get both new and at wreckers.

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:04 am
by tim
Whack up a pic, and welcome :kuda:

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:33 am
by Mickl
jefflthomas wrote:on second thought just write in your VIN# here...

http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.as ... EHICLE.ASP

hi there JT , thanks for your help, i had already tried using that website for a VIN number search , but while my guitar gently weeps,
it didn't work , no match for that VIN flippen thing :-/ ok i will quadruple check hehe


:kuda:
Mickl

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:08 am
by Mickl
hi , hello Gooday fellas, and ladies, kids, pets,

I was born and bred a V8 boy, yeah chevy's all the way, my 1st car, a V8 ford falcon XB GS, much to my Dad's dismay ( he drove Camaro's etc)but rides a restored Z1300 beast, never thought I'd ever drive a 4cylinder car.. WHAT!!, let alone a 2cylinder hehehe but soon boys, we saddle up and i hope those 2 cylinders keep on a cranking fine ! its fires up thats a good start tho...

thanks alot for your posts and replies, all good info, ehhehe altho some conflicts with the other, I'll just keep the volume up and Dire Straits a playen for now... .. can't see where to upload a picture for this post..?
Man i got so much to doon this Bike, sanded down all the plastics, what a job, ummmm errr,, Fairing snapped in half while doing some fibreglassing ahhh shheeezz i said, broke right in the middle like where it would surrounds over the top of headlight, looks like already been fibre glassed, have to re-do re-fix get high on acetone and resin some more, not good, but its good to achieve the good results when its done, 8)
i plan on spraying it all Maranello Red, once i am done prepping, move up to primary school then onto high school then, enter the real world of GLOSS FINISH aHaaaa.. on the road.. for a cruise. (instead of stuck in what seems to be hell, in the dungeon with a bike that done years of hard labour and some1 broke it..

i will attempt to not be embarresed when i upload a photo of this ummmm black beauty, she's dirty but like a bull terrior , ever tried to bath 1 ? well...! fun and games .

so i need new rotors, mine too worn for Road worthy, need new pads, fork seals, this is where the model and parts can seem to conflict of what to order, and on to complete the jigsaw puzzle and do the plastics( i began with super glue to get into shape) then onto fibreglass & resin... then put it all back together, wiring-sort out what to go is there. imagine a long haired guy scratching his head, then the light bulb goes on.. soon.. ACTION!!
fuel tap only seems to work when i remove the spring out form that tap assembly,,What the geeez i said...
got a dent in the fuel tank,,, any home tricks in knocking it out, keep thinkin some suction cups type manouvre, i have bent up a bloody tent pole into a weird shape to try get it in position (to the side wall where the fold crease is) hard to put force on it in 2 directions.. and then,... NO AND THEN! ,
and then....
man i fiddled around like Andre' Rieu on the Violin for a while, hmmmmm yaaaaa well you know,, no joy yet,, less joy actually
oh boy the smell of blocked nostrils filled with sanded paint and fibreglass and body filler and the hummm 'n vibration of the orbital sander, covered in sanded dust of 3 coats of old paint and primer,, but wait there's more.... sanding to do :-) thanks for reading - Friends



Mickl

I don't Waaant a pickle,,, I just wana Ride my Motorsikle!! (Arlo Guthrie)


ride on

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:21 am
by jefflthomas
ZXR750 wrote: E=2 cylinder(in line only) X= fairing bike.
eg ZR = Z=4 cylinder R= naked bike.
i'm pretty sure you got the R wrong...or my bike's a contradiction...so's yours ...LOL

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:41 am
by Mickl
mike-s wrote:EX250F is the model sequence for the bike in the US, over here it is the GPX250R, and the F1, F2, F3 relates to the year of production, yours is most likely around an 1988, 1989 or maybe even 1990 model as from memory F1 is from around 1987-1988 (i had an 1987 GPX750R, and it had the designation of F1).

Hope that helps.
...
thanks for your info, on the frame and the Aust. rivetet buid plate, compliance plate, its doesn't show any F1, F2, F3,

only this... EX250 - F 0089XX (last 2 digits I've hidden)

also tried so many combinations on the VIN search on Kawasaki.com as suggested by our m8 J.T., enterd with and without the spaces, between numbers, a dash, no dash, more zero's, but no luck there.


just in attempt to find out what this bike is actually, labelled as,, F F1 F2 F3,lets see what happens next..


Mickl

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:16 pm
by Mickl
tim wrote:Whack up a pic, and welcome :kuda:
.......................................................................
on the 1st day, in the shed, new home.. new life.. I do believe in re-incarnation
on the 1st day, in the shed, new home.. new life.. I do believe in re-incarnation
ok i worked it out here's a pic of this old beast, rested, but not in piece,, but now its in many pieces,

not too many, top fairing was frigged, doesnt look too bad in the shot, but had to ripped off all the old fibreglassing job that was crap and since smashed
and cracked and has been a job for me i tell ya.. but

and a pic of the dented tank,, any suggestions to fix, , or heckling welcome.. i am not working so seems outt range to send to an expert.


thanks friends

Mickl

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:37 pm
by laidback
Welcome Mickl...won't get too many heckles for wanting to get an old Kwaka going. :kuda:

Here's a couple of sites that I have used when researching my GPX750R...might help.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ ... r%2086.htm

http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.as ... EHTABS%3d1

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:15 pm
by loubre
Should be easy enough to pick up another tank from any of the wreckers, common right through apart from colour, main thing to check is rust, a very common issue in GPX 2 fiddy tanks, main reason they get changed, :lol:

Re: Find the Model - how to identify my bike?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:57 pm
by Mickl
ok thanks for your advice,.. its just a lack of money issue .. issue is i need more cash, trying to do thing cheap, prob just ride around with it bashed up, and the rest should be ok. :-) have to say tho, some prices on 2nd hand fuel tanks like $450 range is a bit exxy dont you reckon?...

if i am lucky to find a tank cheap i may replace it,depends if i get some moola and some days to work 4 frineds and get $$,OR
maybe i could just convert it to LPG and strap on a 9kg Gas Bottle for a cheap tank!

sounds easy enuff! picture it.. a maranello red big fn gas bottle tank,, naybe not so big then,, hehehe :twisted:


wat u say fellas ?