250 2c

[Ming]

... and then if I actually weigh out 160g of ATF I get 235cc of oil!

What's wrong, my maths or my scales?

[EVguru]

The 250 2C forks are the same as the 125 and 250 singles; 1 1/4" diameter Paolis.

The 'Blue Book' lists 160cc oil for both.

[Ming]

The 250 2C forks are the same as the 125 and 250 singles; 1 1/4" diameter Paolis.

The 'Blue Book' lists 160cc oil for both.

D'oh! I didn't think to refer to that. Cheers Paul.

[Hugo]

Update on the tyre problem, I checked the tyres and found them to be oversize, 3.00 18 front, 3.50 18 rear, so this may be the source of the wobble.

[Steve Brown]

Update on the tyre problem, I checked the tyres and found them to be oversize, 3.00 18 front, 3.50 18 rear, so this may be the source of the wobble.

Hugo, if you are looking for tyres there is a good option from Avon now in the 2.75 and 3.00 x 18" size. They're called Avon Streetrider and look pretty good. I have just bought a pair for another lightweight bike I've built and they were very good value for money too. Well worth a look.

[Hugo]

Thanks Steve, I have actually just bought a pair of Avon's for £65 a pair delivered, although the supplier sent tubeless rather than tubed I was assured by Avon that these are ok with tubes

[Hugo]

Bike behaving well now due to fitting correct tyres, ride is better too, great bike to ride now!

[Tanshanomi]

Great to hear, Hugo. But not surprising; I've heard so little negative from people who've ridden a 2c.

I never have, and I'm jealous.

[jacks the lad]

Having just acquired a 2c I have been reading this thread with interest and there are a few points that people may be able to clarify. Tyres, there is a Mitas 3.35 x18 on the rear, shouldn’t that be a 3.00?
Not sure what effect that will have on the handling – not ridden it yet, waiting on the DVLA. The rear shocks, marked Dromo SEBAC are bright red, not just the springs, but the complete thing. Also the bottoms of the front forks red as well. As well as that, someone has fitted rubber gaiters, to cover up poor chrome on the fork legs may-be? Fitted with chrome silencers and the plastic housing with instruments is cracked, but apart all of that I am quite pleased with it. It starts easily and every thing seems to work as it should.
May need to ask about converting from 6v to 12v possibly asking in a new thread.

[72degrees]

A 3.00 rear tyre would suit it better I think.
My Forgotten Era 250/350 has gaiters for the reason you suspect. The 2C/375 ones are in remarkably good condition still.
The crack is by the ignition switch I'd guess. They tend to do that. You can hold it at bay with 'plastic bumper repair' or similar applied on the underside.
I've not done a 12v conversion with a 250 engine but it should be just a case of regulator, battery, bulbs and I suppose perhaps horn - though if I remember correctly (Ha!) I didn't change the Fiamm one on mine - which is why it gave up eventually perhaps (even though only operated at MoTs). The alternator is not very high output though, so don't go mad with the headlamp bulb wattage.

[mbmm350s]

Clares 250 has run 2.75 front and 3.25 rear since 1993 . At the moment we have Metzeler ME22 front and rear. These suit the bike well and did help to cause a certain well known 500 rider and former chairman whilst struggling to keep up on one twisty mountain road to use one of his well known excuses
"I didn't want to get too close in case I scared you"
Mark

[72degrees]

I tend to think more in 'modern' tyre sizes these days. The Forgotten Error runs 80/90 front and 90/90 rear. The 1.85 rims limit things a bit when it comes to finding boots in racing compound.

The tyres on the road 2C/375 have been on rather a long time and I really ought to think about replacements.

[mbmm350s]

We have done 12V conversion on ours as 72degrees said and +flasher relay!
For the regulator, stator should be the same as 350 sport/stradas of same vintage,
for charging/lighting it has two yellow and one red as well as the green wire
for the ignition coil, so you need a three wire type regulator.
Alternatively it can be converted to a more conventional two-wire system,
some one on this forum can say how that is done.
Mark

[72degrees]

Good point about the flasher relay. It's been so long since I created the 2C/375 that I don't remember what I did. I think I just got a generic 'can' one from Halfords. The alternator is only 100w then I think. I had an OEM 350 regulator (from the 1976 350 Strada engine donor bike) so I just replaced the 6v one with that and amazingly it still works!

I have a CIbie headlamp persuaded in to the 250 headlight rim which allows the use of an H4 bulb (not a conversion which is the other strategy). I briefly toyed with powerful front bulbs, but now stick to 35/35 as otherwise the total load can get marginal if not keeping the revs up - or perhaps my stator lighting coils are getting feeble. I keep meaning to experiment with LED indicator, stop/tail bulbs with a view to then providing the front with more lumens from a 45w bulb, but as I hardly ever ride at night these days there is not much pressure, though the allegedly better vibration resistance would be a bonus.

At least you can usually pick up standard 12v stop/tail bulbs at service stations, so another impetus to go 12v on a 250. Not like the 1956 Gilera 175 I just bought with three different varieties of 6v festoon bulbs required!

[mbmm350s]

There's no problem keeping the revs up on a 250
Mark