Cibbie-1988 CBR 250R

[Daschicken]

Front fender from an MC14(CBR 250 Four) showed up. A huge improvement over the bikini fender that comes stock on my bike, unfortunately it doesn't look so hot. Whatever coloration that is on that fender seems to be embedded into the paint. It still feels smooth, and I can't wash it off.

EIGHT DOLL-HAIRS



I also ordered an oil pan heater for the CBR, due to its limited flat space I got the 1"x5" 25 watt pad. This will be more for longevity than for fuel economy, but it should help both.

[Daschicken]

Just an update, front fender is still away and the little heater would not fit anywhere that would be useful. I have been looking into installing a vacuum gauge on the bike to aid in efficient acceleration and DWL. It took some asking around on the four cylinder specific forum, but I did find and order the part I needed, a 6mm hose barb.



Update update: I found a 1"x1" square heater pad, will check dimensions on little cibbie's oil pan again and see if I can fit that somewhere. The other heater I bought was 1"x5".

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

Just an update, front fender is still away and the little heater would not fit anywhere that would be useful. I have been looking into installing a vacuum gauge on the bike to aid in efficient acceleration and DWL. It took some asking around on the four cylinder specific forum, but I did find and order the part I needed, a 6mm hose barb.

I fitted a vacuum gauge to my VT250C using a similar barb fitting.

I found the gauge needle bounced around too much to be read (because it's only picking up one cylinder I suppose).
Adding a flow controller (one way) to the line steadied the needle, but it probably messed with it's accuracy.

As far as usability goes, I found little difference between part throttle and WOT in normal riding, so it didn't really help.

Maybe the CBR's higher revs will help? With it's modified gearing, my VT (probably) seldom goes over 7500 rpm (no tacho).

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by D.O.G.

I fitted a vacuum gauge to my VT250C using a similar barb fitting.

I found the gauge needle bounced around too much to be read (because it's only picking up one cylinder I suppose).
Adding a flow controller (one way) to the line steadied the needle, but it probably messed with it's accuracy.

As far as usability goes, I found little difference between part throttle and WOT in normal riding, so it didn't really help.

Maybe the CBR's higher revs will help? With it's modified gearing, my VT (probably) seldom goes over 7500 rpm (no tacho).

I forgot about the flow restriction! My carb sync set already had included restrictors, I’ll have to figure out as way to restrict this one, maybe just a zip tie constricting the line?

Maybe the lack of excess power on your VT had something to do with the small changes in needle movement? Actually, my CBR only has 5 more horsepower, so maybe not. I will find out soon enough!

Also, there is an entry for a 1988 VT250C on gearingcommander.com, punch in your shift point mph and find out your rpms!

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

Maybe the lack of excess power on your VT had something to do with the small changes in needle movement? Actually, my CBR only has 5 more horsepower, so maybe not. I will find out soon enough!

Also, there is an entry for a 1988 VT250C on gearingcommander.com, punch in your shift point mph and find out your rpms!

Ha! You could be right about the lack of power. My VT250C (MC29) is 13 HP short of the MC19, although it produces about the same torque (at 4k lower rpm).

Thanks for the gearingcommander tip. It tells me The VT is turning under 6300rpm at 110kph on the Motorway.

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by D.O.G.

Ha! You could be right about the lack of power. My VT250C (MC29) is 13 HP short of the MC19, although it produces about the same torque (at 4k lower rpm).

Thanks for the gearingcommander tip. It tells me The VT is turning under 6300rpm at 110kph on the Motorway.

Okay, I was thinking of the VT250 Spada, which apparently has 40 hp.

[Daschicken]

My 1"x1" heater FINALLY showed up(partly my fault), and it looks like I could have gone bigger. The heater is only 10 watts, so I didn't expect much, but it does in fact work, and I did measure higher oil pan temps. I'll have to leave it plugged in for 2 hours and see what kind of oil temps it gets up to. I had it on for maybe half an hour, and saw oil pan temps climb about 6 degrees F. Temperature on the heater itself didn't go much over 200 degrees F.





Vacuum gauge is hooked up and sourcing vacuum from cylinders 1 and 4. Haven't gotten to ride it since that first test ride with 1 cylinder tapped cause I was fixing a coolant leak. The leak is fixed now, I just have to go get more coolant!

[Daschicken]

Oil pan heater is now wired in with a quick disconnect plug.



I have since ridden the bike with the vacuum gauge sourcing vacuum from cylinders 1 and 4. Idle is hopeless, but once the bike is actually moving the needle steadies out and doesn't wiggle at all. The gauge is also mounted to the bike now, but its kind of ghetto and is hard to see unless I position myself correctly. As D.O.G. pointed out, there isn't much difference between full throttle and other throttle positions while accelerating. I can easily drop to 0.5 In Hg(?) or below when accelerating. When cruising however, the gauge does become useful, and the needle climbs up to around 4-8 In Hg(?). I believe off throttle was around 11. So far I have run two tanks through with the vacuum gauge installed, but I also adopted a new less accurate fillup technique to avoid fuel overflowing out of the cap when riding. Both fillups were at or above 60 MPG, so I have high hopes for this mod.

[M_a_t_t]

Where did you get that oil pan heater from? I haven't been able to find any smaller than the 1x5 you got before. I think I will pick up 1 or 2 for my bike

Thanks,
Matt

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Where did you get that oil pan heater from? I haven't been able to find any smaller than the 1x5 you got before. I think I will pick up 1 or 2 for my bike

Thanks,
Matt

I got it from OEMheaters. However, the heater has worked intermittently, and the last two times I tried to use it, it didn’t work. Doesn’t look burned out, and it still has resistance, so I don’t know what is going on.

It was also $50...so...ouch.