Missed my chance.

[Watcher]

Some of you may recall the yellow M750 I used to have, the guy I sold it to recently listed it for sale.

The listing basically said "Easy project.  Bike has been sitting for the last year with gas in the carbs so it needs a rebuild.  Has been dropped, needs new bars and has a dent in the gas tank.  Other minor fixes needed."
$800


I hit him up:  "Hello, I used to own that motorcycle and I really want it back.  What is your availability like?"
He says "How about today?"
Today I was up at 4am because I needed to teach a class, was already home and exhausted, it was already over 100°F outside, and I had already changed into my comfy house clothes so I was feeling very unmotivated to do anything but eat lunch and then take a nap.
So I says "How about tomorrow?"
Took my nap.
Wake up and check my messages, he has NOT messaged me back, but the listing is now marked as sold.


Was really hoping to get that machine back.  A new gas tank is like $2k so if the dent wasn't bad I figure just new bars and a rebuild, some general maintenance and replacement stuff, parts are cheap because of where I work, and I'll have my first love back.  If the dent WAS bad, maybe go a different direction.  Higher bars, modded suspension, DS tires, custom skid plate, make it into a pseudo Scrambler.  A "Scramster!"
But alas.   

That got me in the mood for a project, though.  I recently came across some photos of small CC scramblers and fancy a little custom job.  Get a TU250X or TW200 or something on the cheap and start cutting it up.
I have a friend with an old CT90 project that needs a new engine, he's feeling very unmotivated on it so he basically offered to give it to me.  Not really something I'd fix and keep, but could be a fun little side-gig.

[mr72]

Bummer on the Monster. I've started looking for one again, but I really want a M695 or an early fuel injected M900 (like 2001ish). I'm afraid though that a Monster is going to be too small for me, and I've never ridden one, so who knows. If the right one comes along, I'll go take a look. It just has to not be black.

My dad did a conversion of a TU250X to a "scrambler", which turns out was mostly just putting knobby tires on it along with a smaller front fender and an old set of superbike bars with an added on brace to look "dirt". He put ammo boxes as panniers and runs only the solo seat. IMHO to really be a better scrambler it would need different rear shocks and much stiffer fork springs. Bike feels too small for me and the lack of power is pretty terrifying in traffic, and this is from a guy who rides a 125cc scooter all the time. But the TUX is ultra dependable, that's for sure. With a 200+ lb rider, it won't sustain 60mph going uphill and my dad seems to think it's going to destroy itself if you try to sustain 60mph on flat ground. Again, me being the guy who rides a scooter at WOT on 55mph roads for miles on end, I am guessing I just have more of a tolerance for stressing the engine out.

I would love a CT90 project like that. Swap in a 150cc GY6 that are a dime a dozen.

[cbrfxr67]

That's boo you missed it watcher.  That would've been one of those great moments where everybody cheers 

mr,...always good writing!  "me being the guy who rides a scooter at WOT on 55mph roads for miles on end" 

[Watcher]

I'm afraid though that a Monster is going to be too small for me, and I've never ridden one, so who knows.

In what way?  Physical size?  If you're ever in Tucson DM me, I'll let you take the 821 out.

My dad did a conversion of a TU200X to a "scrambler", which turns out was mostly just putting knobby tires on it along with a smaller front fender and an old set of superbike bars with an added on brace to look "dirt". He put ammo boxes as panniers and runs only the solo seat. IMHO to really be a better scrambler it would need different rear shocks and much stiffer fork springs.

Yeah, the few projects I've seen replaced the rear shocks with something taller and did what looks like DRZ400 fork swap.  That style of rear shock would be super easy to change, just need the size of the mounts, then pick a weight and a length.  Forks would take a little research, maybe needs a new triple as well.  High exhaust might be totally custom.  Dirtbike bars are a dime a dozen.  I like the idea of ammo cans but I've seen some canvas messenger bags repurposed as saddlebags that would be cool, I'd only need one side if I do a high exhaust.

I would love a CT90 project like that. Swap in a 150cc GY6 that are a dime a dozen.

That may be the plan!  An original CT90 engine would probably be hard to find and expensive if I did, the owner mentioned a cheap alternative and I might go that route.

[mr72]

In what way?  Physical size?  If you're ever in Tucson DM me, I'll let you take the 821 out

yeah. Physical size. Handlebar to seat length, seat to pegs. My gs was very cramped before I did mods on it, and I noticed tom cruise fits fine on an old monster. I'm a lot bigger than tom.

Yeah, the few projects I've seen replaced the rear shocks with something taller and did what looks like DRZ400 fork swap. 

rear shocks that fit will be harder to find than you might think. The rest of the frame seems similar to a dr350 but with twin shocks that already are like an inch or more longer than typical aftermarket shocks in place of the Dr monoshock. If it was easy to put longer and stiffer shocks, we would have already done it.

Oddly enough the forks would probably be readily upgraded with gs500 forks. The whole tu250 is like 75 lb lighter than a gs and I think the fork tubes are the same size so gs fork legs should fit right in the triples and give longer travel and more ride height along with stiffer springs. Worth looking into. Then figure out how to put a big brake rotor and radically upgrade the brakes with GS front brakes, just have to work out a new fork brace to clear the 18" front wheel.

Nice thing is GS forks should be easy to get. Also you could probably squeeze a dr350 motor in, might even be able to just swap the cylinder and piston and keep the EFI, maybe use one of these programmable aftermarket ECU. 30 HP would be a huge improvement. Otherwise it really needs a 6 speed transmission and lower gearing. I'm sure my Stella will smoke a stock tux 0-30 mph, and it will definitely out-brake it.

[mr72]

Well, there's a yellow '16 Ducati Scrambler 900 that ticks all the boxes for me on FB marketplace right now but mrs72 sez nope. So I'm going to join the "missed my chance on a yellow Ducati" club.

[Watcher]

Well, there's a yellow '16 Ducati Scrambler 900 that ticks all the boxes for me on FB marketplace right now but mrs72 sez nope. So I'm going to join the "missed my chance on a yellow Ducati" club.

At least it's not so lonely anymore, lol 

In what way?  Physical size?  If you're ever in Tucson DM me, I'll let you take the 821 out

yeah. Physical size. Handlebar to seat length, seat to pegs. My gs was very cramped before I did mods on it, and I noticed tom cruise fits fine on an old monster. I'm a lot bigger than tom.

Yeah, the few projects I've seen replaced the rear shocks with something taller and did what looks like DRZ400 fork swap. 

rear shocks that fit will be harder to find than you might think. The rest of the frame seems similar to a dr350 but with twin shocks that already are like an inch or more longer than typical aftermarket shocks in place of the Dr monoshock. If it was easy to put longer and stiffer shocks, we would have already done it.

Have you tried looking in the cruiser sector for different shocks?  Granted I haven't researched it but there are dozens if not hundreds of options from one of my vendors for twin shocks for various cruisers.  Most just want eye-to-eye length, eye diameter, and desired weight.  There's gotta be something that can drop in if not install with little modification.

I wonder if a big-bore kit exists for a TUX.  I wonder also if there's a 400cc engine that would drop in.

[mr72]

the shocks are longer than any other cruiser shocks by at least 1".

and I think a DR350 jug and piston would probably fit.