Lil Bluey

Lil Bluey came into our lives beaten, dented and oozing oil from every place oil can leak. But she revealed her true spirit and grit when she kicked over on one cylinder accidentally during a cold compression test…we had left the ignition on. That was enough for us to confirm her desire to live again…

She’d shown us she could run, but she’d also shown us she could fly… and she was fast!

As a matter of course we completely stripped the bike down to her last nut and bolt. We replaced the engine bearings, seals, gaskets, pistons and rings. The cylinders were rebored and honed, the case polished and the carbs cleaned ultrasonically. We replaced the gaskets and machined new custom jets for our altitude. The frame was stripped and painted, wheels polished and re-laced with fresh spokes. We upgraded the brake shoes, added new final drive sprockets, chain and fresh hub bearings. Lil Bluey’s harness and electrics got a freshen up too with a new regulator/rectifier and electronic ignition.

She’d shown us she could run, but she’d also shown us she could fly…and she was fast! Not just for a little 250, but for most bikes twice her capacity. Back in the 60’s Lil Bluey was Honda’s Supersport and answer to the bigger BSAs, Triumphs and Harleys; she was graced with 30 horses and they are all still in the stable. Most modern 250 cc street bikes don’t have close to 30 hp. Tuck down, pin her though the gears, she will hit the ton and sing as she does.

So we couldn’t have her as a mere pedestrian-looking restoration. We got rid of Lil Bluey’s forward mounted foot pegs and shift gear, and we manufactured custom rear sets that mount off the existing pillion mounts. That shed about 5 kg and made her shifting crisp. We replaced the scrambler bars with a set of small clubman bars. Her huge fenders and comically large tail light and indicators were next to hit the floor. Lil Bluey now had some sleek little indicators and tail light.

We were underwhelmed with the original starter motor and kick starter, so we eliminated the starter and made a little heat sink cover—6 kg gone. Tires are the most important upgrade you can make, as they are the only thing touching the road; all the power and fancy upgrades mean exactly squat if you can’t get all those horses around a corner. Lil Bluey now has a pair of new kicks that can handle her true nature.

We kept the original two-tone paint because it’s friggin awesome. She is eye catching for sure, but you also have to hold the attention of the viewer. With this in mind we came up with a neat little points/ ignition cover that has a glass window. Now you can see Lil Bluey’s spinny bits as she passes by like she’s been shot out of a cannon.