MY REBUILT HONDA CB250 SUPER DREAM IS BROKEN

[@BikesofRye]

🚨 Make sure to check out Bikesure for top-notch insurance coverage 🚨 and don't forget to subscribe!! 😁

[@fredsmith4106]

Get some lead additive and add it each fill up. Though the super dreams supposedly can handle unleaded, burnt out valves tell a different story.

[@everythingandanything6405]

Should be asking yourself why the tappets were out so quickly, also please don't use impact wrench on what is a lightweight built bike, no need unless you have a stuck swingarm bolt or similar. Using spanners gives you a feel for how much force is being applied, and always torque to spec. I remember the Super dream coming out ( I'm old) but have rebuilt a number of small bikes and only once reached for the impact wrench. Enjoy!

[@DouglasTinsley]

When setting the piston to TDC, go past the'F' and rotate back to TDC to remove back lash (slack in the cam chain) in the chain

[@camperp195]

Bang on!

[@gazzertrn]

Exactly , i had two of these .

[@dukie1616]

Honestly, in 2018-19 when I started watching this bike review channel I hadn’t thought it would go in the direction of a build/restoration channel. But here we are, and a good one at that. Damn Rye you’ve taken us on an unexpected, but extremely welcomed journey. A lot of people talk, but you are really doing it. Great work! Thank you

[@BikesofRye]

How did I miss this comment!! Damn thank you so much. That means a lot

[@richardhince9764]

When I was riding bikes in my youth, these bikes were common. Most people aspired to the RD250 rather than the Superdream because it was faster, but I've always preferred a four stroke to a two stroke for lots of different reasons. I never owned a 250N however, my first bike was a two year old CB200 and I rode that for a long time. Now I'm 64 years old and I just bought an old 1996 XV535 as a renovation project, which is, if I got it right, my 46th motorcycle!!

[@MarkThomas-os7nh]

Walking away to cool down and rethink was a good strategy. Well done, it looks great

[@andrewreason636]

Congratulations, that sounded so much better. One small tip, a blob of grease on the side panel lugs will help removal and prevent them snapping off.

[@Gruxxan]

use rubber grease though, not lithium grease, it will destroy the rubber

[@BikesofRye]

Yes thanks for the tip!

[@H-M-78]

Silicone grease

[@fezmadheadzx14r38]

Top tip for all those tappet tinkerer's .. Access tappers via cam cover removal..remove plugs. Engage 2nd gear..use the rear wheel to turn the engine for those which dont have kickstarter. Turn until you see any of the valves fully open and valve spring compressed, look at the immediate valve on the other side of the head adjacent to it and it will be fully closed and can be adjusted to required clearance. Then make a note of which valve you started on in the fully open position..then turn the wheel again to see the next valve that becomes fully open and so on. Totally no need to use the crank timing marks as reference.. Dead simple and easy. If it's an exhaust valve fully open with spring compressed then the valve the needs adjustment will be the same cylinder inlet valve. Great vid tho. Glad it's sorted.And you did do it by the book. Keep it like this with oil changes every 1500 miles and she will last forever 😎👍

[@A_S_100]

A polite correction; It’s called a valve clearance not a tolerance.

[@H-M-78]

Yes, can't stand it....Clearance!!

[@anemone104]

Unless you are an American. The clearances are set between rockers and valve stem ends - the tappets. To our American cousins, rockers are sills on a car and a gudgeon pin is a piston pin... How do you weigh a whale? Take it to a whale weigh station. Of course when I heard this joke back in the late 70s, everyone in the UK knew what a railway station was and the joke worked. Now of course it doesn't work as somehow we now have 'train stations' just as if we were in America. Does this matter? Is linguistic drift inevitable and an acceptable price of social media (and KZbin) with the dominant culture becoming the new norm?

[@A_S_100]

@@anemone104 It doesn’t matter if it’s an American term or not it just matters whether the term you use is correct and a Clearance is not the same thing as a Tolerance.

[@anemone104]

@@A_S_100 True. Also true that Japanese manufacturing tolerances are much better than Brit ones ever were - no selective assembly required. Nevertheless Americans regularly (mis)use 'tolerances' for tappet clearance. They also call depth gauges on saw chains 'rakers', despite them doing no raking whatsoever. Rakers are people employed to use rakes (like in a Zen rock garden for all the groovy patterns) or you find them on cross-cut hand saws or on fish gills. Nevertheless, 'rakers' has entered common US usage for saw chain depth gauges. Linguistic drift.

[@brianbowers-x9q]

That's a bit picky fella

[@LushmanGB]

@9 minutes +. Now that is how I remember a super dream sounding like. Well done for sticking with it and not giving up.

[@IanM18]

Sounds so much better now. Just a heads-up, IF the tappets start getting noisy again, check the cam lobes and followers for wear. If they are not getting enough oil, they will wear quickly and the tappet gaps will open up.

[@FragglePete]

If it makes you feel any better, I snapped the exact same bolt on my 250 over 34 years ago at the start of my motorcycling career. Having the that rubber washer underneath the bolt you don't appreciate how tight your doing until the curse of the cheese bolts bites and they snap.

[@kayakman1964]

Now you've finished the Superdream you need to bring it down to Cornwall so we can go on aSuperdream ride about.

[@southendparaquest]

Actually, having to take the cam followers out would do you a favour, as you're able to check the camshaft and followers for wear. I've had a few of their twins and a single. if there's been an oil issue anywhere you will soon know! Also, I remember my dad having one of these. When you're 8ish years old, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. And it was interesting to read peoples thoughts on them years later when I started riding. They got slated for being 'boring', and 'slow'. Called the wet dream etc. Although the 400 version was reportedly a cracking machine that was none of these things. However, it was no fluke that Honda shifted these in large numbers. A brilliant reliable and economical commuter with Honda build quality,

[@AshRowland]

That sounds beautiful now mate! I'm pleased for you and I can't wait for the next project!

[@BikesofRye]

Hey mate!! Yes and I must email you back!!

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

1980, my brother failed his bike test at 17. He really wanted the 400. As he failed, he decided on getting the 250. As a scrawny 14 year old this was the first motorbike I'd ever been on. He passed his test on the second go and took me out on it. Roll on 16 and my first bike, AP50.

[@witnesspropro]

I admire your tenacity. I just don't have the patience.

[@stephenbates4987]

So much blood and tears shed but all worth it in the end , well done on your achievement.

[@rexeverything100]

Nice one pleased for you getting it sorted, sounds so much better night and day

[@frglee]

The first new bike I ever owned was a blue Honda 250N Superdream, so this brings back nice memories, both sight and sound. Picked it up from the Fulham Honda dealer on the first working day of January 1979. Despite heavy snow, I rode it down to Dorset a few days later as I was so desperate to ride it! Passed my test on it in Chingford at Easter and rode it to Paris and back a few days later with trips to Scotland, Ulster, Donegal and Dublin that Summer. Fond memories of the bike - it was great for touring, really felt like something bigger despite being a bit underpowered for the top gear. Only had it a year, though, and sold it on to buy a new Honda 750KZ.

[@shaunhardie6077]

Now that is what a Superdream should sound like, knew for a fact the valves needed looking at, so glad its finally sorted and running sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, 😎. Looking forward to the next project coming onto the bench.

[@DaveHairs]

Oh the envy ... as I watch clearances being done with a screwdriver and spanner instead of shims

[@DGMotorcycles]

Congratulations mate, there’s no better satisfaction than getting to the bottom of a problem and fixing it. The super dream sounds and runs a million times better really good to see 👍🏻.

[@jimhedley7459]

Bought one new in 1979 as a scrawny 17 old , paid £895 , have a real soft spot for these , after a Honda ss50 this felt proper , rode every where on it ,and actually taut me how to ride , especially in the wet , great bike , 🏍🏍👍👍

[@camperp195]

Oh god,ss50,s were utter dogs!

[@nickrider5220]

You've come a long way in not too long. Viewing every problem as a learning process is spot on, it sticks in your memory better too. Nice Kevin Schwantz helmet 👍🏻😎

[@rafaellastracom6411]

Great news. The tappets see a lot of vibration and take a bit of a pounding so they need to be torqued accurately. No worries, this is how we all learn. Congratulations on keeping a beautiful little motorcycle on the road.

[@flibbertigibbet6200]

Looks and sounds awesome fella. Well done, you must be very proud. Nice work.

[@jd6549]

I've been working on a Norton Commando and it has fought me all the way. I went out today and it pulls like a train, it was well worth the struggle, and I really enjoyed the ride, Never give up and a cup of tea is often able to settle you down. You did the right thing and walked away for a while and then went back to it refreshed. I have been working on bikes for over 40 years and the advice still holds true, Well done with the Superdream you made a lovely job of it and I look forward to watching you do the next one.

[@johnmaltby8241]

Hi John here, great job lots of hard work. You did it! 😊

[@KB-yj5xp]

Well done Mr. Rye, can't wait to see what's up next

[@Vteccer666]

it happens to us all and it just takes a cooler head afterwards to think and fix things, stick with it your doing great

[@julianharvey6584]

I love the Superdream, loved the looks the sound , the style. yes not fast by any means but capable none the less. It felt comfortable solid and refined. I rode mine on L's and then this Nanny state made us go back to 12bhp 125's, just around town bikes and the amount of S**T you have to go through the get a full licence these days is just beyond. I wish I had taken my ride around the block licence like my mates did but I had a car by then..I am 61 now and cant go through all that but if they let us have 250's again I'd be straight on one. No wonder that bike sales have tanked. It's this bloody country and Nanny mentality. keep up the great vids mate I love em.

[@damienpayne]

It sounds a lot better now! The end result is great. Well done sir! :)

[@clinthighton5969]

Well done rye looks and sounds amazing I knew you would get there in the end top job dude 👌

[@alfafan164]

Well done I'm so glad it's worked out for you ☺️

[@iandunipace]

well done. it finally sounds like a superdream. great job.👍👍👍👍👍

[@BongbongA99]

Well done that man! It's so great that another one of these beauties has been saved. Enjoy.

[@peterturnbull9133]

The bike sounds great. Made me smile as when I was 17 in 1979 with no money and a new superdream out of warranty so did my own servicing I too broke the rocker cover bolt just as you did. They only needed to be nipped up but I broke one and learnt the hard way.

[@owny0607]

You have the patience of a saint. Keep it up, great videos.

[@mickibbett2120]

Great to see it done. It's made you smile😊

[@BikesofRye]

Yes! Thank you!

[@sjk8273]

Takes me right back to passing my test on mine in '82. Good times.

[@paulfoster5432]

You've still done a magnificent job of restoring it, Congratulations 👏 Cheers Paul 👍

[@unclesparks1]

Fair play to you, I had the 400 pooper dream, it was the only bike I’ve ever crashed, that 400 twin like the little 250 encourages you to thrash it. One day I will own another 😊

[@JAF41972]

Fab job you should be proud of yourself mate 👍

[@cal28kim]

Once a dream now a reality 👍 Classic run round❗

[@stoneautomotive]

Well done for continuing on and getting it finished mate 👍 It’s not my style of bike but I have enjoyed the series, night and day from when you collected it 👌 If it makes you feel better project HOONIGROM has been giving me just as much headache even after throwing money at the exhaust thinking it would solve my issues lol! Any way.. RS125 vs 250 super dream drag race 👀😛

[@BikesofRye]

Hey we definitely need to meet up mate!! Not sure about the super dream but what I have coming next may well be a contender for the RS125 😉

[@stoneautomotive]

@ sounds like a plan for early 2025 when the weather returns 😎 Look forward to seeing what the next project is going to be 👀👍

[@Nicknofish]

Nice job. God bless your patience. Cheers.

[@paulmartin7271]

I was a mechanic for Honda when these bike were new . There a are rubber bungs visible when you remove the float bowls, if there missing you will also have irregular running .. They must be there. Have fun

[@Kaybe-i6f]

I had a silver V reg Super Dream and a black W reg one too. Both were okay to ride but gutless. My silver one I had for Donkey years and was so knackered at the end that people used to wind up their car window when I pulled up beside them. The blue smoke wafted into vehicles from the exhaust pipes. But even being totally knackered it never let me down and started on the button straight away each time. At the time they were a disposable bike and not worth anything. Good old days…😊

[@ianwhunter1]

The Honda 250N Superdream was my dream bike leaving school. I was 41 when my riding life began on a 125 Kawasaki. Back then, at 17 I could have had a 250 on L plates.

[@shaunbrown5318]

Wow that's looks really nice Had the same colour in the late 80s After passing my motorcycle test

[@michaelclitheroe]

Well done fella, great job ! Never ever give up 👍

[@BikesofRye]

Never give up 🙌🏼

[@leighboy1989]

sounds so much better now, great job

[@christianweller4288]

That's sounding much better. Once the tappets go out they wear very quickly, far more quick;y than a bucket and shim top end. Good result... congrats.

[@kelvinjolley6264]

Exactly the same happened to me when I overtightened one of the cam cover bolts in 1982 , luckily for me the bolt had a few threads left and a friend tapped a new thread .it never leaked oil well done on the honda CB 250N.

[@CZ350tuner]

In the 1979-1980 V reg sales year, the CB250N sold 17,000 units, making number one in the UK bike sales figures. In second place, was the slightly faster & much cheaper CZ250 twin.

[@johnmclean4911]

Yup I noticed it's raving a lot higher as well now since you redone the tap it's. The only criticism I can say after turning the bike around from you first got it is. Your tank stickers are a bit high on the petrol tank but apart from that all is good. I think the reason the super dream sold so well here was it was the first on the modern looking bikes. Plus it's price and I think the most important thing was it was very easy to maintain. 😊

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

You are right about the tank stickers. I didn't comment on it because I didn't want to discourage the poor fella on such a minor point. Once you see it, you can't unsee it...

[@johnmclean4911]

What I did notice when he fitted to the tank. There as a lot of backing paper on them. He would have been better cutting the backing paper to the out line of the sticker. That way I think he would have found it easier to get them correctly positioned. You also need to study a picture of a Honda super dream tank to get some bench marks where the sticker should go as well.🤔

[@paulirving989]

Beautiful bike, good work. The dream probably spent it's early life a commuter hack so It's done it's time and deserves to be looked after by the next owner.

[@Sn00pyJ508]

That sounds a LOT better and how I remember them. At last! No more flinching when listening to your ex rattle can. 👍🏻

[@fozinwozz9738]

well done mate sounds perfect now the tappets are set

[@HondaWanderer]

Never give up! Onya mate! OMG as I clickd the like button I saw the numbers go from 999, to 1k 😁

[@BikesofRye]

You're making all the difference mate! Cheers

[@HondaWanderer]

@@BikesofRye keep it up! I look forward to seeing what's next for you.

[@antonoat]

I had one of these brand new and I honestly thought there could be nothing faster, mind you my previous ride was a Honda CG125, lol. Well done getting this one back to life! 👍👏🏍

[@TheOriginalCoda]

That is a nice example. The second ever bike I owned was a same year Suzuki GSX400 Twin (similar number plate too!) and the two bikes share a lot of similarities. The end of that bike was after I adjusted valve clearances obviously incorrectly, as a few miles up the road after that it threw a valve through a piston and that was the end of that.

[@alanveck5756]

Fantastic rebuild mate. Looking forward to your next project 👍👍👍

[@timparker9235]

now that sounds exactly as it should - phew! glad it was just the tappets and not some of the doom and gloom some comments said it would be.... methinks you like this bike!

[@markaddy53]

great job lad sounds much better well done keep it goin

[@dimitrimotor2861]

the power of honda .. DREAM ..hope it wil bee fixt and bee strong

[@theodavies8754]

It's a great place to start and all the first hand experience is priceless. Try to lose the bare minimum but don't expect to break even. People sometimes ask if I would get my money back on my 26 year old Harley. Zero chance. It's not for sale and there's a dreadful image quality short of it on my channel that you are welcome to view. Always plenty to do next. Happy days from sunny Devon.

[@luddite6239]

A great result - kudos for persevering. And good to see that the tacho freed itself up. If you want to really finish it off (funds permitting), fit a pair of heat shields to the collector box. They're about £70 a pair and would really complete the restoration.

[@MrMichaelfalk]

sounds a lot better👍👍

[@warrenr4]

Cracked it. Well done !! 😁🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@jota1221]

Great bike, well done. W hen I was knocking about on my CB125T I lusted after these and the 400. Would still love one today.

[@TheBlibo]

I'm an old git now and remember when they were new for me they were great days many of my freind friends had Rd250 & 350s or 250 & 400 super dreams I had an XS 250 they were all good bikes great to ride dimple to work on and all mostly abused but they just kept on working. And yes I can fully appreciate your feelings I have had them for 45 years and hope to have them for at least another 20 it is as much a pleasure to work on them as to ride them

[@martytoal6547]

Rear tyre looks to have low pressure?

[@daverose5557]

Sounds so much better

[@papachis9535]

Yes, that sounds more like it. Bought mine new in 1981. Yours is now running as it should. Good job son.

[@grayfool]

That's more like a Honda engine. Sometimes it takes a while to get stuff sorted especially when you're learning. Good job.

[@HollyBerryDOOG]

Lots of things on the point of failure when restoring or recommissioning any vehicle. I recommissioned a ‘98 R1 and it was an absolute pita.

[@hudsonrilke]

That’s better! Sounds right now. Brilliant job all round and your positive attitude has helped you get there.

[@dendanskehelt4296]

It doesn't sound that bad. My vintage Honda CB650 from 81' sounds way worse. Ran it dry of oil one day without realizing it until it was too late. killed the engine and it sat still for a few years. We put in new oil and managed to get this old corpse running again, but it is in serious need of work and love. I fear if I ever open that engine, I'll unleash the zombie apocalypse.

[@mikewoodward5765]

That sounds a lot better 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@edwinhandford4146]

Wow - that was a cheap fix! Now it sounds as good as it looks and I bet it's much nicer to ride. You can't beat Honda quality, very well done!

[@tigsdudley6694]

Well done mate

[@chrisstephens6194]

Loving the schwantz replica. Really looking forward to the next build.

[@russellharris5072]

My biggest regret for all modern bikes is the loss of the kickstarter,last year during a cold snap I had to call the AA out.I'd gone shopping and arriving back at the bike,I couldn't start it 'cause the battery had gone low.With a kickstarter I'd have been able to get it going rather than waiting 1.5 hours freezing my naughty bits off for the AA to come and jumpstart the thing...............................................................

[@phildavies1192]

Great end to a brilliant story 👍

[@leuvenlife]

I was about 14 when i first saw a Superdream. It was like looking at motorcycle 2.0 to me. The comstars, the sweeping panels, it had something futuristic. My C90 riding father was constantly hammered by me about its general awesomeness, and one day, in 1979, a new one was delivered one evening and my father owned my dream bike. That's a cheat code...., but hey, later I reached 17 and bought a rather poor example for about 50 quid. It was real poor, rattled like a bike that had never had it's first service and was now turning 80k, but it was legit. Then some dude died on one and I bought a good engine, so I had a decent 250, after a while, that's a bit slow, so I took a neighbours 400 for another 50 quid and suddenly I was into 'quicker' bikes.. Superdreams are a gateway drug!

[@Ijusthopeitsquick]

Well done, I'm beginning to hear the burble and the gear whine I remembered from my brother's Superdream when it was new. It's still not 100%, but it's close. I suspect the aftermarket pipes are to blame. I think the original had a balance pipe connecting the left and right exhausts.

[@specialse]

nice result , must have been going some to snap the rocker cover shoulder bolt :/ when i was a Honda tec (20 years) i saw the reverse trouble with CB750/900 rocker bolts they came out with the the threads ....... and before that when i was despatch rider i ran many 250,s to the bike car park in the sky , they became worth less the second the learner law changed . .......are your tyre pressures correct ?

[@noelg3384]

I would check the engine oil for fuel contamination because when you found that jet in the carb bowl it might have dumped the fuel in the engine.

[@raythorpe4838]

Well done, bud👏🏍

[@madmaniac360]

A bit of history for you, the grey building with the white car you drive past on the left at 11:17 ish, used to be Arlesey Mopeds. Good job with the bike mate.

[@mrsmith4662]

It certainly looks really good.

[@jeremytabb1837]

Thank goodness it was the Tappets , i was beginning to think your microphone was having selective deafness like my cat , Hears the food bowl , but doesn't hear me saying stop clawing the furniture 🤣

[@Biking87]

Nice rebuild mate 👍👍👍

[@Fieltrom]

Unluckiest person I've ever seen with snapping bolts 😏. Master of removal of snapped bolts in no time......🤣 Good job, looks like a great little commuter even for today.

[@BikesofRye]

Tell me about it 🤣 you'd think I'm doing it on purpose at this rate

[@carlf3051]

My first ever bike... no license, no insurance, no test, no tax, and always breaking down. Good ole days 🥲

[@martin100biker]

Well done !

[@delmonti]

...well done Sir!

[@timhicks2154]

I’ve got an XL500S-engined CB250RS. Owned ita good while but often set the tappet gaps too wide, even now.