Project Likely Fail Part VIII

Life doesn’t always go to plan. The same goes for project bikes.

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 It has been no minor undertaking, this project. I am avoiding adding up my personal outlay thus far, which would be far greater but for the generosity of parts that have been gifted, loaned or given for the cause. Not to mention the time that Phoenix Yamaha of Trowbridge has generously gifted me throughout the season to get the TZR250 2MA up together and ready for its first track outing as I enter the testing phase.

Over the past seven months a combined effort has taken this 30-year-old smoker out of the back of Fast Bikes’ workshop where it has been in boxes for five years. The plan to build, test, then race this bike in the final round of the Yamaha Past Masters (YPM) series at Snetterton has moved steadily along. Now with the first track outing at Castle Combe booked and approaching fast there were just a few things left to do.

Firstly was the radiator; the OE one was the first thing to go into the ‘bin-it’ box. It was rusty, pissing water and beyond repair. Having looked around the paddock the replacement of choice was a far thicker rad than OE, aluminium and designed for quad use. I had it modified for fitting by local engineering heroes Hiscocks of Trowbridge, as opposed to cable ties as seems to have been the YPM solution.

I just needed a hose to be made up from the top of the rad through to the engine. Again this could be modified but Samco offered the solution of a bespoke hose. I was never turning that offer down, famed for being durable, pressure and heat resistant, and of the quality that sees them throughout race paddocks of all disciplines.‘Fit and Forget’ Samco say, and if you have any reason to need one replaced they have a lifetime guarantee.