The bike of Elias

It’s time for me to introduce you to Baobabis! This is the motorcycle I will be riding to Africa and Middle East.

Baobabis next to the XR 250 S on which I traveled in Asia.

Baobabs are those characteristic African trees, you can’t have missed them. Babis is a nickname for the Greek name Haralambos. So, we made up a wordplay!

Characteristics

Honda XR 250 3S (MD30)

Engine : 250 c.c., single cylinder, air-cooled

Starter : electric & kick starter

Year of manufacture : 1995

Mileage before the trip : Unknown (maybe around 30,000 km. (18,641 miles))

Rebuilding

Before starting such an adventure we should rebuild and modify our motorbikes. The procedure was similar to the one I followed for my previous XR, but I did it even more carefully. For the engine rebuilding I trusted N.R.G. repair shop.

All the works that have been done are reported in detail below :

Engine

• Reconditioning of the cylinder
• Replacing of piston
• Replacing of piston pin and circlips
• Replacing of piston springs
• Replacing of rod
• Replacing of cam chain
• Replacing of cam chain tensioner
• Replacing of cam chain slider
• Replacing of exhaust & intake valves
• Grinding of valve seats
• Replacing of valve stem seals
• Replacing of all gaskets
• Replacing of all bearings
• Replacing of all seals
• Replacing of all copper washers
• Replacing of all o-rings
• Cleaning of oil strainer screens in the clutch compartment and on the frame

Transmission and final drive

• Replacing of starter outer
• Replacing of clutch nut
• Replacing of chain slider on the swingarm
• Replacing of chain slider below the swingarm, at the front
• Replacing of sprockets
• Replacing of chain
• Replacing of all gaskets
• Replacing of all bearings
• Replacing of all seals
• Replacing of all copper washers
• Replacing of all o-rings
• Replacing of clutch cable

Fuel and air supply

• Cleaning of carburetor
• Replacing of carburetor’s small diaphragm
• Replacing of carburetor’s o-rings
• Replacing of accelerator cables
• Replacing of air filter

Exhaust

• Painting of exhaust muffler & pipes
• Replacing of the gaskets between the exhaust pipes and the cylinder head ports

Suspension

• Replacing of swingarm, shock’s arm & linkage bearings
• Servicing of front & rear suspensions

Frame

• Welding around the sidestand
• Painting of frame
• Painting of the rack for panniers
• Replacing of the bolt & nut which hold the frame, the swingarm and the engine

Wheels

• Replacing of wheel bearings & seals
• Replacing of tubes and tires

Brakes

• Renewal of brake fluid on front and rear brake systems
• Replacing of brake discs and pads
• Replacing of brake fluid seals and dust seals on the caliper pistons of front and rear brake system
• Servicing of front and rear brake master cylinders
• Replacing of pad guide (spring) on the rear brake’s caliper
• Replacing of dust seals on the rear brake’s lever

Electrical system

• Replacing of starter’s brushes
• Replacing of starter’s relay
• Servicing of wiring loom

Accessories

• Replacing of speedometer cable

Baobabis after rebuilding and upgrading!