RB250 kit

[Tom Russell]

Hi all,

After a few years away from scooters, I’m currently looking at putting together another Lambretta for the road - thanks to everyone for links etc. for scoots for sale

Always previously had quick TS1’s on the road, and raced (with some success) a Kegra/JB Tuned 30bhp Group 4 scoot up until 2007.

I’m looking for feedback on the RB250 kits; I’ve done some research on here, and the LCGB forum, where, amongst other things, I read with great interest that Ian Frankland achieved some really good results with this kit, but would still like to get some constructive up-to-date feedback from actual users of this particular 250 kit.

It sounds absolutely awesome; just a few mods to the engine casing to accommodate the barrel, make sure all other components are up to scratch, and you’ve basically got a genuine approx. 25bhp out of the box! I won’t be doing a great deal of miles each year, and certainly won’t be going up and down the motorways to rallys etc., so really just looking to use it for thrashing around the local country roads, into the local town, and the odd ride out.

I appreciate it is quite an expensive kit, but I’m hoping that – along with a good exhaust (recommendations on these would also be helpful) – it’s as good as it sounds!

Finally, I’d also be interested to hear of any ‘must do’ modifications to the standard kit, or if there are any after-market upgrades (ie. ‘Seven7’ inlet manifold) that users would recommend be purchased.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

[jonashford]

I've just had my rb22 bored to 72mm, ported & replated by Ben at afs. I kept the 58 mm crank as Ben said the longer conrod would make it smoother but wud lose the burst of acceleration.
Anyway I look forward to getting it on the road later on in the year and blasting some gts'.

[RICSPEED]

steve wrights grp 6 runs one and it does go very well ,fairly standard and still running standard cooling ...allong with a adds race pipe it really does fly and no bridged exhaust port if i recall correct ...would have liked to get one myself for grp6 tbt

[jonashford]

Is steve wright also called titch???

[RICSPEED]

yes

[jonashford]

Cool. Ben at afs has done the same tune to my rb barrel as titch uses for his racer, Shud give me hours of fun!

[22/2]

Tom

I'll give you my opinion - I have the first RB 250 built by Ian (No A01 stamped on the base of the barrel, a 7 port).

It's been together now for 3 1/2 years and NEVER let me down. At the time there were people giving the 225 kit bad press for overheating and Ian was aware of this and built it with this in mind and was quite conservative on the compression, he often asks me to up the compression to improve the power but I had to ask myself why when the first dyno run on his machine achieved 31.8 BHP, if your going to be happy with 25 BHP you only need the 225 version.

I've had TS1's in the past in various forms but this is something else, like you I'm not much of a rally goer at the moment so looking for something a bit different I took it sprinting with some success (probably me more than the bike holding it back) but it is a motor I can sprint one week then rally the next week. I believe the spiggots have been modded to leave some 'meat' around the studs which can only be a good thing.

It's a low revving motor - tops out somwhere around 9500 depending on conditions, it pulls like a train in all gears including 4th. Personally I have not modded it any further, mainly because 30+ BHP is enough for me and because it has been so reliable - if it aint broke don't fix it.

The spec is:

AF 60mm crank
New indian case
original AF electronic kit
Franspeed pipe
34 flat slide delly
Beedspeed clutch - superb, dragging a bit now, need to change the springs.
4% Rock oil fully synth
Petrol from any one who sells it.

Rich

[Tom Russell]

Hi Rich,

Firstly, thanks to everyone else for their replys so far.

Rich - thanks for your reply, all sounds awesome, especially the fact that that it has NEVER let you down, exactly the sort of comment we all want to hear about this kit, when it has been put together properly.

I can't help wondering if this is the sort of performance one would expect from the RB250 kit in its more bolt on standard form, with a cylinder head supplied by AF, and with their recommended choice of carb and NK exhaust etc. as I assume Ian must have done some fettling with your kit (I know he mentioned modifying the inlet manifold)??

O, and finally, I assume you are using the Franspeed RB Race pipe, and not the tourer, and what gearing have you found works best with this kit?

Thanks again, all really helpful!

It would still be great to get some more feedback and comments from current users of the RB250 kit.

Cheers,

Tom

[Tom Russell]

As per my post above, I've asked Rich to answer a couple more questions about his amazing sounding RB250 prepared by Ian Frankland a few years ago.

I'm just a bit surprised that I've received so few responses - despite over 500 views - to my initial post on the RB250 kit??!!

Maybe this is a positive thing, as in "no news, is good news", or just maybe not that many people use this kit/set up as it is quite expensive and obviously is very tough on engine internals etc.

Anyone have any further thoughts on this???

Tom

[jonashford]

It's a lot of money for the rb 250 if u do it properly. But in my experience, rb22, once u have got the engine sorted and set up correctly it's reliable. I did Kelso, iow, Scarborough, brid, clee ( i live there!!) and alot of other club weekend dos. My crank seized up on the way back from Kelso, Incorrectly geared. Hasn't given me any trouble once I had it set up right, keep it revving that's the secret.