Iowa hit 60 degrees for the first time this year, and I took the time to get my old bike out after a 3 year rest in storage.
Prior to me buying my FJ back in 2010, this Suzuki was my bike of choice and one that I have had great affection for.
I bought it new in 1985 (dealer hold over), nearly killed myself in a bad wreck in 1987, rebuilt it in 1988, and continued riding her.
But alas, the magic and passion of the FJ sweep me off my feet, and lead me to you fine people, and I have had little reason to look back, that is, until this winter.
I have been feeling guilty of the long term neglect of this bike, and made up my mind, that this was the year to get it back out on the road.
Now, I was preparing myself for some trouble in getting it running after such a long down time.
I started by getting a new AGM battery, and giving it a go.
Primed the carbs, full choke, and a little cranking, and she fired right up, WOW!
After a little warm up time, and the choke being pulled back to idle, I was greeted with a smooth idle and throttle response, yeah!
Prior to it's long down time, the only prep it got was a full tank of fuel with stabilizer, that's it.
So, convinced that I had a runner, I buttoned things up and hit the road to my house 6 miles away from my storage garage.
Other than needing a good wash and polish, she'll need a fresh tank of gas and new fork seals. (Not much of anything for the front brakes due to all the oil leaked down on them) and an oil change....It feels strange on one hand, due to getting so used to the FJ, but yet, it felt like old times when I rode this bike all the time.
I used to take offence to a buddy of mine referring to this bike as a "chopper" due to its styling, ( pull back bars, step seat, leading axle front forks, tear drop gas tank), but after enjoying my FJ as much as I have, I accept that moniker as very befitting.
Any day on two wheels is a good day....today was a good day.
Leon
VIDEO
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/th_VID_20160307_183207428_zpszuvlzayj.mp4) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/VID_20160307_183207428_zpszuvlzayj.mp4)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182702242_zpsrngtl72f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182702242_zpsrngtl72f.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182950662_zpsqjkai8tw.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182950662_zpsqjkai8tw.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182746406_zpszyzezitd.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182746406_zpszyzezitd.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182756680_zpsfapabegk.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_182756680_zpsfapabegk.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_183001445_zpslo8t3nvf.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160307_183001445_zpslo8t3nvf.jpg.html)
Very nice looking bike Leon ! :drinks:
George
Very nice bike you have in minty looking condition. Some don't like the classic/ special tag put on those cruiser style bikes from the 80's
but i like them. I wish it was mine and am green with envy.. I had an 81 xj650 special with the same similar seat / shape etc. Put 50000k's
on it and it was as good as the day i got it ..when i sadly sold it...
(http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz63/kennymick65/1981%20yamaha%20xj650/IMG_7303.jpg) (http://s814.photobucket.com/user/kennymick65/media/1981%20yamaha%20xj650/IMG_7303.jpg.html)
I agree Ken, this style is very polarizing, people either love them, or hate them.
I like to call them the muscle cruisers, not so good in the twisties, but they get with the program in the long straights!
This bike should be a good commuter this summer, with no worries of squaring off a good set of tires on my FJ.
Leon
Hey Leon,
I have an 81 GS1100GK in my garage that was abandoned after the PO took it apart... You could have a stablemate / sister for that big Suzy for the price of a slight detour on your way home from a rally....
The GK is the big brown touring bike with a soul.
Nice! Back in the 80s when I worked at a BMW shop in Tucson, we called them "Disco Choppers". Put a set of superbike style bars on it and they become a much better corner carver. I just brought back to life a '79 XS 1100 special true barn find with 13,500 mi on it. Full bagger with a windjammer(ugh!) hard bags, trunk, and one of those funky double bucket seats. I did change the bars to ex RD400 stock bars and now its perfect IMO. I was a bit reluctant to post about it here but now I will...as soon as I can get some decent pics to load. I love my FJ but I think I can keep my wife in the saddle longer on this beast. AnywaY VERY NICE GSL! and great story I love when people keep a bike forever!!! (try the bar swap...if your back is up to it) Cheers! :drinks: Charley
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be...
I miss my first bike, a 1979 XS400 and my second bike, a 1981 Seca 750. I don't miss my 1984 V45 Sabre, though - too many issues with it and I really should have bought an FJ at that time.
sigh.
Zwartie
Quote from: Zwartie on March 08, 2016, 11:38:33 AM
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be...
I miss my first bike, a 1979 XS400 and my second bike, a 1981 Seca 750. I don't miss my 1984 V45 Sabre, though - too many issues with it and I really should have bought an FJ at that time.
sigh.
Zwartie
The Honda V-4s were a PITA to maintain.
I sold a 1985 Interceptor to get my FJ, never missed it even a little bit. :nea:
I bought the Sabre in the fall of 1990. It had something like 12,000 km on it and I picked it up for $1,600. I thought that was a great deal until I found out that I had to spend another $1,000 to replace the cams - ouch! Fortunately I got a few seasons out of it including a ride out west to Calgary and back. Sold it the spring of 1994 for $2,500 so in the end it turned out ok. That was also when I bought my first FJ and I've been an FJ owner ever since!
Quote from: not a lib on March 08, 2016, 11:55:26 AM
The Honda V-4s were a PITA to maintain.
I sold a 1985 Interceptor to get my FJ, never missed it even a little bit. :nea:
What I really like about what I believe to be true are these old GS motors are built smart and tough like the old yams, I think most of the GS model's motors were fine looking, those overhead cams really pop out at ya! My pal had an old GS 1150 EF with a overbore, when word got out of some of the guys he was destroying(drags) nobody wanted a piece of that Suzuki.
I totalled my first bike 86 fj1200. Bought several others. Came back to the fj. Now have several fjs.
Quote from: giantkiller on March 09, 2016, 06:37:43 AM
I totalled my first bike 86 fj1200. Bought several others. Came back to the fj. Now have several fjs.
Good to know there is some truth to the adage "with age comes wisdom". :biggrin: Dave
I don't know about wisdom just a little bit more reserv. 37 broken bones later still going a little too fast.
Good for you Leon!
I bet old Suzy was grinning at the thought of getting out on the highway once again. :good2:
She sure cleans up nice!
The thread caught my attention because a friend of mine started with a 1980 GS850. About all that could be said for it was that he seemed faster than me getting on the straights on my 1979 XS750. Both heavy boats; no point kidding about it. I do miss the triple growl and 'forget about it' shaft drive (sometimes) but that's all. The FJ1100 was such a joy to latch on to in comparison. I'd borrowed a nice FJ1200 for a few days so I had a good idea what I was getting into. BTW, my friend got a 2003 VStrom 1000cc last year so he's leap frogged me in technology but I'm not envious.
(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag17/Charliebrm/XS750/before_after_xs750_zps1pv4lm9u.jpg)
Interesting to see what bikes some people have stashed away. My story is a little similar to yours Leon, back in 2008 I was bikeless and wanted something to fiddle with in my spare time so I bought a 1979 Suzuki GT250 x7 in a very sad condition at an auction for $200.00.
All my spare time and cash were spent fixing it up and apart from the crank rebuild and rebore, I did all the body and mechanical work myself. It looked pretty good when finished and received regular comments and gee it felt fantasic to finally get back on two wheels, I rode that thing everywhere. Used to do regular rides with a group of assorted bikes and was never at the back of the pack, after all the x7 was the first 250 to officially top 100 mph.
Then in 2010 my brother was selling his FJ for a good price so I grabbed it and turned all my attention to it, while the Suzuki was left to sit in the shed with maybe a twice yearly blat around the block.
With the wife in my ear every year the rego was due and feeling guilty about seeing it slowly deteriorating, I decided to park it in the carport beside the FJ and take turns in riding it to work and on the weekends.
It still draws comments when people see it, and the sight, smell, and sound of a 2 stroke twin is something you don't see often these days and shouldn't be locked away, so anybody with an old bike just sitting there, do yourself and it a favour and get it out and start riding it again.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a586/the4ts/DSC_0929_zpsvusdllto.jpg)
Quote from: Firehawk068 on March 09, 2016, 09:08:21 AM
Good for you Leon!
I bet old Suzy was grinning at the thought of getting out on the highway once again. :good2:
She sure cleans up nice!
Thanks Alan, (and everyone else), but those pictures were taken without washing. That is straight out of storage.
I have since washed it and touched up the polished metal with some Simichrome.
I'm just diving into replacing the fork seal tonight.
Leon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160309_164700787_zpsraqsaklv.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160309_164700787_zpsraqsaklv.jpg.html)
Quote from: Bones on March 09, 2016, 05:03:38 PM
Interesting to see what bikes some people have stashed away. My story is a little similar to yours Leon, back in 2008 I was bikeless and wanted something to fiddle with in my spare time so I bought a 1979 Suzuki GT250 x7 in a very sad condition at an auction for $200.00.
All my spare time and cash were spent fixing it up and apart from the crank rebuild and rebore, I did all the body and mechanical work myself. It looked pretty good when finished and received regular comments and gee it felt fantasic to finally get back on two wheels, I rode that thing everywhere. Used to do regular rides with a group of assorted bikes and was never at the back of the pack, after all the x7 was the first 250 to officially top 100 mph.
Then in 2010 my brother was selling his FJ for a good price so I grabbed it and turned all my attention to it, while the Suzuki was left to sit in the shed with maybe a twice yearly blat around the block.
With the wife in my ear every year the rego was due and feeling guilty about seeing it slowly deteriorating, I decided to park it in the carport beside the FJ and take turns in riding it to work and on the weekends.
It still draws comments when people see it, and the sight, smell, and sound of a 2 stroke twin is something you don't see often these days and shouldn't be locked away, so anybody with an old bike just sitting there, do yourself and it a favour and get it out and start riding it again.
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a586/the4ts/DSC_0929_zpsvusdllto.jpg)
Thanks for your interest. Great looking Suzuki!
I'd love it, if we all could continue to use this thread as a source of sharing the "other" bikes we all have hiding in the shed.
This should get our blood pumping and our minds back into the riding season (for those of us in the snow belt, at least).
I will update this thread as I continue to make progress with, and riding of, the old Suzuki!, so come on guys, post away!
Leon
Similar story to bones except mine was a yammy 2 stroke. Full nut and bolt, blew it up with 350k's on it, Sat
for 3 years but bored the barrels and got some nice forged wossner piston a fortnight ago.. Waiting on a conrod from the old dart
and should be back up and running with in the month.. wanna race bones?
(http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz63/kennymick65/honda%20cb750/yamaha%20rd350lc/IMG_7007.jpg) (http://s814.photobucket.com/user/kennymick65/media/honda%20cb750/yamaha%20rd350lc/IMG_7007.jpg.html)
My wife's old rz350 would do 117mph. With me on it. That's back when I wasn't fat and weighed 285lbs. Oh yeah it was bone stock. She sold it to my friend Dave. It's still mint and completely stock. T smoke's sure are fun. Had a mildly built banshee for awhile.
Heres my '81 XS650 had since 1999 usually has a Velorex sidecar attached(family truckster) heres a pic without. Still working on the 1979 XS1100 I'll post pics of that soon. Charley.
Quote from: Bones on March 09, 2016, 05:03:38 PM
It still draws comments when people see it, and the sight, smell, and sound of a 2 stroke twin...
....that reminds me (again) ... a few decades ago one of my former bosses told me he used to have a GT350 in the '70's. When he would go out for a tear with his buddies, he would wrap a chicken in tin foil and and stuff it between the exhaust and the crankcase, then wrap it again in foil. After a couple of hrs they would take it out and have lunch. The 350 ran so hot he said, it would cook to perfection. I don't remember if I asked him how it tasted, but it obviously didn't kill him. (popcorn)
Aaaaah, 2 stroke memories. I've had some great 2 strokes. My first new bike was a drum brake Suzuki 500 twin in the early 70's (after a '56 BSA 650 Golden Flash!), an H2 Kawasaki, an RD and of the 30 or so bikes I've had, the one I did the most miles on before the FJ, a twin disc water bottle (a water cooled Suzuki 750 triple for you youngsters), the first production bike with twin discs. There were many other less significant ones in between, Bridgestone, Jawa, Yamahas even a BSA Bantam and probably others. I found something to love about all of them.
After 20,000 miles I had the Suzuki engine mods done by the top bloke in the country, an absolute wizard with 2 strokes, Peter Van Meurs. Porting, squish heads, Wiseco pistons, chambers and Dell'Orto pumpers.
Anyone with a knowledge of 2 strokes will know how hard that thing went, it was absolutely wild, but the multi piece splined crankshaft was the weak spot and was only good for about 2000 miles before chewing the seals out.
Pressing it apart and back together again for seals, halved that.
After putting a few new crankshafts through it, I returned the engine to standard with new barrels and sold all the hot stuff to a bloke in QL for a speedway outfit.
I continued to ride it for a while longer and then bought my first GSX 1100.
The Suzuki 750's were a bit of an enigma, heaps of torque and smooth, great touring machines that more than held their own amongst the competition of the day.
It's not lurking in the garage but I wish it was, along the CBX1000, the H2, the CB1100R, the ............... if only we'd had that crystal ball!
Good on you guys that have hung on to some of these classics. Forget about what they'll be worth in a few years time, it's all about owning a piece of motorcycling history and fun to ride to boot.
Noel
Fond memories of the Suzuki GT750 two stroke triple. A bike introduced in 1972 and well ahead of its time. Started at the touch of the button. Would cruise all day long at 90+mph. Extremely smooth and stable highway mile eater. I had two. Like Noel said the weak spot was the crankshaft seals. The seals went out on my first one and I just parked it and bought a second very cheap at the time. They were large bikes and heavy. Did I say heavy? They were also tall. With a 32 inch inseam I could just flat foot it. Spare engine parts were available for years. Suzuki turned that engine on its side and used it in their 180 outboards for years after the bike was discontinued. Sold both 1975s a few years ago and wished I hadn't. Dave
My brother had an H2. Had all the good stuff done to it expansions, Ported, bored over, flatslide.
I remember following him when he pulled out to pass a couple of cars. Probably 65-70. He pulled a wheelie and road away. Took me a while to catch up to him on my dads cb750
My dad took it for a ride once. He came back looked at my brother and said "your fucking crazy" and walked away.
Your old bike looks awesome Leon. :good: It is nice and refreshing to see yours and others that have these old bikes stashed away.
My stashed bike is a bit of a different story.
I am but a youngster compared to you guys that talk about buying and riding the old 2 strokes in the '70's. :flag_of_truce:
As an 18 year old graduating high school.....Yamaha introduced the Vmax. A rip roaring beast of a motorcycle. Able to intimidate a normal man. Could eat about any other bike or car for lunch in a straight line....I knew that I would never have one or even need a bike like that.
Fast forward 30 years. Last April, I purchased a friends 1985 Vmax as a project bike. I have been told that it had been sitting for about 4 years, but that it ran like a scalded cat before it was parked. The notorious 2nd gear issue also plagued the early Vmaxes. About 2 years before it was parked, the 2nd gear issue was repaired.
My No. 1 project over this winter was rebuilding the engine on the FJ. The FJ is my pride and joy :music:....i think moditus is going to slow up on the FJ for awhile and my energy will now be focused on getting the Vmax running and modified to more current standards.
Fred
[/quote]I am but a youngster compared to you guys that talk about buying and riding the old 2 strokes [/quote]
Sorry Fred but I felt I needed to correct the word order in your sentence. It should read "I am but a youngster compared to you old guys that talk about buying and riding the 2 strokes." :biggrin: Dave
We called the two stroke three cylinder Suzuki's Water Buffalo's. ( Canada ) No idea why.
Quote from: fj johnnie on March 10, 2016, 12:43:05 PM
We called the two stroke three cylinder Suzuki's Water Buffalo's. ( Canada ) No idea why.
Yes they are water buffalo's in the US also. In the UK they are called "kettles". I think they are "water bottles" in OZ. No matter what they are called they were damn fine bikes. Only sold in the US 72-76. Dave
One of my 'stashed bikes':
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/20130629_195440_zpsccfab080.jpg)
Quote from: not a lib on March 10, 2016, 01:08:12 PM
One of my 'stashed bikes':
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/20130629_195440_zpsccfab080.jpg)
That thing looks like it could be a lot of fun, Randy!
THUMPER!
Fred, I would love to have a V-Max.
I have always like the sound of that V-4.
She's quit the hot rod!
Quote from: 1tinindian on March 10, 2016, 02:43:51 PM
That thing looks like it could be a lot of fun, Randy!
THUMPER!
It used to be, until I broke it. :sorry:
Needs a top end job now, either a 540 kit on the original engine, or I have a SR500 engine on the shelf.
Here's my "old" bike - a 1977 Kawasaki KZ200 with only 3,500 km on the odometer.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/112_11_03_16_9_13_22.jpeg)
Zwartie
Quote from: fj johnnie on March 10, 2016, 12:43:05 PM
We called the two stroke three cylinder Suzuki's Water Buffalo's. ( Canada ) No idea why.
Well, you hopefully didn't call *all* the 2-stroke triples "water buffalos," because only the 750s were water-cooled. "Water-cooled" plus "heavy" equals "water buffalo." (I have heard the Suzuki 550 triple jokingly called "air-and-oil buffalo" because the 550 was not water cooled, but was still heavy.) But yeah, the 2-stroke triples were smooth, and powerful for their day.
I had a couple of bikes from back then, a TS185 Suzuki and (briefly) an XS650, and a KZ750 twin that I put 50,000 miles on and rode through every state on the Eastern seaboard except Rhode Island. These days, my only old bike is newer than my FJ.
OK, so I got the new fork seals in, but the front brake job is taking forever.
Pat, help me out here!
Leon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211401707_zpskmskfafb.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211401707_zpskmskfafb.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211127325_zpsauhm6scx.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211127325_zpsauhm6scx.jpg.html)
Quote from: 1tinindian on March 13, 2016, 09:31:23 PM
OK, so I got the new fork seals in, but the front brake job is taking forever.
Pat, help me out here!
Leon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211401707_zpskmskfafb.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211401707_zpskmskfafb.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211127325_zpsauhm6scx.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/IMG_20160313_211127325_zpsauhm6scx.jpg.html)
You just can't stop it!
Don't fight it Leon.............Just feel the flow, and go with it. :good:
Leon, what are those? Brake calipers? They look strange.
You're doing a fine job, no help from me needed. Those little pieces are the hardest. Thank goodness for my little Dremel....
Put on some music, get your lawn chair, spray bottle and a towel across your lap, and sing to them.
It was weird.... I sat bolt upright in bed last night and realized out of the blue that there was a thread on the FJ Forum discussing 2-stokes.....
I still put a dash of 2-stroke oil in my cereal every morning... keeps everything burning clean....
Here's the kind of trouble I'm in regarding 2-strokes:
1974 Kawasaki H1 500
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/Previous%20Vehicle%20Sales/IMG_0951.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/Previous%20Vehicle%20Sales/IMG_0951.jpg.html)
1970 Kawasaki H1 500
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_4613.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_4613.jpg.html)
1969 Kawasaki A7 Avenger
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/Sohappy.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/Sohappy.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_1050.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_1050.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_1093.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_1093.jpg.html)
Time, you have some cool old 2 strokes! Makes miss my RZ350. Good for you!
Quote from: axiom-r on March 14, 2016, 04:27:04 PM
It was weird.... I sat bolt upright in bed last night and realized out of the blue that there was a thread on the FJ Forum discussing 2-stokes.....
I still put a dash of 2-stroke oil in my cereal every morning... keeps everything burning clean....
Here's the kind of trouble I'm in regarding 2-strokes:....
Holy Cracka Sarki Axiom!.....you`re in big trouble!
Personally I`m Glustroke intolerant so I take a daily dose of psyllium with me all bran. (for regularity) :drinks:
Ahhh, 2-smokes :good2:
This was my first bike, and only new bike
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/99_14_03_16_7_51_53.jpeg)
This was my last 2-smoke
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/99_14_03_16_7_59_13.jpeg)
Pic taken just before I boxed it up after owning it for 18years.
I sold it to a Brit who was living in France.
Crated it up, kissed it goodby, and took it to the freight company about 10 years ago.
There have been a few others in between :-)
Yesterday, I got a call from a guy in Qld who is the current owner of this RG500
and wanted some info on the bike.
Its only done about 3000kms since I shipped it away.
I did mention that if he ever wants to sell it again....... :dash2:
I had an À7 and wish I had never let it go. That thing was hotter than a 2 dollar pistol. Blew it up. The crank seal let go and I had an exhaust pipe full of àluminum bb,s. Really did like that bike. Big R
2 STROKES !!! Yee haw, and ride 'em cowboy! This is my son's 1977 RD 400 last friday first ride this year. You cant beat 2 strokers for that frantic rush. Charley.
Quote from: charleygofast on March 15, 2016, 08:32:13 PM
2 STROKES !!! Yee haw, and ride 'em cowboy! This is my son's 1977 RD 400 last friday first ride this year. You cant beat 2 strokers for that frantic rush. Charley.
Frantic rush and Great handling. Best corner carvers ever. I grew up riding RD's. Great looking RD400. Dave
Arnie- I love both those bikes.... the Bultaco is total eye candy and I would probably give up my eye-teeth for an RGV 500.....
Big-R: the Avenger motor is an amazing beast. You should see how they go with cut rotary valves and tuned expansion chambers....
Charely - ever see the DG aftermarket parts for the RD400?? They make gold anodized heads with radius fins - they are super cool.
Here's my 1972 Kawasaki H2 750:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5124.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5124.jpg.html)
I am rebuilding it and converting it back from a dragster to an upright road bike.... using some ZRX 1200 parts to get it done:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5953_1.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5953_1.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5962.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5962.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5855.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5855.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5856.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5856.jpg.html)
Quote from: axiom-r on March 16, 2016, 03:03:32 PM
ever see the DG aftermarket parts for the RD400?? They make gold anodized heads with radius fins - they are super cool.
OK... that's my queue: My RD400 - DG heads and pipes, Works shocks, air pressure mod on forks, big carbs and a few other internal mods... all period correct for the Daytona Special. After reading this thread over the past weeks, I need to get this thing off the stand and ride it!
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9846356836_0f90337ff4_c.jpg)
Frank
Quote from: Flynt on March 16, 2016, 03:52:19 PM
Quote from: axiom-r on March 16, 2016, 03:03:32 PM
ever see the DG aftermarket parts for the RD400?? They make gold anodized heads with radius fins - they are super cool.
OK... that's my queue: My RD400 - DG heads and pipes, Works shocks, air pressure mod on forks, big carbs and a few other internal mods... all period correct for the Daytona Special. After reading this thread over the past weeks, I need to get this thing off the stand and ride it!
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9846356836_0f90337ff4_c.jpg)
Frank
Great Bikes. A friend of mine just put his up for sale. We jokingly referred to it as "Shaken Not Stirred", because of his auto oil injection system being INOP. Every time we stopped for gas, he would have to add his 2-Stroke oil into the fuel tank, and then sit there and vigorously rock the bike side ways to mix the fuel.
Since you guys like RDs, you may enjoy this build.
There are quite a few 2 smoke fans on the Indy vintage scene...
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/KCarlsons%20RD_zps2jxt10tm.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/backburner/IMG_5962.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/backburner/media/IMG_5962.jpg.html)
That's the sight I saw often when I had my H1 500, it had chambers and pods on and went like the proverbial cut cat. Around town you could absolutely ring its neck and it would run trouble free, get it on the highway however and sit on a constant speed and it would melt the middle piston.
I was a regular customer at the local Kawasaki dealer buying pistons for it and never ever bothered to find out why it did it, parts were cheap and it didn't take long to put a new one in. Loved the triples and ended up owning three of them overall, they had the fuel economy of a big block V8, but who cared at the time, I know I didn't.
Frank - wow!
We will have to go for a 2-stroke ride sometime soon!
Beautiful!
You guys are going to make me have to get another two stroke yamahauler.......
Roadraced an RD350 and an RZ350 here in Colorado many years and a broken collar bone ago!
Quote from: not a lib on March 16, 2016, 06:29:57 PM
Since you guys like RDs, you may enjoy this build.
There are quite a few 2 smoke fans on the Indy vintage scene...
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/KCarlsons%20RD_zps2jxt10tm.jpg)
Not sure what you got there...is that a Honda CR frame? nice job, is it yours? Yes we are aware of all the stuff out there for RDs from DG and others. Jacob is obsessed with these "Rabid Chainsaws" and is building a nother one with all trick shit, he'll prob. keep this one pretty stock and just put miles on her. I've owned several myself. Bitchen '72 H2 you got there axion-r glad you're bringin her back to street duty. Beauty Daytona Frank love love love it! My first street bike was a 1975 Kawasaki H2 750 I bought in 77 and owned till 1985. I also had a 1975 Suzuki GT 750 and 5 RDs back then...(sigh) yes, those were the days! Charley.
Quote from: charleygofast on March 18, 2016, 07:25:33 AM
Not sure what you got there...is that a Honda CR frame? nice job, is it yours?
Noooo.... not mine. It belongs to one of the guys in the local vin moto group.
It's a '77 RD400 engine in a '02 CRF450 frame.
I saw this photo and had to share it here. I know there are some Water Buffalo fans on the forum.
Could this be the look that Tim is going for on his H2?
Fred
My goodness, my Suzuki thread has turned into a 2-stroke fest!
Let me update on the original topic.
I finally finished getting the polished calipers back on the bike and have also since, bedded in a new set of ceramic pads.
The test ride verified the fork seals do actually seal now! Yeah!
Next up is to service all the fluids.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_14891_zpsfawg2qsm.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_14891_zpsfawg2qsm.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1485_zpskzi7odlv.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1485_zpskzi7odlv.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1484_zpsfvioyqsa.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1484_zpsfvioyqsa.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/1tinindian/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1486_zpsldbr5iml.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/1tinindian/media/1982%20Suzuki%20GS1100GLZ/100_1486_zpsldbr5iml.jpg.html)
the GS looks great but I suspect the bike does not appreciate that cell phone on her handlebars --- technology clash.
scc
Quote from: moparman70 on March 30, 2016, 10:20:57 AM
the GS looks great but I suspect the bike does not appreciate that cell phone on her handlebars --- technology clash.
scc
I think this one would be more period correct.
Leon, your 1100 looks stunning.
Fred
Looks great. Polisher expert :good:
Quote from: moparman70 on March 30, 2016, 10:20:57 AM
the GS looks great but I suspect the bike does not appreciate that cell phone on her handlebars --- technology clash.
scc
I was using the GPS feature on the phone to verify the accuracy of the speedo, which by the way, is dead nuts on the money, something I wasn't even expecting.
I just wanted to know which way the error was, and adjust accordingly.
No need for that now!
Nice work Leon, I love it but OMG, the work you've created for yourself keeping it that way. :biggrin:
Noel
Nicely done Leon!
The bike looks great...................Now all she needs is the highway. :good2: