If you're interested in something a little different....
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Re: If you're interested in something a little different....
You can only view the article or content if you are a registered member.Greg wrote:.... why not check out my thread over on TDR.
If you like stinkwheels, you'll love this !
G
It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world than 30 years early in the next
- mangocrazy
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I think you've got yourself a bit confused there Paul, but I can understand why - it is from Japan, it doesn't have valves in the accepted sense (i.e. poppet valves), and it has 4 cylinders...
It's a rotary valve, square four, two-stroke - a Suzuki RG500 no less...
And a fascinating story it is too, Greg.
It's a rotary valve, square four, two-stroke - a Suzuki RG500 no less...
And a fascinating story it is too, Greg.
Well spotted Mango!
Yes, it's an RG5, that came to me in a partially complete but perilously bad state...
It hadn't been started for over 10 years, but with some gas and a set of clean plugs I managed to coax it into life, albeit reluctantly.
While I had the carbs off for cleaning (to resolve the shit running) I noticed that the disc valves weren't in the opening positions they should have been relative to the rotation of the crank. That being the situation I had no option other than popping the cases and checking the cranks. Yes - they were well out of alignment as well as being completely off on the primary shaft..
If you're interested I'll try and pull the whole thread from TDR ,,
This is the point at which the youngsters say "square four two stroke...??"



Yes, it's an RG5, that came to me in a partially complete but perilously bad state...
It hadn't been started for over 10 years, but with some gas and a set of clean plugs I managed to coax it into life, albeit reluctantly.
While I had the carbs off for cleaning (to resolve the shit running) I noticed that the disc valves weren't in the opening positions they should have been relative to the rotation of the crank. That being the situation I had no option other than popping the cases and checking the cranks. Yes - they were well out of alignment as well as being completely off on the primary shaft..
If you're interested I'll try and pull the whole thread from TDR ,,
This is the point at which the youngsters say "square four two stroke...??"



- mangocrazy
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Great stuff! I was a stinkwheel aficionado before I became a V-twin lover and despite the very different riding styles needed for each I find them complimentary in a strange way.
As a yoof I lusted after YDS5 and YDS7 Yamahas, and by the time the 350LC was released I actually had the money to buy one brand new. That bike converted me to two-strokes. There's nothing quite like the hit when a two stroke comes on the pipe, clears its throat and lets rip. The whole bike comes alive.
Sounds like you've been a real Good Samaritan and rescued a lovely old stinkwheel from a fate worse than a Neanderthal...
As a yoof I lusted after YDS5 and YDS7 Yamahas, and by the time the 350LC was released I actually had the money to buy one brand new. That bike converted me to two-strokes. There's nothing quite like the hit when a two stroke comes on the pipe, clears its throat and lets rip. The whole bike comes alive.
Sounds like you've been a real Good Samaritan and rescued a lovely old stinkwheel from a fate worse than a Neanderthal...

- mangocrazy
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Blimey - that takes me back. As a real sprog I remember trying to weigh up the respective merits of the Yamaha YL1 (100cc twin) and the Suzuki B100P (which was actually a 125cc single) and was affectionately known as the Bloop. I spent weeks/months agonising over the choice even when I had no chance of buying either...
Happy days...
Happy days...

- mangocrazy
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A man after my own heart. Although I started on small Honda 4-strokes (cheap and available) I always wanted a 2-stroke. My first bike was a 1966 Honda C200 that I bought as a wreck with seized big end for the priincely sum of £9, and had to fix myself (on a shoe-string) before I could ride it.
It got PX-ed against a CD175 Honda, but I wish I still had it.
It got PX-ed against a CD175 Honda, but I wish I still had it.
No wonder I did not recognize, tis the devils work, screaming and belching smoke,causing sane to lose sanity.
Actually almost forgotten they existed, never seen any engine detail and bloody surprised one found its way on here !
What a bloody project, good luck with it !
Would a missile with an on/off switch be a fair comparrision?
Actually almost forgotten they existed, never seen any engine detail and bloody surprised one found its way on here !
What a bloody project, good luck with it !
Would a missile with an on/off switch be a fair comparrision?
Cleverly disguised as an adult !
I think they have a reputation as being a bit of a bad boy, but in reality compared to the more modern kit around they'd probably be a bit sedate. For a bit of an example, my old snotter of a trackbike - a Suzuki gsxr750 K1 - is pretty long in the tooth, but with some careful application of the magic oil I've squeezed 146 RWHP out of it.
Having said that, it should be good for a shade over 100hp, in a pretty light chassis with K-Tech reworked forks from a 750 K3 and the spiffy new rear shock with proper 17 inch wheels and SC2s... you know where it's going don't you!
Having said that, it should be good for a shade over 100hp, in a pretty light chassis with K-Tech reworked forks from a 750 K3 and the spiffy new rear shock with proper 17 inch wheels and SC2s... you know where it's going don't you!
Yup, I'm getting there slowly, this week's jobs include reworking the rear caliper, modifying the fairing bracket to clear the forks (the USDs are a lot wider than the OE forks), and making a start on the bodywork. I was lucky enough to find a full set of original plastics, but it's been resprayed satin black at some time in the past. There are a couple of cracks that need repairing, and two parts that have broken completely off, but it's all weldable thankfully. Once that's done I'll put a white base coat down which I can use either for an OEish scheme or - as I'd prefer - a Pepsi/Schwantz replica.
It's great to see some progress!
It's great to see some progress!