|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 23, 2022 21:23:25 GMT 1
A parts donor ! 20220423_093035 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093111 by dusty miller, on Flickr Bare with me on this one ! I took a slight detour with my vision for the next build. Another Lc - a 350 - nothing too radical, maybe a mild hybrid. 350lc projects are 1. Pretty rare and 2. very expensive when you find one. Over the Easter weekend I dragged Mouse up to Lincoln to look at the scabbiest Lc we have ever seen, then down to Dorset to look at another really skanky Lc that was waaay overpriced, and close to taking the scabbiest Lc ever title from the first bike we saw !! It was getting depressing. This Fzr400 popped up on ebay, fitted with a 4L0 engine, Ypvs pipes and an Lc electrical system. The seller had owned it as a project for a year and done nothing with it. Rg500 front end, Rg rear wheel, Rgv banana arm. I guessed I could sell some bits on and keep the 350 engine and other Lc parts, so messaged the owner, and dragged poor old Mouse down to Warminster in Wiltshire for a look. Pleasantly surprised to find this one "as described", some receipts, a small box of spares, and started first kick - the engine sounds really good surprisingly ! Hydraulic clutch is nice and light too. It's actually nice and comfy to sit on, and is overall in pretty good nic. Deal done, we shoehorned it into my Connect and got it home. The seller sent me a message today, with a link to a Youtube vid of when it was built; That was 10 years ago. It lived in Kent before Warminster, and it's done 1100 odd miles since that vid was taken, if the speedo is to be believed. Bought for essential parts, but I'm not discounting doing something with it !! Dusty
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Apr 23, 2022 21:27:55 GMT 1
I saw that bike and wondered if a certain Dusty might be tempted! Well done sir. Not sure what your plans are but there are so many ways you could go with this! Looking forward to another fantastic build matey.
Alex
|
|
|
Post by reedpete on Apr 23, 2022 21:32:29 GMT 1
That’s the right type of bike to find…. Sum of the parts is much more interesting than the whole as it is…all sorts if potential…
|
|
|
Post by Gitram on Apr 23, 2022 21:41:17 GMT 1
that's nice, I'd bin the seat if it was mine, though..
marti
|
|
|
Post by Yogi on Apr 23, 2022 21:47:56 GMT 1
Nice one Dusty
I looked at that too, if it had a pv lump I’d have gone for it
Good luck with your project mate 👍
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Apr 23, 2022 23:30:44 GMT 1
Saw that and thought it would be a good project basis
Steve
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Apr 23, 2022 23:52:25 GMT 1
Sounds like a good deal. Defo some good parts there, to sell off to offset costs for other parts if nothing else. Keen to see what you decide to do Dusty
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Apr 24, 2022 0:03:36 GMT 1
There is one obvious thing we are all over looking here. No more jokes... Alex
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Apr 24, 2022 7:00:27 GMT 1
It has potential written all over it, whichever way you decide to go!
Mouse
|
|
|
Post by LC_BOTT on Apr 24, 2022 7:48:51 GMT 1
Saw that too, it went pretty quick from memory? been a couple of decent FZR400 projects on there recently, but no where near as finished as this. Mostly rolling chassis as you've probably seen.
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Apr 24, 2022 8:55:53 GMT 1
Question is... what's it ride like? Keen to know before it gets stripped for parts
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Apr 24, 2022 8:59:21 GMT 1
Oh and... BMR Racing... did he build or race anything else we should know about?
BMR... hmm.... Build My Ride Racing?
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 24, 2022 10:46:16 GMT 1
All I would say is, although the engine is in and obviously works with the bike, the way it's been done leaves a lot to be desired. Rad is only mounted on the top 2 rad mounts - the hoses hold it in place at the bottom, when it would have been easy to weld 2 tabs on the down "tubes" to fix it properly. Having said that, the rad doesn't move, but even so. The engine fitment is a bit "Heath Robinson" and could be improved fairly easily. Likewise the rad could sit further back, inside the frame rails if you wanted to improve it. The welded mounts are pretty basic - someone like Chris on here or my welding guy would make it look a hundred times better. I initially bought it for the 4l0 engine, but I do quite like the bike "as is" too. If I kept it as an Fzrd, I would look at getting those down tubes remade so they dont splay outwards - wouldn't make the engine look so small in the frame. But I initially bought it for a parts donor and planned to sell the rest on, but we will see. I had some time yesterday to take a closer look at what I could use. The engine is a tie bar 4l0 bottom end and later barrels up top. It will get a full strip and rebuild regardless, but it starts first kick and sounds really good. Runs with the oil pump, no casing damage, and a hydraulic clutch has been fitted which seems to work well. It has 4l1 00 carbs fitted, and I'm guessing by the amount of jets and assorted carb parts that came as spares, hopefully someone took some time to get the jetting right !. Paperwork says it's running 280 mains. Ramair pods fitted, and I think the pipes are for a Ypvs. They will get sold on anyway. There is a new looking, aftermarket CDI fitted, along with a Dyna coil and Taylor leads. Right hand switchgear looks new, left side is all there and working but will need a refurb to match the right. I can use the Chinese rad and the cover, loom looks pretty standard with a few crappy connectors, and a blade type fuse box. The forks wheels and clip ons are Rg500, which I may look at fitting to an Lc frame as I want RWU this time. I did weigh up what could be sold on after I took what I wanted, and the Rgv Banana arm could go IF I dont keep the roller as a future project - will mull that over. Anyway, some pics. The small box of spares; 20220423_092523 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093043 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093047 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093103 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093051 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_093055 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_094044 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_094054 by dusty miller, on Flickr Tank is a dummy cover over a steel item that has been cut and shut at the bottom to allow the Lc engine some room; 20220423_094756 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20220423_094801 by dusty miller, on Flickr Area forward of the tank would have had the Fzr airbox in place, but is now vacant - handy for storing sandwiches on a long run or a small overnight bag for trips away !! Dyna coil; 20220423_094925 by dusty miller, on Flickr Close up of the clutch. Note the frame welding and the front engine spacer ! Room for improvement !! 20220423_095910 by dusty miller, on Flickr Dusty
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Apr 24, 2022 13:54:52 GMT 1
Great pics Dusty. A Curates egg for sure!
Talk about a bitsa, parts from all sorts in there. Agree it could be easily improved. Maybe the FZRD is a good thing, someone should give it a ride? Mouse?
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Apr 24, 2022 21:29:33 GMT 1
I agree it needs a quick blat down the road. Are those clocks A/C ones Dusty?
Alex
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Apr 24, 2022 21:44:42 GMT 1
Glad you picked something up, you need to be busy! It looks very interesting, engine sounded good so a great start. Looking forward to watching this one. To answer above, clocks look to be SR500 type?
Shaun
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 24, 2022 21:49:15 GMT 1
It's got potential in it's own right, but my plans lie with an Lc build. More of that to follow Clocks are Suzuki Gs750 according to the notes that came with it. Dusty
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Apr 24, 2022 22:23:27 GMT 1
I'm not convinced they are Suzi clocks Dusty, but could have had been modified. Google images for SR250/400/500 clocks they look to be good match to me.
Looks good though.
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Apr 24, 2022 22:29:08 GMT 1
ps -the speedo is prob ok at 120mph type, but tacho I suspect will be out as 10,000 rpm is max compared to 12,000 rpm for LC.
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 25, 2022 6:58:04 GMT 1
Hi Shaun, My initial thoughts were the clocks were Yamaha - Xs series maybe ? The clock cups look very like Rd/Xs - virtually identical in fact. Not sure if any Yams had those cups chromed as standard ? There is a note with the documents saying what parts have been used, and that states Gs750. I thought the speedo may read more than 120 for a Gs, and Suzuki clocks often have the "S" on the face, whereas these haven't. I haven't had time since I got it to delve any deeper, but I will. Part two of this build should arrive tomorrow, and then it will start gaining some momentum Dusty
|
|
|
Post by steeley on Apr 25, 2022 7:35:18 GMT 1
Dusty nice find . The tank reminded me of a tank i got repaired for a chap at work . He bought a 400 and resprayed it . When he built it back up he put the wrong fixings in the lower brackets that holds the tank cover on . You guessed it they punctured the tank and the petrol pissed on the floor . I flushed the tank cut the bracket and bent them back so a mate could bronze the holes up and the cut brackets . This was my first time flashing a tank off to get rid of any fumes, i jumped out of my skin
|
|
|
Post by abar121 on Apr 25, 2022 9:34:38 GMT 1
I was also looking at that on ebay. Glad it matched the description.
I do like it, certainly unique and has some potential, as a whole or in parts.
Great fun either way.
|
|
|
Post by evochris on Apr 25, 2022 13:23:43 GMT 1
Great buy!!! I watched it on ebay and pleased it went to a good home, has loads of potential in loads of different direction. If it was mine I would make it into a 1990 yzr500/350 Marlboro race bike for the road, correct replica bodywork, modern wheels/brakes and upside down forks etc would look stunning......hmmm wish I had put a bid in now..
|
|
|
Post by LC_BOTT on Apr 25, 2022 14:05:47 GMT 1
Hi Shaun, My initial thoughts were the clocks were Yamaha - Xs series maybe ? The clock cups look very like Rd/Xs - virtually identical in fact. Not sure if any Yams had those cups chromed as standard ? Dusty My XJ650 has those chrome clocks, but not the lights in the rev counter, so you're probably right looking at those model variants. (cruiser/custom types, Virago etc? )
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 25, 2022 17:38:47 GMT 1
Regards the seat - it did come with another standard seat that had a speedblock paintjob; 20220423_093133 by dusty miller, on Flickr That needs some repair, plus the rear lights are a bit naff. The brief look I had the other day suggests some time spent could really improve how the engine looks in the frame. I can make spacers up where there are none, and use proper bolts where threaded bar has been used. I bought it for the engine and some ancilliaries, and had planned to sell the rest on, but I may change my mind, as I do quite like it, plus I do like bikes that are "different" ! I'm just not convinced it's "Lc enough" for me, if you get my drift. I've bought a complete 250lc as well now - should be delivered tomorrow, and the plan was the 350 engine would go in , and I would sell the 250 engine, but again, I now have options that I hadn't considered before. I'll wait until I have all the parts here and then (re)formulate a plan Dusty
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Apr 25, 2022 18:58:56 GMT 1
Roll up, roll up, let the build commence!
Mouse
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Apr 25, 2022 20:44:25 GMT 1
I've ordered popcorn.
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Apr 25, 2022 20:57:15 GMT 1
Was looking online tonight regards which 3 spoke wheels will fit Rg500 forks. Seems Gsx600f up to 1998 will fit with no mods. Had a quick look on ebay at front wheels, and the code on the wheel looked familiar. Quick look down the shed at a wheel I picked up at Kempton about 3 years ago for 2 quid, and it seems I may be in luck; 20220425_194205 by dusty miller, on Flickr Wont get excited before I actually trial fit it, but it will be a great result if it fits Seller didn't know what the wheel was off, and nor did I, but for a couple of quid it was worth having ! That said, Gsx600f wheels are pretty cheap anyway Dusty
|
|
|
Post by evochris on Apr 25, 2022 21:27:24 GMT 1
That looks very similar to the bandit 400 wheels I just fitted to the F2, I bet all the Suzy’s of this era are a mix and match. Look forward to seeing the build(s) Dusty 👍
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Apr 25, 2022 21:32:38 GMT 1
Hope it all works out but word of warning 😬
I picked up the wheels for my 385 and the front had the same code as rgv250 but after I powder coated it I discovered it was different
Disc faces were a different distance from centre and speedo drive was slightly different but nothing some DIY disc spacers and a dremel didn't sort out
Steve
|
|