upgrades?

[luistf76]

hi everyone

What upgrades/sugestions can be done to a stock rd350 31k with arrow exhaust. Bike runs decent at the moment

New to 2T after 30 years, i dont know whats bad, good or better for it.

spark plugs, air filter, oils, reeds, coils, etcc...

i know its a very broad questions, but got to start somehow 



thanks in advence

[shaunthe2nd]

Modern ignition system probably, the 31k cdi's have a bit of a reputation for failure.

[lcmarky]

Welcome along..

It depends what you want and how much you want to spend. Do you want better handling, brakes etc and/or more power and if so how much?

Quite honestly the sky is the limit..

The obvious one is a rolling road with Mutts Nutts to be sure you are getting everything possible from what you have now.

[Tobyjugs]

I would say first make sure your cooling water system is working well and your bike can breath, exhausts are clean (de coke), air filter is good and not too oily and make sure your powervalves are in good working order.

Then a decent ignition system and VForce reeeds.

[luistf76]

Nov 22, 2023 13:26:09 GMT 1 shaunthe2nd said:

Modern ignition system probably, the 31k cdi's have a bit of a reputation for failure.

thanks, I´ll add this to the ´future´ list 

[luistf76]

Nov 22, 2023 13:26:25 GMT 1 lcmarky said:

Welcome along..

It depends what you want and how much you want to spend. Do you want better handling, brakes etc and/or more power and if so how much?

Quite honestly the sky is the limit..

The obvious one is a rolling road with Mutts Nutts to be sure you are getting everything possible from what you have now.

yeah , i know there can be no limit.. not even the sky

for now, just make sure it stays reliable and for sure a braking improvement is a must. A friend of mien has an R6 front end with radial pump and its as nice as modern bike.


about Mutts Nutts, unfortunally im bound to my location in the middle of nowhere..  

[luistf76]

Nov 22, 2023 13:32:05 GMT 1 Tobyjugs said:

I would say first make sure your cooling water system is working well and your bike can breath, exhausts are clean (de coke), air filter is good and not too oily and make sure your powervalves are in good working order.

Then a decent ignition system and VForce reeeds.

cooling is something i´ll check first..

the previous owner had plexi window installed which looks nice, on my first day of ride the oil looked like whipped milk, after it cooled down oil went back to normal oil..   

wrong oil? contaminated with coolant?

[Tobyjugs]

Probably condensation in the oil, but to be sure regularly check your coolant level. If it's a new bike to you, i would suggest you get the engine nice and hot and change the gearbox oil. Not because of condensation but more for the oil quality as there is no oil filter and all the clutch plate particles just stay in the oil and settle in the bottom of the engine cases.

[luistf76]

Nov 22, 2023 14:03:03 GMT 1 Tobyjugs said:

Probably condensation in the oil, but to be sure regularly check your coolant level. If it's a new bike to you, i would suggest you get the engine nice and hot and change the gearbox oil. Not because of condensation but more for the oil quality as there is no oil filter and all the clutch plate particles just stay in the oil and settle in the bottom of the engine cases.

 yup, was going to do that as soon as i find the oil... hard to find Castrol MTX 10w40

any good alternatives?

[arrow]

Many of the lads are using a light gear oil these days. It's also wet clutch compatible.

[vectisitch]

Nov 22, 2023 14:31:15 GMT 1 arrow said:

Many of the lads are using a light gear oil these days. It's also wet clutch compatible.

Yep. Silkolene gear oil light i use after recommendations here

[stusco]

I use this in my lc and gamma with no clutch problems you can get it in Norbos shop

[chrisg]

Nov 22, 2023 13:46:26 GMT 1 luistf76 said:

Nov 22, 2023 13:26:25 GMT 1 lcmarky said:

Welcome along..

It depends what you want and how much you want to spend. Do you want better handling, brakes etc and/or more power and if so how much?

Quite honestly the sky is the limit..

The obvious one is a rolling road with Mutts Nutts to be sure you are getting everything possible from what you have now.

yeah , i know there can be no limit.. not even the sky

for now, just make sure it stays reliable and for sure a braking improvement is a must. A friend of mien has an R6 front end with radial pump and its as nice as modern bike.


about Mutts Nutts, unfortunally im bound to my location in the middle of nowhere..  

You can fit the R6 brake calipers if you get some adaptor plates made from NK racing, if you want better brakes. NB dont chuck your old calipers out.

[mooreandy065]

Send your oil pump to arrow on here and get it serviced money well spent and peace of mind

[liffy16]

On the subject of brakes I find my standard set-up on my N1 plenty good enough with gold ceramic pads,braided hoses and a sorted master cylinder, engine performance make sure it's in top condition good top end and +1 for vforce reeds

[vectisitch]

Deffo check your powervalves and the coupler. These wear and if both valves are out of balance it affects performance greatly.

[donkeychomp]

Tyre art pen? Adds 5bhp.

Alex

[Tobyjugs]

Nov 22, 2023 14:18:23 GMT 1 luistf76 said:

Nov 22, 2023 14:03:03 GMT 1 Tobyjugs said:

Probably condensation in the oil, but to be sure regularly check your coolant level. If it's a new bike to you, i would suggest you get the engine nice and hot and change the gearbox oil. Not because of condensation but more for the oil quality as there is no oil filter and all the clutch plate particles just stay in the oil and settle in the bottom of the engine cases.

 yup, was going to do that as soon as i find the oil... hard to find Castrol MTX 10w40

any good alternatives?

I have in the past tried a few different oils to see what was best and in the end i settled on a 75W transmission oil for my LC on the road.

There's no special reason for this except i can use the same oil for my Land Rover gear box. I just believe in regular oil changes due to the friction material from the clutch plates building up in the oil.

[Tobyjugs]

Nov 22, 2023 16:04:51 GMT 1 chrisg said:

Nov 22, 2023 13:46:26 GMT 1 luistf76 said:

yeah , i know there can be no limit.. not even the sky

for now, just make sure it stays reliable and for sure a braking improvement is a must. A friend of mien has an R6 front end with radial pump and its as nice as modern bike.


about Mutts Nutts, unfortunally im bound to my location in the middle of nowhere..  

You can fit the R6 brake calipers if you get some adaptor plates made from NK racing, if you want better brakes. NB dont chuck your old calipers out.

Pure coincedence but i was just talking to a freind about standard RD brakes and we both think that the standard brakes regularly maintained and using a quality brake line are good enough you just have to squeeze a little harder.
I have an R6 brake set up oon my RD and i find it a bit over the top. Again personal opinion.

[luistf76]

Nov 22, 2023 23:11:18 GMT 1 Tobyjugs said:

Nov 22, 2023 16:04:51 GMT 1 chrisg said:

You can fit the R6 brake calipers if you get some adaptor plates made from NK racing, if you want better brakes. NB dont chuck your old calipers out.

Pure coincedence but i was just talking to a freind about standard RD brakes and we both think that the standard brakes regularly maintained and using a quality brake line are good enough you just have to squeeze a little harder.
I have an R6 brake set up oon my RD and i find it a bit over the top. Again personal opinion.

Its a matter of taste, i rather have extra braking power and not need it, than needed it and not Having it.

I do a lot of twist mountain roads, 2T doesnt have much of an engine brake so you rely on brakes more.

Got braided lines, rebuilt brakes and New pads (dont know the brand).. Still not enough braking power for me.

R6/R1 brakes with radial pump sounds like a winner combo.

[vectisitch]

I find my standard brakes on the 31k are more than enough for me. The LC brakes are another thing all together