Smokey Two Stroke Goodness
Discussion
Not being sure what is going on with work, life and the future etc. Plus having far too many 'projects' on the go I thought I'd have a proper clear out of the garage, you know, get rid of all that crap that I'll never use, has been collecting dust and that I keep tripping over.
To say my garage is a little 'busy' is a bit of an understatement, somewhere in here are four motorbikes:
A few weeks back I sent my Pug off for a bit of urgent surgery. Actually, it wasn't urgent went I drove it the classic car place, I just dumped it off with a request to sort out that 'tiny bit of bubbling' on the rear sill...
Anyway, I digress.
While the car was out I thought I'd get rid of a load of old engines and bike parts that are littering not only the garage but our entire house. After Ebaying a bunch of bits and bobs I decided to sell the old unregistered GT380A I had mooching around the back of the garage. I'm not really sure why I bought it to be honest, it was the wrong model, wrong colour and I was never really going to do any thing to it. I ended up selling it to a lovely bloke from Perth who is taking it on as his first restoration.
Then I made a bit of a mistake, I was having a mooch through Ebay while listing a GT750 engine and chassis I had in the shed (still for sale if anybody wants it?) and this lovely early seventies Suzuki just leapt out at me from the screen, begging to be bought. It was sat there all innocent looking with it's bright 70's paint scheme, drum brakes and non-taped up seat.
Mmmmmmmmm. Thought I.
Anyway, long story short. I replaced my '76 GT380A with a '72 GT380J. Obviously I did no research into its history, no checks on the owner and bought it over the phone without a test ride purely on the basis that the colour looked fab and it is an ultra rare early model bike.
It was collected by a great bloke I know who knows all about two strokes, he said I'd done well, he gave it a service, a wee fettle and MOT'd it for me. I drove down in a van last weekend and very excitedly went to collect it from my folks where it had been dropped off.
My dad had parked it up in his garage next to his bikes waiting for me to collect.
It's actually a cracking little bike, it fires up easily and rides lovely. It is surprisingly pokey for a 380 with 38 raging ponies and it sounds a bit like an old GP bike when you give it the beans. It has been painted, it has had some sort of rebuild in the past and I doubt the 4000 miles on the clock is genuine but I am thoroughly happy with it. It also looks like it was written off sometime in 1981 but I'm not really sure. Other than it was registered in 1981 and the V5 states 'Rebuilt - from used and new parts' (or something like that). I'm not really too fussed to be honest as I can't see any dodgy welding, it goes in a straight line and stops (sort of) plus that was 35 years ago and I think anything untoward would probably have been fixed by now.
The past few days I've taken it down the coast as it was very smokey due to a lot of oil sitting in the exhaust. It was ace leaving a giant blue cloud behind me as I nailed it up through the gears!
On my first ride out I had a deer run across the road in front of me which meant I got to give the drums a really good test. They basically did very little and I just steered around the beast.
I highly recommend anybody who has never ridden an old bike like this to give it a go, it's wobbly, bouncy, crude, the front and back don't feel entirely connected but I reckon it's the best fun you can have with your clothes on. Plus the chance of being pulled while going flat out is minimal as 70 mph feels like mach 2, and it's pretty much flat out.
It's not perfect though, it looks like I'll have to pull out the engine over winter as the gearbox really doesn't like changing up into fifth and sixth (probably down to a lack of use, it's done a handful of miles in the last six years), and finding neutral is neigh on impossible when the old girl is hot. It really could do with new tyres and it needs a few miles putting on it.
I basically love it. Here it is lounging nonchalantly in the garage after I got it home:
So, moving on, some of you might remember I had a long term GT750 project on the go. This is actually still on the go...
Actually, I have just dropped it off with another chap I know who knows these bikes like the back of his hand for final setting up and (breath in) an MOT. Other than badges, it's pretty much finished...
I really cannot wait to get it out on the road.
I might get the old build thread resurrected and update that when I get it back.
Lastly, once the garage is finally cleared of the rubbish I have in it, I will crack on with my '71 T500 which is currently in bits.
That really just consists of the frame, which at the moment is acting as a helpful rest to some boxes. And some of the engine, which I am currently passing off as a 'modern art' installation in the dining room.
So, now the R1200 has gone, I am down to a purely 70's two stroke fleet. Think I need a Capri to accompany the bikes now...
To say my garage is a little 'busy' is a bit of an understatement, somewhere in here are four motorbikes:
A few weeks back I sent my Pug off for a bit of urgent surgery. Actually, it wasn't urgent went I drove it the classic car place, I just dumped it off with a request to sort out that 'tiny bit of bubbling' on the rear sill...
Anyway, I digress.
While the car was out I thought I'd get rid of a load of old engines and bike parts that are littering not only the garage but our entire house. After Ebaying a bunch of bits and bobs I decided to sell the old unregistered GT380A I had mooching around the back of the garage. I'm not really sure why I bought it to be honest, it was the wrong model, wrong colour and I was never really going to do any thing to it. I ended up selling it to a lovely bloke from Perth who is taking it on as his first restoration.
Then I made a bit of a mistake, I was having a mooch through Ebay while listing a GT750 engine and chassis I had in the shed (still for sale if anybody wants it?) and this lovely early seventies Suzuki just leapt out at me from the screen, begging to be bought. It was sat there all innocent looking with it's bright 70's paint scheme, drum brakes and non-taped up seat.
Mmmmmmmmm. Thought I.
Anyway, long story short. I replaced my '76 GT380A with a '72 GT380J. Obviously I did no research into its history, no checks on the owner and bought it over the phone without a test ride purely on the basis that the colour looked fab and it is an ultra rare early model bike.
It was collected by a great bloke I know who knows all about two strokes, he said I'd done well, he gave it a service, a wee fettle and MOT'd it for me. I drove down in a van last weekend and very excitedly went to collect it from my folks where it had been dropped off.
My dad had parked it up in his garage next to his bikes waiting for me to collect.
It's actually a cracking little bike, it fires up easily and rides lovely. It is surprisingly pokey for a 380 with 38 raging ponies and it sounds a bit like an old GP bike when you give it the beans. It has been painted, it has had some sort of rebuild in the past and I doubt the 4000 miles on the clock is genuine but I am thoroughly happy with it. It also looks like it was written off sometime in 1981 but I'm not really sure. Other than it was registered in 1981 and the V5 states 'Rebuilt - from used and new parts' (or something like that). I'm not really too fussed to be honest as I can't see any dodgy welding, it goes in a straight line and stops (sort of) plus that was 35 years ago and I think anything untoward would probably have been fixed by now.
The past few days I've taken it down the coast as it was very smokey due to a lot of oil sitting in the exhaust. It was ace leaving a giant blue cloud behind me as I nailed it up through the gears!
On my first ride out I had a deer run across the road in front of me which meant I got to give the drums a really good test. They basically did very little and I just steered around the beast.
I highly recommend anybody who has never ridden an old bike like this to give it a go, it's wobbly, bouncy, crude, the front and back don't feel entirely connected but I reckon it's the best fun you can have with your clothes on. Plus the chance of being pulled while going flat out is minimal as 70 mph feels like mach 2, and it's pretty much flat out.
It's not perfect though, it looks like I'll have to pull out the engine over winter as the gearbox really doesn't like changing up into fifth and sixth (probably down to a lack of use, it's done a handful of miles in the last six years), and finding neutral is neigh on impossible when the old girl is hot. It really could do with new tyres and it needs a few miles putting on it.
I basically love it. Here it is lounging nonchalantly in the garage after I got it home:
So, moving on, some of you might remember I had a long term GT750 project on the go. This is actually still on the go...
Actually, I have just dropped it off with another chap I know who knows these bikes like the back of his hand for final setting up and (breath in) an MOT. Other than badges, it's pretty much finished...
I really cannot wait to get it out on the road.
I might get the old build thread resurrected and update that when I get it back.
Lastly, once the garage is finally cleared of the rubbish I have in it, I will crack on with my '71 T500 which is currently in bits.
That really just consists of the frame, which at the moment is acting as a helpful rest to some boxes. And some of the engine, which I am currently passing off as a 'modern art' installation in the dining room.
So, now the R1200 has gone, I am down to a purely 70's two stroke fleet. Think I need a Capri to accompany the bikes now...
tezzer said:
Can't beat it, my favorite ride from the garage at the moment is my '76 GT550A, never fails to put a smile on my face !
That is a lovely looking thing. I quite fancy a 550 when my 500 is (eventually) finished.Did you do the twin disc conversion up front or did it come like that?
tezzer said:
It had been done when I got it.....not sure it makes a lot of difference, just been stripping the clocks down as the gear indicator window Perspex went AWOL on a ride out on Sunday, looked for it, couldn't find it, so bought a "scrap" binnacle from DK spares, and when I stripped the tacho / speedo out this morning, there it was, wedged between the plastic case, and the tacho body. Still, at least I have a spare now !
Sage details here (if your not already a member) http://www.kettleclinic.co.uk/kcforum/viewtopic.ph...
I'm not sure having twin discs actually makes a massive difference, looks pretty cool though! Sage details here (if your not already a member) http://www.kettleclinic.co.uk/kcforum/viewtopic.ph...
I suppose it's good news on the binnacle, the plastic ones on my Kettle were cracked to buggery and I ended up sending them to an American bloke in Barbados to have them re-made. He has had a run of plastic cases made and completely stripped everything and rebuilt them. They looked a real work of art when I got them back, to the point where I didn't actually want to put them on my bike as I think they looked too nice!
The Kettle Clinic is a great little forum. Baz is the bloke who is setting mine up for me right now.
Edited to add a picture of the clocks, the piccie just doesn't do them justice!
Edited by bob1179 on Thursday 21st July 11:58
Steve Bass said:
Welcome back Bob..... good to see you around.
Looking forward to hearing how the kettle turns out...
Cheers Steve! After almost four years of fannying about with it I can't wait to actually ride it!Looking forward to hearing how the kettle turns out...
Yoda. said:
Nice clocks!
What do the letters at the bottom of the rev counter stand for?
N = Neutral (presumably)
B = Boiling...?
F = Full Beam (I assume?)
As I understand it...What do the letters at the bottom of the rev counter stand for?
N = Neutral (presumably)
B = Boiling...?
F = Full Beam (I assume?)
N = Neutral
B = Beam (as in 'Full Beam')
F = Flasher (for the indimacators)
podman said:
Great thread..smokey goodness indeed..
Ive began to appreciate these 70s paintschemes more and more of recent, spotted this 750 last Sunday and thought it really stood out.
'Candy Lavender'.Ive began to appreciate these 70s paintschemes more and more of recent, spotted this 750 last Sunday and thought it really stood out.
I seriously considered painting mine this colour as it looks awesome. In the end I chickened out and went for 'originality'. I sort of regret it a little now!
I love bright and funky. The 500 is going to be Candy Vedoro Green. Which is a sort of nuclear snot green flake. It'll be awesome!
3DP said:
Looking good Rob! I'm still surprised you got those clocks back at all. Looking forward to seeing them both in the flesh.
We have enough classic bikes now, we can do an 'old boys' tour of Scotland? Though 700 miles just to get to mine on that Thumper of yours would be an interesting prospect!Yazza54 said:
Great stuff Bob, to be honest I thought the kettle was done. End date??
Cheers Yazza. The Kettle should have been finished ages ago, but we ended up moving house, I went abroad again for a year and we've had two kids in the meantime. However this year I finally pulled my finger out. Plus I sold my only working, taxed and MOT'd bike last year and I was really getting withdrawl symptoms...3DP said:
bob1179 said:
3DP said:
Looking good Rob! I'm still surprised you got those clocks back at all. Looking forward to seeing them both in the flesh.
We have enough classic bikes now, we can do an 'old boys' tour of Scotland? Though 700 miles just to get to mine on that Thumper of yours would be an interesting prospect!I reckon it would be more fun sticking all the bikes in a van and driving somewhere warm then doing a tour there.
3DP said:
bob1179 said:
3DP said:
bob1179 said:
3DP said:
Looking good Rob! I'm still surprised you got those clocks back at all. Looking forward to seeing them both in the flesh.
We have enough classic bikes now, we can do an 'old boys' tour of Scotland? Though 700 miles just to get to mine on that Thumper of yours would be an interesting prospect!I reckon it would be more fun sticking all the bikes in a van and driving somewhere warm then doing a tour there.
Plus we can pick up good looking female continental hitchhikers...
So, a good week this week... As part of my ongoing clean up of crap I managed to sell both this:
And this:
For the princely sum of five hundred quid.
This money shall be going towards the Kettle and towards getting some bits for the T500.
Which brings me onto the T500...
Looking at the chassis and engine numbers, it appears to be a 'bitsa'. It has a MkIII frame, early model flat bottom headlight and small rear light, but the tank, side panels, badging and whats left of the paint scheme are 'J' model spec.
So my plan is to meet in the middle and build it into a 'R' model bike but paint it in the later funky Candy green of Candy Lavender paint scheme. It'll annoy the beardies and purists but I reckon it'll look ace.
Currently the T500 looks like this...
So I have some time to go before I need to worry about the paint.
And this:
For the princely sum of five hundred quid.
This money shall be going towards the Kettle and towards getting some bits for the T500.
Which brings me onto the T500...
Looking at the chassis and engine numbers, it appears to be a 'bitsa'. It has a MkIII frame, early model flat bottom headlight and small rear light, but the tank, side panels, badging and whats left of the paint scheme are 'J' model spec.
So my plan is to meet in the middle and build it into a 'R' model bike but paint it in the later funky Candy green of Candy Lavender paint scheme. It'll annoy the beardies and purists but I reckon it'll look ace.
Currently the T500 looks like this...
So I have some time to go before I need to worry about the paint.
tricky1962 said:
My T500J may be a bitsa too, but I don't think so. Anyway it has the flat bottom headlight and small rear light. Are you sure yours is not a J with a new/old frame?
Hi tricky. From what I've been led to believe, when they 'J' was launched it came with the slightly bigger headlight and larger GT750 style rear light. However, it wouldn't surprise me if a few of the earlier bikes left the factory with the earlier style lights!I'll have to do a bit more digging into the model history to find out. I did have a good look at the tank and the green paint does seem to be original, which would indicate that it came from a late '71, '72 model bike.
tricky1962 said:
bob1179 said:
tricky1962 said:
My T500J may be a bitsa too, but I don't think so. Anyway it has the flat bottom headlight and small rear light. Are you sure yours is not a J with a new/old frame?
Hi tricky. From what I've been led to believe, when they 'J' was launched it came with the slightly bigger headlight and larger GT750 style rear light. However, it wouldn't surprise me if a few of the earlier bikes left the factory with the earlier style lights!I'll have to do a bit more digging into the model history to find out. I did have a good look at the tank and the green paint does seem to be original, which would indicate that it came from a late '71, '72 model bike.
If you peruse the anoraks T500 site http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/t500bikes.htm :-)
You can find photos of the J with the flat headlight and large rear lens. They must have chucked them out of the factory with whatever they had nearby
tezzer said:
Got home from a blast on the GT550 on Sunday to find the front of the engine covered in oil splatters.....a close inspection revealed a snapped off exhaust thread.
Fortunately, it was the right hand pot, and the outside stud, so easy enough to drill, and the use of a newly acquired set of Facom stud removers got the little devil out. New studs already, and a set of Higgspeeds arriving hopefully Friday, so not worth refitting the standard pipes now, they are going off for professional restoration (not that they are bad) over winter before a new home in the airing cupboard, suitably filled and coated with ACF50.
Sounds like a right pain, but at least it was easily fixable. Any idea why it sheared or do you reckon it was just down to age and forty years of vibration?Fortunately, it was the right hand pot, and the outside stud, so easy enough to drill, and the use of a newly acquired set of Facom stud removers got the little devil out. New studs already, and a set of Higgspeeds arriving hopefully Friday, so not worth refitting the standard pipes now, they are going off for professional restoration (not that they are bad) over winter before a new home in the airing cupboard, suitably filled and coated with ACF50.
New Higgspeeds sound great! Do you have to change the jetting in the carbs when you fit them or can you keep the standard set up? They should save a huge amount of weight too.
I should really do similar with this 380 as the pipes are immaculate.
srob said:
Speaking of smokey two-strokes, there was a little Francis Barnett (did you know they've started making bikes again? (even if they are rebadged Chinese jobs)) and an Ariel Arrow on an event I was on last weekend.
My old man reckons he may get an Ariel Leader when he's too old for his current bikes, I think they're quite cool in a sixties view of the future, kinda way
I had no idea they were making Francis Barnett's again! Shame if they are Chinese though...My old man reckons he may get an Ariel Leader when he's too old for his current bikes, I think they're quite cool in a sixties view of the future, kinda way
An Aerial leader would be an interesting bike to own, I think my dad might of actually had one in the sixties. All pressed steel frame and covers! I've never ridden on myself, it would definitely make an interesting addition to the collection!
tezzer said:
bob1179 said:
Sounds like a right pain, but at least it was easily fixable. Any idea why it sheared or do you reckon it was just down to age and forty years of vibration?
New Higgspeeds sound great! Do you have to change the jetting in the carbs when you fit them or can you keep the standard set up? They should save a huge amount of weight too.
I should really do similar with this 380 as the pipes are immaculate.
Re-Jetting not required with the Higgys IF the standard airbox and filters are in use (which they are). New Higgspeeds sound great! Do you have to change the jetting in the carbs when you fit them or can you keep the standard set up? They should save a huge amount of weight too.
I should really do similar with this 380 as the pipes are immaculate.
Weight will be a lot less too, despite being made from Stainless, but there are only 3 higgys against 4 standard silencers, plus the loss of the mainstand.
Will report back if they arrive as promised on Friday !
As soon as the new pipes are on get a piccie posted up so we can see what they look like!
Brads67 said:
Hate 2 strokes !
Unless off course they are in this.
Hi Brads. I have to admit that I know next to nothing about scooters! It looks like a really clean Lambretta though.Unless off course they are in this.
I've never ridden a proper classic scooter like yours, though many moons ago I 'borrowed' a mates Peugeot jobby to see how fast it went on a 'private' road near our house...
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