Suzuki 2 Strokes

Does anyone know of a good frame that would fit a gt380 lump? I was considering making a special. Perhaps with a Seeley or a featherbed or similar. I have no idea what would fit a GT380 motor. Has anyone got experience in this area?

If a H2 motor fits, a GT380 will............



Suzuki GSX-R400 GK76A frame

Spondon made some nice frames for the Barton GT380 based race bikes. A featherbed is a large and heavy frame. A Seeley might work or a Dresda frame or maybe even an RD350/400 but you would have to check the dimensions.

You could also keep the stock engine cradle and build a new frame around that.

Hi sportston,

Not an insignificant project

You can fit just about any engine in any frame if you have the engineering, or project management (i.e pay someone else to do it) skills and budget. You are not going to find a turn key solution to a GT380 special but there is a lot of fun to be had in creating one yourself. There are a bunch of outfits that could make you a replica frame (I would go for a Seeley, but I am very biased). If you commissioned a frame the builder would probably use your crankcases + barrels on their jig to establish mounting points and pipe clearances etc.

Starting with only an engine........ you will need deep pockets, maybe in the range of £5000 - £10,000. Sorry about that

Cheers Geoff

Zunspec4 wrote:Hi sportston,

you will need deep pockets, maybe in the range of £5000 - £10,000. Sorry about that

Cheers Geoff

OUCH!!

garry55 wrote:If a H2 motor fits, a GT380 will............



Suzuki GSX-R400 GK76A frame

Hmmm. Looks good but i was thinking something that looked a little more 1970s. However, I will think about that one....

So far a Dresda frame seems likely to offer best value for money, but it will be a long while before i can put my plan into action. Sniff sob

Or build a jig, buy some Reynolds 531 or 631 or whatever they sell now and make it yourself. Or get some 953 stainless wwich offers an even higher strength to weight according to their website.

sportston wrote:So far a Dresda frame seems likely to offer best value for money, but it will be a long while before i can put my plan into action. Sniff sob

I have no clue as to the length of the waiting list for a Degens Dresda frame so order now and start saving

When you start with a virgin frame you have an open canvas to do what you want but a bunch of thinking/design/fabrication time to invest (and money)

There is a lot to do starting from this:


Cheers Geoff

I did think of making my own but... I don't have the expertise or equipment. I think on something as major as a frame I should leave that to the professionals.
Nice frame Geoff. Is that a seeley?

sportston wrote:I did think of making my own but... I don't have the expertise or equipment. I think on something as major as a frame I should leave that to the professionals.
Nice frame Geoff. Is that a seeley?

Hi sportston,

Yes, a Seeley replica frame made for the T/GT 500 engine. These were an original option from Colin Seeley so there are several people who produce replica's (A Tichmarsh frame is the only one officially acknowledged by Colin). There is no fundamental reason why the engine mounts could not be modified for a GT380, or better still incorporated as part of a new frame. A link to my build photos below, you can see some of what was done.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjCh8pt9

Cheers Geoff

I think I'd be looking at something more tunable than a 380, unless you have a Barton liquid cooled 500cc conversion on yours!

Zunspec4 wrote:

sportston wrote:So far a Dresda frame seems likely to offer best value for money, but it will be a long while before i can put my plan into action. Sniff sob

I have no clue as to the length of the waiting list for a Degens Dresda frame so order now and start saving

When you start with a virgin frame you have an open canvas to do what you want but a bunch of thinking/design/fabrication time to invest (and money)

There is a lot to do starting from this:


Cheers Geoff

Nice Geoff As far as frames go that would be a pretty easy one to build. I really will build my own frame one day. Done more than my fair share of brazing so would be a brazed frame and just clear coated
What's your reason for using the 380, do you already have it?

Hi John,

That is a photo of my Seeley T500 frame when I first got it. It is sportston who is contemplating a similar project but with a GT380 engine.

Here is a photo of my bike as it was last year.


Cheers Geoff

Lovely Geoff