Note to all new members: Introduction thread

For discussion of all general things. Keep it clean folks. No politics or religion.

Moderators: oldjapanesebikes, H2RICK, diamondj, Suzsmokeyallan

datsunrides
On the street
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: T500
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by datsunrides »

Hello everyone. My name is Mark, and while I was a member at the old sundial site, I never re-registered as it migrated to here. Have been dealing mostly with car restorations (early 70's japanese cars) as of late, but figure it's time to at least try and get one of the bike projects moving and stop lurking. :lol: I have been around these old 2 strokers since I was 15 (I am now in my early 40's), with the first example being a Kaw G3TR. I have also had in my past a GT380, GT550, and T500 as my Suzuki's, a S2 Kaw, and 200, 250, and 400 RD's. As a little background on my hobbies, I like to restore older Japanese cars (no specific model) and update them with newer fuel injected (and sometimes turbocharged) motors. I also spent a number of years in the mid 90's racing a RD200 and EX500 at Sears Point (I can't say Infineon :roll: ) with the AFM. Well, I currently have a GT550 motor and T500 motor that used to be complete running bikes in bad condition, other than the engines. In this case, I have been planning to install the old engines into a newer chassis, to take advantage of better handling and brakes, kinda opposite to what I do with cars. :lol: Anyway, the plan is to install the GT550 motor into a 83' GS750ES chassis that is in very good shape, but had a blown motor. (I am partial to mid 80's streetbikes) The T500 is going to go into a 96' GS500 ex racebike that has had 91' Katana suspension swapped on both ends. (this will maybe be next years project, hopefully). I remember a member "jughead" from the sundial board doing this same swap, but don't remember if it ever got done. In closing, I am glad to be here and hope to contribute when I can. I plan on starting a build thread on the GT into a GS here shortly.

Mark
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Scorch
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by Scorch »

Welcome, guys! :up:
Suzuki: '18 V-Strom 1000, '75 GT380, '85 Madura 1200
markread3
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by markread3 »

HI all, thought i'd jump the pond and see whats going on over this side.
Have a few GTs , restored a few GTs, produce stainless fasteners for GTs.
titan performance
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by titan performance »

We use a good bit of that stuff...might be useful to know you !
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
markread3
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by markread3 »

Yep , just might be that. As soon as i get time and work out the best section to put the post i'll list all the items being done at the moment.
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Suzsmokeyallan
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by Suzsmokeyallan »

Hello Mark, its good to see you here. I've seen your stainless parts firsthand having bought some pieces from you and its excellent quality.
Two strokes, its just that simple.

69 Suz U70
69 Suz T500
72 Suz GT750 cafe
74 Suz TS250
74 Suz GTXVR project
75 Suz RE5
75 Suz GT750
76 Suz TS400
76 Suz GT750
81 Suz GSX1100
86 Suz RG500x2
88 Hon CR500
93 Hon CBR900RR
98 Suz GSF1200x3
15 Kaw Ninja H2
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Kenthecarp
Still in the Driveway
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 2 x 1969 Titan, 3 x 1972 Titan
Location: Chateauguay Valley Quebec

Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by Kenthecarp »

Greetings, old new guy here, been a lurker for a while.
located south of Montreal in the beautiful Chateauguay Valley.
I wanted something simple and comfortable to ride around locally and started looking for a Titan.
72 Titan 2010 04 15.jpg
Found one on the internet $1500.00, owner said all it needed was carb cleaning and I'd be driving it, his pictures were fuzzy and he seemed inept at posting images. I lusted over it and made a deposit asking him to hold it till spring. Drove 1400 Km to pick it up, the short story is that it could have been worse (30+ years of being stored outside). Two years later and having to disassemble it to every last nut and bolt, doing the gearbox mods, and after finding a doner bike it's up and running.
69 Titan 2010 03 17.jpg
I was looking for mufflers/baffels for the 72 and while following up on an "old Suzuki" in a garden shed about 20k away I found this! We chopped away the ice and snow (-24), pumped up the tires and it's home.
Original owner he had all the owners manual, parts book, and a little Suzuki Promotional book telling you how to ride. Thanks for sharing and making available the technical and personal information that made it possible.



69 Titan 2012 02 12.jpg
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Last edited by Kenthecarp on Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
65 JAWA 05, 66 MONZA, 67 SEBRING, 69 TIGER, 72 S2, 56 MATCHLESS, TD1C, METRALLA, 72 TITAN, 74 RD, 73 TITAN, 69 BONNEVILLE, 71 CT1, 85 R65LS, 31 MATCHLESS D5, 03 MONSTER, 05 JAZZ, 85 ELITE, 69 TITAN, 72 TITAN, 69 TITAN; - STILL IN THE STABLE
Rhencullen
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT380 GT750 GPZ900R
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by Rhencullen »

Well folks - I'm mainly a Kawasaki man now after several years riding VFRs.....

Image

Got back into GPZs a while back ( my favourite bike from my youth ), but have aspirations to own a GT750 which I lusted after when I started riding ( on an RD200 ).

Image

I've recently bought this GT380 and am on a steep learning curve :)

Cheers

Rhen
'78 GT750 Image

'84 GPZ900R
titan performance
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by titan performance »

Hi Rhencullen........spectated there a good many times, also the jump into Bishopcourt just after the bends !

Liking the 900R.....I had one of those back in 86. Went to see TopGun at the local picture house and parked it right outside the main entrance. Thought I was Billy Bigbollocks when everybody recognised it as the bike from the film when leaving !
Superb bike, couldn't fault it, except it just wasn't exciting somehow?
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
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ConnerVT
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by ConnerVT »

Looks like today's a day where Lurkers are speaking up, so I'll join the fun. I'm one of the latest that has caught the bug, and have a new project waiting for me in my garage.

First road motorcycle was a '73 T500. Bought it from a buddy, and it arrived, in boxes, in the trunk of his car. We spent the next few weeks putting it together, and owning that bike was a memory I've cherished for the past 30 years. Owned other bikes, but you always remember your first.

Haven't had a motorcycle for about 10 years now (but borrow friends whenever I can). A new Years thread on another forum got me thinking, and now that I have the room to do it, I decided I'd buy me another Titan. I've been researching like crazy, then stumbled on an ad for a '71 T500 on Craigslist that got my attention. Called the guy (owner of a shop, the drag bike guys may know him), had a good feeling about it, and pulled the trigger.

After I hung up the phone, I realized I either did something incredibly cool, or incredibly stupid.

First, I had to get the bike home. It was in Georgia. I'm in New York. I searched through this forum, and dropped a PM to Herman T, who hooked me up with a shipper he had great things to say about. I can only agree wholeheartedly - Thanks, Herman T!

The bike arrived on Friday. And i have to say, I did something incredibly cool.

One of the members here said, if he was going to do it again, he would start with a bike in better condition. For that, I've extremely lucked out. The bike was last titled in 1990, and there is a 1996 registration sticker on the license plate (still on the bike). I don't know where it slept for the past 15 years, but it looks like it is ready to ride now. My '73 Titan wasn't in this good condition (at least, on the outside).

The engine is in rough shape. It does turn without feeling broken, and made the popping sounds from the exhaust that I hadn't heard in 30 years. The carbs are all frozen up, the throttle doesn't even return. The plan from the beginning is to tear the motor down and rebuild it completely, and address whatever issues the rest of the bike needs to ride this season.

Next fall, shelve the engine for the winter, and tear down the whole bike, and bring it back to near new shape. Don't have the time to make it an OEM show restoration, just enough to enjoy riding it, and have a great conversation starter that I can feel good about accomplishing myself.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for the advise so far, and as parts start coming off, I know I'll be asking some of my own questions.
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Rhencullen
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by Rhencullen »

titan performance wrote:Hi Rhencullen........spectated there a good many times, also the jump into Bishopcourt just after the bends !
Magical place the IOM isn't it - happy memories of visits to the TT and much respect for the riders.
titan performance wrote: Superb bike, couldn't fault it, except it just wasn't exciting somehow?
It was exciting when it was launched in 1984 ...... revolutionary and 'cutting edge'. By todays standards I'd agree that it's perhaps a little 'tame', but it still makes a very good all rounder, and that's the appeal........ I don't think my wife would be too happy on the pillion seat of a ZX10R / R1 etc.
ConnerVT wrote: One of the members here said, if he was going to do it again, he would start with a bike in better condition. For that, I've extremely lucked out. The bike was last titled in 1990, and there is a 1996 registration sticker on the license plate (still on the bike). I don't know where it slept for the past 15 years, but it looks like it is ready to ride now. My '73 Titan wasn't in this good condition (at least, on the outside).
Your new bike does look to be a very good base to work with. I've 'restored' two 'nice' 900Rs ( an '84 A1 and a '90 A7 ), and resurrected another A1 from two non-runners that is now my daily ride. Working on the bikes has given me a lot of satisfaction, and after riding my GT380 this coming summer it will be next winters 'project'.
Kenthecarp wrote: I was looking for mufflers/baffels for the 72 and while following up on an "old Suzuki" in a garden shed about 20k away I found this! We chopped away the ice and snow (-24), pumped up the tires and it's home.
There aren't so many finds like this in the UK nowadays unfortunately :cry: In fact ( as you're probably aware ) there are numerous 'barn finds' imported from America by dealers.

Think yourselves lucky guys.......
'78 GT750 Image

'84 GPZ900R
titan performance
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by titan performance »

Conner.....wow ! What a result, that 500 looks great, that's going to be a real beauty. nice find.


Rhenncullen. I wasn't dissing the GPZ, as I said, "superb bike", quick and economical too. As you say, in 84 they blew all comers into the weeds. I sold my CBXz, (the good one), to a buddy to buy my 900R, and when we went out together for a run....I would just bugger off in a big way, much to his astonishment. However, I missed the admiring looks the CBX would collect, even from people that knew nowt about bikes, purely because it was so huge and had all those pipes ! I sold the 900R to another pal after a year, to buy a brand new GSXR11, which was no quicker A to B, but lifted the wheel under hard acceleration and over rises, shook it's head on the gas out of bends, and looked very race rep......none of which the 900 really did.
As you say, the 900 is user friendly....my R1 was never intended to carry 2.
If I had some miles to do, or a regular commute....a decent 900 would definitely be on my shopping list.
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
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ConnerVT
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by ConnerVT »

titan performance wrote:Conner.....wow ! What a result, that 500 looks great, that's going to be a real beauty. nice find.
Yeah, I do know I had some luck on my side on this one. It could of turned out much worse. It wasn't a $150 barn find special, but I spent well less than what some of the bikes, not as nice, have been selling off of eBay.

The worst part of the bike is the motor, which I'll know more when I start tearing it down this weekend. But I did expect to do a full rebuild of the motor anyway, so the money I save not needing to replace shiny stuff will more than make up for whatever I find in the mechanical.
old racer
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by old racer »

Before i intoduce myself,I have to say a big,and i mean a big thnks, To Paul at titan performace,
For his help in helping me register on this fantastic site,No matter what i tried i could not register,But the problem was overcome when Paul offered to set up an account,Also H2RICK for the suggestions he made,So again thanks guys.

Ok,Me well i have been around motocycles since the age of twelve,And i'm to be hitting 60 this year,My days of competition started when i was 18,my first racer an old 650 triumph thunderbird
then a 750 norton Atlas,Then i got myself a 750H2 but with spares thin on the ground i went out and got myself the bike below.
Image
I sprinted and dragraced this bike for about 8 years with some good results.
Some time later i campiagned a tr500 in road racing events,I wasn't much of a road racer as i was getting a bit long in the tooth by now,But i did realy enjoy it,Pic of the bike below.
Image
Well i think that's enough for now.
John.
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Re: Note to all new members: Introduction thread

Post by titan performance »

What happened to the 500 John?
There are a few guys on the forum who would like to get their paws on that item !
Keeping old 2 strokes alive !
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