Topic: -Project Suzzie-

[RAFster122s]

You sell the Duc?
looks great!  Glad she's a fun ride...enjoy it before it gets really hot...was 100 on Thursday in Tucson, or was that Wed a friend was telling me...early hot weather everywhere, but not here today...barely going to see 57-58f

David

[Stev-o]

Looks great John!  Good to hear you had it out, I bet it was a thrill...

[toytuff]

Looks great John!  Good to hear you had it out, I bet it was a thrill...

Thank you Steve. Yup, it's a kick alright. Barrel of monkeys. Always did like smaller displacement motorcycles.

I need to hook an external tachometer and compare to the one on the bike. It sweeps just fine but not sure how accurate it really is. Don't want a Big Bang Part Two on this one. 

[toytuff]

I wanted to install the factory trim around the windshield but it wasn't fitting tight. I was going to use adhesive silicone but figured it would squish out and make a mess.

How can I squeeze this together? It's rubber over metal. Hmmm. I looked up on the peg board above my desk and the light came on.



I set the width of the vise grip just a little smaller than the width of the moulding working it a little at a time until it was tight on the screen.





Much better now. Gives the screen a finished look and pulls the eye away from just a plain edge. Me like.

[NobleHops]

Great technique John!

[toytuff]

Great technique John!

Yankee ingenuity!

Looks way better. Notice the expensive catalog?

[toytuff]

Ducati picked up by new owner yesterday. Very nice lady, going to good home.

[Stev-o]

Nice? She looks hot!  Coincidentally, the last 550 I sold went to a female, she was "nice" as well....

[toytuff]

Nice? She looks hot!  Coincidentally, the last 550 I sold went to a female, she was "nice" as well....

She will look even better on the Ducati. 

[toytuff]

Just a follow up. Tachometer works just fine, riding it everyday. Fuel gauge works as the level finally came down. Speedometer cleared up sitting out in the sun.

I have to do math when riding but have it somewhat memorized now since it's in kilometers.

Speed divided by half plus tenth digit. (60k divided  by 2 = 30 plus 6 = 36 mph)



Ordered up side cover decals and will attempt to get those on correctly. Will have to go by older pictures of the bike. Looking at web pictures Suzuki seemed to put them all over the place. Canadian models were different then Euro models.

Doing a little research on the TSCC motor. When it hits 7K up to 9K the extra power is amazing for a 400cc motorcycle.

[grcamna2]

That's a powerful little 400,is it smooth running also ?

[toytuff]

That's a powerful little 400,is it smooth running also ?

Yes, I was quite surprised myself. I think they were rated @44 hp. It likes 4K or above. I notice just a tad of vibration in the bars @ 4500 in 6 the gear, but other than that none. It likes 100LL gasoline also. 

Still getting the feel of it. Seems to "follow" the groves in the road but I did go to radial Avons which are just a little under the OEM bias size. Experimenting with tire pressure and running 35 F/R now. Maybe to much?

It's a hoot to ride but an in town bike. Can't see doing a long highway trip on it. Wouldn't have the time anyway. Suzuki geared this bike low and don't foresee changing the gearing. Just going to keep it and ride it. 

[grcamna2]

The light bikes tend to track into the grooves,tire style can contribute.. I usually move around on rain grooves rather than letting them dictate how I roll over them.

[toytuff]

Agree. Dry weight is listed at 386 pounds. Add 4.2 gallons of fuel and 3.2 quarts of oil to that figure.

[Stev-o]

Good to hear your riding it, John.    The mid size bikes are fun.    35 lbs is not too much, I run some tires up to 40. 

[toytuff]

Oh yeah! Weather has been cool but about to end.

Doing some more reading and it appears in March of 2016 I ordered the wrong size tires. The rear needs to go on the front and a larger tire on the rear. Service book says to remove exhaust which I prefer not to do. I think I can do it with extra hands.

Front is 90/90/18, rear is 100/90/18. Should be front 100/90/18, rear 110/90/18.
Stock size in bias was  360/18 front, 410/18 rear. Just put the rear on the front and order new rear.

Have time to ponder the procedure as I won't do until next fall. Just going to ride it. 

[Stev-o]

I've seen that in manuals too, certainly easier to remove the wheel with exhaust off, but much more work. 
As long as you can get the axle out, shouldn't be an issue

What tires did you buy? Need a new front tire for my new Suzi...

[toytuff]

Originally I bought these. 90/90/18 front, should be a 100/90/18 which is on the back. About a 1/2 inch from what I figure.

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33_61_75&products_id=461

Rear should be 110/90/18, about 3/4 inch. Smaller tires on both ends. They are bi directional.

The swing arm is open at the rear so "it" might be possible to slide it all out. If not, bigger project.

[Stev-o]

As much as I like the Roadriders (have 'em on my Z1) want more on a vintage tread. 

The open swingarm should make the rear wheel removable....

[toytuff]

As much as I like the Roadriders (have 'em on my Z1) want more on a vintage tread. 

The open swingarm should make the rear wheel removable....

I found some old pictures from March 2016 when I cleaned the wheels. I went with the size that was on it when ordering a new set. 300/18 front, 350/18 rear IRC gs11. Cross reference to radial and I'm correct in size.

Seems different  web pages have different tire sizes. I'll stick with what I have and ponder next fall.

[grcamna2]

Ducati picked up by new owner yesterday. Very nice lady, going to good home.

She'll look good in full leathers on that Duc 

[toytuff]

As much as I like the Roadriders (have 'em on my Z1) want more on a vintage tread. 

Steve, have you checked out Heidenau tires? Many sizing options with vintage look.There is a great tire chart in PDF format worth downloading for reference.

My next set will be the bias tires. Radials are not to my likening on this motorcycle. Although the sizing is correct it's the rim width that is wrong for the tire. According to the GS forums this will get better as the tire wears in the center.

The IRC GS11 tires would of been a better choice. Will see how it goes when the mileage increases. Not a big issue given the riding I now do.

[Stev-o]

As much as I like the Roadriders (have 'em on my Z1) want more on a vintage tread. 

Steve, have you checked out Heidenau tires? Many sizing options with vintage look.There is a great tire chart in PDF format worth downloading for reference.

My next set will be the bias tires. Radials are not to my likening on this motorcycle. Although the sizing is correct it's the rim width that is wrong for the tire. According to the GS forums this will get better as the tire wears in the center.

The IRC GS11 tires would of been a better choice. Will see how it goes when the mileage increases. Not a big issue given the riding I now do.

Have not checked Heidenau tires, didnt think they were available in the U.S?

I do like the look of this one:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/heidenau-tires-k36

I like IRC, good budget tire.  I really like Continental, just bought em for my H2, but was surprised and disappointed they are no longer manufactured in Germany.

[grcamna2]

I am enjoying long mileage on my ContiGo tire,they're still a well made tire.

[toytuff]

I am enjoying long mileage on my ContiGo tire,they're still a well made tire.

Problem today is sizing. It might have been you that asked if I was going with the stock bias tires when starting this project. I went with radials.

The sizing is correct but with a narrow rim the tire is somewhat pinched. It gives a wobble effect on some surfaces. The GS forum says the handling will improve as the tire wears in the center. Width of rim is frt 1.60 rear 1.80. It also appears German models had larger tires than Canadian models. Can't verify but tire size is different depending where you look. A few GS forum members have laced 2.15 width rims.

It's not a safety issue otherwise they would come off. Just a weird feeling at lower speeds.