Author Topic: Terry's POS 1969 Suzuki T350 Redneck Reincarnation. (Read 22327 times)

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #350 on:** August 15, 2021, 03:46:56 AM »

It's winter, we're in stage 4 lockdown #6 from memory, and I was feeling ever so slightly stir crazy, so when the wife went out for the afternoon I wandered past the little Suzuki T350, and couldn't help but give it a kick in the guts, and it fired right up! Well, I've just installed a new front tyre and thought it only right to see if I fitted it properly, and the best way to find out was to take it for a quick lap around the block.

Well it went so good I ended up doing several laps around the block, in fact I did 2 or 3 miles, (the speedo and tacho, which both came from my original bike, and have been laying in a field since 1973, both work perfectly, which is bloody amazing!) and the little green beastie just ran like a new bike. Shame about the audio harmonics in my carport, but otherwise, happy days!

MauiK3 · « **Reply #351 on:** August 15, 2021, 08:04:59 AM »

Is this a keeper or will you sell it?

grcamna2 · « **Reply #352 on:** August 15, 2021, 09:27:48 AM »

Terry,how's your struggle with the airbox rubber boot ?

MauiK3 · « **Reply #353 on:** August 15, 2021, 02:21:24 PM »

Very nice bike.
A friend of mine had an X6 Hustler back in the day. Another great bike.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #354 on:** August 15, 2021, 02:28:20 PM »

Thanks Steve, I forgot all about the rubber boot when I went for my ride, I better go see if it’s still there! Nope, haven’t put it on yet, like all things T350, there will be a procedure for installing it that I haven’t mastered yet.

A keeper? I’d like to think so, but eventually all my bikes, apart from the two Sportsters I’ve promised my kids, will go. Hopefully it’ll be one of the last ones out the door when I’m 80 or so.

ekpent · « **Reply #355 on:** August 15, 2021, 06:39:30 PM »

Were all just temporary caregivers of them to be passed on someday if we don't kill them first - or ourselves !!

Don't think Terry has reached total 'flipper' status yet.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #356 on:** August 15, 2021, 10:08:45 PM »

Thanks Eric, I do need to sell a few bikes soon, I’m thinking definitely my F2 and Yamaha RT3, and maybe one or two more, but that leaves over 20, so it’s not like I’m clearing the decks, just raising some much needed funds to spend on bike parts, of course…

grcamna2 · « **Reply #357 on:** August 15, 2021, 10:27:36 PM »

Quote from: Terry in Australia on August 15, 2021, 10:08:45 PM

Thanks Eric, I do need to sell a few bikes soon, I’m thinking definitely my F2 and Yamaha RT3, and maybe one or two more, but that leaves over 20, so it’s not like I’m clearing the decks, just raising some much needed funds to spend on bike parts, of course…

Terry,hang on to those 2) 'Reincarnated' and 'Reanimated' excellent Suzuki twins.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #358 on:** August 16, 2021, 04:46:41 AM »

I will for as long as I can ride a bike Bill, they're great fun, and one thing I noticed yesterday was how light and easy to move around the T350 was in the cramped confines of my "Winter workshop". I had to move the CB750A out of it's way, and it is a heavy sum#$%* by contrast.

PeWe · « **Reply #359 on:** August 16, 2021, 06:33:37 AM »

What about your Rocket? It look like a heavy bstd to handle.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #360 on:** August 16, 2021, 08:08:12 AM »

Isn't it Rockets? I thought there were two.

PeWe · « **Reply #361 on:** August 16, 2021, 10:20:38 AM »

Quote from: MauiK3 on August 16, 2021, 08:08:12 AM

Isn't it Rockets? I thought there were two.

Yes, 2 Rockets! Rocket Man his alter ego!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #362 on:** August 16, 2021, 01:11:54 PM »

Quote from: PeWe on August 16, 2021, 10:20:38 AM

Quote from: MauiK3 on August 16, 2021, 08:08:12 AM
Isn't it Rockets? I thought there were two.
Yes, 2 Rockets! Rocket Man his alter ego!

LOL

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #363 on:** August 16, 2021, 06:44:48 PM »

Thanks guys, the two Rocket III's are parked over at my self storage place, and luckily for me the unit is a nice new one so I can ride them in, and roll them out. The Rockets have a very low centre of gravity so don't feel difficult to roll around, but out on the road you certainly know you're the captain of a land barge.

The tyres are still the widest on a production bike I think, and while it handles well at speed, you do need to push it into corners, unlike our old bikes with their skinny tyres that just fall into corners. It'll be interesting to see what happens to them in years to come, once I retire I won't be able to afford the self storage unit, so I'll need to either sell them, or move them into my garage. I think I'll have to make some hard decisions then, but I won't worry about it now, as they are awesome bikes to ride, with more cc's than one CB750 in each of their 3 cylinders.......

PeWe · « **Reply #364 on:** August 17, 2021, 03:38:47 AM »

Rebuild them
Add a rear axle with 2 wheels plus a storage area on top like old trucks with wood compartment.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #365 on:** August 17, 2021, 04:13:56 AM »

I've sold my VFR750 to finance the T500 build. I had my second Covid-19 vaccine today, so on my way home I dropped into the self storage place to see if the poor VFR would even start, considering that it hasn't been ridden more than once or twice, early this year, or late last year? It's being collected tomorrow and I would have been embarrassed to tell the new owner that I couldn't get it to start.

Anyway, the new Motobatt battery I installed last year worked a treat and it eventually fired right up. While I was there I couldn't help myself and fired up both Rocket III's. With both of them idling inside the storage unit the harmonics started to rattle the walls of the storage units all around me, it was quite surreal. I should have realised that this would happen, when I used to have my first R3 idling in the carport, it used to rattle the roof, and I've set off several car alarms over the years as well. Great fun.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #366 on:** August 17, 2021, 08:18:53 AM »

And I thought I was afflicted with the disease!!!!

PeWe · « **Reply #367 on:** August 17, 2021, 08:55:33 AM »

Vaccine will not cure bike restore/repair/rebuild fever!

krusty · « **Reply #368 on:** October 14, 2021, 08:10:38 PM »

Terry, I was browsing through some of my old VJMC photo files from 2006 and came across this. The man, Joe Eastmure and his Castrol 6HR winning T350. He still has the bike, road registered and still ridden.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #369 on:** October 14, 2021, 08:44:39 PM »

Beautiful pic mate, and fantastic story, I can really understand how that bike could beat Honda CB750’s, Kawasaki H2’s and Mach III’s, Yamaha’s etc around Amaroo Park. The T500 is just a bigger version but for some reason 40 Kg heavier with only an extra 6 BHP, so I’ll be interested in riding mine back to back to see which one I enjoy more. I rode the T350 around the block again yesterday and loved it.

krusty · « **Reply #370 on:** October 15, 2021, 08:42:30 PM »

Some of our Northern mates may like to read the story of Joe and his T350. Hope you don't mind me posting the link Terry.
https://www.motorcyclealliance.com.au/joe-eastmure-best-six-hour-racer-youve-never-heard/

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #371 on:** October 15, 2021, 09:00:49 PM »

No that's fine mate, it really is a great story about how one riders tenacity was enough to beat the "Superbikes", and sadly, how rigged the Castrol 6 Hour was, that they'd take the title off Joe just to pacify Kawasaki and Honda.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #372 on:** October 15, 2021, 09:08:11 PM »

Joe Eastmure had the later model T350R with the large tank like my gold one:good thing it had the large tank,less pit stops.

desertrefugee · « **Reply #373 on:** October 15, 2021, 09:16:06 PM »

Finally took the time and went through this thread. Been meaning to do it, but I’ve been battling a mongrel disease that has me a bit down.

Although I enjoyed the tale of this Suzuki, it triggered some bad memories. Decades ago (early 80s) when I was still riding my 72 Bonneville, a friend acquired an abused T500 Titan. It was beat to hell and gone and didn’t look much better than this 350 when you started, but ran like stink. I laughed at the thing when he picked it up, but quickly discovered what two-stroke exhaust smelled like on the road. My Bonneville didn’t have a chance. I have hated the things ever since!

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #374 on:** October 15, 2021, 09:19:39 PM »

I personally like mine better, but yeah, a bigger tank was a real benefit for a 6 hour endurance race.

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Author Topic: Terry's POS 1969 Suzuki T350 Redneck Reincarnation. (Read 22327 times)