inthemancave
New Member
Slowly over hauling my FZ and I've got to check the valve clearances .......
Posts: 33
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Post by inthemancave on Jun 8, 2018 22:26:29 GMT
I have a few bikes that I've bought over a number of years. Like many I wish I'd kept a few from earlier days, like my X7, 350 YPVS etc - at least I've got my FZ750, or one like it again. I've just found out that my old laptop (RIP) had photos of my GS650GT and VFR750FK on it and I only have 1 poor photo of the VFR on my current laptop, I do have hundreds of my GSXR1100N, which I've spent a few years making it lighter and more up to date - it's now lost 100lbs (have made many things from aluminium if it was made from steel- it feels light now, no longer porky), recent GSXR750 wheels/brakes/Front-end, Nitron rear shock, big bore and flowed head etc - it's properly rapid, handles really well and is a hoot to ride, definitely not bland...……. My VFR is pretty standard, I bought it because of how much Performance Bikes liked the bike in a 1988 issue, I'd ridden the later model, but not the early one - I like the twin exhausts and dual sided swingarm - I'm not a fan of single sided arms, they're too much of a fashion victim thing - heavier, work no better (at best) and I just don't like the way the 'non swingarm' side looks, especially on Panigale's - yeah, not a fan ! This isn't a good photo, but it's the only one I've got at present - the V4 engine is pretty good and a good bike overall. I couldn't afford a GS1000 Suzuki, so I bought the 'GS' styled GS650GT, it's a very late one, the same reg. as my FZ, but it's from a totally different era ! I've found a photo of a bike that looks very like it, although mine has lower 'Euro' handlebars.
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Post by fzjamie on Jun 11, 2018 10:11:42 GMT
NIce one.. Here's my 'other bike' with me trying to look nonchalant at last year's Manx/Classic it's a bit of a shed,but has the 600 motor in it - the cheapo rear shocks are brutal however. the photos make it look better <iframe width="33.48000000000002" height="20.480000000000018" style="position: absolute; width: 33.48000000000002px; height: 20.480000000000018px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none;left: 5px; top: 53px;" id="MoatPxIOPT2_55471354" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="33.48000000000002" height="20.480000000000018" style="position: absolute; width: 33.48px; height: 20.48px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1594px; top: 53px;" id="MoatPxIOPT2_74537963" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="33.48000000000002" height="20.480000000000018" style="position: absolute; width: 33.48px; height: 20.48px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 5px; top: 1005px;" id="MoatPxIOPT2_67892640" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="33.48000000000002" height="20.480000000000018" style="position: absolute; width: 33.48px; height: 20.48px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1594px; top: 1005px;" id="MoatPxIOPT2_10795696" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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inthemancave
New Member
Slowly over hauling my FZ and I've got to check the valve clearances .......
Posts: 33
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Post by inthemancave on Jun 12, 2018 11:56:48 GMT
Nice XJ Jamie, I like the XJ550/650/750 look - definitely a bit of the old school cool ! I had an XJ750 seca in '87/88, it had high bars, more for the U.S. market, I put Euro bars on it - it was wandery with the high bars, but much better with the lower ones (Jota adjustable ones) - the shaft was intrusive if you used it as a sports bike, would've been nicer with a chain drive like the 550 and FJ600. The difference in performance between the XJ750 and FZ was huge, I traded in the XJ to get the FZ - power everywhere and very stable.
My GS650's suspension is std, I serviced the front forks, but the rear shock are as they were - the bike's only done 10,000 miles, but the years of being parked up by the first owner has added a healthy 'patina' to it !
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Post by Graham on Jun 13, 2018 10:09:53 GMT
Looks like a 350 LC if you squint.. a lot.
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Post by fzjamie on Jun 13, 2018 21:35:52 GMT
Well same era as the LC. I have a notion to get a FZ400R Motor installed in an XJ 550 frame at some point for an even closer look-alike. only time money and energy holding me back at the moment ;-)
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Post by julianboolean on Jun 14, 2018 20:24:13 GMT
Looks like a 350 LC if you squint.. a lot. The XJ550 rides nothing like an LC, LC is a lot nicer to ride, though the last time I rode either of them was 1988.
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inthemancave
New Member
Slowly over hauling my FZ and I've got to check the valve clearances .......
Posts: 33
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Post by inthemancave on Jun 26, 2018 14:24:53 GMT
My bikes I had before buying classic type bikes : The GSXR1000K6 was great fun, but I always ended up going fast and being too much a fool on it, sometimes you just want to have a more relaxing ride - a great bike though. I've had a couple of Hayabusas, a bit heavy, can handle pretty well with suspension alterations - the blue/black 2002 one was my favourite, it was quicker than my early one, they vary in output. I've had loads of bikes, but most of photos aren't on my pc. I generally bought sporty bikes, although one of my favourites was the first model ZZR1100, I went all over the place with it, a great bike at the time. Track days altered my requirements/expectations of bikes during the 90's - I loved the first R1 when it came out, that was a game changing bike - Fireblades didn't excite me much, but the R1 definitely did, I seemed to spend every other month changing tyres - I was still young enough (not married)to ride with youthful flare, that bike set corner speed records on my private circuits (hmmm)/TT course etc ! My absolute favourite bike is my GSXR1186N though, I've put such a lot of myself in the bike and have achieved pretty much everything I wanted to - I took it out earlier, it's a hoot, damn fast, very well balanced handling (yes a GSXR1100 !) and fills me with happiness ! - if I don't want to hare around, the big motor is happy to lug me around at 'sight seer' speeds. My FZ, VFR and old GS all have character and mean something to me - actually the GS650GT was just because I couldn't afford a GS1000, I remember seeing a GS1000 pull up at school in the early 80's and was in awe of it and that stayed with me . . .
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Post by fzjamie on Jun 26, 2018 20:49:27 GMT
..and at the other end of the Suzuki spectrum we have..
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inthemancave
New Member
Slowly over hauling my FZ and I've got to check the valve clearances .......
Posts: 33
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Post by inthemancave on Jun 26, 2018 22:48:57 GMT
The dear old A100 ! - nice expansion chamber too … led to the mighty GP100 and 125 I think - would've slowed me down a bit !!
Have you got that Metzeler rear tyre yet Jamie ? - just looking for good options for that micro Michelin pilot active I've got on mine, it's narrower than the front !! - says 130/80/18, barely 120 odd I think.
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Post by fzjamie on Jun 27, 2018 13:33:11 GMT
Yes, the Metzeler went on and looks good - not much different to the 130/80 Road Rider it replaced.. Not ridden it yet though due to my fueling issue. I saw the same with a part-worn Pilot Active i was going to fit (a 130/70 in my case) - it looked tiny! Not just width but also profile.
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inthemancave
New Member
Slowly over hauling my FZ and I've got to check the valve clearances .......
Posts: 33
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Post by inthemancave on Jun 27, 2018 22:38:02 GMT
Thanks for the feed back Jamie - on Avon's site it says the 130 80 18 tyre is 137mm wide, so a big 130 tyre, that Michelin pilot activ isn't even 130 I think. Nick
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Post by fzjamie on Jun 28, 2018 11:38:28 GMT
Thanks for the feed back Jamie - on Avon's site it says the 130 80 18 tyre is 137mm wide, so a big 130 tyre, that Michelin pilot activ isn't even 130 I think. Nick Yes I think I measured almost 15 mm difference between the Avon and the Michelin going 'around the tread' with my ruler. Both 130s supposedly.
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