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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Riding Revelation /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1482880910 Message started by Gary_in_NJ on 12/27/16 at 15:21:50 |
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Title: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/27/16 at 15:21:50 Like a lot members, I took advantage of the unusually warm December weather and got out for a few hours today. However, my cafe racer is still apart for paint so I got out on my FZ-6. My last ride of the year was my first ride on the FZ-6 this riding season. I enjoyed riding the cafe racer so much that I never took out the FZ. The FZ is a nice bike. It's very smooth and comfortable. The damping rod forks on this bike have received the same treatment as the cafe racer. It has a UJM "sit up and beg" riding position too. That, coupled with the large gel seat gives this bike all day comfort. The seat sits high as well, so looking down the road even when following a van or pickup is not a problem. These are all great attributes, but after riding the cafe all year, all is not perfect in FZ land. The FZ is heavy, 425 pounds heavy. After riding around on a 300 pound bike it just feels like a ton. The heavy steering doesn't make it feel any lighter. The power about 8,000 rpm is great, but just rolling on without a downshift or two doesn't produce much passing power. My revelation today; I don't need or want this bike. If I did a lot of long distance riding or commuted via motorcycle this would be a great platform. But most of my riding is on local twisty roads, and the FZ isn't too impressive in this role. So I'm gonna sell it - and use the proceeds to fund my next project. I've been wanting to build a street tracker based on a dirt bike/dual sport. A few months ago I saw a DR-z400 based tracker that has been haunting me. I have figured out how to recreate this bike and after riding the FZ I've decided that I'm going for it. This is what I'm going to build... http://https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-35FZAyMMGwQ/V_PAraRfNLI/AAAAAAAADmk/qdwF7xgjBbY3-3ZhEbXgMFFU4W6LjjwBgCLcB/s1600/Ellaspede-DRZ400-1-of-13%255B1%255D.jpg |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Boofer on 12/27/16 at 18:01:28 Gary, After 8 views and no comments on your post, I'll tell you why. It's like: "Yeah, we've been there kid. No big deal." But it was a big deal. Some of us have forgotten our first twist on the smiley grip. It didn't slide us back fearful of falling off the seat or stand straight up like my first H1 and H2 Kawasakis in 1969 and 1972. It doesn't glide like my "new" 1981 GL 500 with Prolink air suspension. It's a lot like the 1965 Honda 50 I rode as a new rider at age 12. Calm, capable, solid, and friendly. But nothing to be ashamed of against a Harley 883, when needed. And tough as a bag of hammers. After 19,000 miles on an '01, yeah, I know. We all know. And we appreciate being reminded by your post. Be safe. Boofer :) |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Ruttly on 12/27/16 at 19:50:55 I had a wet dream and that was the bike ! ;D Gary , just make dam sure you post that build on SS ! |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Dave on 12/28/16 at 03:48:05 1835353C3F285A0 wrote:
I am most likely one of the 8 that did not comment. I tried to look last night - but the darn internet was so busy my coal fired home computer got choked on the photo....it cranked for several minutes and couldn't load the photo - so I shut the darn thing off and watched Nova on the telly. That is a really cool looking bike....and it will be a great project. Our Savage is a cool bike and very fun to ride and wrestle - it doesn't have the power or handling that more modern machines can provide.....and having a wheel size that provides the ability to use state of the art modern tires and compounds would sure be nice. The HP of the DRZ400 has a couple more HP than the LS650 in stock form (33.4 vs 31 HP) - the torque is considerably less (25.6 vs 37 lb/ft.). I think you are not going to feel the grunt that the Savage can provide - there are companies that provide cams, big bore kits, stroker cranks, reworked heads and big valves......you can throw a lot of money at these engines! I believe it would end up being a very nice handling, fun to ride and easy to toss around bike....go for it! |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by philthymike on 12/28/16 at 07:14:51 Pretty cool! Hard to believe that was once a DR |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Ruttly on 12/28/16 at 10:06:22 Dave , Who who makes stroker cranks for Savage and head with bigger valves , who , do tell !!! :o |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Ruttly on 12/28/16 at 10:17:15 Who makes that crazy yellow air filter ? |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Dave on 12/28/16 at 10:22:40 517677776F7A030 wrote:
https://procycle.us/bikepages/drz400.html And I believe the quad LTZ400 has the same basic engine, and you can use hop up engine parts. (Check to be sure). https://bpracingatv.com/product-category/suzuki/ltzdrz-400/ |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Ruttly on 12/28/16 at 12:01:57 Dave , LTZ is a different beast & water cooled & different bump stick |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Dave on 12/28/16 at 12:08:12 7D5A5B5B43562F0 wrote:
The DRZ is water cooled......same as the LTZ. Look at the listings.....they claim this stuff fits both the DRZ and LTZ. https://bpracingatv.com/product/ltz400-94mm-470cc-big-bore-stroker-motor-rebuild-kit/ https://bpracingatv.com/product/yamaha-yfz-450r-race-ported-and-polished-cylinder-head-copy/ |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by springman on 12/28/16 at 12:20:56 Gary, I do not have the skills for your undertaking. Just the thought of making that bike makes me jealous. Please post photos, I really want to see this build. That bike is beautiful. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/28/16 at 19:14:34 This is the only motorcycle board that I actively participate, so you'll be stuck with a build thread. I have an eye on a donner bike now and if it all checks out I'm on my way. I've been in contact with the builder of the above bike. It was crafted in Australia. He said with the exception of the radiator mounts and seat pan, that it was a straight forward build. He has offered to make me a replication of the radiator mounts and seat pan. I've identified the tank. It's off a 1978 DS 185. A decent one went on eBay the other day. Right now there is only a high-priced NOS and a rat tank. I'll wait for the right unit. Dave, as much as I would like to use modern rubber, that bike was built with 19 inch hoops. The tire choices for 19 inch wheels is much worse than 18 inch. But those 19's look oh so good. I'll make that decision later. Also, stock that bike is only 275 pounds. After modification it should be closer to 250. I'm sure that 30 to 40 hp will be plenty. That was kind of the point of my first post (sorry Boofer, I didn't get your reply at all); I prefer light weight to high HP. It's well aligned with how and where I ride. Anybody want to buy an FZ-6? |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/28/16 at 19:18:49 5A7D7C7C6471080 wrote:
Uni-Filter |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/28/16 at 19:22:32 LTZ and DR-z use the same engine. The Kawasaki KLX400 is the exact same bike as the Suzuki DR-z400. The Kawasaki is made by Suzuki. The KLX is a real oddball...and that's why I'll probably pick one of those up - there's no love for the KLX. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Ruttly on 12/28/16 at 21:04:11 Gary , Depending on the type of tire you want on your tracker choices are somewhat limited. Your right the 19s look dam nice but not much selection to find a front & rear in proper sizes , unless you use flat track racing tires. I have 18s on my RYCA tracker still very limited selection. I wish I had used 17s , now you find nice supermoto type tires, but then again I think 17s are too small. The tracker needs same size rims front & rear to achieve its racing appearance. Kinda like the tires in that pic. Some bikes are very cool but The Tracker Rules !! |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Dave on 12/29/16 at 05:01:22 Gary: I am with you on the small HP.....my current project is the little 250 Ninja. The bigger engines make it nice for highway cruising speeds - but for the local back roads and mountain curves I like to ride....30-40 HP in a light nimble package is just fine. Not being able to get the latest in high tech tires might be OK for most of us. For my Cafe' the only 3 choices are the Pirelli Sport Demons and the Bridgestone Battlax BT45, and the Avon RoadRider AM26 (I have not tried the Avons yet)....I get about 6,000 mile out of rear tire. (If I want to use the 100/90-18 front tire the BT45's are my only choice) - I have to switch to a 90/90-18 front tire for the other tires). I have talked to some of the sport bike guys that replace tires 2-3 times a summer. I have a friend with a Ducati who can wear out a set of tires in one 5 day trip to TN/NC (they ride pretty quickly). I did a quick look for 19" tires....the only thing I found was for vintage bikes.....and the tires had tall sidewalls, narrow width, and they were made to fit narrow rims. I would imagine the tires made for dirt tracks are very soft and may not be any good for riding on pavement. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by ohiomoto on 12/29/16 at 07:37:14 52585C565D545059070105350 wrote:
I saw that bike and looked into it a bit. You probably want an S (street) model with the steal tank and instrument panel. The E (enduro or electric start) model isn't street legal without modifications and you'll have to get state approval or inspection to get it titled as such. The S has additional wiring and relays that I think you would want. The straight up 400 is a kick start and not street legal. The pre-2002 E models had better forks than the S. Starting in 2002 the S got the same forks as the E. I would probably get a 2002 or newer S, though I hear the E has a more responsive carb. Also, I was looking into a Suzuki Van Van tank. Not really sure if they will work or not and they aren't common in the US. Just an idea. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by ohiomoto on 12/29/16 at 08:00:40 Also, I think there were two KLX models. The R was not street legal and the SR which is. I think they only marketed them in the US a year or two. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/29/16 at 18:40:48 Got my eye on a 2003 S model. Going to look at it Saturday. I'd actually like the kick start and have found a kit to make the necessary modification to add a kick starter while retaining the e-start. |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by zipidachimp on 12/30/16 at 01:06:25 DR-650? Sell me that bike when you're done, very drool-worthy!!! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by Gary_in_NJ on 01/06/17 at 05:44:31 I purchased a '03 KLX 400 that is in very good shape and low miles. I also scored an NOS tank from a 1978 TS-125C along with NOS cap, petcock and rubber mounts. The twin exhaust is also in hand. This build is happening and I'm on my way! I'm gonna do this build a little different then last builds. Rather then discover what I need along the way, I'm gonna get as many parts on hand as possible, this way the actual build will have short duration. I'll get some photo's of the bike this weekend (has skull graphics that I hate...but it doesn't matter) and start a build thread. http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz263/GaryCorde/IMG_2696_zpsaugojytk.jpg http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz263/GaryCorde/IMG_2698_zpsaz9ghgcd.jpg |
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Title: Re: Riding Revelation Post by ohiomoto on 01/06/17 at 07:30:06 Looking forward to this. I looked at a few different build ideas before I got my savage and dual sport bikes were ranked high on my list. |
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