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Post by allgood57 on Jun 26, 2016 16:52:33 GMT -5
Hi. I just wanted to say thanks to the entire RE5 forum for the knowledge. I looked around to where a proper place would be to post such a thread and this seemed appropriate. I'm not new to motorcycles or rotarys, but new to rotary motorcycles. I'm looking at my first RE5 that's been in storage for decades. I've read tons on removing the exhaust and oiling for a long time and loosening the apex seals before any attempt at starting. Also on premix. I hope to be posting pictures soon if things work out when I adopt this RE5. Thank you Wayne for the warm welcome, and Jess, I think your opinion and knowledge is worth more than .02...
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Post by Jess on Jun 26, 2016 21:28:12 GMT -5
Allgood,
Glad we can help. There are a bunch of folks here that really love the bike. Thank you for your kind words.
Feel free to contact me directly if I can be of assistance.
Good luck, and enjoy!
Best,
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Post by allgood57 on Jun 27, 2016 8:11:07 GMT -5
Its just like other areas where there were small runs of bikes, cars, or trucks where they probably weren't the best ideas... but where companies took a chance to be different. Like a few years ago that Nissan Murano convertible. Not a very great idea, too expensive, and didn't catch on. However kudos for Nissan for being different where today there isn't a lot of exciting things in the market. Its a formula that's followed and makes money, but not innovative or exciting.
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Post by Glenn RE5 on Jun 28, 2016 18:12:17 GMT -5
Just a point ...I would check if the Apex seals are stuck in before you buy the bike ...Take off the silencers and manifold and turn the motor to see if all three are free by pushing them in ... you could waste a lot of time freeing them from the outside when chances are the side seals will be stuck to ...Then its a strip down ...We have a bike in that the owner had spent ages trying to free the Apex seals he got 2 free but not the third ...when we striped the rotor all six side seals were sized in solid ...Just a waste of time on this bike ....
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Post by timpa136 on Jun 29, 2016 9:55:53 GMT -5
Its just like other areas where there were small runs of bikes, cars, or trucks where they probably weren't the best ideas... but where companies took a chance to be different. Like a few years ago that Nissan Murano convertible. Not a very great idea, too expensive, and didn't catch on. However kudos for Nissan for being different where today there isn't a lot of exciting things in the market. Its a formula that's followed and makes money, but not innovative or exciting. point of discussion! If you return to 1974, just briefly to capture the excitement of the promise of the Suzuki RX-5 as displayed at the Tokyo bike show, I was beside myself to contain my enthusiasm of a rotary. I was a Suzuki brand loyal customer before then having bought a new TS-250J took it on a trip to Mazatlan Mexico Bought a new GT-750J and had trouble free vacations to Canada one year and back to Mazatlan the next. I liked Suzukis polished cases and overall finish and detail over my friends bikes so the thought of a simple engine in the rotary and Suzuki doing it was quite a time , indeed, quite a time. |
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Post by jm0406 on Jun 29, 2016 11:13:19 GMT -5
Tim,
You rode a 250 to Mexico? Sounds like the kind of crazy things I used to do.
But I do remember the promise of the rotary and how it was the way of the future. Dealers in Southern California were pushing hard with groups going out for test rides.
Jeff
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Post by timpa136 on Jun 29, 2016 16:11:41 GMT -5
Tim,
You rode a 250 to Mexico? Yes, roughly 2600 Mi. I just raised the needle one clip to be safe.
I am interested in other peoples Rotary responses to allgoods post.
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Post by wayne on Jun 29, 2016 18:52:09 GMT -5
My friend John Steain, who is not a board member, was a salesman at Hazel and Moore in the early '70's, the sole Suzuki importer at the time. He rode a T250 ridiculous distances as well and raced them in one of our iconic track events, the annual Castrol 6 Hour (His teammate was Warren Willing, a name that went on to become reasonably famous down here and perhaps overseas as well).
Most of the memories he has related to me were fear and trepidation among the customers. He sold the first one in NSW and possibly Australia. That customer (an American by chance) was picking it up and riding the six hundred odd miles from Sydney to Melbourne. His parting words to John were "If you see me broken down by the side of the road, DON'T STOP, cuz I'm going to kill yer !".
Almost needless to say, the bike made it.
John however has different personal memories. He rode shop stock RE5's regularly and clearly remembers how, for the first time he felt, the front end actually reacted to bumps and worked much better than previous Suzukis. He remembers how smooth they were and nice to ride. He has no memory of any carb glitches and misbehaviours (but does remember the grinding vibration).
He was excited by the project. I have the big Suzuki promotional RE5 book with the faux brushed alloy cover. John surprised me by recognising by name Japanese faces in the book as I flicked him through it. That's how involved Suzuki was at the local level and pointy end of the whole RE5 operation. These guys were visiting local Australian dealerships to keep a finger right on the pulse.
He had a "company bike", a blue RE5 with a sidecar which he (and his wife) have very fond memories of. He's even got film of it doing a promotional lap around Amaroo Park, a quite famous local track (now a new housing estate). We became friends when he saw my RE5 on display at a show 16 years ago. That relit his fire and he is now also a fellow owner.
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Post by goandy on Jun 29, 2016 19:06:38 GMT -5
Some awesome stories there. Wish I could share...but I was only four when they came out!  |
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