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Post by wayne on Jan 24, 2024 0:55:10 GMT -5
From member TIMPA who has done serious miles on this bike. I was taken at how seamlessly the RE5 fits in this picture. Just another touring bike. Not the awkward cousin at the family gathering..........  |
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Post by timpa136 on Jan 27, 2024 16:33:56 GMT -5
This image is from the Wyoming get-together in 2017.A few of us wanted to get in one last (spirited) ride
before heading back home. Previously when exchanging bikes with a 1975 GT-750, John immediately noticed the
top gear torque, and confidence inspiring stability where he would be dropping down a gear where the RE5
exceled at hills and grades around 8,500 feet elevation. One late night return to our cabins was in the low
20 degrees F, so happy to have the Suzuki accessory fairing! Tim
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quawk
2nd Gear
Posts: 150
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Post by quawk on Feb 13, 2024 9:55:22 GMT -5
Timpa136, Can I ask, what wheels are you running on your bike?
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Post by timpa136 on Feb 13, 2024 10:59:15 GMT -5
Timpa136, Can I ask, what wheels are you running on your bike? Those were standard unpolished Lesters. Lester called the polished versions "highlighted". Thanks for asking. |
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quawk
2nd Gear
Posts: 150
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Post by quawk on Feb 14, 2024 14:14:15 GMT -5
Timpa136, what modifications were needed to run theses wheels? Have heard references made to these wheels many years ago. I think some of the early gold wings guys would swap out their spoked wheels for Lesters. I believe they have become hard to come by for quite a while now.
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Post by timpa136 on Feb 14, 2024 15:08:54 GMT -5
Timpa136, what modifications were needed to run theses wheels? Have heard references made to these wheels many years ago. I think some of the early gold wings guys would swap out their spoked wheels for Lesters. I believe they have become hard to come by for quite a while now. QUAWK, The Lesters were a known aftermarket accessory with RE5 equipped bikes at the early motorcycle shows. Exact rim width etc. as I recall. I have a highlighted set that I spun the front bearing using on my hi miler, and had a new race seat put in. Somewhere along the line I felt a slight pulsation in braking and figured time to mount my Henry Abe wheels currently on my Firemist. Not entirely sure of the cause I felt in braking pulsation. Tim |
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quawk
2nd Gear
Posts: 150
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Post by quawk on Feb 14, 2024 15:24:43 GMT -5
Timpa136, Now I have to ask, what/who are the Henry Abe wheels? I'm guessing it's another aftermarket/accessory aluminum wheel. Have you ever heard of KimTab snowflake wheels. They are a cast magnesium wheel. Yes, magnesium and not aluminum. They were used as original equipment on some early 70s Rokon competition dirt bikes (enduro, mx, flat trackers). I have a set on my '75 Rokon RT340 enduro bike. They have become very expensive over the years, if you can even find them.
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Post by wayne on Feb 14, 2024 16:08:38 GMT -5
Timpa136, Now I have to ask, what/who are the Henry Abe wheels? I'm guessing it's another aftermarket/accessory aluminum wheel. QUAWK, these are Henry Abe wheels. IMO, poor quality. Had to have loose bearing fit from new repaired by sleeving, had many cracks welded back in the day although in fairness to the latter, I was living in places I had to ride dirt on a daily basis:  |
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Post by timpa136 on Feb 14, 2024 17:28:13 GMT -5
Timpa136, Now I have to ask, what/who are the Henry Abe wheels? I'm guessing it's another aftermarket/accessory aluminum wheel. QUAWK, these are Henry Abe wheels. IMO, poor quality. Had to have loose bearing fit from new repaired by sleeving, had many cracks welded back in the day although in fairness to the latter, I was living in places I had to ride dirt on a daily basis: And here  |
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Post by timpa136 on Feb 17, 2024 11:16:36 GMT -5
Timpa136, Now I have to ask, what/who are the Henry Abe wheels? I'm guessing it's another aftermarket/accessory aluminum wheel. QUAWK, these are Henry Abe wheels. IMO, poor quality. Had to have loose bearing fit from new repaired by sleeving, had many cracks welded back in the day although in fairness to the latter, I was living in places I had to ride dirt on a daily basis:
I do not recall another Blue tank 77 GT, others please refresh my memory. Tim |
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Post by wayne on Feb 17, 2024 19:07:16 GMT -5
The 1977 B model was offered in Australia in three colours, a red, black and this blue. I put a roadside white post through my fuel tank after dumping the bike crossing a large patch of oil (I thought it was water). A friend in the industry got me a new one at wholesale ($60 AU!!) but asked why I didn't go for the black or red as a change. I told him blue was the best colour and after receiving the new tank for me and checking for himself, he agreed. It wasn't flat like the black or, from memory, the red, it had a very light metal flake. Here it is, brand new, not even registered (note there are no number plates), ridden direct from the dealer (Cornell Suzuki at Rosehill, the importer at the time) to my parent's front driveway. I guess there were no "drive away" deals back then. I've forgotten the price, either $2,100 or $2,200 AU, $100 more than the GT750A they still had on the showroom floors at the time. I think the GS750 was an extra $100 and, surprisingly, they were asking considerably more for the languishing RE5A that was also still there:  |
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Post by timpa136 on Mar 13, 2024 21:47:47 GMT -5
Timpa136, what modifications were needed to run theses wheels? Have heard references made to these wheels many years ago. I think some of the early gold wings guys would swap out their spoked wheels for Lesters. I believe they have become hard to come by for quite a while now. Here is an advert. back in the day. Goldwings are mentioned.  |
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