Ray Von Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 It's been 5 years since shes been fully back together, now it mechanically complete (bar a battery). Just waiting for my decals to arrive now, but couldn't resist a few sunny shots to put up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMSMJ1 Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 Looks cool - but what is the hoover pipe for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 That is actually the Suzuki kit recommended air intake for the race air box, but i've modded mine so the air intake is at the front nose of the bike rather than the side pod on the fairing. I might change it yet, see if it affects the performance first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredie Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 fantastic work . looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobert23 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Nice work I have to admit, I even like the plain white fairings. It gives it that genuine 'customer' bike look (the way most 'race' bikes came out the crate). You must've spent a bit of time hunting down the parts (Suguya pipes?) or did you have them all to hand already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YZ faybo Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Love the Astralite rear wheel, didnt think you could those wheels any more or is it off another fitment, no matching front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I was inspired by one of Kar's designs for the paintwork, the decals are very simarlar (currently in the post) awaiting to be fitted. I've had the bike 11 years now, it did belong to lad called Phil Desborough, who won the 1998 SS400 championship on it and wildcarded in the 250cc British GP some years ago. It came with the kit pipes, ignition, carb, Ohlins rear shock. I raced it from 1999 to 2004, until a bit of a highside at my last race at Donington in 2004, near enough wrecked the bike, the frame and banana swing arm had to be junked, i think the only things left from the original bike is the engine, forks, shock and pipes(which had to be heavily rebuilt after Donington) The Astralites were a bargain ebay find , i paid £250 for a front and rear wheel, but the front was a 3" item and i was already using a GSXR400 front wheel (3.5") plus the front astralite had a ding in it, so i sold it to some bloke in France. The rear is a 5.5" astralite and quite rare for an RGV, as they are normally 5", i was told it might have been an Ex-Whitham back wheel, but who knows? But it did fit straight in, but the rear disc was a bit of a bugger to fit. I refitted the kickstarter to it, as i can't be bothered to bump start it anymore, but the engine is heavily tuned, o-ringed head, lifted cylinders to improve the port timing, it needs to be run on 50% avgas / 50% super unleaded, but it goes like billy-so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacemonkey Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 The Astralites were a bargain ebay find , i paid £250 for a front and rear wheel, but the front was a 3" item and i was already using a GSXR400 front wheel (3.5") plus the front astralite had a ding in it, so i sold it to some bloke in France. What happened to Astralite? Does anyone make anything vaguely similar now? I would have thought the design was a pretty good, relatively cheap to manufacture, lightweight idea. - Does anyone know if there are engineering reasons why no one seems to use them anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooble Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I had a set of astralites on a race bike once, I thought they were pig ugly and weighed quite a lot, much more than a similar sized set of marvics I had Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Astralite went bump quite a few years back. You're right about the weight, they are no lighter than a standard wheel, but it's the tyre width option isn't the best for a standard 4.5" rim of the original RGV, atleast with this wheel i can fit a proper 160 section tyre. The other problem with RGV rear wheels is the hub, it's rather small, try anything off a 600 size bike and the hub fouls the swingarm cos they are too big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacemonkey Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Astralite went bump quite a few years back. You're right about the weight, they are no lighter than a standard wheel, but it's the tyre width option isn't the best for a standard 4.5" rim of the original RGV, atleast with this wheel i can fit a proper 160 section tyre. The other problem with RGV rear wheels is the hub, it's rather small, try anything off a 600 size bike and the hub fouls the swingarm cos they are too big. Hmmm.. shame they aren't light! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banoffee Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 very very nice. all-white looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted June 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 That's it, all done, i might just lacquer the tank to give it another layer, but there again it could end up in the kitty litter at the first corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuntmonkee Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Nicely!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkyoshi Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 That's it, all done, i might just lacquer the tank to give it another layer, but there again it could end up in the kitty litter at the first corner. That's a beauty. Now cane the nuts of it! Here's mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addiction269 Posted June 11, 2010 Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 i am just about to start a project like this but with no running gear or anything! starting from the frame up! could be fun!! what forks have you used? and any advice? much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si.likes.guiness Posted June 12, 2010 Report Share Posted June 12, 2010 i was over in sheffield at where astralites were made not long ago,they have stopped making them but do now make tz cranks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted June 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 i am just about to start a project like this but with no running gear or anything! starting from the frame up! could be fun!! what forks have you used? and any advice? much appreciated! They are just the standard 'N' model forks. But i will be looking to upgrade them come the winter, as they only have preload adjustment and it'd be nice to see how it responds with some modern day forks fitted, after all it is 18 years old. I have also got a second frame with a crack around the upper rear engine mounting, i going to get this repaired and then again over winter have the frame coated black along with the swingarm, as 18 years of racing (as this has never been a road bike) have taken it's toll on the finish, stuff like stone marks from numerous gravel trap excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackCélaire Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I had missed this one, I really love it ! That is actually the Suzuki kit recommended air intake for the race air box, but i've modded mine so the air intake is at the front nose of the bike rather than the side pod on the fairing. I might change it yet, see if it affects the performance first. have you tested this now ? more info please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fontyyy Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 What the hell is that rear wheel? Apart from that....looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kookimonsta Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 no airbox lid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted August 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2010 Can't have airbox lid on it with kit set up, it just goes bap, bap, bap at high revs as it runs out of air. So have to have lid off and the centre devider cut out too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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