Back in business - 7 years later

Got a customizing or restoration project? Post your progress pictures and updates here

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Kalim
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Back in business - 7 years later

#1 Post by Kalim » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:20 am

Hi Folks,

I registered on this forum in 2007, but haven't been very talkative since 2009.
I've had health issues with my ears which prevented me from riding motorbikes. As a consequence, the envy for restauring my RD wasn't there neither.
Anyway, it is getting much better now, and I expect being able to ride again in a year or two. Good news, this is also the timeplan I expect for the rest of work to do on my bike !

A quick introduction, I'm French, 33, and I have a '84 RD500LC that I collected in 2006. At that time it had been stored for 8 years, with no maintenance.
http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... f=7&t=6968" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've started restauring that bike with very low budget I have to say. I faced a firing issue, that I solved with replacing the ignition rotor that was demagnitized :shock: . In 2009 I managed to run the engine, and then stored it because of my ears issue. I actually sold my other bikes, but couldn't bring myself to sell the 500.

So as I said it's getting better now, and I've decided to go back to a deep restauration, with a real budget. So I start again from the beginning.
I am a constant reader of this board since 2 months, and I wanted to participate again.

Bike is stripped now, I will get the engine to a local 500 RG specialist for rebuilt, he also knows the RD. I can deal with many mechanical rebuilt, but I prefer leaving the lower engine side to experts.
I love many mods that were done on different bikes here, and you decided me to have a modern swingarm and fork, with corresponding brakes.
Probably from R6, YZF 750 or 600 Fazer.
2 pairs of nice exhaust, and probably some fairing adaptations too (no idea which one yet).
This is what I have in mind now, but it has plenty of time to change during that long project ;) .

I am now looking for the swingarm, in order to send it to Nigel from NKracing in UK. I read many positive feedbacks for him on the board.

This is what it looks now.

Image

Image

Cheers, David.

Sim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#2 Post by Sim » Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:30 pm

Hi David , Have a look in the classified section wolfganghs aprilia rs250 swingarm convertion is up for sale the one he had on his rainey bike very nice.
If your on the edge your taking up to much space

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wolfgangh
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#3 Post by wolfgangh » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:30 pm

Sorry but this has been sold long ago. I forgot to update my post.

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rklages
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#4 Post by rklages » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:24 pm

wolfgangh wrote:Sorry but this has been sold long ago. I forgot to update my post.
Wolfgangh, it was me who bought it years ago but I have it up for sale now.

Rob

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#5 Post by Kalim » Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:27 am

I actually already have an R6 swing on its way home.

Thank you anyway ;) .

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#6 Post by Kalim » Sun Oct 19, 2014 5:53 pm

Front end and rear end are there, I'm now ready for the transformation.
I go R6 '99 for the rear, complete with rim and brake.

And I go '96 YZF 750 for the front. Complete too.
It has been difficult to find it, they are getting pretty rare in France. When one shows up, it is usually sold within the day.
Already fitted with R1 blue dot calipers !

Image

Image

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2smoke
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#7 Post by 2smoke » Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:53 pm

You will be very happy with the YZF750 front end I promise!
And endless tire selection with the R6 swingarm.
You will have to relocate the 2 stroke oil tank and coolant bottle for space and modify the fork stops.
I don't have any experience with the early r6 swingarm and wheel so I cant help you there but maybe someone here has used it before.

:smt004
Colin

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#8 Post by Kalim » Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:00 am

Thanks Colin,
Your YZF fork conversion is one of those which have inspired me to do the mods :smile: .
Yes I have read about the relocation of tanks already. This forum is a gold mine for these pieces of information.

I've been reading the forum for a while, and didn't see an early R6 swing mod.
I will have it modified in UK by a specialist. Too much work for me, or too much time actually.

David.

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#9 Post by Kalim » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:50 pm

Stem swap done ! :smt003

I have worked on the forks, and was surprised the steering mountings are so similar between the 500 RD and 750 YZF triples.
Stem is almost identical, just 15mm shorter on the YZF.
Bearing types are the same.
Top nut and sloted nuts are exactly the same.

But why doing something different when you have something that work ?
Reuse ! Japanese stuff, they are so efficient in design.

Image

Then I've used an hydraulic press at my workplace. 50 Tons should be enough :grin: .

Press out the two stems from their triples.
I needed to go up to 10 tons for the YZF, and about 15 tons for the RD.

Image

Image

And then press in the RD stem in the YZF lower triple.

Image


That's a very easy conversion, if we speak only about the fork itself.
Thanks to Colin (2smoke) for his advices ;) .
It will probably be a different story for relocating oil and water tanks.

Can't wait seeing that big fork on the 500.

David.

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2smoke
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#10 Post by 2smoke » Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:39 pm

Looking good!
I can show you what I did with the coolant bottle if you like. However I failed at molding the oil tank with a hairdryer. :sad:

So I went with RGV Steves underseat oil tank instead.
Colin

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two-stroke-brit
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#11 Post by two-stroke-brit » Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:21 pm

nice going so far
She might not be pretty but always a fun ride !!

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#12 Post by Kalim » Mon Nov 10, 2014 4:45 am

The first step of the conversion is almost done, I'm glad with the fitting.

Image

However I have one issue,the top 2-3mm of the stem are now bigger in diameter, by 0,3mm, which prevents me from tightening the chrome nut.
When doing the stem swap I had to press quite high to remove the stem from the RD yoke, and I think it has slightly deformed the top of the stem.
Nothing critical, I'll shave a bit the 3 or 4 first threads.
2smoke wrote:Looking good!
I can show you what I did with the coolant bottle if you like. However I failed at molding the oil tank with a hairdryer. :sad:
So I went with RGV Steves underseat oil tank instead.
I am not yet at that step, clearly !
But I like the RGV Steve's tank idea. ;) .

David.

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Kalim
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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#13 Post by Kalim » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:10 am

Hej folks.

I have received my modified R6 swingarm back from NK racing.
First of all I have to say that it has been very nice to deal with Nigel.
Mod has been quick, actually quicker than quoted. No surprise on the price, it was what he quoted.
And the job is great, it has fit perfectly, like dad in mom (do you say that in English ? :smt017 ).

This is a very good address :smt023 .

The graft has taken. Here is what it looks like now.
This is only a blank assembly. I'll probably put the engine back in the frame to check that everything fits, also to make measurements for the chain alignment, and for the shock absorber length.

Image

Image

Image

Image

There's gonna be an interference with that small bracket you can see on the third picture.
Not sure, but I believe it is for the battery box, if I well remember, right ?
I might move the battery into the single seat unit anyway.

David.

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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#14 Post by rd84 » Sun Dec 14, 2014 11:45 am

Looks good !

Cheers
Paul

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Re: Back in business - 7 years later

#15 Post by 2smoke » Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:52 pm

Yes that bracket is for the battery box. The YPVS servo might be in the way too. You can raise it if you make another bracket.
Looks a little longer in wheelbase but it looks great.
Do the stock rearset brackets fit?
Colin

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