Thursday, December 24, 2015

Differences between the RG400 and the RG500

When I was cleaning my mailbox I found some great information about the differences between the RG400 and the RG500, so here it is.
1. Carb slide needle and main jetting: 400 = #135 , 500 = #120.

2. Clutch: the 400 has some friction disks less (1 or 2, I’m not sure). See if your clutch will work OK so you may leave it as it is.

3. External sprockets and chain, 400 = 15 front /41 rear, 525 chain, 500 = 16/40, 530.

4. 400 pipes have only thiner stingers, all the bodies are the same.

5. Cylinder, piston: 400= 50mm 500=56mm 400 has 5 intake ports, 500 has 7 intake ports but smaller (but 400′s port in total I think give better flow – i.e. less divided area). External lower sleeve diameter 400=60mm , 500=66mm you need to rebore the upper crankcase. But I’m not sure if you can rebore your 400 cylinder sleeves to reach 56mm so you won’t need any crankcase machining (and won’t need to buy a 500 cylinder set). Remember the 400′s cyls may give a better intake port flow.

6. Heads diameter accordingly are of: 400=50mm , 500=56mm.

7. Conrods are the same, only its lower bearing consists of some more (1 or 2, I’m not sure) needles so they are closer each other. You may not bother splitting your cases and keep your 400′s bearings though if you go arround the stock 500 horse power (no much more).

8. Some small difference in the front brake rotors. 400′s are no “floating” type.

9. The rotary valves have different base, the 400′s is thinner and lighter so keep your 400.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Central Classics Houten 2015

Seen at the Central Classics in Houten the Netherlands, December 2015. Aalt Toersen his old record machine, on this bike he has set 3 worldrecords in Elvington in the UK in 1968.
For more pics see 
Central Classics Houten 2015

Sunday, December 13, 2015

The Can-Am Bombardier 500cc prototypes

This time some pics of a very rare bike the Can-Am 500cc two stroke twin.
"The 1977 500cc CanAm street bike never made it into production. Only 2 or 3 prototypes were ever built (circa 1975). One was a street version which produced about 60 horsepower, while the other was an 85 horsepower road racing version. The engine was borrowed from a Bombardier snowmobile and modified to accept a 5-speed gearbox. The powerplant was liquid cooled and utilized a single horizontal rotary valve. The exhaust system was unique. The lower pipe on each side was an expansion chamber, and was connected to the top pipe (mufflers) with a small tube. This allowed expansion chamber performance while remaining quiet enough for street use. This machine never went into production because proposed EPA emission standards threatened its marketability in the United States. Tony Murphy wrote a magazine article about this motorcycle in 1976. He recently informed me that the prototypes are still running strong somewhere in Canada."
This information came from 
Classiccanam
Tony Murphy's article
Giant killer 
For more pics see
Can-Am Bombardier 500cc prototypes
 

Friday, November 20, 2015

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Two stroke V4's after the Golden Era

The 500cc V4 two stroke made by Christian Polverelli.
We all know that the days of the 500cc V4 two stroke are long gone in the GP's but still there are efforts to keep these beasties alive. I know of four projects, from backstreet builds to a MotoGP manufacturer who are making new versions of the most exiting motorcycle that was ever on this planet.
First we have the two wellknown projects of
Suter and Ronax
Than there are two other much smaller efforts of  
Christian Polverelli and Laurent Astier
All these projects are works of art and it shows that people all over the world still really like 500cc V4 two strokes, I hope there are more projects to come so we keep the two strokes alive!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Comeback of the Suter 500 part 1

After years of waiting and watching pictures will it this time be true and will we hear it running for the first time? September 29 the Beast will be back according to the website in the link below, cannot wait!!
The Beast is back 
More about the unveiling
Suter to produce 500cc GP bike
Want to read more about this bike
Suter 500 Factory V4


Monday, September 14, 2015

Rolands Sands his TZRD400

This time some pics of a very trick bike the new TZRD400 by Roland Sands, the more you look at it the more details you see. A stunning bike!
For more information and pics see 
2 Stroke Attack

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Bruce Anstey sharpens the 2stroke record at Man

After last years victory and a new 2stroke record, Bruce Anstey did it again! This time he became second due to a loose exhaust but again he broke the 2stroke lap record on the mighty YZR500, 126.261mph - the fastest ever two-stroke lap of the Mountain Course!
More about the race see 
2015 Classic TT 
Last years race
Bruce Anstey sets a new 2stroke record at Man
For more pics see
Bruce Anstey and the YZR500

Monday, August 24, 2015

GP Eext 2015 The Netherlands (part 2)

Seen at the GP in Eext, Theo Louwes his Spondon Suzuki RG500 with ex Franco Uncini XR45 factory engine.
For more pics see
GP Eext 2015

Monday, August 17, 2015

GP Eext 2015 The Netherlands (part 1)

Next Sunday the GP van Eext will be held, this year it will be a Suzuki special with lots of great bikes like RG500's and TR750's. Steve Wheatman's Classic Suzuki Racing Team will be there and John Zeulevoet will also bring a part of his collection to Eext. Two of my bikes will also be there.
For more information see (In Dutch Language)  
GP van Eext

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Bikers Classics 2015

Seen at the Bikers Classics the very rare Suzuki RK66 50cc twin.
For more pics see
Bikers Classics 2015

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Quincy Looper Beast

This time some links to a big dinosaur of a powerboat, the Quincy Looper Beast.
What an amazing machine!!
First of all an incredible building thread
Building a Looper Beast
Want to know how it sounds
Start up
Screaming 
Fly By
Runabout
The history can be found on the official Quincy Looper site
Quincy Looper Racing

Monday, May 18, 2015

Suzuki RP68

I collected some very rare pics of an even rarer machine, the Suzuki RP68 launched in 1967. This is an amazing 50cc triple! It never got out of the prototype stage.
Specs
19 hp @ 19.000 rpm
- 20.000 rpm redline
- 180 km/h topspeed
- 14/16 speed gearbox
- magnesium engine
- 380 hp/liter
For more pics see 
Suzuki RP68

Monday, April 20, 2015

TechGP

Found this great Facebook site with lots of interesting GP pics from the two stroke area.
For more pics see
TechGP

Sunday, March 22, 2015

RG500 history

This time a very nice interview with Makoto Hase one of the engineers who were responsible for the design of the Suzuki RG500.
Interview with Makoto Hase

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Interview with Dane Rowe

Stumbled upon this great interview with the beautiful Dane Rowe.
Surprise Guest- My Interview with Dane Rowe!!!
Dane Rowe formed a sidecar racing couple with sidecar professor Rudi Kurth in the sixties and the seventies.
For more pics see
Dane Rowe and Rudi Kurth

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Michael Jackson and the RG500

Michael Jackson was an RG500 owner!
In 1988 Gary Taylor flew a Suzuki RG500 over to Italy where Michael did some concerts. They heard that he was a motorcycle fan so the RG500 was a present. Taylor said Michael needed the most exiting bike ever made!! In between the races Kevin Schwantz and Rob McElnea visited his opening concert in Rome.
Does anyone know where this bike is today?? If so please let me know via my contact page on this site!
For more pics see
Michael Jackson and the RG500

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Librenti 500 V4

This time some pics of one of the beautiful exotic Italian V4 500cc two stroke bikes the Librenti.
For more pics see 
Librenti 500 V4 
My old entry about Librenti
Librenti 500