OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Italian (Moto Villa, Beta, SWM etc) => Topic started by: TT on November 11, 2010, 03:38:22 pm

Title: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 11, 2010, 03:38:22 pm
I've got a frame number, can anyone give me any idea of what year I'm looking at, please?
*USA*SWM*RS175GS*D*OO46*
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: NSR on November 11, 2010, 05:39:33 pm
Like this but in a 175
(http://www.srcf.fr/forum/userimages/a168888-1-1.jpg)

Kinda like this :(
(http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/NoelSR/IMG_1540.jpg?t=1289457525)
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 12, 2010, 07:32:19 am
Thanks Noel,
It looks very much like the top one, but with leading axle forks.I'm being told it was bought in 1977.  ???
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: NSR on November 12, 2010, 10:06:14 pm
Tony I got that wrong. This is the 77-78 RS GS.  I think the one above maybe a 79.
(http://www.classicenduro.be/afbeeldingen/MOTORBIKES/SWM/swm125-1977LNEW.jpg)
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 12, 2010, 10:14:38 pm
Interesting stuff. I was just looking through the '77/'78 RS GS parts book and it lists both leading axle and straight forks. I also found a photo of a '77 RS250GS in Italy with the bendy swingarm like mine.
So maybe it is possible that mine is that year like the owner claimed.  ???
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: Canam370 on November 12, 2010, 10:21:51 pm
My 2 bobs worth - straight steel swingarm puts it as a RSGS, not TF1.
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: supermoto.mc on November 13, 2010, 10:01:24 am
if it has leading axle forks maybe part mx in there some where
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: GMC on November 13, 2010, 10:34:25 am
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/gmcloa/Misc%20bike%20stuff/Motorcycle-catalogue-B.jpg)

(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/gmcloa/Misc%20bike%20stuff/SWM-1B.jpg)
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 13, 2010, 11:27:25 am
Thanks for all the input, gentlemen.
I've been trying to nail this down once and for all over the past couple of days and he's what I've come up with.
I have a 1977 RS175GS with 250 top end (subsequently sleeved to 280).  ::) It has a steel tank. The swingarm has been modified and lengthened, hence my confusion into thinking it was a later model.
SWM did offer leading axle forks as an option for the enduro models (they're listed in the parts book) but I've never seen another one with them other than mine.
I can relax now I finally know what I've got.  :D
It's certainly a looooong way from being a nice original bike, but I didn't pay a lot for it and hopefully I can turn it into something fun to ride.  :-\
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: supermoto.mc on November 14, 2010, 07:11:06 am
sorry they didnt... only mx had leading axle... as for the 250 -175 you have a short stroke engine with a 74mm boar not the real 280 which was a long stroke  are you from usa as your frame prefix states? oh i was one of the weird swm riders in the era sold them 7 years
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 14, 2010, 08:31:13 am
oh i was one of the weird swm riders in the era sold them 7 years

Beauty, you can answer the millions of questions I've got then.  :D

It's weird about the forks as the bike came out of the crate with them. Confirmed by owner and dealer. (I bought it off the original owner) And also weird that the parts book shows them as well on a '77 RS GS.
(http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr37/Tony_T12/RSGS2.jpg)
Were you a dealer here in Australia or in Europe or U.S?
I only ask as I wonder if it was a Euro thing. I was told that this bike was delivered to the U.S. in 1976, but is a actually 1977 model. It sat in it's crate in the back of Barry Higgins' shop in Georgia until the guy I bought it from, bought it off him in the early 80's.
But the other weird thing is that I can't find an engine number. Where is it supposed to be?
Thanks in advance for all the help you're going to give me.  ;) :D :D ;

P.S. Whay sort of tranmission oil should I use.
It has gear oil in it now. 80W?
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: paul on November 14, 2010, 08:48:29 am
ask rotax were the engine number is
http://www.rotax.com/en/
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: supermoto.mc on November 14, 2010, 09:47:18 am
so i correct my statement Australian  prefix swm were shipped here with inline forks until i think tf3  81 when a nsw distributor took over from Bert Flood.....Gear box oil we always used ATF ie to lighten the clutch operation never a problem
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: supermoto.mc on November 14, 2010, 09:54:20 am
ps  i forgot eng number ??mine were top of the engine cases  in front s/a pivot R/h side   BUT i have seen it underneath  stamped by hand
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 14, 2010, 09:56:17 am
Yeah, I'm in Australia but the bike was U.S. delivered.
Thanks a lot for the info, Mr. Supermoto.  ;D
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: Canam370 on November 14, 2010, 10:12:51 am
Tony. I use Motul Transoil in my Rotax's without drama. Takes about 1.2l. Fill to the oil level hole (remove the cap head usually hiding behind the gearlever on the clutch case). When you go to drain the oil make sure that you remove the oil drain - a 8mm allen key removes it. Do Not remove the 17mm bolt or any other bolt under the cases otherwise we'll be going through the procedure on how to reset the kickstart return spring!
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: LWC82PE on November 14, 2010, 11:03:52 am
Leading axle Marzocchi forks were available as aftermarket forks at the time also.
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 14, 2010, 06:24:35 pm
Sick of me yet.....?  ::)
I just checked the bore and stroke of my engine. It's a 76mm bore with a 61mm stroke which does make it a true 280.
That means that the bottom end isn't 175 like I was told. It's either a 250GSL or 280 TF1.
Maybe Japanese bikes aren't so bad after all............  :-\
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: JC on November 15, 2010, 11:17:23 am
Tony,

FWIW my understanding is that the 77-78 RSGS model had straight swingarm & shocks laid down at about 45degrees as per pic in NSR's reply #3 above. The 250 also had the short stroke (57.5mm) engine.

The model w more upright shocks, banana swingarm & rearset # plates (as per top pic in NSR reply #1 above) is 80 TF1 (tho they may have been available in 79).

My 250 frame # was  *AUS*SWM*RS250GS*E*0007 & I was lead to believe it was a 78 model, which was almost exactly the same as 77 model. (Its now being raced in pre78 VMX.) My Eng # was 87577 & it was short stroke

The long stroke 250 engine (61mm) was first used in 78 on Canam MX4s as far as I know. So it seems to me your engine is a later model transplant (which is perhaps why you can't find an engine #). I believe they are not pre78 legal.

Whilst your frame is obviously RS175GS, it appears to have a later TF1 swingarm
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: LWC82PE on November 15, 2010, 01:08:35 pm
Sounds like this bike is a bit of everything.
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: Hoony on November 15, 2010, 06:37:43 pm
i reckon we will find out what happened to Amelia Erhard & Kingsford Smith before Tony finds out what SWM he has   :D
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: JC on November 16, 2010, 10:11:07 am
Tony

Have you checked out the swm-moto.org site? Look under models. The TF1s were still called RSGS models

Looks like you have a 79 RS175GS TF1 frame (even if the frame # doesn't include TF1) w a 280 engine (available in 79). Note that the top shock mount location & rear subframe on the TF1 is quite diff to the earlier RSGS
Title: Re: SWM Identification Help
Post by: TT on November 16, 2010, 11:54:34 pm
Thanks JC,
I think you're getting close, but I've got no way of proving it.
No matter, it's still a fun bike and a little biy different.  ;D