OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: maxi81 on April 17, 2011, 09:45:00 pm

Title: RM 400
Post by: maxi81 on April 17, 2011, 09:45:00 pm
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/motoguy81/P1010725.jpg)

Finally got the engine back in the bike. Looking forward to kicking it over  ;D
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on April 17, 2011, 09:53:31 pm
Nice pipe..is that a Proform?
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: maxi81 on April 17, 2011, 10:03:58 pm
yeah mate it is
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: tr3nt on May 31, 2011, 01:50:54 pm
looks great, currently restoring a 1980 rm250 and 400 myself at the moment and i can only hope they turn out half as good as this
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on May 31, 2011, 06:30:40 pm
Gday Max,

Great job on the rebuild.

Here is pic of my 1979 RM400N with the same pipe  8)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/Airfireman/PA150404.jpg)

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: suzuki27 on June 02, 2011, 06:19:30 pm
Looks nice Maxi.  Be sure to give it a firm boot!
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on June 02, 2011, 06:58:52 pm
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/Airfireman/PA150404.jpg)


Are those shocks a little long for that bike?
I'd agree with that.
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 03, 2011, 08:27:54 am
Hey guys,

Yes, well spotted.

The only Onlins shocks i found were 15mm longer.

I have pushed the forks tube through the triple clamps but what i should of done was remove and reweld the mounting brackets on the swingarm further down to compensate.

Cheers

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: vmx42 on June 03, 2011, 04:17:30 pm
Hey guys,

Yes, well spotted.

The only Onlins shocks i found were 15mm longer.

I have pushed the forks tube through the triple clamps but what i should of done was remove and reweld the mounting brackets on the swingarm further down to compensate.

Cheers

Tim

Hey Tim,
I wouldn't go cuttin' up your swingarm, just get some spacers put in the shocks to shorten them to the correct length.
Much simpler…
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on June 03, 2011, 06:24:26 pm
It's too easy to just put a spacer in the shocks, you can get them from Cramers or have a couple made. There will still be plenty of shock travel there.
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on June 03, 2011, 07:26:28 pm
Says the professor  :D
So you're an Ohlins expert now Einstein??
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: GD66 on June 03, 2011, 08:41:59 pm
AND we're into it, ringside Friday night. In the blue corner... ::)
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on June 03, 2011, 09:01:00 pm
Says the professor  :D
So you're an Ohlins expert now Einstein??

Are you a trained technician ?
Go back to your cheap chinese pogo stick factory.. 2 wheeled motocross bikes are way over your head. :-*
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: JohnnyO on June 03, 2011, 09:30:49 pm
Any credentials ? Or just the usual  keyboard jokey ego outbursts Jonny   ?
Mate i really don't have any interest in explaining myself or communicating with you...
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: holeshot buddy on June 03, 2011, 10:52:38 pm
yes he has more than you think ;)
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 03, 2011, 11:57:37 pm
Thanks for the info...

I dont really understand the spacer fitment??

At the moment i have just pushed the fork tubes through and will get to the problem later.

I have a TM400 and a RM370 to play with and looking at shocks for those?

Any recomendations????

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: vmx42 on June 08, 2011, 08:10:06 am
Thanks for the info...

I dont really understand the spacer fitment??


Hey Tim,
A shock guy can open up the shocks, machine a spacer [15mm in your case] that sits under the piston to effectively shorten the length of the shock. You will loose 15mm of shock travel, but it will bring your suspension back to standard geometry.
thanks
VMX42
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on June 08, 2011, 09:39:49 am
silly question Jeff - this may bring the travel to where it should be but if the shock body is too long that isn't going to change so the stance of the bike sitting there would still look like "arse up" wouldn't it?
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 08, 2011, 10:46:48 am
Yes i now understand what your talking about.

I could be a very costly exercise.


Thanks for the info

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: vmx42 on June 08, 2011, 10:56:48 am
Hey Ross,
The original post said that the shocks were 15mm too long, so a 15mm internal spacer would restore the shocks to the correct length and thus to the original geometry.

But you would need to carefully measure the shocks and the resultant loss of travel to work out whether or not the reduction in wheel travel is acceptable. If the loss of wheel travel is too great, then you would have to do as Walter says and shorten both the shaft and body.

I would suggest a visit to an experienced suspension shop to work out which way to jump. If it comes down to cost then the spacers would probably be the cheapest…

In the end it's up to Tim as it is his bike, but I reckon if you rode it the way it is now you would have serious chain tension issues, and with the reputation these RMs have for throwing chains and destroying their crankcases I wouldn't risk it. But then again I am paranoid…  :D
VMX42
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 08, 2011, 11:11:11 am
Either way of fitting spacers or cutting the shaft/body length will have issues with the springs and pre-load.

VMX42 - I have had the shocks fitted and raced with for the past 18 months and there has never been an issue of chain tension and never thrown a chain yet!!!!!
            I push the bike really hard as well..

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: vmx42 on June 08, 2011, 11:38:09 am
I have had the shocks fitted and raced with for the past 18 months and there has never been an issue of chain tension and never thrown a chain yet!!!!!

Good news  :D

Either way of fitting spacers or cutting the shaft/body length will have issues with the springs and pre-load.

Yes, you will have to take the new shock length into account and adjust your spring pre-load, but I don't think you will have any issues unless the primary springs are too long to actually fit the revised shocks. But I just had a look at the photo you posted and you might be right as you don't have much preload room left as it is.

All the more reason to consult a reputable suspension technician.
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 08, 2011, 01:05:57 pm
Wasp...If i go for a set of Promax shocks wont i have to get them revalved / sprung to my weight and ability??

I had these Ohlins revalved an sprung by SuspensionRus in Melbourne, but silly me was too naive at the time to have them shortened to length.

Tim


Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: Toolboy on June 08, 2011, 03:04:13 pm
Yeah the bike did tip nose down so i pushed the fork tubes through and kept the power on ;D

Wasp - The promax suspension come comp/rebound adjustment??

Tim
Title: Re: RM 400
Post by: SPRUCY 46 on June 25, 2011, 12:35:52 am
Hey Ross,
The original post said that the shocks were 15mm too long, so a 15mm internal spacer would restore the shocks to the correct length and thus to the original geometry.

But you would need to carefully measure the shocks and the resultant loss of travel to work out whether or not the reduction in wheel travel is acceptable. If the loss of wheel travel is too great, then you would have to do as Walter says and shorten both the shaft and body.

I would suggest a visit to an experienced suspension shop to work out which way to jump. If it comes down to cost then the spacers would probably be the cheapest…

In the end it's up to Tim as it is his bike, but I reckon if you rode it the way it is now you would have serious chain tension issues, and with the reputation these RMs have for throwing chains and destroying their crankcases I wouldn't risk it. But then again I am paranoid…  :D
VMX42
Not challenging your experience VMX42, but I raced every big bore RM from 370 B to 500 F back then and continue to, and have NEVER thrown a chain. I think, from MY point of view, that's a pretty good record  ;D