SWM Identification Help

[Canam370]

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!

[LWC82PE]

Leading axle Marzocchi forks were available as aftermarket forks at the time also.

[TT]

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............ 

[JC]

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

[LWC82PE]

Sounds like this bike is a bit of everything.

[Hoony]

i reckon we will find out what happened to Amelia Erhard & Kingsford Smith before Tony finds out what SWM he has   

[JC]

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

[TT]

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.