G'day, need advice re SP370

[WulfeRyder]

G'day all. New to the OZVMX forums. I'm traditionally a big bore adventure tourer/writer but I've just been given a 1978 Suzuki SP370 Enduro and i'm unsure as to where to turn....
Up until recently she was road registered so I want to get here back into registrable condition as I also do fundraising for CanTeen and i'm thinking she'd make a good show piece and crowd pleaser 
The main parts I'm looking for is -
- a decent tank that'll 'go with the flow' of the bike - an original would be great but I've been hunting on the net and these seem to be as rare as hens teeth. Currently she's fitted with an old Honda one but it's got a lockable cap and the bloke who gave her to me has lost the keys 
- side covers and front and rear guards. It's got both guards and one side cover, but these are pretty cactus and probably wouldn't pass rego
- new exhaust system as it's pretty much rusted out.
- complete airbox as it seems to be missing, totally 
- new ignition barrel - see tank....
- the wiring loom looks a bit ratty, but that'll have to wait for now I guess. 

The rest of her seems to be just in need of pulling apart and a lot of elbow grease and T.L.C., I hope. 

Now, and heres the clincher....I'm hoping to do it all as cheaply as possible and ASAP as the CanTeen has their Bandanna Day in October..... tough call, but ya never know hey.

Any help or leads would be greatly appreciated folks....

Rod 'Wulfe Ryder' Brown
WulfePak Productions

'Earth First - We'll Ride The Other Planets Later!'

[cyclegod]

That is the saddest looking SP370 I have seen in a long while....but here's a few bits

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Suzuki-SP370-SP-370-Fuel-tank-Gas-Tank-Petrol-Tank_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ef6d590dbQQitemZ270429163739QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-SP370-sidecover-DECALS-motorcycle-GRAPHICS_W0QQitemZ260252462519QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3c98416db7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Suzuki-SP370-SP-370-Igniton-Gas-Cap-Steer-Lock_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2ea2b702e6QQitemZ200298398438QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Side covers should still be available new, as Suzuki still list them as such, and Musket mufflers do a full exhaust system including the transfer box.

You can look up part numbers here http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

[firko]

I love the limp exhaust, it looks like it could do with a Viagra hit . Is that circular tin can with the X stamped into it an
"X-duser'' spark arrestor?
Welcome to the forum Rod and good luck with the plug ugly old bugger, it could do with a bit of lovin'
CanTeen is a very good cause by the way. Good on you.

[mx250]

I might be straying from 'the cause' here, and I won't be  everyone's best friend, but my best advice is to ebay the SP and start afresh.

As a former SP370 owner with affection for the beastie, I can say they are worthwhile to restore and make an excellent street run about. However I won't rate them as collectible or desirable.  their off roading is marginal at best with too much weight and not enough power or suspension. And your's is such a forlorn sample I think you will be throwing good money after bad,  a.k.a. 'more effort than its' worth' (even if you did get it for nothing ).

[WulfeRyder]

Back again folks. Yeah i know she's 'sorry lookin' and needs a bit (lot) of T.L.C. but I'm thinking she's gonna be a worthwhile project.

The pics make here look a lot worse off than she really is tho

I'm hoping, after I've done her that I'll be able to ride her from Brisbane down to Canberra then Melbourne, across to Adelaide and back to Brissie for a research ride for my next book - This one's on a WW2 defence proposal called 'the Brisbane Line.

She's 'mostly' all there except for a few core pieces - decent tank, air filter box, side panels, indicators, horn, new/modified exhaust, plus a few minor bits and pieces for rego purposes.

I'm also hoping to convert her from 6V to 12V - any ideas?

I'm not planning to any major miles per day, just kind of cruise from site to site over a four week period so she doesn't need to be able to do long hauls at 120 kph. I won't need to carry heaps of gear to be self sufficient as I've got mates to crash at just about every night so far so she won't need to be a pack horse.

I just need to get her reliable, registered and comfortable... and I'm not worrying about getting her back to original, just as close as I can without being anal about it.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, all this, including the ride is going to be done on a tight budget.

Thanx heaps folks

Rod 'Wulfe Ryder' Brown
WulfePak Productions

[WulfeRyder]

Stripped the top end of the motor today. Looks a lot better than I expect. No major scoring, pitting or rust. Barrel looks clean and only a handful of bolts are gonna need replacing + the standard 'O' rings and gaskets.

Is there any place better/cheaper in the Brisbane area to get my hands on a complete set of engine gaskets?

[TT]

Yep. My place. 
I'm sure I've got at least one set kicking around.
i'll have a look tonight, but send me a pm with you postal details in the meantime.

[WulfeRyder]

Tony, you're a bloody legend. Where abouts are ya. I'm planning on riding her down from Brisbane to Melbourne and Adelaide and back and maybe i can drop in and show her off. You seem to be the resident SP expert around here.

[Tex]

I just need to get her reliable, registered and comfortable

Don't you think you could buy something a bit more ready to go with the money you'll spend on parts? Still, that's not the point, is it...

research ride for my next book - This one's on a WW2 defence proposal called the Brisbane Line

Sounds interesting. What was the first one about? (Sorry to hijack the thread).

Good luck
Tex

[WulfeRyder]

G'day Tex. Considering she was given to me I'm thinking the small amount I'll actually need to spend getting her back on the road will be money well spent. Once she's up an running then I'll concentrate on making her look better.

My first book was/is called 'Dirtbikes And Dreams - A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide'. It's all about how to set yourself and your bike for adventure touring, but how to do it cheaply. It's also got some basic first-aid, survival, cooking stuff as well. I sell it myself or you can get it from lulu.com

Oh, and as for hijacking..... I call it networking 

[VMX247]

My first book was/is called 'Dirtbikes And Dreams - A Poormans Adventure Touring Guide'. It's all about how to set yourself and your bike for adventure touring, but how to do it cheaply. It's also got some basic first-aid, survival, cooking stuff as well. I sell it myself or you can get it from lulu.com

Cool stuff- I spotted that book the other day on ebayUK while looking for/at other Classic Bike books     
cheers

[EML]

When do you get time to read Alison, you're always on here.
see yas at Broady
ps Wallies gettin' real keen.

[VMX247]

When do you get time to read Alison, you're always on here.
see yas at Broady
ps Wallies gettin' real keen.

Didn't say I read em, just look at the pictures   
ps not going to Broady  :'(
sorry about the hijack ..enjoy the rebuild wulferider 

[TT]

Is this the sort of thing you had in mind? 

[WulfeRyder]

 

Nearly. Mines going to be black and red, slightly lager tank and MAYBE re-route the exhaust pipe down the one side. This will also hopefully allow for a larger airbox to help let the beast breathe. But that's down the track.

First thing is to get her running and registered, then I'll work on getting her all prettied up