2009 Iron Butt Rally... on a 33 year old rotary Suzuki

[Bounce]

 

you caught that "before" part, eh?

[jwhite518]

Oh, and if you need an ST.N sticker for the RE5 give a shout.  Need to represent!

Yo Skip, I need an ST.N sticker too! It'll either go on my Hopeless Class BMW, or something more likely to finish. Like an RE-5!

How do I buy a sticker?

[Slonishku]

Well, I've been pricing out lots of spares from the RE5 King, Sam Costanzo. I've gone waaay over the $1,000 mark already. That's for all kinds of cables, hoses, lines, and brake bits.

I'm looking into a suspension upgrade- possubly Progressive or Works Performance rear shocks. I'm finding it hard to justify the price of them, considering they'd pretty much just be for the rally. I might go with some cheaper replacement shocks b/c the originals are shot.

Same struggle with the seat... but I might as well pull the trigger on that. I plan on doing several IBA rides and a few rallys on it before the IBR... and the IBR.

It's really amazing how many RE5 parts are unique to the RE5. There's a fair deal of overlap with GT750s and GT550s, but a lot of critical parts are RE5 only. Fork springs, spark plugs, the battery, innumerable seals and fasteners, most gaskets, and every single part of the motor. The two throttle cables together have 5 ends connected to the carbs. Unique, none to be found. Had to get a spare RE5 for those!

I feel like I should be starting a non-profit to support this beast of a project!

[BMW-K]

Well, I've been pricing out lots of spares from the RE5 King, Sam Costanzo. I've gone waaay over the $1,000 mark already. That's for all kinds of cables, hoses, lines, and brake bits.

I'm looking into a suspension upgrade- possubly Progressive or Works Performance rear shocks. I'm finding it hard to justify the price of them, considering they'd pretty much just be for the rally. I might go with some cheaper replacement shocks b/c the originals are shot.

Same struggle with the seat... but I might as well pull the trigger on that. I plan on doing several IBA rides and a few rallys on it before the IBR... and the IBR.

It's really amazing how many RE5 parts are unique to the RE5. There's a fair deal of overlap with GT750s and GT550s, but a lot of critical parts are RE5 only. Fork springs, spark plugs, the battery, innumerable seals and fasteners, most gaskets, and every single part of the motor. The two throttle cables together have 5 ends connected to the carbs. Unique, none to be found. Had to get a spare RE5 for those!

I feel like I should be starting a non-profit to support this beast of a project!

Slon,

1.  HID's - let's talk on that some time.  Power requirements, setup, etc.  I'll hook you up on this, no worries.
2.  The Seat:  I have an airhawk and a special super-gel pad (really cool!) that my wife swears by.  Either will strap down to the RE5 without issue.
3.  The Zumo is still yours for the asking.  
4.  Try Hagon for a rear shock.  Decent, yet for the VF500f it was significantly less than a Works of other shock.

[Slonishku]

Thanks for the pointer on the shocks... I'm exploring all the possibilities. I hadn't heard of Hagons before, but I see good reviews now. On the other bits, I'll plan on getting together with you when I get back in November.

Power usage will be a big issue on the RE5, not a lot to work with.

I'm starting to accept the RE5 wheels for what they are. Replacements would be extremely expensive, possibly complicated. I made the mistake of buying stock alloy rims for a GS450L only to find out that they aren't tubeless anyway.

[Slonishku]

Does anyone have any experience with the "bi-xenon" 7 inch round HIDs? The power supply on the RE5 is super weak, so I have to be judicious. I'm thinking about getting one of these kits for around $350-400 when I can afford it. It's supposed to swap right out for the archaic '70s vintage sealed-beam 7" OEM POS that calls itself a headlight on the RE5. The OEM unit might as well be a candle in front of a parabolic mirror.

These HIDs contain both hi and low beams, and power draw is a quaint 35w. No need for brackets or to disable the stocker. The downside is that it isn't easilly transferred to another machine without a 7' round headlight. So after the rally, I'd probably just e-bay it or try to convince another ST.n'er that he needs it.  

My other option is a set of two PHIDs. Not nearly as easy to mount, but very useful on any other bike post-rally.

Obviously, the Iron Butt royalty is very ionterested in the RE5 looking as much like the one that won the 1976 IBR as possible, and the 7" HID would retain that stock appearance.

Any opinions on this?

[Slonishku]

After a close call, RE5 #2 is en route to Bakersfield from Savanna, GA. This one looks to be in much better shape than the first, and I got it for a song.

Because of a plane crash my cashier's check, which was sent via UPS overnight with guaranteed Saturday delivery, didn't get there until Monday. The transporter was supposed to pick the bike up Sunday afternoon. Obviously, the seller wasn't about to release the bike without a check in hand. The transporter was gracious enought to spend the night in the area (I paid for the hotel) waiting for the bike to be released, which finally happenned on Monday around 11am.  

FYI, "guaranteed saturday delivery" doesn't seem to mean a lot to UPS. After a lot of wrangling with some exceptionally rude and trite folks on the UPS payroll, I eventually found out that the "guarantee" is only good for a refund of what you paid to UPS. They have no one around on Sunday to help you in any way, shape, or form.

In any case, RE5 #2 is on its way via a truly ST.n route- via Coral Gables, FL and Mesa, AZ. No straight interstate shot for my bike!

[Orson]

Dynatek is another electronic ignition supplier.

dunno if they can help you.

[Ignacio]

Does anyone have any experience with the "bi-xenon" 7 inch round HIDs? The power supply on the RE5 is super weak, so I have to be judicious.......
Obviously, the Iron Butt royalty is very ionterested in the RE5 looking as much like the one that won the 1976 IBR as possible, and the 7" HID would retain that stock appearance.

Any opinions on this?

Maybe not matching the exact look of the single round headlight, but with an overall round shape this 3 HID light unit might fit the bill with diminished watts available and still something approaching modern lighting.  http://trailtech.net/extreme_race_light.html



Alternatively, if you could find a 7" reflector that will accept an H4 bulb it might fit in the stock holder.  Either then replace that bulb with some of the higher output bulbs that retain stock wattage.

Or you could get reasonably priced Hi-Lo HID conversion kits with slim ballasts.  They have a little solenoid to move the single hid bulb from a low to a high position.  Again, it would be far better than the stock I would think and even easier on the alternator load.

Or, if you think you have enough reserve capacity to run your stock high beam you could add a single light source like the Hella FF50 and relay it to come on with your high beam.  They can be found less than $100 on eBay usually and could be moved over to whatever after the rally...I moved them to my Jetta.  That would probably double your high beam lumens.

[jwhite518]

yeah, all that sounds good, but would you take advice from a drunk naked guy?  

[Slonishku]

I'd seen those Trailtechs and thought about them some. The Trailtech website doesn't give any really useful specs on any of the HID products they carry (i.e., wattage, output, etc.). Once I get back stateside, I'll probably give 'em a call to see what I can find out.

Has anyone tried one of their units?

[jwhite518]

My buddy had some on his 650 Dakar. Small, light, easy to install. Light output was OK, not a lot of downrange throw. He bought the Soltek Baja's for his FJR.

[dbduchene]

The Advice about a different regulator is right on the money. As to the headlight. I think that Hella still makes a H-4 7 inch. This reflector and lens was real good. You can then as some one else has stated use one of the H-4 HID kits that has the bulb that is moved back and forth. There was a guy on ebay a while back selling them for 35.00 +35.00 shipping. This will give you a lot of light. I think that bike came with a 30 or 35 watt sealed beam on it. Like you said not much more than a candle for light. You can also gain a little bit of power by replacing the tail and the running lights with LEDs. The bulbs of that time where 8 watts per for running and 25 for brake/blink. You can find a few extra watts this way.  

I do remember when these bikes where the hot ticket I was ridding my 72 CB750K when they came out.

Denis

[OrangeSVS]

Well my 20 year old bike just crapped out on me.... So I salute your ambition, sir!

[jwhite518]

Alex:

This was just posted on LDRider. Jump on it!

   
from   Jim Saubier
reply-to   jim@saubier.com
to   ldrider@ibdone.org
date   Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 8:58 AM
subject   Re: [LDRider] For Sale - HID projector style headlight 7" round
   

I bought this from Future Vision HID (Bruno) some time back and sold the bike that I was intending to install it (Honda 919).  here is a link to the product description.  Should work on most any bike with a 7" round headlight.  Still in the box on my bench, needs to find a home.

http://www.futurevisionhid.com/hid-xenon-7inch-h6024-projector-headlight-kit-p-69.html

$175.00 shipped.

[Davo]

Spotted that and thought of Alex right away.

I have had emails back and forth with Bruno myself and although he knows his stuff I decided to stick with stock lights but add PHID's as driving lights.

Hope its all coming along ok Alex.

[Slonishku]

I just wrote to Jim about the light... I'm all over it! It will look a little Buck-Rogers on the RE5. Then again, it will be sort of a 60's-70's "futuristic" look! This should work great... we'll see if I got to Jim in time!

Assuming I can get this light, I'm going to rig up some HID pod lights as well for back-up in case of a failure.

Alex

[r77toy]

That idea is the best I've heard in quite some time!    Now, I just have to find Mr. Leno's contact info... I'm pretty sure I don't have it saved in outlook...

P.M. me for Leno's contact info.

[OrangeSVS]

P.M. me for Leno's contact info.

Man... STN never ceases to amaze me....

I met Leno a number of years ago.  I actually got to chat him up for well over a half an hour one-on-one.  He was stuck at the airport after getting off a learjet at 0330 and his ride hadn't arrived.  I was the only grunt working that night at the FBO.  On the one hand, my boss wanted the fuel truck washed.  On the other hand, it would have been rather rude and unfriendly-like to leave him all alone standing on the tarmac... so we just stood around chatting about cars and stuff.  It was very cool.

[highmileage]

I'm new here.  I've had a lot of bikes (including an identical '76 RE-5) and ridden over a million miles.

Just wanted to chime in here w/ my 2 cents.

To contact Leno, try going through his website www.jaylenosgarage.com and specifically the ask Jay link, http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/community/askjay_shell.shtml

The old Suzuki's had a weak regulator/rectifier.  I have an old GS and found that giving it a better ground and moving it so that it gets more cooling eliminates the problems - I have had no problems with its original r/r.  

But many others have had such problems and over at www.thegsresources.com, we have a member named Duanage who modifies the stronger Honda r/r's for our bikes.  I've no connection to him other than I've spoken to him once.  He's a gentleman who has supplied such r/r's at very reasonable prices to dozens if not hundreds of satisfied Suzuki riders.

The RE-5 used one spark plug that was only available through Suzuki and may no longer be available.  But surely someone has found a solution to this.  

I sold my RE-5 to a guy in El Paso, TX some ten years ago (I live in LSD - Lower Slower Delaware) and I have no idea what became of it, but it was a nice, low mileage bike that I sold with a NOS seat to replace the accessory item that was on it when I got it.



Best of luck to you in this endeavor!