Dezza

No, it was his best mate: Russell Hobbs

If you can post some pics of where the joins on the switch cables are, they may be a simple fix. The obvious way to lengthen one is to cut the connector block off, lengthen the wires with soldered joins, and then seal it all up (with sellotape, obviously ). All you may need to do is to cut the wires back a little, put a new crimp connector on each wire and put them all in a new connector block. Jap 2.8mm connectors, blocks and crimp tools freely available and they don't cost a lot.

Weren't the frames marketed as 'Saunders and Lewis?' Who was Lewis I wonder?

In my experience suspension compression during cornering can reduce ground clearance by quite a lot. Obviously this depends on multiple factors though.

Smart phones; stupid users

The slabby 1100 definitely has different timing to the B12 but I can't remember about 1127. Info is in the genuine Suzuki workshop manuals. My guess is it does. Obviously the slabby rotor, pick-up and CDI all have to be used.

An alternative to an ignition advancer for a B12 for those of us with loads of bits lying about, i.e. 99% of OSS members, is to fit an 1100 slabby ignition. This indeed livens up the bottom end response .

Ace

What happens when it goes faulty? Will it be like many modern car electrical faults that quickly escalate in cost and frustration trying to rectify? Any info on the reliability of these things?

I use my old bike oil in lawnmower

What model is it designed for? Older GSXRs (and efe's) are four in, four out, with the tacho feed coming from a T between the CDI and one of the coils.

My Spondon has similar bearings, although they're obviously smaller as it has a conventional swingarm.

Are the bearings salvageable? Replacements aren't going to be cheap .

What Tony said: your fuel tap is broken. It should have a lever so it can be moved between on, off and prime. It's also been leaking, which is why there's a brown stain around one of the mounting bolts. I'd go for a replacement tap and new seals between the tank and tap. When it's drained it will also give you an opportunity to flush the tank out and check the cap, vent and so on .

I once bought the bottom end of an 1100 slabby engine from a trackday bike that had bungs fitted to the fairing mounts on the cylinder head, which was then written off in a crash. So probably best avoid that sort of crash 'protection.'

He seemed like a nice bloke and I like his restored original 1980 bike. I have to wonder though if the sudden acceleration under race conditions causes the rider's spine to compress in the same way as those of fighter pilots when they eject.

In my experience, most oil leaks do not require a complete engine rebuild to rectify. Degrease the engine then run it, and you may increase your chances of pinpointing where the leak(s) is (are) coming from .

If it's like the earlier Blandits and has a resistor in the ignition switch as a rudimentary security device, if this is loose/faulty/disconnected then the bike won't fire. A mate had the same problem with a 750W and it was a dodgy resistor in the ignition switch.

Welcome. Please post pics and spec list asap .

Talon sprockets are works of art when examined close up. A quality product .

The plugs may be the same but that doesn't mean the functions are all the same. You can determine which wires work which functions with a multimeter. For example, on the right switch many modern bikes don't have a 3 way light switch (off-p-on) or a light switch at all as does an old 600 teapot so my guess is it's going to be a faff at best. Left switches are easier but check the functions for each wire. If they don't match you can change the position of the wire in the block.

Is the engine basically half a GS850?

I use the mole grip type and it's just ace. One of those 'wish I bought it 20 years ago' tools. It works on flywheels, clutches and gearbox sprockets too. I got it on eb@y about 5 years ago and I think it was about 15 quid.

I would guess at GS250, GSX250, GSX400 (twin, not the four as that had a rear disc) and so on. If you find the part number required then you can cross reference to other models to widen your search. I have to ask though: why are you restoring a GS425? Do you have a nostalgic attachment to this model? And welcome to OSS .