Slabbies and why we need them....

[Simbec1863]

Having restored a slabbie recently I am ready to do some summer TLC on it but thought I could share my story and maybe inspire or assist with info for the countless others out there doing the same.

[Simbec1863]

So why did I need one...we all have our stories wanted one as a kid etc,etc.

I was lucky enough to be old enough to buy one 2nd hand but not run in back in 1987.Picked up from Cusworths on a sunny day and even stopped by the feds on the way back to Nottingham because they wanted to look at it.

I bought it to race but never got that far as after 5 weeks an old bloke pulled out in front of me in the wet and I went over his car,the bike didn't and ended up going through a fence then landed head first in a pond now drowning.

Fast forward a year and bike repaired on the cheap after insurance payout....steering head was now oval ish but a st damper cured it until once again an old guy with a caravan pulled in front of me on the old M1j 24 island I was heading towards north bound but never made it and hit him at least doing 70 the bike sparked round the island and went down the A453 and I flew through the air behind it.

Cuts and bruises only thanks to my sambas and paddock jacket jeans combo 

pic of the bike after 2nd repair and new frame with new gear thanks to compo pay out

[Simbec1863]

Bike sold to fund house mortgage then fast forward nearly 30 years with the need for another...picked this up before the slabby gold rush started back in 2014

Edited February 2, 2018 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

It looked pretty original and had full history from previous owners although had spent most of its life in storage apart from being featured in a classic bikes in 2005

Edited April 11, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

When I bought it it still had the same hi sports on as featured in the pics,I negotiated a fair price and foolishly decided to ride home from London to Nottingham,with the cracked tyres  

It wouldn't tick over,carbs crapped up and the brakes barely worked but made it home,god bless oil cooled motors.

[Simbec1863]

Over the first weeks thought I could just fix and clean a  few bits and ride it during the summer, quickly found issues in these categories 

1) Things that were going to kill me-knackered suspension,non working brakes and circa 2004 tyres.....

2) Things that wouldn't kill me but would eventually fall off then try to kill me- everything made of rubber including original brake lines

3) Things  that were rotten looking and could be made to look better with some TLC and a bit of paint

4) The unknown things that only appear every time I go for a blast

[Simbec1863]

So I started  to make a list it just got bigger and bigger...ooer missus

A) Need to have

B) Nice to have

Then the next set of questions

Can I refurb it

Can I get it 2nd hand 

Does it need to be new and genuine Suzuki,plus what's it going to pissing cost???

[Simbec1863]

I gave up with the original list quite quickly it was too depressing, it would have turned into a £20,000 bike but I didn't have much budget other than about £50 a month so the best thing was to take some action.

Took the bike off the road and started to dismantle bit by bit then boxed and labelled the parts I was keeping or refurbing.

Anything destined for the bin was put on the need to get it list.

This list could then be decided whether 2nd hand or new was the order of the day.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

Then got an offer of an original solo seat and brand new exhaust so lost the plot and bought them on my plastic,fitted them straight away just to see how they looked and sounded before carrying on with the strip down.

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

[Simbec1863]

Brakes and carbs off first as these were the worst of the bike

[Simbec1863]

Saved up some dosh and decided to send my brakes off for a full refurb,bought an ultrasonic cleaner and stripped and rebuilt the carbs

 

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

Measured the brake discs to check the limit then cleaned and sprayed with rattle can black

[Simbec1863]

Stripped the near concrete tyres and removed the bearings ready for powder coating, oh and got another 2 sets of wheels and various other bits for £50 but had to drive to Brighton and back 1 Sunday as it was too good to miss.

[Simbec1863]

First couple of post winter jobs today,fitted the new chain and sprockets 

[Simbec1863]

Replaced the clutch slave cover with a shiny new one after the old one came loose and got eaten by the old chain

[Simbec1863]

Thought I should give the back wheel and swingarm a clean before putting her back in the garage.

Next job is to remove and clean the exhaust and while it's off change the oil and filter.

 

 

Edited April 15, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Hawky]

Cracking bike that

I'm depressed now as been on the search for a fair while for one of them eagle Mach 7 / cobra Rs mk1 systems !!! 

Great write up/info

[Simbec1863]

13 hours ago, Hawky said:

Cracking bike that

I'm depressed now as been on the search for a fair while for one of them eagle Mach 7 / cobra Rs mk1 systems !!! 

Great write up/info

Thanks good luck with your search

[Simbec1863]

Bit of a rewind to keep the rebuild thread going,wheels back from coaters looking nice and retro white,new bearings and tyres to.

[Simbec1863]

Clock frame refitted after powder coating and new clock surround that was a cheap NOS bargain on Eblag not very often you can say that these days

 

Edited April 17, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

Forks refreshed,refitted and back on its wheels for the first time in a year 

Brake lines replaced but kept original look in black with booster connections to front calipers 

carbs back on and new air filter to

Edited April 17, 2017 by Simbec1863

[Simbec1863]

Solo seat pad /seat repaired and recovered, looking better than new.

 

[Simbec1863]

Test fitted back on the bike

[Simbec1863]

Another interruption to the build thread with a few more pre summer jobs done today.

New chain riveted properly after my old chain tool died got an AFAM riveter top tool not expensive either and dead easy to use.

Had to drop the exhaust to change the oil and filter so gave it a clean.Fitted the ignition advancer I've had knocking around in my tool box for a couple of years.

 

Edited April 22, 2017 by Simbec1863