An update of a familiar bike

[JimW]

Sorry, I don't post often, but figure the ones of you familiar with the old Suzi TC120 that I worked on last year mite like an update. Here's a pic of the bike to refresh everyones memory. Before work I thought I had some after pics but can't find them so here's a good rep photo. Anyway, the guy I sold it to gave it to his 10yr old son. He brought it to me about a month ago and said it wouldn't start. A quick check of the compression read 70lbs. Looked till I was blue in the face and never did find the parts. Anyway, I'm a bit sad about the whole situation and didn't even take any pics of it. Didn't even want to look at the bike really. The boy had tore the bike completely up. Bent the forks back a good 2", knocked the lights and speedo off and dented the gas tank. In a way, I'm glad I couldn't find the parts since the forks were bent so bad. It's too dangerous to ride now, so, it's sitting in a junk pile.

[Weldangrind]

Hi Jim! Welcome back.

What a sad story. I recenltly popped some dents out of an empty tank with compressed air and a flat body hammer. I wonder if the reed valve is responsible for the compression loss? If so, you could likely fit a Boysen reed in there. Beats the junk pile.

I'd love to get ahold of one of those bikes with the high / low range.

[katoranger]

That's why they need to start out on a china bike. Or and xr80.

[FastDoc]

I am sorry to hear that.

IMHO it was not responsible to give the bike to a 10 year old who does not sem to have the maturity or skill level to care for the bike or his own safety for that matter.

I've seen more than a few 10 year olds who don't care if they ruin stuff. Mommy will just buy them a new one. :x

I bet it lost compression after running out of oil...

It was a very pretty bike, and could have had a bright future as an antique/classic.

[JimW]

Yeah it was pretty upsetting to say the least. The best, I could come up with was a calapsed ring was the reason for compression loss. The piston and cylinder appeared to be in pretty good condition as well as all the other engine parts. I tried all the people I could find that carried nos parts and measured and compared but to no avail. When I first noticed the forks, I told him if I get the thing running he needed park it because of the bent forks. It was too dangerous to have anyone riding it. He got offended and basically told me what his boy rides is his business but I felt like, I needed to say something anyway. The old bike was a good example from the past that stood the test of time so it was a sad fairwell.

Thanks for the welcome too. I still come back and read thru the posts from time to time. I guess, I've gotten a little to busy lately.

My wife is still riding the old Yamaha Bear Tracker and I'm riding a Arctic Cat 250 4X4. It's basically a Suzuki in cats clothing. Over the past 6-8 months my wife has started riding scooters and got her M endorsement and started riding back and forth to work to cut the cost of gas down. I started riding scooters also but I'v ridden something with handlebars most of my so it's not as big of deal as it is for her. I will say, scoots are alot of fun. I picked up another older bike a week or so back. After the last lesson, I think, I'll hold on to this one just so it stays in nice condition. Maybe get it out and ride it occasionally.

[Weldangrind]

What did you pick up?

[SpudRider]

I'm sorry to hear the 10-year-old destroyed that beautiful, classic motorcycle. :( However, the old aphorism appears to be true: "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Spud

[JimW]

Hi Spud, That's for sure. His dad's kind of hard on things too.

W&G, What I found isn't as old but it's been so well cared for, I couldn't pass it up. Besides the price was just right. 86 Honda Shadow 700 with 25000mi. The bike was originally bought by an elderly man. He had the paint job sprayed on and since he traveled alot on it, he had a bigger fuel tank put on at the same time. In 98 a woman near Tulsa Ok bought it and had it up until a week ago when I bought it. I ask why she decided to sell it and she said at 60 years old, she just doesn't feel as safe as she did when she was younger and decided to ride with her husband. Funny thing is her mother is 85 and still attends several bike rallys per year on a trike. The minute, I saw the bike on C-list, I fell in love with it, if that's actully possible? I found it a week ago this past tuesday and sweated bullets until last saturday when I went to pick it up out of fear they would sell it before I could get there. I've had that happen several times dealing on c-list.

[Weldangrind]

Wow, I haven't seen forward controls on a bike like that. It would be suitable for a six footer in that configuration.

I've had my heart broken on CL a number of times.

[FastDoc]

That's the same kind of bike I broke my leg on 10 years ago! I had a 1985 Shadow 700 similar to that one. I had fully restored it and it was beautiful. I destroyed the bike in the accident. I really liked that bike. Handled like a dream.

[JimW]

W&G, Those are just hiway bars on the front. No controls. I had to drive 300mi one way, and wait several days to pick it up so I was concerned whether they would hold it. I've held onto things for people only to have them not show. One time, I held something for three weeks and the guy didn't show. That irritated me a little.

Doc, It does handle nice and I love the 5spd with the overdrive. At 60mph the engine just lumbers along at 3500 with plenty of power and gets about 63mpg. Pretty darn good for a 700. Better than either of my son in laws bikes. One son in law has an 02 Kawa Vulcan 750 and the other has a 86 Suzi Intruder. That Vulcan is the heaviest 750, I've ever set on. Not sure why? I bought the Intruder originally, and when my other son in law saw it, he had to have it so I sold it to him. Glad you survived the wreck btw.

[katoranger]

I had an 83 750 shadow. Was one of my favorite bikes.

[Weldangrind]

Jim, I'm talking about the controls below the highway pegs. The rear brake spline has a joint that carries the motion forward to the brake pedal, vs the brake pedal mounting directly to the spline (referred to as mid controls). Your forward controls look very comfortable.

[SpudRider]

That's a beautiful bike, Jim!

Spud

[JimW]

Katoranger, there was a guy not far from me that had an 83 w/17000mi in excellent shape but he couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to sell it or not. I had heard the 83s developed trans problems. Do you know if that's true?

W&G, Brain fart on my end sorry. Actually, I'm only 5'7" and it's confortable position for me, but both my son in laws being a little over 6" might find it a little cramped. I know the one that owns the Vulcan would since he's always complaining about it and his is setup very similar.

Thanks again spud