Maintaining a 1983 Suzuki A100

[ZK-Awesome]

Hiya, I've bought a 1983 Suzuki a100 as a learner bike. It didn't come with a manual or anything so I'm unsure as to how to maintain it. I understand that bikes require a lot more maintenance than cars. It's got surface rust that I'm working through with autosol when I get spare time.

What maintenance should I be doing to it, and how often, k's-wise? So that it stays in good nick mechanically. I want to keep the engine in good condition, it's going really well at the moment as far as I can tell. It's 2-stroke so no engine oil changes.

[motorbyclist]

yes bikes often do require more maintenance, mostly because they're either highly strung race machines or old bikes nearing the end of their days. cars also require alot of maintenace but the drivers just don't realise it.

if the a100 is self mixing, make sure you keep the two stroke oil tank full. running out of that is a disaster. if it's premix, be SURE you've got the mix right. the funny thing with two strokes is they can sieze cause they're too hot OR cause they're too cold, and if you want to stop the muffler blocking up with unburnt oil you really have to rev them alot. they are meant to be raped, but only once they're warm. the a100 won't be so bad in this respect, but the 2-smoke sports bikes can be.

keep chain tight (should have about an inch play) - have a look at the rear axle and figure out how to move it backwards. usually it's pretty obvious - but be sure to keep the wheel straight! do to one side what you do to the other.

assuming this is just a commuter lube it every month with chain lube, or just whenever you tension it

the transmission oil will need changin once every year or so asfaik.

occasionally check brake pads... yours would have drums wouldn't it? there should be a wear indicator somewhere.....

if the forks have alot of oil on them, the seals likely need replacing...

not much within the engine to worry about unless the clutch is slipping, but often that is just cable adjustment

cables should have a bit of play, lube them occasionally with WD40 to stop rust/wear. the adjusters are at the motor/brake end for big adjustment, and at the lever/throttle end for minor, easier adjustment.

pays to check your lights all work - often what looks like a blown bulb may just be a loose connection somewhere

check the sparkplug occcasionally. a hard to start or poorly running bike often just needs a new plug - and a black crusty plug means you're running rich (filling up engine with carbon), while a white plug is running lean (too hot). light tan is a good colour. the gap between the electrodes should be between .8 to .5 mm - if it's too big close it up a bit. get a mechanic to play with the fuel mix.

air filter may need cleaning every now and again, but on commuter roadbikes it isn't really a major.

i find cleaning the bike on the weekend is a great way to find out what's falling off or in need of attention


it's good to see you're trying to keep the engine healthy before it develops problems:)
keep up this attitude and you'll get many trouble free years from your bike, and overall less maintenance will be needed as stuff won't be breaking all the time.

there's no such thing as a stupid question - especially when a stuff up may mean an injury and/or long push home in the rain! many KBers in your region would be all to happy to give you a hand and show you how to do basic stuff

welcome to the world of motorbikes:)

[geoffm]

These things are as reliable as a hammer with a little care. Buy a manual - Haynes do one and Tech books sell them. Manuals are money well spent if you are doign your own maintenance - they only cost an hours workshop time.
Geoff

[ZK-Awesome]

I cannot find the Haynes manual for the A100 anywhere! I've tried techbooks and the Haynes website. Anyone know where I might find one?

[motorbyclist]

These things are as reliable as a hammer with a little care. Buy a manual - Haynes do one and Tech books sell them. Manuals are money well spent if you are doign your own maintenance - they only cost an hours workshop time.
Geoff

the head can fly off and the handles break?!

doesn't sound reliable at all!

[motorbyclist]

quick forum search reveals GIjoe may have a manual that he bought off ebay

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1498878&highlight=a100+manual#post1498878

try PMing him and maybe he'd let you photocopy it

better yet, scan it and put it up as a PDF for all the net to see ;)

[gijoe1313]

Oo'ar by gum, it goes icky-thump! Yar I do has manual, they ain't the most complicated contraption, but they be a lot of fun! :yes:

And ayup, I will be working on getting Pippi and Poppi back to riding fun!

:scooter:

[Badjelly]

I cannot find the Haynes manual for the A100 anywhere! I've tried techbooks and the Haynes website. Anyone know where I might find one?

Google found this:

http://motorcycleproducts.co.uk/catalogue/haynes-manual-suzuki-a100-196979-p-5099.html
Only 15.95 pounds, plus return air fare.

[Str8 Jacket]

If anyone has a manual I would love to get my hands on a copy.... I have a 1983 A100 rusting away in my back yard.... :(

They're really cool little bikes, until you blow them up, doh!

[chubby]

excuse the mild interruption.. I had a 1970 (or there abouts, hey, first bike who ever looks at age) AC100 (same as the A but with upswept pipes so you could take it off road) and those things are just a bundle of joy. Fantastic bikes mate and as for blowing them up, can you? I thought you'd need a howie to blow them up they just keep going and going and going (as long as you replace the spark plugs regularly, ok and maybe watch how rich they run).

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. God, I loved that bike

[ZK-Awesome]

Oo'ar by gum, it goes icky-thump! Yar I do has manual, they ain't the most complicated contraption, but they be a lot of fun! :yes:

And ayup, I will be working on getting Pippi and Poppi back to riding fun!

:scooter:

Sounds like there would be a decent audience if you were to put it online ;)

[Str8 Jacket]

Sounds like there would be a decent audience if you were to put it online ;)

Ah yes, and then you too can have the knowledge of magnetos and points. Timing the things can be a bitch, that's why I let someone else do it.... :whistle:

But seriously, they're are quite simple - there can not be much that can go wrong with them. Except mine, lol!

[quallman1234]

Ah yes, and then you too can have the knowledge of magnetos and points. Timing the things can be a bitch, that's why I let someone else do it.... :whistle:

But seriously, they're are quite simple - there can not be much that can go wrong with them. Except mine, lol!

I remeber us trying to time it properly that time. Man it looked like a mission.
I did my AX100 Timing (CDI) the other day and i was like what!!! so simple, just line the mark up :P or for Skunk move it forward about 10mm

[foamy]

Hi
Can someone please give me a quick rundown on how to tighten the headset on an A100? Do I remove the bars and clamp setup? It is a 92 model and I noticed today that there is a bit of movement in the headset bearings.

Thanks in advance for any help.