Project turbo, XN85

**dangerous** · 12th May 2007, 20:09

Suzuki XN85 Suzuki's 1982 factory GS650 turbo based on a more touring oriented Katana, the XN85 named due to its 85hp was Suzukis attempt at their turbo charged bike of the early 80's built to take on the CX500 turb, ZX750 turb and XJ650 turb.

Right, this bike is the one and only Scumdogs, I 1st saw the bike when we stayed with him on the way to Teratonga to race in 06. The XN was sitting in the corner of the garage surrounded but various Yank tank projects of Scum's.
I couldn't let it stay there considering all it needs is a clean up and reassembly with a few things like exhausts, sprockets etc needed, so I said give it to me.

Well its in the garage now after the long haul up from the deep south, so here the rebuild continues.

The bike is generally in bloody good nick, the photos attached are after I cleaned off the dust and shit that had built up on it over the years, to my suprise its going to scrub up bloody well.
The bike is well cramed together, it took me a while to find a few things like the fuel pump, which I found attached (jamed in) above the center stand pivot, just showing how well all the extra shit required for a turbo is crammed in to a standard sized bike.

There is a few things missing which SD is going to send up, just minor shit like the turbo... front guard and other body work, but I believe its on the way.
The exhaust is some what rooted but I dont see why it needs to be so high tec... so a good old NZ pipe system will be built.

**dangerous** · 12th May 2007, 20:10

couple more to get the ball rolling

**T.W.R** · 12th May 2007, 20:14

SD is a brave man letting you loose on it

**miSTa** · 12th May 2007, 20:17

Look at all those bikes in the garage...whose the bike whore?

The back sprocket still looks good too!

**paturoa** · 12th May 2007, 20:26

Thats a cool bike. There wouldn't be too many of them in unzud yet alone the planet!

Did scummy buy it like that?

How many acres is the new garage? Seem like plenty of room in there for a few more - lol

**Ghost_Bullet** · 12th May 2007, 20:34

Originally Posted by Mr Sensible

Look at all those bikes in the garage...whose the bike whore?

Funny I was gunna say just the same thing... oh to have so many toys

**Motu** · 12th May 2007, 21:03

My brother had an XN85 for several years - it was officialy a classic bike in Canada and had special registation.But it was too much to keep in top condition for their short riding season.He sold it a couple of years ago to make room for more bike projects....which he prefers to do rather than have a bike sitting there doing nothing.Good luck with the project.

**Smokin** · 12th May 2007, 21:10

Nothing wrong with that sprocket mate, Just turn it over.

Looking forward to seeing it on the road mate.

**skelstar** · 12th May 2007, 21:17

Dude, you should totally get one of these racing suits for the bike

**slowpoke** · 12th May 2007, 22:30

Originally Posted by skelstar

Dude, you should totally get one of these racing suits for the bike

I'd pay money to see that!!!!!

**jonbuoy** · 12th May 2007, 22:40

Gotta love those power ranger leathers, is that a circular saw blade or a sprocket??!!

**nudemetalz** · 13th May 2007, 21:11

The XN's are beautiful bikes alright.

I have an official promotional booklet (A4 page sized) for one of them somewhere in my cupboards. I got that when I was a young fullah working in a Suzuki dealer in school holidays.

Look forward to seeing more progress posts and pics

**dangerous** · 23rd September 2007, 21:56

well thanks to a wet day and the fact I had none of my race bikes to work on for once... I spent a little time on the XN, striped it down and loosely fitted the old exhaust up, turbo, air flow etc... so its booked in by the end of the week to have the new system built up.

Now while I was at it I decided to liven the tart up, so I jumped it off the truck batt, and after finding all the unpluged wires I had power to all but the starter
But never fear the exhaust guy is a auto sparky so he will look into that aswell.
The fairing is off and tomorrow Ill take it in for touch ups its in good nick but the paint is comming off in big chunks.

**scumdog** · 23rd September 2007, 22:05

Naked-arse D, - what did you do? - ride around on the XN until you found a whole squadron of magpies to crash into and wreck my paint??

Sure as hell looks like it'll need some TLC to get it looking presentale - but you da man eh!