1980 Suzuki RM400T rebuild

[Crasherfromwayback]

If anyone is interested...I've just today started the slow rebuild process on my basket case 400T. This will be my day to day VMX race bike. I'll only use my SR for special occasions!

What I basically started with...

Move the SR aside...

What I have now...

The start...

This...goes in there...

I'll update it as I go. I have some Fox Factory Forx (they're 44mm compared to the stockers 38mm), and Fox Factory Shox for it too. Should be a good race bike when all is finished. Hope to have it finished by the time my ankle is right to ride again!

:-)

[unstuck]

Good stuff dude. Gonna look mint. Love watching those rebuilds Wired Kiwi does on you tube.

[98tls]

Love these threads though there few and far between,how much did the Fox stuff set you back C and was it hard to get?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Love these threads though there few and far between,how much did the Fox stuff set you back C and was it hard to get?

Cheers mate. I got lucky with the forks...came across them one night late on Ebay and the guy had listed them as simply *fat RM400 forks*. Paid about a third of what most sets seem to go for (there was only ever around 200 sets of Fox Forx made world wide). The shocks were a diff story. They were rebuilt for Brad Lackey to use on an RM400T, and seeing as he was one of my childhood heros...I simply had to have them. He wasn't allowed to use them as was under contract to another brand....so I got my mitts on them. Stunning rebuild on them by the geezer that did the work I must say...but they owe me around $1100.00. Ouch. Here they be...

[sugilite:Me]

Gotta say your a well prepped dude Pete, tissues conveniently placed for viewing your kwaka MX bike porn.

Looking forward to watching your "T" take shape

[98tls]

They really are beautiful eh,who cares what they cost they have history and there beautiful,far more valuable than money.Will follow your progress.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Gotta say your a well prepped dude Pete, tissues conveniently placed for viewing your kwaka MX bike porn.

Looking forward to watching your "T" take shape

lol. That SR needs tissues for most guests mate! Wait till you get a go on it. It feels like a KX125 after sitting on a KX500. It's around 8kg's lighter, and has 6HP more than a KX500. How's that sound to you?

[98tls]

Cheers mate. I got lucky with the forks...came across them one night late on Ebay

Had a chuckle at that,had a few late nights on Ebay myself over the years.

[Drew]

Had a chuckle at that,had a few late nights on Ebay myself over the years.

You both have a bloody problem I reckon.

Anyone else wanna join in on a couple interventions?











We're here for you, not against you...

[sugilite:Me]

lol. That SR needs tissues for most guests mate! Wait till you get a go on it. It feels like a KX125 after sitting on a KX500. It's around 8kg's lighter, and has 6HP more than a KX500. How's that sound to you?

Sounds like one box of tissues ain't going to be enough, WHOOOOAAARRR!

[nudemetalz]

I'd be happy if I came across a mint CR250M Elsinore.....two boxes of tissues needed !!

[Crasherfromwayback]

They really are beautiful eh,who cares what they cost they have history and there beautiful,far more valuable than money.Will follow your progress.

Had a chuckle at that,had a few late nights on Ebay myself over the years.

Yeah they're gorgeous looking kit for sure. Period correct too.

And yeah...fucking dangerous having been off work for two months Mate I tell ya!

[Coldrider]

Cool resto, what is the go with rusty spokes, replace one for one or can they be dressed?

[ktm84mxc]

So Pete is it just a case of reassembly with the new bits or is there a lot of resto to do on the wheels, swing arm etc ?
By the time its all finished the thought of getting it dirty/thrashed may be to much and you'll need a another one to be a racer.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Cool resto, what is the go with rusty spokes, replace one for one or can they be dressed?

You can clean 'em up with steel wool etc...but they'll always just corrode again if not looked after. Spoke sets are cheap enough on Ebay etc. And no matter what you need...it'll turn up if you're patient.

So Pete is it just a case of reassembly with the new bits or is there a lot of resto to do on the wheels, swing arm etc ?
By the time its all finished the thought of getting it dirty/thrashed may be to much and you'll need a another one to be a racer.

Bit of both mate. New parts where avail. Decided to paint the S/A black. Originally had it polished, but the condition of it isn't good enough. So will go with the black look of the earlier factory bikes. Think I'll go with black rims too. But no...it's being built as my race bike...not a show bike.