Project turbo, XN85

[dangerous]

I recall taking an XN85 through to Akaroa from Ch Ch in the late '80s , was working for a bike shop then and a prospective buyer was begging to have another look at it but could'nt make it to town as his car had broken down. I was expecting all hell to break loose when I opened the throttle but, with a low pressure turbo it did wind up nicely but a little more leisurely than I expected . Still it was a fun ride and fast'ish maybe 180 was all I achieved that day.

Only one I ever saw I rode out of Holonds Honda in about 87ish.

[DEATH_INC.]

What an awesome project :-D always sweet to see something finished properly.

got a boost gauge on there to see what its blowing? I'm sure a few extra PSI wouldnt do any harm :-D

The pooter on those things stops 'em at 12.5 psi if I remember correctly. And bloody tricky to bypass....

Out on the road and suprisingly with its long and heavy frame the XN feels rather nimble, the 16" frount wheel helping with slow cornering. On the sweepers the bikes well at home soaking up the bumps beter than any other bike I have riden of that vintage (1st suzuki to have a mono shock) down the straights

Yeh, they were considered one of, if not the best handling bike of the era.

I'm still jealous.

[Katman]

Looks fantastic.

(But being the purist I am, I'd prefer to see the seat recovered black).

[scumdog]

Looks fantastic.

(But being the purist I am, I'd prefer to see the seat recovered black).

It came in from the USA like that so I'll leave as-is in the meantime.

[dangerous]

The pooter on those things stops 'em at 12.5 psi if I remember correctly. And bloody tricky to bypass....

yip which is 7000rpm on the dot (disconected the wast gate, cut out is vilent)

Yeh, they were considered one of, if not the best handling bike of the era.

Interesting, but Id beter edit the write up, that under front braking in a turn the bike stands up something wicked, how did they ever get around that issue?

It came in from the USA like that so I'll leave as-is in the meantime.

Ya sure... got some black palnt feft over from the exhaust

[DEATH_INC.]

Interesting, but Id beter edit the write up, that under front braking in a turn the bike stands up something wicked, how did they ever get around that issue?

Lol, most of the bikes of that era did that....maybe it was the least bad?

[dangerous]

Lol, most of the bikes of that era did that....maybe it was the least bad?

What I mean is that I can grab a hand full on the Guzzi in a corner and the bike stays down... wheels are still round, brakes still have discs and pads?

[scumdog]

Interesting, but Id beter edit the write up, that under front braking in a turn the bike stands up something wicked, how did they ever get around that issue?

It's that short-arse front hoop that does it - I'll fit a 21" HD front one and all will be sweet....

[scumdog]

OK, while up in Christchurch on Sunday I decided to take the advice of kwaka_crasher and 'bed in the brakes' of the XN85.

The plan was to head out on a ride to Little River in company of Thunder on his new bike and Dangerous on my T-Sport - he declined the offer of my tassled jacket (and CB on the back of it taking pics).

First thing I discovered was the worn steering-head bearing was worn and the race had a bad notch in it, this caused the XN to handle like a bag of broken arseholes until you got to 65kph, I almost gave up on the mission after going around the first few corners in town.

Then I thought the pedals/gear-shift etc were missing - but no, they were there, just further back - this led to the next discovery, the reason why sprotsbike riders have a ' whippet shagging a hockey-ball' riding postition.

THEN I noticed the instrument pod etc did not move with the handlebars, wierd!

Anyhoo, once we got out on the open road things were more fun, Dangerous could really hustle the big barge of a T-Sport throught the corners, two-up and all! - and he found out which parts grind on the road when cornering hard.

I found the XN buzzed along like any mid-sixed Jappa multi, it cornered really well and its brakes were prett damn good too.

I also found it had a 'teleport mode' where a bit more of a twist of the throttle caused the buzz of the bike to smooth out, then it kind of went quiter and gave a wee twitch and in a nanosecond one found ones-self suddenly at the end of a long straight, magic!

I would have like to have really 'wrung its neck' but turbulence was starting to lift my sunnies and th ebuffeting off the visor was catching under the front of my open faced 'shorty' helmet - and besides, speeding ain't lawful eh!
So after a quick coffee we all turned for home, this time my cornering speeds were a tad higher and I had a grin on my face instead of a frown.

I bought a new stearing head bearing and hopefully soon Dangerous will fit it and THEN I can get a WOF affixed to the XN85!

And that advice of kwaka_crahsers?

Well, it worked, I never got a ticket for no WOF

But then I never got stopped by the Poh-leece niether!

PS: I won't fit any tassles to the XN until it is safely out of sight of Dangerous

[dangerous]

'bed the brakes in' shit man theyare 13yr old pads LMFAO
Now people ya gota relise this... SD had been at the HOG rally and had just jumped of the superglide T sport. Still with his homo tassels, ACC friendly fingerless gloves, dark glasses and piss pot lid (Im suprised he never wore the skull mask) with hemp like bag over the sholder he hoofed it of on a what I call armchair ride (a 1980's sports bike)... and he wonders why we wear full face helmets etc hehe kinda hard holding on with a peaked lid and bear face aye SD.

CB... photos yeah?
actually got one here hang on Ill post in this post, those that saw TV1 news saturday night (of the HOG rally) may reconise the rider.

[scumdog]

Well, managed to prise the XN off Dangerous who was stunned to see me pull out a flash full-face helmet and gloves wot covered every bit of my fingers!
So I headed for Riviera of the South after filling up at Halswell, was a tad seedy after being forced to drink too much JD at Helen of Troys party the night before and as it was late in the arvo I stopped the night at Tinwald.

Woke up next day a whole lot more chipper and headed south, CB (normajeane) drove our modern car ('84 Laser) and I followed, made it to Oamaru before the little green blocks on the digital fuel guage vanished - it was 150miles since filling (Yankee bike, real speeds in Miles-Per-Hour - non of this KM shit) and it seemed thirstier than the H-D T-Sport I normally ridei, thought of dropping in on 98TLS but didn't know if he was working (It was Monday) away or whatever and the weather was decidedly iffy with a threat of rain so carried on,

Had lunch at the side of the road at Alma then headed on, eventless ride except for trying the turbo on the uphill heading south on the Kilmog hill and finding I needed a minimum of 5,500rpm before anything happened, got here 270 miles from Castle Dangerous.

Thoughts? Cool bike, fairing/screen stop some of the blast,great on winding bits but touchy at low speed in a straight line, hard on wrists due to riding position and I'll need softer boots as i had to move my whole leg to change gears, anxle was too stiff with the boots'n'gaiters that suit the cruiser riding style.

Took a while to get use to the headlight etc not moving from side to side with the handle-bars, the non-cancelling indicators, the stand that doesn't lock in the down position and having to pull the clutch in to start up.

Good bit: Key is where I can see it!

More later if I remember.

[paturoa]

... a flash full-face helmet and gloves wot covered every bit of my fingers!

So full face, good gloves and a jacket with tassles? FAIL

Make sure you check the plugs to see that nothing is running too lean before you start it up next.

[scumdog]

So full face, good gloves and a jacket with tassles? FAIL

Make sure you check the plugs to see that nothing is running too lean before you start it up next.

S'alright, I had my waterproof over-jacket on, totally incognito....

And if it IS too lean??

[dangerous]

And if it IS too lean??

Not possable... tuned mint

[paturoa]

And if it IS too lean??

Then just make sure you ride it on boost all the time, cos it'll run rich then