RF600R questions

[Danboy]

Right, so more to my previous thread, if anyone can tell me where I can get the parts listed below and has an answer to any of my questions, It would be greatly appreciated.
Having some trouble locating parts for this model.

PARTS:

- Replacement/aftermarket mirrors(possibly carbon, or mini, not so old and square looking)
- Footpeg Lowering Kit
- Wavey disc brakes(and do I need to get different pads?)

QUESTIONS:

1) I can hear a knocking or clicking coming from the left side of the engine...more prevelant when it's cold, but it doesn't go away entirely. Is this something that could be terminal, or simply the cam chain/tensioner?

2) The temperature according to the gauge never comes out of the blue at the bottom. It does move a little, but that's as far as it goes. Is a) the gauge buggered, or b) the thermostat too cold? Is a hotter one available? Or am I simply worried about something that's perfectly normal?

3) The gearbox feels quite notchy. When putting it into first gear, the bike sometimes moves forward a little and changing up through the gears feels like a very long clunky movement(unlike my previous bike, a 98 suzuki bandit 250). Changing down is also an effort, I can't blip the throttle to bring the revs up otherwise the bike lurches. I just have to chuck it down each gear with no blip. Not smooth at all. Clutch engages almost as soon as you start to release the lever. What's the go? This sound familiar to anyone?

Sorry for the long winded thread.
Cheers,
D.

[dino3310]

what year is the RF how many klms and what engine oil you running

[Danboy]

what year is the RF how many klms and what engine oil you running

Thanks for the reply.

1993

47,500 (approx)

MOTUL 5100 10W40 Semi Synthetic Oil

Cheers,
D.

[BOGAR]

Right, so more to my previous thread, if anyone can tell me where I can get the parts listed below and has an answer to any of my questions, It would be greatly appreciated.
Having some trouble locating parts for this model.

PARTS:

- Replacement/aftermarket mirrors(possibly carbon, or mini, not so old and square looking)
- Foot peg Lowering Kit
- Wave disco brakes(and do I need to get different pads?)

QUESTIONS:

1) I can hear a knocking or clicking coming from the left side of the engine...more prevelant when it's cold, but it doesn't go away entirely. Is this something that could be terminal, or simply the cam chain/tensioner?

2) The temperature according to the gauge never comes out of the blue at the bottom. It does move a little, but that's as far as it goes. Is a) the gauge buggered, or b) the thermostat too cold? Is a hotter one available? Or am I simply worried about something that's perfectly normal?

3) The gearbox feels quite notchy. When putting it into first gear, the bike sometimes moves forward a little and changing up through the gears feels like a very long clunky movement(unlike my previous bike, a 98 suzuki bandit 250). Changing down is also an effort, I can't blip the throttle to bring the revs up otherwise the bike lurches. I just have to chuck it down each gear with no blip. Not smooth at all. Clutch engages almost as soon as you start to release the lever. What's the go? This sound familiar to anyone?

D.

1 sorry don't know, my old bike had some nocking noises but it was just the way the bike was.
2 did you / someone do a coolant change? sometimes the thermostat stuffs up when it happens and is a real pain to fix
3 not a mechanic but it almost sounds like part of the problem is the clutch cable needs tightening / replacing. but thats just my 2c.

[JimO]

i say clutch cable as well, dont know about the other stuff but am prepared to make something up

[Pwalo]

There's probably not a lot of info about the RF600 in NZ. I don't think they were ever officially imported, and were only produced for a short time.

Shame really, as they are a good looking bike (well in my opinion).

I'd suggest you check your clutch cable adjustment, and at least lube it, and better still replace it. I'd also use Mobil GPS 10W/40 at your next change. I don't have any scientific proof, but all my Suzuki four strokes seem to have liked this.

Your best option may be to surf the interwebby and see if you can locate a copy of the workshop manual, or find an RF owners group.

Good luck with the bike.

[ManDownUnder]

PARTS:

- Replacement/aftermarket mirrors(possibly carbon, or mini, not so old and square looking)
- Footpeg Lowering Kit
- Wavey disc brakes(and do I need to get different pads?)

Google the bits you want and find someone in the UK or Europe willing to freight them internationally. www.ebay.co.uk is good for this. The US suppliers charge a fortune for airfreight (they don't have ground/sea freight as an option...!)

QUESTIONS:

1) I can hear a knocking or clicking coming from the left side of the engine...more prevelant when it's cold, but it doesn't go away entirely. Is this something that could be terminal, or simply the cam chain/tensioner?

Left, or top? If it's the top it's just tappets doing their thing. Cold tappets have bigger gaps and the oil isn't there yeet etc etc etc. Give it 5 mins running and when things warm up it goes away.

I'm not sure what it would be if it is on the left though

2) The temperature according to the gauge never comes out of the blue at the bottom. It does move a little, but that's as far as it goes. Is a) the gauge buggered, or b) the thermostat too cold? Is a hotter one available? Or am I simply worried about something that's perfectly normal?

Totally normal for an RF (I have the 900 - does exactly the same thing). It's cured by swapping out the thermostate for a hotter one but my RF (900) has done 95,000kms on the cold one without any bother. Not a bif deal in my humble opinion

3) The gearbox feels quite notchy. When putting it into first gear, the bike sometimes moves forward a little and changing up through the gears feels like a very long clunky movement(unlike my previous bike, a 98 suzuki bandit 250). Changing down is also an effort, I can't blip the throttle to bring the revs up otherwise the bike lurches. I just have to chuck it down each gear with no blip. Not smooth at all. Clutch engages almost as soon as you start to release the lever. What's the go? This sound familiar to anyone?

Your clutch needs adjusting, you should have some free play before the clutch starts to engage (pulling the bike forward). This will solve most, if not all of what you describe.

Beyond that there are 2 main causes of the notchiness on my bike.

The main one is that the oil level has dropped over time between services. Top it back up and see the difference it makes

Other cause is mileage on the bike. Old clutches do that

Sorry for the long winded thread.
Cheers,
D.

No worries - you have questions - ask 'em!

[Danboy]

There's probably not a lot of info about the RF600 in NZ. I don't think they were ever officially imported, and were only produced for a short time.

Shame really, as they are a good looking bike (well in my opinion).

I'd suggest you check your clutch cable adjustment, and at least lube it, and better still replace it. I'd also use Mobil GPS 10W/40 at your next change. I don't have any scientific proof, but all my Suzuki four strokes seem to have liked this.

Your best option may be to surf the interwebby and see if you can locate a copy of the workshop manual, or find an RF owners group.

Good luck with the bike.

Cool, thanks for that. Will replace the clutch cable, and try a different oil at it's next service. Cheers, D.

[ManDownUnder]

I'd suggest you check your clutch cable adjustment, and at least lube it, and better still replace it. I'd also use Mobil GPS 10W/40 at your next change. I don't have any scientific proof, but all my Suzuki four strokes seem to have liked this.

Synthetic oil is good - it has more of a sealing effect in the cylinder and therefore doesn't get burned in the combustion chamber... causing dirty pipes and plugs... and oil level drop

[Danboy]

Google the bits you want and find someone in the UK or Europe willing to freight them internationally. www.ebay.co.uk is good for this. The US suppliers charge a fortune for airfreight (they don't have ground/sea freight as an option...!)
Cool. Will do.

Left, or top? If it's the top it's just tappets doing their thing. Cold tappets have bigger gaps and the oil isn't there yeet etc etc etc. Give it 5 mins running and when things warm up it goes away.
Definately left., Right side is quiet and top is normal. Seems to come from lower down.

I'm not sure what it would be if it is on the left though
Hmm. Bugga.

Totally normal for an RF (I have the 900 - does exactly the same thing). It's cured by swapping out the thermostate for a hotter one but my RF (900) has done 95,000kms on the cold one without any bother. Not a bif deal in my humble opinion
Sweet, I won't touch it then.

Your clutch needs adjusting, you should have some free play before the clutch starts to engage (pulling the bike forward). This will solve most, if not all of what you describe.
Gonna get a new cable fitted, adjusted etc. and see how that goes.

Beyond that there are 2 main causes of the notchiness on my bike.

The main one is that the oil level has dropped over time between services. Top it back up and see the difference it makes

Other cause is mileage on the bike. Old clutches do that
Yeah, think it could be the mileage , as the service was only done a couple of weeks ago. Might get the clutch itself looked at then if the new cable etc. doesn't make a difference.

Cheers,
D.

[dino3310]

everything i wanted to say has been written above.
as for (Sorry for the long winded thread.).
it aint long winded and dont be sorry.
good luck getting it sorted, ever thought about trading up
to the RF900, great bikes.

[Danboy]

everything i wanted to say has been written above.
as for (Sorry for the long winded thread.).
it aint long winded and dont be sorry.
good luck getting it sorted, ever thought about trading up
to the RF900, great bikes.

I had thought about the RF900, it would be the next logical step up.(apart from a busa lol) But I've only had the RF6 a couple of weeks, so I'll keep the status quo. Got her for a good deal too so I'm happy with the niggles for now. Gives me something to do too....very satisfying having something mechanical to work on.

D.

[Danboy]

Ok, so now it's slipping out of gear and also finding false neutrals mainly between 1st & 2nd gears when under power going up through the gears as well.
WHAT THE....???!
And as a side line.....can I run different brands/models of tyres front and rear? Rear tyre needs replacing, front is good. Both diablo's. But I've been offered a brand new Michelin Pilot Road 2 for half price to fit the rear. Don't wanna buy it though if it's not gonna be compatible with the front.

Cheers, D.

[dino3310]

Ok, so now it's slipping out of gear and also finding false neutrals mainly between 1st & 2nd gears when under power going up through the gears as well.
WHAT THE....???!
And as a side line.....can I run different brands/models of tyres front and rear? Rear tyre needs replacing, front is good. Both diablo's. But I've been offered a brand new Michelin Pilot Road 2 for half price to fit the rear. Don't wanna buy it though if it's not gonna be compatible with the front.

Cheers, D.

starting to sound like a lemon bro

[Danboy]

starting to sound like a lemon bro

HA! No such thing....just a series of projects to learn more about the bike and pique my interest.
I've sorted the knocking/rattling from the engine. Was timing chain, needed adjusting. As for the gearbox....I've been told that after 47500 MILES(that's around 76500k's), the clutch and gearbox may be due for a bit of a freshen up. She's all original and untouched so I can understand that.
Will keep ya's posted.
D.