My first project bike.

[kave]

Being new to the motorbiking scene, and completely unknowledgeable about maintenance and the workings I thought I better buy a bike that I can try to restore, without worrying too much if it all goes horribly wrong.

BEHOLD- My $51 suzuki AR50

-So if anyone in the auckland area wants to head out to Glen Innes to advise a complete newbie, in return for a few beers (and possibly some food) feel free to pm me.

[fergie]

good luck with the project, im sure someone here will point you in the right dirction. i had one of those as my first bike in the early 70;s. mate and i roode it from gisborne to bay bark and back one weekend! keep us posted.

[F5 Dave]

Gee I hope you are starting with the one on the right! The one on the left has two uses (3 including marine movement arrestor).

1. Bucket racer (for that is what it was)
2. Parts bike for when you get another

I'm currently restoring another small suzuki but beware to get parts individually will cost a bomb. I have two 125s but still have some bits to get to make 1 good one + the restoration of parts. Cheaper in the long run to find a mint one.

[Conquiztador]

1. Get one more of the same so that U have bits.
2. If U are considering getting her to road worthy condition your $51 will suddenly turn in to closer to $1K (based on what I see from the pic, and the paperwork etc is probably not worth it)
3. Start with something that is closer to fully there that needs some minor stuff type chain, a tyre, maybe a cable. That will already take you a week or two to sort.

But hat off to you for giving it a go!!

[kave]

I'm happy to spend about 1.5k, especially since I'm planning on fixing it up over a loong period of time, hopefully the cost spread out over a large number of months wont hurt so much (and hopefully the wife wont notice where the moneys going). Not worried about getting my money back out of it at the end, I'm workin from the assumption that any money I put into it is lost, perhaps that will encourage me to do as much myself as is possible. The only problem I'm having is that it was advertised as a AR50, but I can not find a single bit of information about that model. I assume most of the parts should be interchangeable with suzuki A50/AC50/K50. The closest bike appearance wise that I have been able to find is the 1974 suzuki K50.

[jonbuoy]

Cafe it!

[What?]

...but beware to get parts individually will cost a bomb...

Actual Cost = Estimated Cost x Pi x length of a piece of string (mm)

Except for old British bikes where the string is measured in inches, then squared.
Or old Italian bikes where the string length is measured in microns, then cubed.

You'll learn lots, though.

[breakaway]

Great idea kave. You will learn invaluable skills which will last you a lifetime.

[vifferman]

I see what's wrong with it - a bit of air in the back tyre, and you'll be right!

[Ben350]

Any project will end up costing way more than you currently think, for example;

One rusty old Toyota Hilux picked up for £1200, so far over £3k spent on parts etc and still not on the damn road - grrr!

Good luck though

[skidMark]

Being new to the motorbiking scene, and completely unknowledgeable about maintenance and the workings I thought I better buy a bike that I can try to restore, without worrying too much if it all goes horribly wrong.

BEHOLD- My $51 suzuki AR50

-So if anyone in the auckland area wants to head out to Glen Innes to advise a complete newbie, in return for a few beers (and possibly some food) feel free to pm me.

you now own the finest bike in glen innes LOL

head over to st johns park my hood :P

bikes are nicer here....and the chassis numbers arnt ground off ... LOL

[kave]

Fired the engine up today, started first try off the kickstarter. Needs a lot done to the rest of it, but at least it seems I have the basics there to get it going.
I should have probably given some thought to stopping it though, there is no ignition or kill switch, clutch not hooked up, and throttle seems to be jammed open (had to switch off the fuel tap). It was very exciting though.

[Pancakes]

If the throttle isn't stuck open, a cricked or leaking intale can cause it to rav high, burn lean and too hot. Awesome your tackling a project! I wish I had the time, money and patience to get into something!

[babyblade250rr]

good luck with the project i'm sure it will be an exciting escapade perhaps some not so exciting days when things go horribly wrong however you got to learn somehow aye