Suzuki RM465 SCRATCH BUILT BUILD.

I just need the main tank decals and side panel decals and then that's about it. I'm going to try and print my own ignition box decal, it's made with a mirror or chrome vinyl. 

Just got the rear wheel back so I'll be stripping it down later today. I'll remove the bearings, seals and spacers. 

Remember that before you strip the rim and spokes from the hub, always take the offset measurement between the brake plate side of the hub and the edge of the rim. In other words lay it flat on the brake side and measure from the floor or bench to the side of the rim. This measurement is used by the wheel builder. 

Got a NOS left side rear wheel seal so that's all sorted. 

I'll pull it out of the white spirit and measure it for you, infact my guy who made my spacers would probably make one in 10 mins. It doesn't seem to be made of steel, more like aluminium, its rather light although I'll double check with the old magnet. 

Well it is magnetic lol. Here are the measurements Phil. 

looks like the spacer upto the flange is about 9mm. 

Landed a NOS left crank bearing 09262-35026 for £23.45 including delivery. They're about €30 from CMSNL so I've not done 3 bad.

The offset measurement for the rear wheel is approx 7.5mm. 

Well that's most of the spokes removed. I've got 10 stubborn ones so I'll get the grinder out tomorrow and cut them off. Rim-locks need replacing so it's 2 more of those. 

Removed the remaining spokes so the hub is now free from the rim. Blood pressure dropped through the floor last night so trying to recover from that. I'll start working on the hub as soon as I can. 

Hi, thanks for the kind words and sorry for the late reply, I've not been well for a good few days. Well my first bike was a RM100, 1980 I think it was, got it off my friend and neighbour for £175 after his dad got him a new one. I spent as much time cleaning it and touching up the paintwork than I did riding it. I'd use it more like an enduro or trial bike, go off exploring on it or go over obstacles I'd set up on the land at the side of the house, like on the TV show 'Kick-Start'. It's was really good fun. I was pushed into cars a couple of years later by my dad and eventually sold the bike, although I didn't want to. A couple of decades later I saw a total wreck of a Suzuki RM125 for sale for about £800, so I decided to tinker about with it and eventually sold it on. I couldn't do much to it with having sold my house moving into a flat. I then moved again, only to a ground floor flat with garden. I saw on Ebay a restoration project, a rolling frame, it was basically a frame, swing arm, forks, wheels and shock, it had been totally stripped. This was as most knew a big bore 2 stroke, a rather rare bike, the big brother of my bundle of schoolboy fun, one up from the 400 with  full floater yet still air cooled, so it had non of the water nonsense to deal with. It cost me £450, arrived on a pallet in 2 pieces from Huggys. This was about 6 years ago. I was trying to get my hands on an engine without much luck only about a year ago I became very ill, so I'll I'd dropped in weight to 6 stone 9. Well I'm 6ft 3 and usually weighed 11-11 and a half stone. I was actually dying and the doctors had explained to my mum and daughter that they had better be prepared for the worst. My heart was failing, my lungs wouldn't breath properly, I was in utter agony and just lifting my arm was sheer exhaustion. I sat next to all the monitors, watching my stats change, the feelings I had with every movement I made. I actually asked one doctor if I could be ventilated because constantly fighting to breathe was too much for me, he said it would kill me I said I don't care. I was living through a total nightmare. He didn't do it. Shortly after, about a week, I was on the bed in my own private room, and the doctor said "you've got rhythm, my heart had been out of rhythm for at least 3 years. Shortly after that I started picking up, putting a bit of weight on, I could do more, the specialist didn't know what the hell was going on. I left hospital after 3 weeks, I think I spent about £1000 on new clothes and personal stuff I'd been neglecting myself for so long in the last few days in hospital and for a week or two when I came home. When I did get home, within the first week I clicked on my emails and there was a search from Ebay saying Suzuki RM465 engine. I clicked on it and there was the engine I'd been waiting for for 5 years. It was also from Huggys,  found in a bike made from different parts,  the frame i think was a YZ. Its was confiscated I think and then auctioned off with other stuff, so it didn't even come from a 465.  I quickly phoned them, put down a deposit and a week or 2 later it's turning up at my front door. 

I've been using it as a way to rehabilitate myself both physically and mentally, I was still in shock for months after hospital, it was more PTSD than anything,  I can't repeat what I actually went through in hospital but it was horrific and would take far too long. Well with my illness I can't get life insurance to give my daughter, so I'm accumulating a bit of gold at the bullion dealers and things like my cars, expensive oak furniture and this awesome bike I'm building.  She could probably sell it on to a collector or enthusiast one day. It's kept my mind focused, kept me busy and given my a smile when a job is done well. It's probably going to take me quite some time to complete it but when I have it should look amazing. It may even give me the incentive to do another one, and maybe, just maybe a 1980 RM100

My warning and safety decals arrived this morning. They're really good. I'm going to have to make a few copies before I fix them on or at least scan them First with my printer. I can even print them but I've not got the cutter machine. 

Well the rear hub has just been scrubbed in soapy warm water with a scotchbright pad. Needs drying off, seals and bearings swapped out and then its preparing for paint. 

Well my engine casings ended up stuck at customs and they're billing me about £55 in tax and fees etc. Wonderful 😠

Yes got the item number from Parcel Force who're now holding it. I'll pay it online next week along with a bunch of other stuff. Just need the sprocket cover, a bunch of screws, nuts, bolts, head caps, reeds and a rear mounting spacer and that's the external part of the engine sorted. God knows what it's like inside. I'm buying bearings n seals and holding my fkn breath lol

I'm buying a new bearing puller and slide hammer set. They're about £35. I don't like buying tools I will only use a few times in 50 years. Going to start work on the hub tomorrow, prep it all for paint. If anyone wants a copy of these warning decals I've scanned, let me know and I'll email them to you. They're copied onto A4. The fork decal was mirror so looks black. If you adjust the contrast the writing should show up. I stood at a slight angle and took the picture so you may be able to do something with that. The shock reservoir and wheel decals also have a metallic paper or finish. You'll have to probably use different types of vinyl to get the finish you need. The white ones are just white. 

My front sprocket chain guide arrived from Canada this morning. If anyone wants a photo copy or scan on A4 sent in an email so you can make one, let me know. The plate thickness is 2mm.

Picked up a pair of NOS brake plate springs and a pair of NOS brake pedal springs from a bike shop in Germany. I got 2 pedal springs so ones a spare. The others I take off the brake plates can go in the zink plating pile. Should be getting a few more parts next week including tank side decals, a bunch of engine bolts and parts and parts for the genuine throttle I got. I want the tank finished and a few more bearings and a complete engine seal kit. Early March the rear wheel is off to be built so I'll need 2 new rim-locks for that. 

I've cleaned away the rust inside the drum and sanded/polished the rim of the drum with various grades of wet n dry paper.  I've also cleaned the inside of the drum with white spirit. It will need doing again prior to painting which I'll probably do tomorrow.  

I ground out most of the paint around the rim. I'll do a little more before I mask it up tomorrow and paint it. I'll paint the main hub second and the left or sprocket side last. I'll use satin black with a coat of lacquer.  

On what Phil?

Oh right I got you lol. Crooks are selling a NOS front 465 hub for about £120. 

Did some more work on the rear hub today, especially on the left sprocket side. It was caked with rust a grime, really hard to get out. It's been raining all day so painting is on hold until it clears up. I'll order a bearing puller, tank decals and pay the customs duty on my 2 casings tomorrow.  Once this hub is out of the way I'll do some more on the swing arm. I did a vin or frame number check and my bike is actually a 465Z and not an X. 

Later guys 

Everything is prepped and ready to finish tomorrow. I've done the brake side of the hub, really pleased with it. 

I was going to repaint the inner hub with fresh silver paint but a good clean with paint thinners and a bit of synthetic car body wax should bring it up a treat. Once the bearings are out I'll remove the spacer and give everything a good clean in WD40 before the new bearings and seal are fitted.