Undertaking the ultimate blasphemy, and putting a magnesium XT 550 engine in a worn out RZ 350 frame. Thumpers rule.
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March 23, 2009 10:31 p.m. wheelsmithy None
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March 23, 2009 11:45 p.m. CarKid1989 Reader
whats a thumper?
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March 24, 2009 2:10 a.m. Appleseed Reader
Anything with one cylinder. They tend toward being, uh...buzzy.
My buddy just bought a used 97 KTM 620 Duke. #90 of only 500 made that year. Not going to see another one on the road. Its piped. And it freaks the Harley guys. He he.
Anyone see the kits to turn 450 dirt bikes into quasi-GP racers? Quite cool.
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March 24, 2009 6:37 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork
This is a thumper.
sounds, smells, and feels like a chainsaw
wanna buy it?
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March 24, 2009 7:21 a.m. mistanfo Dork
I prefer my thumpers requiring 4 strokes to complete a cycle. Bit less buzzy. Just found out, a friend has a three year old KLR 650 with FORTY FIVE miles on it. He's looking to trade it in on a bike for his wife. I told him that I'd match whatever the dealership would offer him.
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March 24, 2009 9:04 a.m. suprf1y Reader
Thats not really a thumper.
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March 24, 2009 11:47 a.m. ManofFewWords Reader
A thumper is a four stroke single. End of story.
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March 24, 2009 9:16 p.m. benzbaron Reader
Thump rocks! I rock the blast and no matter what people say that little beast can show larger bikes what's up.
Can you folks name some of the modern thumpers? I can only think of the honda klr, buell blast, and the suzuki m45(I think that's what it is called). Other than dirt bikes what other singles are there? I think bmw and ducati might be making singles but hell if I know.
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March 24, 2009 10:21 p.m. grinch77 New Reader
Suzuki has this coming out soon.
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/TU250X/2009/TU250X.asp...
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March 24, 2009 10:47 p.m. alex Reader
wheelsmithy wrote:
Undertaking the ultimate blasphemy, and putting a magnesium XT 550 engine in a worn out RZ 350 frame. Thumpers rule.
Nice.
I've thought of sticking a breathed-on XR650 motor into a Hawk GT frame for an unclassable trackday weapon. It has been done before. I need another project like a hole in the head, though. Not that that will likely stop me...
Hey, if you come across another one of those XT motors for cheap, let me know. I have a '71 Trackmaster chromoly frame/rolling chassis hanging from my ceiling that was built for one of those. It was bought NOS from a local dealer by a friend's father, and he loaned it to me to hang up as an object d'art in my apartment. Knowing him, I don't think he'd object if I returned it as a running cafe racer.
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March 25, 2009 7:04 a.m. ManofFewWords Reader
benzbaron wrote:
Thump rocks! I rock the blast and no matter what people say that little beast can show larger bikes what's up.
Can you folks name some of the modern thumpers? I can only think of the honda klr, buell blast, and the suzuki m45(I think that's what it is called). Other than dirt bikes what other singles are there? I think bmw and ducati might be making singles but hell if I know.
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March 25, 2009 9:02 a.m. Jensenman MegaDork
I spent my entire dirt bike 'career' on thumpers. Love 'em!
The post- 1998 YZ400 new generation short stroke high RPM thumpers REALLY rock! There aren't a whole lot of street thumpers out there right now, at least not here in the Great Satan.
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March 25, 2009 11:17 a.m. skierd Dork
A lot of street thumpers are dual sports or supermotards. Suzuki's DRZ400S and SM, Yamaha WR250R and X, TW200, XT250, Honda CRF230L and X, XR650L, Kawasaki KLR650, Super Sherpa and KLX250S and SF for example. Most of the KTM lineup. BMW also has the XCountry, G650, and one or two others.
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March 25, 2009 4:33 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork
There's a whole heap of dualsport or motards, I was referring to the true 'street only' bikes like the Honda FT500 Ascot or the Yamaha SR500.
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March 25, 2009 5:13 p.m. ManofFewWords Reader
Buell Blast. Which reminds me. Anyone have any pics of dualsported Blasts?
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March 25, 2009 5:19 p.m. alex Reader
Better yet, café'd Blasts!
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March 25, 2009 7:52 p.m. wheelsmithy New Reader
Suzuki savage(or whatever alphabet soup name its got now), Duke, SRX 600(had one-awesome), SR 500, GB 500, and tons of old, cool European stuff-I probably missed some
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March 25, 2009 7:56 p.m. wheelsmithy New Reader
Like a Sounds of Singles racer? It has been done, and as counterintuitive as putting a one long 600 or 650 where a 650 v-twin was, I believe they're awesome . I wanted a ninja 250 frame, but my brother offered tro return this frame to me after a 15 year absence, and I couldn't resist. Probably better to buy another SRX 600, but where's the fun in that?
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March 25, 2009 7:57 p.m. wheelsmithy New Reader
I meant one lung-duh
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March 25, 2009 8:05 p.m. Apexcarver UltraDork
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March 26, 2009 12:29 a.m. Appleseed Reader
Don't forget about Royal Enfield's Bullet. You want retro, there's none better.
http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/models/classic-g5.html
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March 26, 2009 3:31 p.m. Hal HalfDork
Jensenman wrote:
There's a whole heap of dualsport or motards, I was referring to the true 'street only' bikes like the Honda FT500 Ascot
I put 40K miles on one of those. Had the seat reupholstered so it was flat(more like a dirt bike), made some rear sets, and put on some clip-ons. Also had a custom header with a SuperTrap. Had two different front sprokets that I changed depending on where I was going to ride(only took about 15 min.)
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March 26, 2009 4:57 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork
A buddy had a VT Ascot, it was neat but nowhere near as much fun as an FT. The FTs were so skinny and light (compared to the twins and fours) that it made you feel like a hero.
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March 27, 2009 1:40 p.m. thatsnowinnebago HalfDork
Apexcarver wrote:
Is it just me or do spikes on a bike's gas tank seem like a bad idea?
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March 27, 2009 8:46 p.m. psteav Reader
As cool an idea as it sounds, and I like the idea, please, please, please don't do it to an RZ350. Ninja 250 yes. There are a ton of them, and they're a dime a dozen. But there aren't many RZ's left...and you could probably sell the RZ to someone who wants one, buy a tired 250 Ninja, and come out money ahead.
