1978 Suzuki DR370 Hot Damn! Rust Hellride

Working on the front end is proven to be quite the task. I really hoped the swap would, at worst, require changing bearings. Instead, I had to order bearings, which will arrive this weekend. The forks are set up for a 15in axle. Stock is 12mm. I ordered an RM125 axle, only to find out the eBay seller either sent me the wrong part, or my front end is not what it claimed to be. What I ended up doing is cut down two axles, pressed them together and I machined a left side retainer bolt. I drilled out the left fork to allow the retainer bolt to be inset. 15mm ID x 32mm OD bearings are on their way to finish the job. Once I have the wheel in and the spacers set, I'll probably press the axle bolt end of the axle in a little farther.

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I've done USD forks same way to use stock axle diameter on 360's. Katana axles are longer than 360 so easy modification
 
Machined an insert to smooth the transition from the FCR to the head...




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It’s been a while, but I dragged this back into the garage. I found a well priced stock, technically SP, tank at Barber covered in layers of spray bomb. The paint stripped off nicely and the interior happens to be well lined. The same guy also sold me a nearly perfect tail piece. The search for rear shocks to match this front end and swing arm continues...




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irk miller said:
It’s been a while, but I dragged this back into the garage. I found a well priced stock, technically SP, tank at Barber covered in layers of spray bomb. The paint stripped off nicely and the interior happens to be well lined. The same guy also sold me a nearly perfect tail piece. The search for rear shocks to match this front end and swing arm continues...




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Looks great! I'd love to hit up Houston valley again this spring, would be a great place to put this thing through its paces too ;)

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I bought a set of PE shocks to see where they put the rear end. Levels it nicely for the RM front end.



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Looking at that pic I just had a flashback to something I had forgotten about. Around 1982 I bought a Maico 400 twin shock rolling chassis and DR/SP 400 motor. (forget which?) I think it's still in shed in Britain. I was racing, working 16 hr days and the usual stuff single guys do with 3~4 girlfriends do so it got pushed further and further back. Think I'll contact my brother and see if it's still there :) I can remember the bike better than I remember the girls ???
 
Stock steering rake for a DR370 is 31°. If you read reviews from 1978, the biggest crit was the slow rake.

Now it’s 26°...



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That should really improve things. You had to lean it over a long way to get round corners, always wanted to go straight. Worked well on snow/ice until it got rutted and chewed by 4x4's ( went to Dragon Rally in North Wales one year on SP400, 180 miles of ''interesting' roads). At least all the idiot car drivers never came out to play and there were not too many 4x4 back then in Britain (except for military and a few farmers, the country closed down for a few days ;D )
 
It has been a while since I posted in this thread. I finally painted it, though I did zero bodywork, so you see all the dings in all of their dirt bike glory. I was able to track down the decals for the side covers. Looks like I’ll need to make my own Suzuki decals for the tank.

Switched to a Mikuni VM 34 carb. Then fired it up and took it for a hot lap for the first time in a while. Starts up and idles well with a 35 pilot, but has an issue getting into the upper throttle. I’ll have to do some figuring out on that main jet.

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Almost a year since I updated this thing. Dang.

With Barber Vintage Festival cancelled this year, a few of us planned a dirt weekend in Wayne National Forest in SE Ohio. Ohio being Ohio, they have some really effed up registration laws. Basically, I can’t ride my 2002 XR200r off-road in Ohio because Georgia doesn’t register or title OHV’s. My only way would be to spend a Saturday at the Athens BMV. Maybe no big deal, but I really am not into the gamble that I lose a half days worth of riding. The DR is a much easier deal because of pre-dates the year requirement.

Bring out the DR370. The TM36 just wasn’t happening in this frame, but a VM34 with a PE250 throttle and cable is pretty damn perfect. I also cobbled together an exhaust that open up the pipes from a 27mm ID to 38mm. A grand uncorking. Add on a swap meet Supertrapp installed upside down and it’s like magic.

I had to add a frame tab for the brake cable, since I had to cut the stock one off to mount the DR500 swing arm. It also quieted top end noise down with 20w-50 oil. This oil in the belly during the video was a bit thin.

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