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Hey Folks,

I have been getting better with the TIG welder recently and I believe it's time to stiffen up this RD350 frame a bit. Is there any established thinking on where/how to add metal to maximize stiffness? I have seen a variety of things done on similar bikes at the racetrack and haven't been able to discern any best way...

Thanks in advance!

@ rlloydm

what diameter is that 996 rotor? might be interested in it if you decide to part w it. 

320 mm and I have two of them. Hell, I even machined a spacer for one. All yours if you're interested.

I had two of those disk/carrier combos on my TZ and swapped them out for a single stock TZ type when I sold it.  They are still gathering dust here somewhere.

BTW I have seen a few floating disks on RDs over the years with modified mounting bolts but the rider had to be careful to lightly apply the front brake in tech.

Hey if you'd like to lighten your load a bit, I'd love one of those carriers for the disc that I'm working on buying from DesmoDrew. PM me with details if you're interested in parting with it and can lay hands on it.

I wish I could make the 996 disc that i have laying right here work. I machined a spacer for it any everything before I realized that I can't read and that floating rotors are against the rules.

For example - what are these?





Asking the hive mind here because I can't find diddly

[So...]

Hey Folks,

Here's the deal - I'm racing with AHRMA these days and looking to do some tinkering over the coming off-season to bolster my mechanical advantage come next year.

The stock front brake rotor is a boat anchor, even drilled like mine. I have a Grimeca (Lockheed copy) caliper that I'll be using, so I have to make a caliper adapter anyway. As I see it, the sky's the limit for rotors as long as I play by the rulebook. I have a lathe and can turn an adapter if the offset needs to be adjusted outwards.

So... What's the best fixed rotor with an RD350 hub bolt pattern? I have looked and looked and can only find floating rotors, which are not allowed per the rulebook. Something larger and much thinner than stock would be ideal.

Thanks in advance!

Looks like he's got some other cool stuff tucked in the back - I see at least one monoshock TZ. Should probably know better than those prices but I guess a little fishing trip never hurt anyone.

I always stop to gawk at your bike at the track - beautiful work!

Question for you - do you not get any grief for not having any sort of fairing? I believe the rules stipulate that a F500 bike must be a "full GP replica" (even though no one in the class runs a lower fairing).

Is this what their site considers a kit.

Per Dave Swarbrick:

The RD400 race spec pipes are welded up in the body, you will have to weld on the mounting brackets and the flanged stinger tubes.



Pipes include..... cylinder stubs, springs, alloy silencers, mounting brackets, stinger tubes.

Price; £398.00 plus £109.00 air.

Delivery approx. 6 weeks.

The shipping was a bit shocking but the USD/£ exchange rate is more favorable than it used to be and with Dave's prices these still came out cheaper than SpecII or JL pipes. A racer that I trust told me that they perform better on track than either of those options, as well. Not sure how they'd be for street use.

Just received my pair for my RD400 in the mail and wondering why there's not more chatter about these. Dave was a perfect gentlemen to deal with and the price was very right compared to the competition. Made to order, but he got them to me in just about the 6 weeks that was promised.

I'll be welding the stingers and hangers up soon and should have the bike back on the race track either June or August. Will report back on results.

Terrible picture, I know, but I'll take some more as things progress if there's any interest.

Did they weld the frame up around the motor? I don't see how you could possibly get it out of there.

Reminds me a bit of the Team Classic Suzuki videos except you're in a fellow enthusiasts shed. I'd love it if there were more content out there like this.

Just sharing a really cool video that Youtube suggested to me today. Not a lot of views yet so I wager most of you haven't seen it:

Hey Mark - I remember some of your posts from the old forum. What AHRMA rounds will you be running this year? I race an RD in the Novice Production class. Would love to come check out your parts in person.

I'm planning on High Plains, Heartland, and Laguna Seca for sure. Maybe Barber if I can get away that long.

What about you?

I'm NC based so I mostly stick to this coast. Have a kid on the way any day now so that's bound to impact my racing season but I'm thinking (in addition to already running Roebling): NJ, IL, & Barber. I'll be pleased if I make NR or IL and qualify for Barber.

If I do, I'll come find you in the pits!

- Lloyd

my rd w reversed brake. bit over the top but i like it.

What alloy did you use for that bracket? I need to make one up and was hoping to use 7075 but the price is ten times that of 6061.