commuting on an RG500

Petrol prices and good weather found me commuting to work on a little
classic that normally only sees the weekends. Upon lane splitting to
front I discovered just how out of practice i was at launching it off
the line (used to a VTR1000 by comparison!). Got it right the third time
and...Yipee! cross intersection, frontwheel reaching skyward..well not
quite must've been few inches of air under it!

I don't think I'm all that much in front economy-wise over the tintop -
but damn it's a fun start to the day! Trouble is few more kms and it
might due for its first decoke (it's pretty 'original' in cond ;-)

http://www.netspeed.com.au/mark/rg500.html

 

I did the sums a while back. On kilometres per litre, the bike goes about
twice as far. Throw the weight of the vehicles + operators into the
equation, and the tintop (2 litre efi) is about twice as fuel efficient
as the bike (1 litre carburettored). ZZR250 was really no more fuel
efficient (on either measure) than the yzf1000.

GB

 

I was commuting on the RZ500 for a while (and due to a minor
indiscretion on the highway I'll soon be commuting on a
mountainbike...) but the smoke from the worn crank seal was too
embarrasing so I've parked it for a while as I ponder how to replace
the seal without splitting the cases.

Decoke? Only if you're using the original two stroke oil or BP Zoom or
something Modern oils produce 4/5th of 3 parts of **** all carbon
deposits when fed in at the right ratio (i.e bugger all).

Cheers.

 

I commuted on the RZ500 for quite a while. The biggest problem was
how hot the seat became in slow traffic (Sydney). Great fun if you
could
get enough air-flow though. At stop lights, I tended to stand up to
keep
my bum off of the seat.

Rob.

 

Agreed, it's bloody fantastic in winter though (could be perfect with a
set of heated grips).

 

Hmmm...

Beaded taxi-driver-style seat covers, perhaps?

- Bob.

 

Hi Cudex,

This is a little uncanny. I'm in the same position. I have a VTR1000
which I"ve had for about 9 months. Very happy with it, but I'm a
stroker at heart. I've got an RGV track bike, and a big reliable XJ
Yammy to get me around so the VTR is only a fun bike.

I'm looking at getting an RG500. How do you find it compared to the
VTR? Would be chalk and cheese! yes? Nice RG by the way!

I'm still looking for mine. Hard to fine.

Have you made any changes to yours? Suspension? Chambers?

James

 

They're certainly drying up...apparently there's a market for the motors
which find their way into 500cc speedway or similar.
I also like torquey motors, had over the years: Pantah 500 -> Suzi
GS1000 & 1100 -> GRSXR1100L -> Paso 906 -> VTR1000 but also the thrill
of powerband i.e few DTs and Yama RD air and LC strokers.

The Gamma slotted in after the Pantah, bought in '89 from the orig
purchaser complete with receipts, owners/factory workshop manuals etc.
Old man stored in '93 after I sold it to him...bought it back in March
'05...fluid/gbox oil change, new rubber, balance carbs, check oil pump
and presto back on the road.

Wouldn't rev above 4,500k tho so found a straight bit of road 30 mins
later much better, tho still little choked up. 7-10k rpm blast from
Canberra to Coast and WOW! different bike: all cleared, much sharper
note and much more responsive even <5k rpms, but I still have dried out
the pipes - I think I need trackeotk for that as traffic becomes problem
on public roads.

Due to original kms, it's left completely stock..gotta watch for the
tank-slappers ;-( The thing that gets the adrenaline going is, apart
from the great kick of powerband from 7k, the howling (but still
respectable - it's 4cyl after-all) 2stroke note - love it!

I'm hankering after a big-twin for couple of reasons
1. pipes = beautiful thumping note
2. torque suitable for two-up...RG + pillion is just a pain...@154kg
it's just all messed up 2up
3. VTR1000 seems reliable, cheap to own and lots of fun. I asked dealer
about an SP1 going for $18 or 19k here in Canberra but they virutally
talked me out of it saying get the pipes, jetting and forks done on a
VTR was better proposition for commuting and weekend runs.

Mark.