About 2 weeks ago I spotted an add for a 1995 Suzuki Across. The bike was registered but was down on power. The engine started first go, all electrics were operational so we did the deal. Got the bike home and started looking and dismantling. Pulled the air box out and yes it was oil impregnated as per usual. Off with the carbs and time to clean these babies up. To my surprise one side was spotless, guess there's a first for everything. Moved onto the second carb, also very clean but as I lifted the diaphragm and checked it for deteroration noticed that one needle came out and not the other, very strange. Tipped the carb upside down and out came the needle in 3 pieces(shock horror). Now I know why it was down on power and 2 spark plug leads were arking as well. Quick call to Chris and some parts needed were on there way. Whilst I waited for the parts I performed my customary clean up of the bike, several cans of degreaser later she was looking much better. I had removed every fairing on the bike and promptly waxed everything to a grand shine. She may not go hard but she sure looks the part. The following day my parts arrived and keen as ever to see if this new needle would fix the power issue. Reinstalled the carbs and started the bike up, so far so good. So put the seat on and drove her down the road for a test ride, alas my joy was short lived as The tacho reached 7000rpm's and refused to go any higher. I looked down at the engine and realised that I had failed to put the air box on so air/fuel mixture was probably about 1000 to 1. Back in the garage the clean air box and filter were fitted, time for another test ride and this time joy as she rev ed freely, simple things renew my faith. One must know ones limitation and fine tuning was a job for my mechanic, Jason at Redline Motorcycles. So I put the mirrors on as well as the indicators and decided to ride down to my mechanic. Looking at the bike I wondered if I could be pulled over for "INDICENT EXPOSURE" as this was past being a naked, she was positively NUDE. Off I went and made the journey without any problem, pulled straight into the workshop, very pleased with my accomplishment. Jason came over and looked and told me she was running on 3 pots only. How can you tell, I asked, feel the exhaust on no1, sure enough stone cold. The lead I had fixed earlier was cracked further along. Fixed in minutes and started her up, started to sound much better and then armed with a screw driver Jason started to perform his magic in fine tuning the carbs, 3 minutes later and the magician had completed his task. The sound was so smooth, the power delivery unreal and I took my nude back on the road, this time she had SOUL. The following day was spent fitting all fairings and ancillaries on the bike and before long I had a great looking machine ready to ride. This morning I took her out for a ride and got some very favourable comments from people that saw her, I was well pleased. Cheers Phil
nice write up Phil, good to hear its sorted, now lets see some pics. as always, happy to help out with some parts When I heard the across was ridden down to the mechanic to get the carb's sorted as a naked, I kept thinking you should bolt on a pair of chrome head lights and go for the streetfighter look 8) Chris
Here are some photos when I bought it, then how it looks after some elbow grease. enjoy the ride ! Phil
thats one sweet looking Across, in saying that it looks like a "sleeper" , looking at that last photo, you need to double take to work out what bike it is. Chris
