Black Betty

Started by CaminoRacer, April 24, 2016, 01:34:59 PM

CaminoRacer

2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

MexicoCityM3

Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

Gotta-Qik-C7

2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

CaminoRacer

Bought it in ebay 2 weeks ago, picked it up today. I can only assume that the El Camino committed suicide because it realized I was getting a new toy. :lol:

It's a 1977 Suzuki GS550, only 8k miles and looks practically brand new. I don't have many customization plans, although as time goes on it may get more and more cafe racer looking. Slimmer gauges would look nice, but I like all the info on the current ones. A new front fork with inverted shocks and dual discs is definitely a possibility down the road, as well as 4-1 exhaust pipe.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

12,000 RPM

Man that thing looks brand fucking new. Good find
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

CaminoRacer

The clutch is crazy heavy. I'll have to add finger curls to the gym routine. :lol:
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

12,000 RPM

As old as that thing is, clutch cable (?) might just need some lube, or a full on replacement. My clutch lever was heavy AF... I changed the cable and now it feels like a toy.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

CaminoRacer

That's a good possibility. I'll check it out later
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

Cookie Monster

You can always get a cable luber if the cable itself is in good condition still.
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R


CaminoRacer

Rode it around the block a few times. :wub:

The shifter is perfect, way better than the KTM 390 Duke that I sat on. It's got plenty of power and rides smoothly. Brakes are a little weak, but with a single front disc and rear drum that's to be expected.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

MX793

Weak brakes are a trademark of that vintage of bike.  My brother has a pair of bikes of that era.  Even his CB750, which has twin front rotors, takes a lot more effort on the lever to get the kind of braking one finger will get you on a modern bike.  I've concluded weak brakes were a form of early ABS.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

Cookie Monster

Yeah, even my '99 Nighthawk had crappy brakes. I remember being so amazed by the brakes on my F4i. :lol:
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

Gotta-Qik-C7

Those gauges remind me of the Honda MB5 I learned how to ride one! I wish I had one of those again for shits and giggles!
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

12,000 RPM

WTF that shit is clean as fuck bro
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

giant_mtb


CaminoRacer

Quote from: Gotta-Qik-G8 on April 26, 2016, 02:48:28 PM
Those gauges remind me of the Honda MB5 I learned how to ride one! I wish I had one of those again for shits and giggles!

I'll race you if you ride one of those instead of your gixxer. :lol:
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

CaminoRacer

I'll have to find a way to test the A/F ratio. With the El Camino I tuned the carb to work at both ~700 feet and ~4500 feet above sea level. It runs a little lean in Cincinnati and a little rich in Utah. But that's a big single carb vs. tiny quad carbs, so I'm not sure if it's gonna be more sensitive and require tuning.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

giant_mtb

Carbs?  Easy. You just mess with screws til it runs right, right?

MX793

Synchronizing and balancing carbs is a PITA.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

giant_mtb

Quote from: MX793 on April 26, 2016, 06:39:37 PM
Synchronizing and balancing carbs is a PITA.

I can imagine. One carb is enough to keep me occupied, not to mention four separate carbs on the same motor.  Fuck thaaaaaat. :mask:

Seems to be running fine, though?  So far. 

CaminoRacer

Luckily they were recently rebuilt and synched. I'll check the plug color tomorrow and then ride it around for a few days and check them again to make sure they aren't too lean.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

CaminoRacer

#22
Quote from: giant_mtb on April 26, 2016, 06:31:33 PM
Carbs?  Easy. You just mess with screws til it runs right, right?

Altitude adjustments require changing the jets (or metering rods, as is the case on my car). Then you break out the quad vacuum gauge and mess with screws to tune/synch them.

But with a ~3,000 feet difference, you're usually able to split the difference and it'll run nicely (/nice enough) in both places. It seems to be the consensus that a motor tuned for sea level won't see much issue until 5-6,000 feet. It'll be a bit down on power at 4,000 feet, but that's pretty much unavoidable unless you turbocharge it.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

MrH

Carbs sound miserable :lol:
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

Raza

Quote from: MrH on April 26, 2016, 07:51:21 PM
Carbs sound miserable :lol:

I've been trying to cut carbs lately, but it's difficult during finals period. 
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
If you can read this, you're too close


2006 BMW Z4 3.0i
http://accelerationtherapy.squarespace.com/   @accelerationdoc
Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PM
It's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

CaminoRacer

#25
Quote from: MrH on April 26, 2016, 07:51:21 PM
Carbs sound miserable :lol:

I both like and dislike them. Being able to tune the engine without relying on a computer is awesome, but there's a learning curve and obviously you have to tinker with them instead of being a one-time tune. I actually think it's easier than most people portray it as. I'm not sure if those people just haven't read up on tuning tips or have feet for hands, but carbs are relatively simple mechanisms. There are lots of little screws and parts, but if you made a diagram for the process it'd be simple.

I would have bought a fuel injected bike out of laziness, but there aren't many in my price range that I like. My next bike will probably have FI (either a naked SV650 or a Bonneville/Scrambler)
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

CaminoRacer

Quote from: Raza  on April 26, 2016, 07:52:07 PM
I've been trying to cut carbs lately, but it's difficult during finals period. 

I tried a low carb/sugar diet for a few days but didn't have time to prep low carb meals every day during the semester.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

Raza

Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 26, 2016, 08:12:21 PM
I tried a low carb/sugar diet for a few days but didn't have time to prep low carb meals every day during the semester.

Low carb is difficult unless you pretty much prepare every meal yourself. 
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
If you can read this, you're too close


2006 BMW Z4 3.0i
http://accelerationtherapy.squarespace.com/   @accelerationdoc
Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PM
It's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

Gotta-Qik-C7

Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 26, 2016, 05:10:06 PM
I'll race you if you ride one of those instead of your gixxer. :lol:
:ducks:

Quote from: Raza  on April 26, 2016, 09:28:25 PM
Low carb is difficult unless you pretty much prepare every meal yourself. 
Pretty much!

2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

CaminoRacer

Here's a pretty good video. I think the biggest PITA is just accessing the carbs. Most bikes you'll have to remove the tank and seat.

http://youtu.be/KHGPqP6G9cA
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV