Long-Term Update

Long-Term Update

BMW R850R Tick, tock

WHEN LAST WE CHECKED IN ON our long-term BMW R850R (CW, October, 1996), we remarked that the unpretentious twincylinder roadster was racking up miles quicker than Amtrak. That pace slowed somewhat over the summer due to our busy new-bike testing schedule, but what hasn't changed is the Beemer's reliability-with regular oil changes, it continues to run like clockwork.

Immediately following our last update at 7238 miles, we replaced the well-worn stock Bridgestone tires with a set of Dunlop D205 Sportmax

Touring radials ($317/set). These offer comparable grip and wear rates, but are slightly stiffer in construction, which hopefully will prevent addition al dents in our testbike's wheels; one staffer hit a pothole and dinged the rear rim pretty good, but fortunately not bad enough to necessitate a replace ment ($714).

Otherwise, our Wunderboxer has been utterly trouble-free. We replaced the stock upswept muffler with a lower-slung Staintune slip-on ($ 1025 from CBT Imports, 800/782-4686), which gave the bike a throatier exhaust note and let us mount a full-size left side saddlebag from an R1100RS ($353). That done, our Beemer now has enough carrying capacity for two-up touring. Next up: suspension tweaks.

$8990

HONDA XR400 Small bike, big fun

THE MILES ARE CERTAINLY ADDING up quickly on our long-term Honda XR400R. And, so far, the route along the way has been very challenging; witness the deep gouges in the plastic fenders, the out-of round rims and the smashed lower frame tubes.

Despite all the rocks, ruts and the occasional surface-street pothole, the bike continues to perform well. Even so, we had the stock Showa suspension revalved and serviced ($285 from Scotts Performance Products, 818/248-2453). Given our tendency toward aggressive riding, we also had Scotts install heav ier, .41kg/rn Eibach fork springs ($80).

Carburetion complaints have result ed in a new needle (part number 160 12-NKK-000), which is part of a soon-to-be-released HRC Power-Up Kit ($1200). Honda recommends the third clip position, using the standard #162 main and #62 pilot with the exhaust diffuser removed.

Replacing the worn-out clutch is a Barnett kevlar "Dirt Digger" ($91), which comes with heavier-than-stock springs. Another recent addition, a Vortip muffler insert ($65 from Fineline Motosports, 714/842-9253), uses a trio of long, tube-like chambers to reduce noise and boost power. The latest change is a Baja Designs stator rewind ($85). Now, potential lighting output is a dazzling 250 watts. Hello? Baja calling...

$5099

SUZUKI GSX-R750 Living the hard life

S UZUKI'S WATERSHED GSX-R750, voted Best Superbike in Cycle World's annual Ten Best Bikes balloting, has gained great stature with roadracers and sportbike enthusiasts alike. But the this year's undisputed performance king has also had its share of problems.

Inadequate piston-to-cylinder head clearance on a number of early produc tion units resulted in a factory recall. Fortunately, Suzuki dealers were able to check squish without removing the cylinder head. If needed, the quick fix was a thicker head gasket.

Surface scoring between the wrist pin and the connecting rod small end has plagued a few GSX-R750s, includ ing our long-term testbike. Over time, our 750, recipient of a hasty break-in due to testing urgencies, had lost some of its initial steam. A leak-down test performed by a local shop revealed poor piston-ring sealing in three of the four cylinders. The ensuing top-end teardown revealed the con-rod dam age mentioned above. Suzuki covered our testbike's parts and labor under warranty, and updated rods with chamfered oil reliefs machined into the small end are now standard on the `97 model.

$8999