New Project SB200
-
zapo
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2013 5:07 pm
- Location: Near Derby
Re: New Project SB200
Oh "Guinness" ..........I thought it said "Genius"
I had two stroke's and survived.
-
Cam68
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2024 4:41 pm
Re: New Project SB200
Great looking SB200, Richard. I'm picking up a cafe racer style SB200 (nowhere near as nice as yours) in about week's time. I want to change the SB's 4 speed to 5 speed (X5 gearbox). I am also wondering if it's worth picking up a pair of X5 carbs (22mm Mikunis) as the SB200's are smaller (18mm). The bike's got spannies slipped onto the front pipes (no idea from what, maybe RG250?) so it sounds awesome and bigger carbs make sense in my tinkerer's mind!! I was wondering if you used x5 carbs and if it was an easy swap for 4 to 5 speed gearbox (any fannying around with sprocket sizes)? Also was it hard to get the rev counter to work on the SB loom? The 2 clocks looks great (I was thinking of picking up a set of GP100 clocks as these will look better than the SB commuter dash and are pretty cheap on ebay). Any tips learnt from your conversion would be a big help. I'll post some pics when she's in my 'man garage'.
-
Mrgf1
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2025 11:38 pm
Re: New Project SB200
Hi. I’ve only just joined this forum as I’ve recently purchased an SB200, knowing little about them and not finding out much either. I started my riding life, on a Suzuki A50P, vial in the late 70’s, after buying it from a neighbour for £160, making me I think, the 4th owner. Had it a year and a half, used daily and sold it fir £180 to another friend, who was happy to pay more for an unrestricted model. (His mum didn’t know this).
I then had a well used Suzuki A100N, owned it for around 10 years used off and on but eventually bit the bullet and took a full bike licence test. I moved away from two-strikes, purchasing a used Kawasaki EN450LTD (U.K. spec, not gutless USA). Ryan that a few years, then went to look at a Yamaha XV535 Virago, thinking it to be bigger, newer, etc but it felt like a tiny little thing so I sat on the XV750, which felt very similar in size and weight, to the Kawasaki. So I decided to upgrade again but on reading reviews, I went for the bigger capacity XV1100, used yet again. I had that for many years, becoming a driving instructor some while during ownership, so ended up barely using it. A neighbour’s dad kept asking if I’d sell it, which I always declined but in one occasion, whilst I was doing a little cleaning, battery charging and running it, he asked again and as the dreaded ULEZ hit London, I sold it and did so far too cheap. Very soon after selling it, I regretted it and also discovered Riverbank Morircycles could have tested and certified the bike as being ULEZ compliant, for around £200. Doh!
So recently, having been without two wheels, I started to get the itch all motorcyclists get…wanting to be back on two wheels! I thought to go back to the beginning but A50p’s are far too expensive to ride, A100’s fairly fee and far between and both still a little too small. I then spotted an SB on eBay. A bit pricey, I thought so let it go, spotted another on Bike Trader, better price similar condition. Just as I was trying to email the seller, I had email issues, which once sorted, the bike was sold. After that, I realised how much I wanted it so was a little sad but literally, a day or so before Christmas, the ship re-advertised the bike, minus its rear carrier. I emailed them, initially thinking it was another SB, but they told me it was indeed the same one, where the buyer,a local, who was going to do winter recommissioning, he then spotted a classic Honda, which floated his boat more so he ended up PX-I g the Suzuki, which is where I come in. I was fortunate enough to get the guy to return the Carrie, so I got that, along with delivery to London, for the initial asking price plus £50. Still a good deal as it was based up North.
Not everything in the bike is original, being 35 years old, that’s not surprising but it’s still a nice little classic. I’m trying to keep it close to factory but added a front brake lever operated brake light myself after finding the correct part that fitted the aperture that Suzuit saw fit to supply, without fitting the switch. A little wiring from the switch to the rear brake switches wires, I now have a brake light that operates from both the front and the brake brake levers but still appears stock!
So now, whilst planning a few rides, in never weather, I’d be really grateful if anyone can advise me of any actual SB200 forums, owners clubs, etc and any advise, upgrades, etc that may be worthwhile improvements to a sweet little machine. (5 speed gears, electric start seem viable but I’ve no idea how hard they would be to source and fit). Anyway, if you’ve made it to the end of this post, thanks for your patience and best wishes.
I then had a well used Suzuki A100N, owned it for around 10 years used off and on but eventually bit the bullet and took a full bike licence test. I moved away from two-strikes, purchasing a used Kawasaki EN450LTD (U.K. spec, not gutless USA). Ryan that a few years, then went to look at a Yamaha XV535 Virago, thinking it to be bigger, newer, etc but it felt like a tiny little thing so I sat on the XV750, which felt very similar in size and weight, to the Kawasaki. So I decided to upgrade again but on reading reviews, I went for the bigger capacity XV1100, used yet again. I had that for many years, becoming a driving instructor some while during ownership, so ended up barely using it. A neighbour’s dad kept asking if I’d sell it, which I always declined but in one occasion, whilst I was doing a little cleaning, battery charging and running it, he asked again and as the dreaded ULEZ hit London, I sold it and did so far too cheap. Very soon after selling it, I regretted it and also discovered Riverbank Morircycles could have tested and certified the bike as being ULEZ compliant, for around £200. Doh!
So recently, having been without two wheels, I started to get the itch all motorcyclists get…wanting to be back on two wheels! I thought to go back to the beginning but A50p’s are far too expensive to ride, A100’s fairly fee and far between and both still a little too small. I then spotted an SB on eBay. A bit pricey, I thought so let it go, spotted another on Bike Trader, better price similar condition. Just as I was trying to email the seller, I had email issues, which once sorted, the bike was sold. After that, I realised how much I wanted it so was a little sad but literally, a day or so before Christmas, the ship re-advertised the bike, minus its rear carrier. I emailed them, initially thinking it was another SB, but they told me it was indeed the same one, where the buyer,a local, who was going to do winter recommissioning, he then spotted a classic Honda, which floated his boat more so he ended up PX-I g the Suzuki, which is where I come in. I was fortunate enough to get the guy to return the Carrie, so I got that, along with delivery to London, for the initial asking price plus £50. Still a good deal as it was based up North.
Not everything in the bike is original, being 35 years old, that’s not surprising but it’s still a nice little classic. I’m trying to keep it close to factory but added a front brake lever operated brake light myself after finding the correct part that fitted the aperture that Suzuit saw fit to supply, without fitting the switch. A little wiring from the switch to the rear brake switches wires, I now have a brake light that operates from both the front and the brake brake levers but still appears stock!
So now, whilst planning a few rides, in never weather, I’d be really grateful if anyone can advise me of any actual SB200 forums, owners clubs, etc and any advise, upgrades, etc that may be worthwhile improvements to a sweet little machine. (5 speed gears, electric start seem viable but I’ve no idea how hard they would be to source and fit). Anyway, if you’ve made it to the end of this post, thanks for your patience and best wishes.