The T Man : Richards latest project. Suzuki T350II

Post date: Mar 17, 2015 6:8:15 AM

Hi Everybody. I thought it was about time to give Gazz a bit of material for the site. Also to show you all some more of what the Blue Haze crew get up to other than riding, but first a bit of background and nostalgia.The bike for this project is a Suzuki T350II. These have a bit of significance for me as it is the bike I started riding on. My brother Joe headed off to Aussie for a couple of years in the mid 70’s, and left me his T350II to use while he was away. This was bloody handy at the time as I had just turned 16 and was looking to buy my first bike, so I got to hold on to my cash for a bit longer.

The T350 went back to Joe when he came back in 1977. It then came back into my care again in the late 80’s and was in a bit of a sorry rusty state after sitting for a few years in Dads garage that was one street back from the beach. I did quite a bit of restoration on it but then house renovation and family kicked in and it didn’t really get finished.Joe got his T350II back off me a few years ago and is in the process of completing a fantastic nut and bolt correct restoration of it. We look forward to seeing it on a Blue Haze run, and in the website soon.

I already have a T350R in very rusty condition and needing full restoration. The boxy styling of the R never really did it for me, so it has never given me the motivation to do it. I needed a T350II and this project is not going to be a showroom restoration as we have one of them in the family already, but more of a mild custom. I found one on Trade Me a year ago. As with many of us I probably paid a bit much for buying by picture only. When it arrived it was in fairly accurate condition as described by the seller so no complaints there.

There was a problem though, the frame was from a T350J. The seller had been selling two T350’s so I contacted him and he gave me contact details for the buyer of the other one. Sure enough the frames had been swapped between the bikes. I stripped the bike down to the bare frame and the buyer of the other bike and I met up and swapped frames and other necessary parts. (Hi Grant if you read this.) We then both had bikes with matching frame and engine numbers. Cool.

Because of this I had not seen this frame in a bike so it was going to be very much a start from scratch build. As with any scratch build the first job is to make sure the frame is good before going any further. After checking for any bends, twists, dents or cracks I always mock up the frame with known good parts and make sure that spot on wheel alignment can be achieved. Also not forgetting to put the gas tank on and check the steering stops. This frame is a good one. I am happy. Don’t forget to check engine and swing arm mounts for ovalness. After this I check all threads and brackets to make sure it is going to be straight forward as assembly proceeds. I learned many years ago the feeling of finding problems with a frame after it has been painted or powder coated. It needs two small weld repairs on brackets and then it will be up for painting.

I have a very definite plan about how this bike is going to differ from standard. I will post updates as the project progresses and hope it turns out as good as I think it will.

To be continued..........