One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100

Abhyjith K.A · 20th February 2023, 18:45

Passion drives us to do a lot of things. Passion makes us reason away our chronicles, however irrational and illogical they may be. But at the end of the day, it's all always worth it. Always. No exceptions whatsoever.

It's already been a year. Time flies faster than one can ever ride. Time always flies fast when one does something in tune with what one desires. Even if one's weapon of choice is a dinky little 100cc two-stroke from two decades ago, who's roots trace back nearly double that ago.

The 20th of February, 2022 was when I finally took the plunge and got myself, what I call, my little conqueror. It's the 20th of February, 2023 now. Do I regret my decision? Have I been conquered by my conqueror or are we still standing side by side, hand on handlebar, looking forwards to conquering the horizon, together?

I titled this thread, 'The Reality' and not something like 'The Harsh Reality'. That in itself should say a lot. The fact of the matter is, although there were harsh moments, I'd say the experience as a whole was delightful in general, with just a few caveats, that we'll get into.

For all those considering two-stroke ownership in a time when everything is talked about turning electric and eco-friendly and whatnot, my advice is to go ahead with it. My dad used to own a Maroon Red Yamaha RX 100 that he purchased brand new in the 90s after getting started with his career in the government. He sold the same motorcycle in the early 2000s, around the time I was born, after years of blissful, trouble-free ownership, despite constantly pushing it to its limits throughout his ownership of it. Why so? The possibility of two-strokes getting banned.

Fast forward about 20 years, his son goes ahead and gets himself a two-stroke as well. Why so? The possibility of two-strokes getting banned.

It's not as simple as that. If I never had this rational or irrational thought of our wonderful machines getting banned, I'd probably have been more patient and got my set of wheels later when I could comfortably do so. But oh no, a twenty-year-old college student has to go ahead and do it, lest his passion becomes history in a matter of time. Does he regret it? Not in the least. In fact, he's proud of himself for it!

Two-Strokes are simple machines. That is a fact. But at the end of the day, we all start out as amateurs and require guidance from those in the know. I have been tremendously lucky in this regard. My friend who's into two-strokes himself, helped me a lot in getting my bike and teaching me how to use it properly. I have also been lucky in finding good mechanics who can work on these machines. Probably the fact that I live in the great city, has been a lucky guiding factor as well. For those interested in two-stroke ownership, ensure you always have a knowledgeable helping hand before you take the plunge. This is practical thinking for what may be an impractical affair.

Why did I choose a Max 100 among the sea of other two-strokes? Two reasons. Cost & Personalization Potential. Currently, the Max 100 is the most affordable two-stroke you can find that's a proper motorcycle and not a moped or a scooter. Good choice for a college student on a tight budget. When it comes to Personalization Potential, the bland, demure nature of the Max 100 and the fact that they were mass-produced and quite common makes me feel not guilty about altering it to my tastes and making it my own. My goal from the beginning was to make it, my blank canvas for showcasing my creativity. I'm just slowly getting started on that front. Automotive design is a topic close to my heart.

I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable in doing the same to an RX, an AX, a KB, or any other two-stroke that's becoming rarer than ever and are historical treasures. Sure, RXs aren't particularly rare, but I feel they were so well designed from the factory itself that they don't require any design changes whatsoever. As far as I've seen, most modification work on RXs only make them worse-looking. The only exception to this rule being RXZs. But those have shot through the sky in terms of market value.

Yes, the Max 100 isn't really a looker at all when it's bone stock. That's why I have personalised mine. She's a beauty to my eye in her current state. She's got a piano black Yezdi Roadking's headlamp dome with the grill, she's currently sporting timeless RX mirrors, she has the round tail lamp of the first generation AVL Thunderbird, her seat has been beautifully reworked in a step-pattern, with a hand-stitched coffee brown cover with gold diamond quilting. To go with the seat is the beautiful tank cover, again hand-made with the same material and colour as the seat. The brown beautifully complements the dark forest green shade of the tank and side panels, whose stickers I have removed for a clean, classic look. Apart from all this and the side-box, she's bone stock in every other regard. But these little things in themselves, make all the difference. I have further plans for a wonderful paint and colour scheme that I'll update here as well.

As for the mechanicals, I had the engine fully opened and rebuilt from the ground up, earlier this January. It was about time that it required it. Let's talk about the backstory.

When I bought my bike last year, I unknowingly ran it for about 15 kms without oil, the folly being pointed out by my friend on meeting with him. As far as I know, this has been happening under the previous owner as well too. He was relying on the oil pump, but the pipelines were in fact, not even connected. You can read the full story on my first thread of the same. As a result, the engine had indeed taken quite a beating. But on the application of pre-mix in the tank, she soldiered along like nothing had ever happened. That's how my bike runs to this very day.

Then in July last year, she seized up on a slightly longer trip. Dropped off my friend at an NCC camp and while returning, she went. I was pre-mixing 40ml of 2T oil per litre of petrol and wringing her neck on the highway. It was 8 PM and the highway near the airport was free and I was making the most of it. Right when I was descending the ramp, was when she cut out. In hindsight, I should have simply pulled over and waited for some time for her to cool down. But I tried roll-starting her again and again as we were already coasting at speed. Then I finally pulled over and waited for 10 minutes for her to cool down. Lo & behold, she fired right back up on the second kick!

But my joy was short-lived since she would go fine for about a kilometre or so, and then cut out again, making me wait for her to cool down again and again. Then, I thought that's that and I had a heavy bill on my hands.

When I took her to my mechanic, he simply took out some 20W40 and poured it in the tank, and told me to ride her as it is and that it'll be fine. He told me to add extra 2T oil in the tank and she'll keep on going. No need to open up an engine that can still run. I didn't believe him, but when I rode her after that, she went on as if nothing happened! I kept the speed below 50 kph for about a week and after that, I let loose and found out she was still going fine as if nothing happened. What a pleasant surprise that was.

The next fill-up came and I was thinking of the oil ratio to use. Since 20W40 is thicker than 2T, I thought I may have to add 100 ml/litre to match it. Tried it and it worked a charm. For all the seniors reading this and possibly facepalming or shaking their heads in disbelief, yes, this is exactly what I did and this is how I rode her for the next seven months. And no, I never experienced spark plug failure at all. But I still kept a spare plug and plug spanner always with me, just in case. I rode her like this, every single day for my daily commute. And even on long trips. Including my trip to Pondicherry that I wrote about here. Yes, on a semi-seized engine. Long live two-strokes!

Then, this January, while I was on my way to college, she suddenly started bogging down (The same way she feels when she runs out of fuel). But I had filled her up just the previous day. She slowed down gradually and stopped responding to my throttle inputs. Then, I looked into the mirrors as I pulled over only to be able to see nothing behind me. That's how much smoke was behind me. I instinctively knew that was the end of the line. Thankfully I was just 4 kms from college and pushed her to the campus. After college, we used my friend's Classic 350 to tow her to my mechanic, who confirmed what I already knew. So, there she spent another week getting fixed.

The tragedy here was that I couldn't participate in the Vintage Rider Motorcycles 2023 Event. The ride to spread awareness on drug addiction and child abuse. The same ride in which more than 1500 classic motorcycles participated, the majority being two-strokes. I had already registered for participating, but now, couldn't bring her as she couldn't be made ready on time. I ended up going to the event anyway, as a visitor. Trust me, it's truly painful to be in such a situation.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_090553759_hdr.jpg

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_090146336_hdr.jpg

Group rides are just so soul-satisfying!

Let's take a look at some of the highlights :

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_065939138_hdr.jpg

A sea of Bullets, complemented by the mythical Yezdis.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_064200288.jpg

The Jawas. Close to my heart.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_070236380_hdr.jpg

Two-stroke scooters. Vespas and Chetaks. Unfortunately no Lambrettas this time. Beauties.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_070305305_hdr.jpg

The Yamaha RD350s. Possibly the greatest motorcycle ever manufactured in India. God knows what they were thinking when they decided to bring this masterpiece to our shores. I'm truly glad they did!

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_064554950.jpg

The Vintage BSA along with the good old Mk1 Amby. Aesthetics.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230108_050818401_ll.jpg

The Suzukis, Yamahas, Hondas and Kawasakis! Japanese gems.

On the positive side, my pride & joy was getting a new makeover! I went and purchased the aforementioned Roadking Headlamp and Thunderbird Taillamp and gave them to my mechanic for installation. The headlamp is a direct fit while the taillamp requires slight modification on the rear mudguard, but something pretty easy to do. She was running Honda CB Shine mirrors at that time. So I switched back to the stock, rectangular Max 100 mirrors. I also got some leatherette handle grip wraps in the same brown colour as the seat to complete the look. The wraps look beautiful, as well as keep your palms comfortable. The stock grips when used bare, always result in calluses on the palms and hurt to ride for more than 100 kilometres straight.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230110_145557365.jpg

The Roadking Headlamp installed

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230110_145619834.jpg

The Thunderbird Taillamp installed

As for the engine itself, I got quite a lengthy bill. But that was expected. When it was opened up, it was running a cheap local piston on the 0.25 mm size, meaning it had been rebored once and had been run on quite a tight budget. So the 40k kilometres on the odo when I got her may as well have even been 140k. I wouldn't be surprised either way. The crank was severely imbalanced and the rod was moving the wrong way. There was lots of play on the clutch bell as well.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230109_143428044_ll.jpg

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230109_143410164.jpg

The engine completely disassembled and new parts sourced

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230110_145453506.jpg

The engine after assembly has been almost done. Just bolting the head back on.

While reboring and lathe work on the crank and clutch is not too costly as a whole, the other parts just kept adding up. I usually don't do this, but for the sake of helping out those who want to start on the two-stroke journey, here's the summary :

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230220_1833576502.jpg

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230220_1834092942.jpg

This is the initial cost for refurbishment right when I bought her last year.

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img_20230131_164919352.jpg

This is the cost for rebuilding the engine this year. Including lathe work, it totaled to 11.39k. In hindsight, I could have saved a lot of money if I had gotten it fixed at the earliest. They say the wise learn from others' mistakes. Hopefully, my experience helps aspiring two-stroke enthusiasts know the reality of two-stroke ownership. On other machines, the rates will vary for sure.

Now, she's running a 0.5 mm Sam piston and the engine has been reworked thoroughly. Whenever you rebuild an engine, it's important to run it in properly and carefully for about 1500 kms. My mechanic suggested 500 kms is enough, but I felt the engine still had more of opening up and freeing up to do even after that. But after I passed the 500 km mark, I did start slowly opening up the throttle more and more. She's still a treat to ride, save for some jerking during coasting, owing to what I guess, is the new and tight piston that'll eventually loosen up and settle in.

For those who desire to start the two-stroke journey, let's talk about actual running costs. So far, I haven't talked anything about costs before. But my calculations say I have spent right about 45k on my bike including the purchase, restoration, document renewal, and rebuilding the engine, as well as for the personalizations. If we take the personalizations out of the picture and just visualise a bone-stock motorcycle, then we end up with what is in fact, quite excellent value for money. This is the figure for one year. She's quite economical on fuel and returns 40-50 kmpl in the city depending on how gentle I am with the throttle, and almost always gives 60 kmpl plus on the highway. Service costs depend on your mechanic. The sheer number of these bikes still running around fine, despite being in completely neglected condition with nothing else other than the engine working on them, is a testament to their toughness. However, you have to follow a strict maintenance schedule if you want to keep the machine pristine.

This is the maintenance schedule I personally follow :

1) Every 2500 kms, change the transmission oil, clean and lubricate the chain, and clean or replace the air filter.

2) For every 5000 kms, do the above, as well as do a full carb clean, get the silencer cleaned, and replace the spark plug. Check the brakes if they require work on them. Do it as and when required.

3) Replace the clutch and throttle cables once every 6 months as they are prone to snapping and giving way without warning. Happened with the clutch cable already for me. Better be safe than sorry. Similarly, replace the fuel pipes once every six months.

4) Routinely check the tyres for wear and maintain good tyre pressure. I usually keep 25 PSI at the front and 35 PSI at the rear and always use Nitrogen. I do this once every two weeks at the fuel station.

5) Always wipe your pride and joy clean with a microfiber cloth every morning. You won't have to do water washes this way. Lesser chance for rusting. On the shiny parts, you can use chalk powder and the cloth on occasion, maybe once a month, to maintain the shine.

6) I use 40 ml/litre of 2T oil as pure pre-mix in the tank in the city and 70 ml/litre on the highway for long periods of fast cruising. This applies only for the Max 100. I don't substitute 2T oil for 20W40 or 20W50 like some people do, but may give it a try one day. I always use properly branded and contained 2T oil that come in 500ml bottles and not the loose kind in fuel stations. I already wrote about that on my other thread on touring.

Do all of this consistently and your little two-stroke will serve you well for ages. Mind you, different bikes require different maintenance schedules, but for the Max 100, this works well, as far as I've seen. It always starts up every morning on the second kick and serves me well as my daily ride. Just make sure it's properly warmed up before letting the throttle loose.

As far as the documentation is concerned, I never faced a single hiccup in getting the Fitness Certificate, Pollution Under Control Certificate, or insurance. My bike is a lifetime tax vehicle, so that was a blessing too. My bike always passed the pollution test with ease and I employed the services of my agent for getting the Fitness Certificate renewed till 2027. It's only an issue for bikes with long periods of expired registration. The fines have increased a lot since March last year. So, you may have to put aside money for that, depending on how old your bike is. But I'd suggest you do it immediately and always keep your motorcycle road legal. As far as what I spent, it cost me 3.5k for the FC, 1.5k for the name transfer, 1k for the insurance and 100 or 200 rupees for the PUC (Don't remember). My motorcycle now has the Smartcard RC as well.

What I've learned the most is that it's becoming more and more important to take care of our older vehicles as the quality of the vast majority of spares we find these days are on a decline. There is little to no manufacturer support and the aftermarket supply of spare parts just can't match the quality of OEM spares. Since I got myself a fairly common two-stroke and since I live in a metropolitan city, I never faced much trouble in finding spares. Facebook marketplace and groups are also a good spot for hunting rare spares, but its always advised to use these resources with caution and at your own risk. For those with rarer bikes, it's best to build a good network by joining the regional rider clubs to help each other out when it comes to maintenance and also for having fun, organising group rides together.

All in all, I'd say the journey was entirely worth it so far and has kept me always coming back for more. So yes, I'm happy to declare that I'm part of the small number of the younger generation who has had the privilege of enjoying two-stroke ownership right around the time these machines are shooting up in value. Yes, I'm truly grateful for everything she's given me. Nothing is more precious than wonderful memories to cherish forever!

One year of Two-Stroke ownership | The reality of these times | Suzuki Max 100-img20230217wa0028.jpg

TheHelix0202 · 20th February 2023, 19:43

Lovely documentation. Enjoyed your storytelling. Enjoy the bike for many safe miles, cheers!

Abhyjith K.A · 22nd February 2023, 04:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHelix0202

Lovely documentation. Enjoyed your storytelling. Enjoy the bike for many safe miles, cheers!

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it

rajeevsulu · 22nd February 2023, 05:12

Nice writing! Yours is a labour of love. I remember my Rx100 which I bought in 1987 and kept it with me till 2006 when I sold it off. These machines are easy to maintain and run. I got the bike rebored and painted thrice. Nostalgia!! Enjoy your ride!!

Abhyjith K.A · 22nd February 2023, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajeevsulu

Nice writing! Yours is a labour of love. I remember my Rx100 which I bought in 1987 and kept it with me till 2006 when I sold it off. These machines are easy to maintain and run. I got the bike rebored and painted thrice. Nostalgia!! Enjoy your ride!!

Thank you! Indeed, it has been. Old two-strokes are so soulful. My dad had nothing but praises for his RX100 as well. These machines always leave a long standing impression on us forever. Something quite rare to find these days.

Pennant1970 · 23rd February 2023, 14:51

I used to own an Ind-Suzuki AX 100R. The first bike I bought after I got my first proper job. It was second hand and blue in colour. The 'R' designation stood for the battery on board. It was a 1987 model and I bought it in 1994. I can still remember the high pitched exhaust note as the revs climbed. And I too changed the headlight to the Yezdi one and had the exhaust filter cut in half for sound and power. It was scary riding it on the highway as it went past heavy vehicles - and exhilarating too. Had it repainted in black with my own version of white and red decals.

Sold it off as I moved jobs and cities. Nice memories. Hope you make your own as you go along. Cheers.

justin.das · 23rd February 2023, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Attachment 2420769

Passion drives us to do a lot of things. Passion makes us reason away our chronicles, however irrational and illogical they may be. But at the end of the day, it's all always worth it. Always. No exceptions whatsoever.

Absolutely agree with that point. Passion is what keeps us alive in our routine life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Two-Strokes are simple machines. That is a fact. For those interested in two-stroke ownership, ensure you always have a knowledgeable helping hand before you take the plunge. This is practical thinking for what may be an impractical affair.

Yes, they are simple and easy to learn, for those who are seriously interested in DIY basic maintenance can be done easily. All that is needed is an open mind to learn, a copy of the workshop manual/owner's manual, and some skills in searching the internet! a good friend who is into two strokes can make things easier as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Why did I choose a Max 100 among the sea of other two-strokes? Two reasons. Cost & Personalization Potential. Currently, the Max 100 is the most affordable two-stroke you can find that's a proper motorcycle and not a moped or a scooter.

I had the same opinion about Suzuki's two strokes but everything changed when my friend bought one. I took it for a ride, beautiful bike super smooth engine and decent performance with 50km/liter mileage. These bikes are getting rare in Kerala, most of them are scrapped and those which are running are very badly maintained . Original parts are hard to come by as well, Yamaha's are in better shape regarding parts availability.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

The tragedy here was that I couldn't participate in the Vintage Rider Motorcycles 2023 Event. The ride to spread awareness on drug addiction and child abuse. The same ride in which more than 1500 classic motorcycles participated, the majority being two-strokes. I had already registered for participating, but now, couldn't bring her as she couldn't be made ready on time. I ended up going to the event anyway, as a visitor. Trust me, it's truly painful to be in such a situation.

Saw a couple of videos of this event on youtube .very nicely organized. The event is organized by a guy named Praveen right? hats off to him for his dedication and perseverance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

The Yamaha RD350s. Possibly the greatest motorcycle ever manufactured in India. God knows what they were thinking when they decided to bring this masterpiece to our shores. I'm truly glad they did!

Unfortunately out of the surviving RD's across India, very few are in top shape. most of them out there are running on sleeved barrels ( different Quality) .duplicate cheap quality pistons, connecting rods, local bearings, non-OE bearings, and whatnot! Value is skyrocketing anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Now, she's running a 0.5 mm Sam piston and the engine has been reworked thoroughly.

Sam piston is not that great either .my personal opinion is to try researching what all OE makes was there with TVS Suzuki and once you find that out, try sourcing original sizes 0.75 and 1.0mm piston set ( Pin, rings, and circlip ), Connecting rods, clutch bell, pressure plates, reed valve. a brand new cylinder if possible.

To conclude this post, here are some of my two strokes

Other than what is seen in the pic I have a Lambretta Li150 and Bajaj Chetak 150 on two strokes and 4 Stroke Honda CB350 Twin under restoration ( thread is there on T-Bhp)

justin.das · 23rd February 2023, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I used to own an Ind-Suzuki AX 100R.

Sold it off as I moved jobs and cities. Nice memories. Hope you make your own as you go along. Cheers.

Just out of curiosity is your Team Bhp Handle "Pennant 1970" somehow related to Standard Pennant of the '60s?

Pennant1970 · 24th February 2023, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.das

Just out of curiosity is your Team Bhp Handle "Pennant 1970" somehow related to Standard Pennant of the '60s?

Yep - We had a 1960 model Standard 10, bought second(or multiple)-hands down the line in 1980. It's the first car I really remember us owning, though I do have faint recollections of a Morris Minor (no idea what year) and a Fiat Super Select. I know the Pennant was not called the same in India - and it went out of production in 1961. My forum name is a mix of what the Standard 10 was called on the street and my birth year.

justin.das · 24th February 2023, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

Yep - We had a 1960 model Standard 10, bought second(or multiple)-hands down the line in 1980. It's the first car I really remember us owning, though I do have faint recollections of a Morris Minor (no idea what year) and a Fiat Super Select. I know the Pennant was not called the same in India - and it went out of production in 1961. My forum name is a mix of what Standard 10 was called on the street and my birth year.

You are very lucky to experience these beautiful cars firsthand

. My friend owns a pennant which was his grandmother's car It took him years to locate the car, but luckily was able to find it, and is now restored. it took it for a spin beautiful car. I own a Fiat 1100 Delight as well ( one which was launched after super select ). Sharing some photos below of both cars.

Pennant1970 · 24th February 2023, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.das

My friend owns a pennant which was his grandmother's car ~ I own a Fiat 1100 Delight as well.

I love how original they look. Well done to both of you. BTW, our Standard was a KLC reg. When I looked up that number on Vahan, I saw that it was still active - on a LORRY! I wonder how that happened!

I taught myself driving in a '65 Herald after learning "steering balance", as it was called, on the Ten.

I gave up on classic cars in 2003, after I sold off my '78 Premier Padmini. Just too much trouble along with all the random things that life throws at you.

justin.das · 24th February 2023, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Old two-strokes are so soulful.

Apologies to post your two-stroke thread with these classic car details.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I love how original they look. Well done to both of you. BTW, our Standard was a KLC reg.

Thank You so much. My friend has imported spares from the UK for his pennant making it one of the most complete Standard Pennant in KL. My Delight is also say 90 Percent Original Car sharing some photographs below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

When I looked up that number on Vahan, I saw that it was still active - on a LORRY! I wonder how that happened!

Do you have the Engine No and Chassis No with You? There is a lot of data entry mistakes when they migrated to Parivahan. So Lorry name is most probably a data entry error.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I taught myself driving in a '65 Herald after learning "steering balance", as it was called, on the Ten.

Always loved to own one but unfortunately, there are only very few surviving examples in KL. I am an admirer of standard cars after my experience with my friends Pennant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I gave up on classic cars in 2003, after I sold off my '78 Premier Padmini. Just too much trouble along with all the random things that life throws at you.

My Experience with classics is just the opposite. They are very reliable and trouble-free once properly restored. Given if there is access to quality spares, competitive mechanic,s and factory documentation

Abhyjith K.A · 26th February 2023, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I used to own an Ind-Suzuki AX 100R. The first bike I bought after I got my first proper job. It was second hand and blue in colour. The 'R' designation stood for the battery on board. It was a 1987 model and I bought it in 1994. I can still remember the high pitched exhaust note as the revs climbed. And I too changed the headlight to the Yezdi one and had the exhaust filter cut in half for sound and power. It was scary riding it on the highway as it went past heavy vehicles - and exhilarating too. Had it repainted in black with my own version of white and red decals.

Sold it off as I moved jobs and cities. Nice memories. Hope you make your own as you go along. Cheers.

That high-pitched exhaust note is exactly what keeps us all coming back for more and more! Glad to bring back nostalgia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.das

Absolutely agree with that point. Passion is what keeps us alive in our routine life.

Yes, they are simple and easy to learn, for those who are seriously interested in DIY basic maintenance can be done easily. All that is needed is an open mind to learn, a copy of the workshop manual/owner's manual, and some skills in searching the internet! a good friend who is into two strokes can make things easier as well.

I had the same opinion about Suzuki's two strokes but everything changed when my friend bought one. I took it for a ride, beautiful bike super smooth engine and decent performance with 50km/liter mileage. These bikes are getting rare in Kerala, most of them are scrapped and those which are running are very badly maintained . Original parts are hard to come by as well, Yamaha's are in better shape regarding parts availability.

Saw a couple of videos of this event on Youtube .very nicely organized. The event is organized by a guy named Praveen right? hats off to him for his dedication and perseverance

Unfortunately out of the surviving RD's across India, very few are in top shape. most of them out there are running on sleeved barrels ( different Quality) .duplicate cheap quality pistons, connecting rods, local bearings, non-OE bearings, and whatnot! Value is skyrocketing anyway.

Sam piston is not that great either .my personal opinion is to try researching what all OE makes was there with TVS Suzuki and once you find that out, try sourcing original sizes 0.75 and 1.0mm piston set ( Pin, rings, and circlip ), Connecting rods, clutch bell, pressure plates, reed valve. a brand new cylinder if possible.

To conclude this post, here are some of my two strokes

Other than what is seen in the pic I have a Lambretta Li150 and Bajaj Chetak 150 on two strokes and 4 Stroke Honda CB350 Twin under restoration ( thread is there on T-Bhp)

Suzuki 2 strokes are really a delight. Want performance? Get a a Shogun or a Supra Power Up. Want practicality and efficiency? Get an AX 100, Max 100 or a Samurai. Want a good mix of everything? Get a Shaolin. Its true that they've become more and more obscure as time has passed, owing to the deficient supply of spares. But Max 100 and Samurai spares are much easier to find. One of the reasons these machines are so neglected in general is the fact that they can be neglected and will still continue to run on and on!

Yes, Mr. Praveen is a great guy and did such an amazing job at planning and organising the event. His youtube videos are a treasure as well.

True, but if the wallet doesn't complain much, its possible to restore RDs to perfection as they were highly successful and iconic motorcycles worldwide.

Have already clocked over 1k kilometres on the Sam piston. Its fine so far. Will upgrade to Goetze or Mahle or if possible, even OE for the next rebore. OE Cylinder kits can also be searched for.

Love your collection! Can only imagine the time and efforts you put into building it. Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.das

You are very lucky to experience these beautiful cars firsthand

. My friend owns a pennant which was his grandmother's car It took him years to locate the car, but luckily was able to find it, and is now restored. it took it for a spin beautiful car. I own a Fiat 1100 Delight as well ( one which was launched after super select ). Sharing some photos below of both cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.das

Apologies to post your two-stroke thread with these classic car details.

Thank You so much. My friend has imported spares from the UK for his pennant making it one of the most complete Standard Pennant in KL. My Delight is also say 90 Percent Original Car sharing some photographs below.

Do you have the Engine No and Chassis No with You? There is a lot of data entry mistakes when they migrated to Parivahan. So Lorry name is most probably a data entry error.

Always loved to own one but unfortunately, there are only very few surviving examples in KL. I am an admirer of standard cars after my experience with my friends Pennant.

My Experience with classics is just the opposite. They are very reliable and trouble-free once properly restored. Given if there is access to quality spares, competitive mechanic,s and factory documentation

That was a welcome surprise! Beautiful pics.

justin.das · 26th February 2023, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Suzuki's 2 strokes are really a delight. Want performance? Get a Shogun or a Supra Power Up. Want practicality and efficiency? Get an AX 100, Max 100, or a Samurai. Want a good mix of everything? Get a Shaolin. It's true that they've become more and more obscure as time has passed, owing to the deficient supply of spares. But Max 100 and Samurai spares are much easier to find. One of the reasons these machines are so neglected in general is the fact that they can be neglected and will still continue to run on and on!

True, a friend owns super power up, and another friend recently acquired a shogun slowly Suzuki's two strokes are getting much-needed attention I believe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Yes, Mr. Praveen is a great guy and did such an amazing job at planning and organizing the event. His Youtube videos are a treasure as well.

Someone must take the initiative. He did! kudos for that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

True, but if the wallet doesn't complain much, it's possible to restore RDs to perfection as they were highly successful and iconic motorcycles worldwide.

Yes, it can be brought back to its prime if money is no object and if we are willing to spend superbike money on it, I am doing it in fact but my point was about what we get from the market for currently for the premium we pay!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Have already clocked over 1k kilometers on the Sam piston. It's fine so far. Will upgrade to Goetze or Mahle or if possible, even OE for the next rebore. OE Cylinder kits can also be searched for.

That's great, Try to source old Goetz or Mahle Pistons. if you can manage to find new cylinders would be great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abhyjith K.A

Love your collection! Can only imagine the time and effort you put into building it. Cheers

Thank you, I am restoring a 1971 CB 350 B3 Twin JDM Model: follow it up here Link: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...0-1970s-3.html (Restoring a JDM Honda CB 350 from the 1970s)

20th February 2023, 18:45	#1
Abhyjith K.A BHPian Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Chennai Posts: 45 Thanked: 173 Times	One year of Two-Stroke ownership \| The reality of these times \| Suzuki Max 100 Passion drives us to do a lot of things. Passion makes us reason away our chronicles, however irrational and illogical they may be. But at the end of the day, it's all always worth it. Always. No exceptions whatsoever. It's already been a year. Time flies faster than one can ever ride. Time always flies fast when one does something in tune with what one desires. Even if one's weapon of choice is a dinky little 100cc two-stroke from two decades ago, who's roots trace back nearly double that ago. The 20th of February, 2022 was when I finally took the plunge and got myself, what I call, my little conqueror. It's the 20th of February, 2023 now. Do I regret my decision? Have I been conquered by my conqueror or are we still standing side by side, hand on handlebar, looking forwards to conquering the horizon, together? I titled this thread, 'The Reality' and not something like 'The Harsh Reality'. That in itself should say a lot. The fact of the matter is, although there were harsh moments, I'd say the experience as a whole was delightful in general, with just a few caveats, that we'll get into. For all those considering two-stroke ownership in a time when everything is talked about turning electric and eco-friendly and whatnot, my advice is to go ahead with it. My dad used to own a Maroon Red Yamaha RX 100 that he purchased brand new in the 90s after getting started with his career in the government. He sold the same motorcycle in the early 2000s, around the time I was born, after years of blissful, trouble-free ownership, despite constantly pushing it to its limits throughout his ownership of it. Why so? The possibility of two-strokes getting banned. Fast forward about 20 years, his son goes ahead and gets himself a two-stroke as well. Why so? The possibility of two-strokes getting banned. It's not as simple as that. If I never had this rational or irrational thought of our wonderful machines getting banned, I'd probably have been more patient and got my set of wheels later when I could comfortably do so. But oh no, a twenty-year-old college student has to go ahead and do it, lest his passion becomes history in a matter of time. Does he regret it? Not in the least. In fact, he's proud of himself for it! Two-Strokes are simple machines. That is a fact. But at the end of the day, we all start out as amateurs and require guidance from those in the know. I have been tremendously lucky in this regard. My friend who's into two-strokes himself, helped me a lot in getting my bike and teaching me how to use it properly. I have also been lucky in finding good mechanics who can work on these machines. Probably the fact that I live in the great city, has been a lucky guiding factor as well. For those interested in two-stroke ownership, ensure you always have a knowledgeable helping hand before you take the plunge. This is practical thinking for what may be an impractical affair. Why did I choose a Max 100 among the sea of other two-strokes? Two reasons. Cost & Personalization Potential. Currently, the Max 100 is the most affordable two-stroke you can find that's a proper motorcycle and not a moped or a scooter. Good choice for a college student on a tight budget. When it comes to Personalization Potential, the bland, demure nature of the Max 100 and the fact that they were mass-produced and quite common makes me feel not guilty about altering it to my tastes and making it my own. My goal from the beginning was to make it, my blank canvas for showcasing my creativity. I'm just slowly getting started on that front. Automotive design is a topic close to my heart. I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable in doing the same to an RX, an AX, a KB, or any other two-stroke that's becoming rarer than ever and are historical treasures. Sure, RXs aren't particularly rare, but I feel they were so well designed from the factory itself that they don't require any design changes whatsoever. As far as I've seen, most modification work on RXs only make them worse-looking. The only exception to this rule being RXZs. But those have shot through the sky in terms of market value. Yes, the Max 100 isn't really a looker at all when it's bone stock. That's why I have personalised mine. She's a beauty to my eye in her current state. She's got a piano black Yezdi Roadking's headlamp dome with the grill, she's currently sporting timeless RX mirrors, she has the round tail lamp of the first generation AVL Thunderbird, her seat has been beautifully reworked in a step-pattern, with a hand-stitched coffee brown cover with gold diamond quilting. To go with the seat is the beautiful tank cover, again hand-made with the same material and colour as the seat. The brown beautifully complements the dark forest green shade of the tank and side panels, whose stickers I have removed for a clean, classic look. Apart from all this and the side-box, she's bone stock in every other regard. But these little things in themselves, make all the difference. I have further plans for a wonderful paint and colour scheme that I'll update here as well. As for the mechanicals, I had the engine fully opened and rebuilt from the ground up, earlier this January. It was about time that it required it. Let's talk about the backstory. When I bought my bike last year, I unknowingly ran it for about 15 kms without oil, the folly being pointed out by my friend on meeting with him. As far as I know, this has been happening under the previous owner as well too. He was relying on the oil pump, but the pipelines were in fact, not even connected. You can read the full story on my first thread of the same. As a result, the engine had indeed taken quite a beating. But on the application of pre-mix in the tank, she soldiered along like nothing had ever happened. That's how my bike runs to this very day. Then in July last year, she seized up on a slightly longer trip. Dropped off my friend at an NCC camp and while returning, she went. I was pre-mixing 40ml of 2T oil per litre of petrol and wringing her neck on the highway. It was 8 PM and the highway near the airport was free and I was making the most of it. Right when I was descending the ramp, was when she cut out. In hindsight, I should have simply pulled over and waited for some time for her to cool down. But I tried roll-starting her again and again as we were already coasting at speed. Then I finally pulled over and waited for 10 minutes for her to cool down. Lo & behold, she fired right back up on the second kick! But my joy was short-lived since she would go fine for about a kilometre or so, and then cut out again, making me wait for her to cool down again and again. Then, I thought that's that and I had a heavy bill on my hands. When I took her to my mechanic, he simply took out some 20W40 and poured it in the tank, and told me to ride her as it is and that it'll be fine. He told me to add extra 2T oil in the tank and she'll keep on going. No need to open up an engine that can still run. I didn't believe him, but when I rode her after that, she went on as if nothing happened! I kept the speed below 50 kph for about a week and after that, I let loose and found out she was still going fine as if nothing happened. What a pleasant surprise that was. The next fill-up came and I was thinking of the oil ratio to use. Since 20W40 is thicker than 2T, I thought I may have to add 100 ml/litre to match it. Tried it and it worked a charm. For all the seniors reading this and possibly facepalming or shaking their heads in disbelief, yes, this is exactly what I did and this is how I rode her for the next seven months. And no, I never experienced spark plug failure at all. But I still kept a spare plug and plug spanner always with me, just in case. I rode her like this, every single day for my daily commute. And even on long trips. Including my trip to Pondicherry that I wrote about here. Yes, on a semi-seized engine. Long live two-strokes! Then, this January, while I was on my way to college, she suddenly started bogging down (The same way she feels when she runs out of fuel). But I had filled her up just the previous day. She slowed down gradually and stopped responding to my throttle inputs. Then, I looked into the mirrors as I pulled over only to be able to see nothing behind me. That's how much smoke was behind me. I instinctively knew that was the end of the line. Thankfully I was just 4 kms from college and pushed her to the campus. After college, we used my friend's Classic 350 to tow her to my mechanic, who confirmed what I already knew. So, there she spent another week getting fixed. The tragedy here was that I couldn't participate in the Vintage Rider Motorcycles 2023 Event. The ride to spread awareness on drug addiction and child abuse. The same ride in which more than 1500 classic motorcycles participated, the majority being two-strokes. I had already registered for participating, but now, couldn't bring her as she couldn't be made ready on time. I ended up going to the event anyway, as a visitor. Trust me, it's truly painful to be in such a situation. Group rides are just so soul-satisfying! Let's take a look at some of the highlights : A sea of Bullets, complemented by the mythical Yezdis. The Jawas. Close to my heart. Two-stroke scooters. Vespas and Chetaks. Unfortunately no Lambrettas this time. Beauties. The Yamaha RD350s. Possibly the greatest motorcycle ever manufactured in India. God knows what they were thinking when they decided to bring this masterpiece to our shores. I'm truly glad they did! The Vintage BSA along with the good old Mk1 Amby. Aesthetics. The Suzukis, Yamahas, Hondas and Kawasakis! Japanese gems. On the positive side, my pride & joy was getting a new makeover! I went and purchased the aforementioned Roadking Headlamp and Thunderbird Taillamp and gave them to my mechanic for installation. The headlamp is a direct fit while the taillamp requires slight modification on the rear mudguard, but something pretty easy to do. She was running Honda CB Shine mirrors at that time. So I switched back to the stock, rectangular Max 100 mirrors. I also got some leatherette handle grip wraps in the same brown colour as the seat to complete the look. The wraps look beautiful, as well as keep your palms comfortable. The stock grips when used bare, always result in calluses on the palms and hurt to ride for more than 100 kilometres straight. The Roadking Headlamp installed The Thunderbird Taillamp installed As for the engine itself, I got quite a lengthy bill. But that was expected. When it was opened up, it was running a cheap local piston on the 0.25 mm size, meaning it had been rebored once and had been run on quite a tight budget. So the 40k kilometres on the odo when I got her may as well have even been 140k. I wouldn't be surprised either way. The crank was severely imbalanced and the rod was moving the wrong way. There was lots of play on the clutch bell as well. The engine completely disassembled and new parts sourced The engine after assembly has been almost done. Just bolting the head back on. While reboring and lathe work on the crank and clutch is not too costly as a whole, the other parts just kept adding up. I usually don't do this, but for the sake of helping out those who want to start on the two-stroke journey, here's the summary : This is the initial cost for refurbishment right when I bought her last year. This is the cost for rebuilding the engine this year. Including lathe work, it totaled to 11.39k. In hindsight, I could have saved a lot of money if I had gotten it fixed at the earliest. They say the wise learn from others' mistakes. Hopefully, my experience helps aspiring two-stroke enthusiasts know the reality of two-stroke ownership. On other machines, the rates will vary for sure. Now, she's running a 0.5 mm Sam piston and the engine has been reworked thoroughly. Whenever you rebuild an engine, it's important to run it in properly and carefully for about 1500 kms. My mechanic suggested 500 kms is enough, but I felt the engine still had more of opening up and freeing up to do even after that. But after I passed the 500 km mark, I did start slowly opening up the throttle more and more. She's still a treat to ride, save for some jerking during coasting, owing to what I guess, is the new and tight piston that'll eventually loosen up and settle in. For those who desire to start the two-stroke journey, let's talk about actual running costs. So far, I haven't talked anything about costs before. But my calculations say I have spent right about 45k on my bike including the purchase, restoration, document renewal, and rebuilding the engine, as well as for the personalizations. If we take the personalizations out of the picture and just visualise a bone-stock motorcycle, then we end up with what is in fact, quite excellent value for money. This is the figure for one year. She's quite economical on fuel and returns 40-50 kmpl in the city depending on how gentle I am with the throttle, and almost always gives 60 kmpl plus on the highway. Service costs depend on your mechanic. The sheer number of these bikes still running around fine, despite being in completely neglected condition with nothing else other than the engine working on them, is a testament to their toughness. However, you have to follow a strict maintenance schedule if you want to keep the machine pristine. This is the maintenance schedule I personally follow : 1) Every 2500 kms, change the transmission oil, clean and lubricate the chain, and clean or replace the air filter. 2) For every 5000 kms, do the above, as well as do a full carb clean, get the silencer cleaned, and replace the spark plug. Check the brakes if they require work on them. Do it as and when required. 3) Replace the clutch and throttle cables once every 6 months as they are prone to snapping and giving way without warning. Happened with the clutch cable already for me. Better be safe than sorry. Similarly, replace the fuel pipes once every six months. 4) Routinely check the tyres for wear and maintain good tyre pressure. I usually keep 25 PSI at the front and 35 PSI at the rear and always use Nitrogen. I do this once every two weeks at the fuel station. 5) Always wipe your pride and joy clean with a microfiber cloth every morning. You won't have to do water washes this way. Lesser chance for rusting. On the shiny parts, you can use chalk powder and the cloth on occasion, maybe once a month, to maintain the shine. 6) I use 40 ml/litre of 2T oil as pure pre-mix in the tank in the city and 70 ml/litre on the highway for long periods of fast cruising. This applies only for the Max 100. I don't substitute 2T oil for 20W40 or 20W50 like some people do, but may give it a try one day. I always use properly branded and contained 2T oil that come in 500ml bottles and not the loose kind in fuel stations. I already wrote about that on my other thread on touring. Do all of this consistently and your little two-stroke will serve you well for ages. Mind you, different bikes require different maintenance schedules, but for the Max 100, this works well, as far as I've seen. It always starts up every morning on the second kick and serves me well as my daily ride. Just make sure it's properly warmed up before letting the throttle loose. As far as the documentation is concerned, I never faced a single hiccup in getting the Fitness Certificate, Pollution Under Control Certificate, or insurance. My bike is a lifetime tax vehicle, so that was a blessing too. My bike always passed the pollution test with ease and I employed the services of my agent for getting the Fitness Certificate renewed till 2027. It's only an issue for bikes with long periods of expired registration. The fines have increased a lot since March last year. So, you may have to put aside money for that, depending on how old your bike is. But I'd suggest you do it immediately and always keep your motorcycle road legal. As far as what I spent, it cost me 3.5k for the FC, 1.5k for the name transfer, 1k for the insurance and 100 or 200 rupees for the PUC (Don't remember). My motorcycle now has the Smartcard RC as well. What I've learned the most is that it's becoming more and more important to take care of our older vehicles as the quality of the vast majority of spares we find these days are on a decline. There is little to no manufacturer support and the aftermarket supply of spare parts just can't match the quality of OEM spares. Since I got myself a fairly common two-stroke and since I live in a metropolitan city, I never faced much trouble in finding spares. Facebook marketplace and groups are also a good spot for hunting rare spares, but its always advised to use these resources with caution and at your own risk. For those with rarer bikes, it's best to build a good network by joining the regional rider clubs to help each other out when it comes to maintenance and also for having fun, organising group rides together. All in all, I'd say the journey was entirely worth it so far and has kept me always coming back for more. So yes, I'm happy to declare that I'm part of the small number of the younger generation who has had the privilege of enjoying two-stroke ownership right around the time these machines are shooting up in value. Yes, I'm truly grateful for everything she's given me. Nothing is more precious than wonderful memories to cherish forever! Last edited by Abhyjith K.A : 20th February 2023 at 19:00.
	(29) Thanks

20th February 2023, 19:43	#2
TheHelix0202 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: BLR Posts: 989 Thanked: 2,629 Times	re: One year of Two-Stroke ownership \| The reality of these times \| Suzuki Max 100 Lovely documentation. Enjoyed your storytelling. Enjoy the bike for many safe miles, cheers!
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22nd February 2023, 05:12	#4
rajeevsulu BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Erode Posts: 415 Thanked: 1,893 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (5)	Re: One year of Two-Stroke ownership \| The reality of these times \| Suzuki Max 100 Nice writing! Yours is a labour of love. I remember my Rx100 which I bought in 1987 and kept it with me till 2006 when I sold it off. These machines are easy to maintain and run. I got the bike rebored and painted thrice. Nostalgia!! Enjoy your ride!!
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23rd February 2023, 14:51	#6
Pennant1970 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: KL 51 Posts: 78 Thanked: 304 Times	Re: One year of Two-Stroke ownership \| The reality of these times \| Suzuki Max 100 I used to own an Ind-Suzuki AX 100R. The first bike I bought after I got my first proper job. It was second hand and blue in colour. The 'R' designation stood for the battery on board. It was a 1987 model and I bought it in 1994. I can still remember the high pitched exhaust note as the revs climbed. And I too changed the headlight to the Yezdi one and had the exhaust filter cut in half for sound and power. It was scary riding it on the highway as it went past heavy vehicles - and exhilarating too. Had it repainted in black with my own version of white and red decals. Sold it off as I moved jobs and cities. Nice memories. Hope you make your own as you go along. Cheers. Last edited by Pennant1970 : 23rd February 2023 at 15:16. Reason: Corrected the year.
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