car diet?

[shoggoth80]

ok, so i know these things are light to start with.... being that mine's an '88, it should be the lightest made. what kinds of things can be done to save weight? i could rip out the back bench.... i don't really carry passengers, and that's 20 something pounds right there if i recall correctly. how much weight can be saved by using the fiberglass goodies on FMS? hood, and bumpers? i don't really see the point in the side skirts (unless i get that aspire stuff... would like to upgrade the brakes). i read somewhere about a fiberglass rear hatch? dunno if there is any merit to this one though. how much fitting do the FMS parts require? anyone on here use them? it's an idea... and the lighter i make it, theoretically, the better gas mileage i'll get too... never a bad thing, even if mileage is already quite nice. any thoughts?

[nonamekid]

Try searching next time. This was about ten topics down.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2832

[shoggoth80]

cool. thanks for the link. some of the stuff wouldn't be practical for me, as i would prefer to keep the spare/jack/tools. some of the stuff could be scalped. not sure what the real weight on an 1988 festy is, but it's supposed to be about 1700lbs. still gotta poke around for any info on the fiberglass pieces though. expensive...sure, but could be worth it if the weight/economy savings are there. it is cheaper to work with what you already have after all. so why not mod up the little thing?

[FB71]

1728 lbs wet (with fluids)

1988 Spec Book

[shoggoth80]

my manual is currently sitting 50 miles to the south at this point! and it is kinda cruddy... covered with grease smudges and shit... i actually use the thing while working, funny enough.

[FB71]

the spec book is separate from the shop manual, not everyone has one. I have all mine from 94 to 00, and some from pre 94. As a dealer tech, each of us got these every year.

[shoggoth80]

well, ain't you the lucky one? seriously though, that's pretty cool, and probably comes in quite handy for ya. i have the shop manuals for my kawasaki bikes... they're like 30 years old, and downloaded scans of the originals... but it isn't like the factory supports the models anymore, and it isn't like the real things can be had easily.

[FB71]

I hear ya. just like my 24 year old yamaha books...

XS650s rock!

https://www.mikesxs.com

https://www.650motorcycles.com

[shoggoth80]

yes, the XS series were very nice. not many bikes sport the same level of "pretty" as yamahas. though not a yamaha owner, they do have some of the nicest finished (their new machines are pretty wicked too). kawasaki KH400 (2 cycle triple), kawasaki H2(750cc 2 cycle triple) in hte works, and a suzook GS550 commuter/business bike(gets me around cheaply, and is pretty solid).

[FB71]

Damn! I love the H1,2, and 3! Hooligan bikes! Right up there with Yam RD400 / RZ350. Post some pics, please!

[shoggoth80]

well the KH400 (which came after the S3, very similar machines)... i can get a pic or two of that, if i can find somoene with a digital cam. the H2 is still a frame/swingarm...getting a good bundle of parts for that this paycheck. fun indeed. and the RD400 was a sweet machine... i am always hoping to find an RD series machine for a good price... but the $$$ keeps going up!

[ChrisDrives121DA]

kawasaki triples, yeah!

My dad is a triple fan.
He has a H1D, H1B and he assembled a superb S2 for my mom as a birthday present some years ago. The H1B was imported from the US (the license plate is from Minnesota)

Kawasaki two stroke stuff is a definitive part of my youth....
I love the fact that this topic came up here

please post some pics. I sport some pics of my dads rides in return

@ FB71

H1,2 and 3 ? Was there a H3?
Are you talking about the "S" series, S3?

@ shoggoth80

HTE works? please tell me about it. is this the H2R bike?

-Chris-

[shoggoth80]

no, that was a typo.... but i do plan to toss on a bunch of H2R replica bodywork (tank and seat), so it'll still look like a brute!

[ChrisDrives121DA]

do you know the german kawasaki triples club and the 3cyl club of great britiain?

-Chris-

[MY5TERE 1]

I just happen to have a 1976 RD400 sitting in my garage. my friend picked it up this summer for $50.00. It doesn't run yet. we have been slowly restoring it. since he works on the rigs, it is a very slow process! but nice bike. good chrome. and two original shop manuals. one for the 350's and one for the 400's.