| In the last issue of EDM, you may recall, we tested the | | | | The stock mounting hardware and petcock is |
| 2007 RMZ RC Replica from Suzuki. At the conclusion | | | | removed from your old tank and used on the |
| of the test, Suzuki gave us the option of returning it or | | | | replacement. It mounts easily and seals perfectly, the |
| purchasing it from them. After about a second of | | | | shrouds lined up and attached without difficulty to the |
| deliberation, we jumped at the opportunity. We are | | | | Clarke unit.Our intention was to stop with the cosmetic |
| always looking for bikes to use as project bike and the | | | | changes but since we only spent $600 of our |
| RMZ is a great foundation. While we loved the look of | | | | budgeted $1000 we thought it might be nice to add a |
| the RC Replica, we felt the Zook would benefit from a | | | | few personal touches. Those things that truly make a |
| little personalization, a face lift if you will. We gave | | | | bike yours. Some people call it bling, we call it |
| ourselves a budget of $1,000.00 and sat down to | | | | customizing. We started with an AV One handlebar in |
| make a list of the things we'd change cosmetically. | | | | the CR High bend from SUNLINE complete with a dual |
| Overall the stock motor is good, so making changes to | | | | compound grip set. The bar has a vibration damping |
| it wasn't something we felt necessary. Besides, we | | | | system inside that works quite well and if you haven't |
| wanted to try and stick to the budget and getting into | | | | tried the grips you are missing out on a great thing. |
| a motor can get costly quickly. | | | | Nothing says "this is my bike" more than the way a |
| At the top of our list was a graphics kit. Getting away | | | | rider sets up his/her controls. Just jump on your pals |
| from the RC replica look was top priority. A trip to the | | | | bike to see how different it feels from yours. Chances |
| Powersport Grafx website to select an appropriate kit | | | | are the levers are in different position. The brake pedal |
| got the juices flowing. The guys there are great and | | | | and shifter are at different heights than where you like |
| extremely helpful. We were able to take a standard | | | | them and so on. Aftermarket levers allow you to take |
| template they have and modify it to fit our needs | | | | this one step further. We finished off the handle bar |
| which included removing some colors and adding the | | | | area with a set of C/5 series levers from ASV |
| Carbon Raptor and EDM logos. If you have sponsors | | | | Inventions. These levers can be adjusted to fit |
| that you want to add to you graphics kit, they have | | | | practically any hand size enabling greater comfort and |
| most major companies' logos on file and you can | | | | less fatigue. It is our humble opinion that are the best |
| place them wherever you like. We used our new kit | | | | levers on the market and if your want your hand |
| for our latest Tech Tip. Lesley, one of the EDM shop | | | | controls to be exactly where you want them to be, |
| girls installed the graphics for us. Click HERE to see her | | | | they are a must have. |
| in action. | | | | With all of these additions we have spent just under |
| Next on the list was plastic. Even though the stock | | | | what we had in our budget. But there were a few |
| plastic was still new, we decided to go white since | | | | other things we felt the RMZ would benefit from |
| black has been done. Our stock plastic kit already had | | | | having. During our initial test we noted that the front |
| white side panels, number plate and fork guards so all | | | | brake was good but not great. And since there is |
| we needed was a shroud set and front and rear | | | | nothing better than a bike that stops on a dime we |
| fenders. A phone call to the folks over at UFO Plastics | | | | couldn't resist going to Galfer to get one of their |
| got us going with what we needed. We used their | | | | oversized rotors. It's a piece of cake to install and it |
| plastic kit for the KX rebuild story and were really | | | | makes a huge difference. A few splashes of color |
| impressed by the quality of their replacement plastic. | | | | was about all that was missing so we replaced the |
| Once again, we made the right choice. All the fittings | | | | stock brake reservoir covers and engine plugs with |
| and holes lined up perfectly. With all white plastic on | | | | red units from Works Connection The stock plastic |
| our project bike, the stock yellow tank was looking like | | | | rear disk guard had to go and was replaced with a |
| a sore thumb. There are several solutions when it | | | | black aluminum unit from Pro Moto Billet. All told we |
| comes to a replacement tank. Looking for the best | | | | spent $1,400 for some serious upgrades and a bike |
| one, we turned to Clarke Manufacturing for a stock | | | | that doesn't look like any other out there. Check the link |
| capacity, white replacement. | | | | below for the story with images. |