TOPIC:

Thanks for the input guys. Okay, so here's the story - I have 2 Saturnos. A 500 IOM which had been basterdised a bit, and an incomplete 350 which I bought primarily for spares. I also have a Gilardoni 558 race kit purchased from Ian Gowanloch a few years ago (he purchased the final stock from the factory apparently). My original intention was to put the kit in the 500 but I have decided to keep it as stock as possible & I do want to restore it to original at some stage. Also, I hardly ever ride it anyway. So, I got to thinking "what do I do with the 350? I know, a Period 6 historic Supermono race bike!' So that's the direction that prompts my enquiry. I was the main driver of the Supermono class in Australia during the '90's (even getting us a couple of gigs at Bathurst) so it is a good fit for me. Gilera parts are very scarce in Australia. The Saturno was never officially sold here. 2 came in as private imports in period (both raced as Supermonos) & a few more have trickled in from Japan over the years. The Norwest was never available here either so the chances of me locating a 600 engine here are zero. As a bike that may do 2 race meetings a year maybe 500 cases will do the job?
Cheers,
Chris

Kano wrote:

I thought the 350 had smaller crank bearings

you're right
There are of course a lot of other differences. Stroke for example

Joachim

PS if one can somehow handle german language it might be worth so search for
Neues aus Garagien from HP aka Mr. Saturno

I do have a spare complete 600 bottom end here in Kano i also have 600 barrel piston and head here, and have a 604 big bore kit and TTS modified head ex 72degree's hill climb Nordwest in store in the UK, if interested I could bring back the 600 bottom end in my suitcase next time I travel if interested? Sadly Our flights out of Nigeria are currently suspended and there is a 14 day quarantine on arrival into the UK, if these are lifted I will attempt to come back for perhaps 2 weeks just to give my race car some preparation ready for next year as I've not seen it since September 2019 and will not be able to race again till April/may next year.
John.

Chris, would it not better to use the big bore kit etc on the 500 and restore the 350. If you want one of them to be restored back to original, to me the 350 would make more sense. Fewer 350s were made (failing memory seems to recall 50-52) and therefore far more interesting than the myriad (ok I jest a bit there) 500s that are being restored. Just a suggestion. Paul

I did 3 years of German at school 40 odd years ago so I have about a 20 word vocabulary. I know what shelf is (einleggeboden) for example. I'll give it a try! Does this guy have a website?

Very good of you Kano , but I am in Australia you know.