-
Thanks everyone for the info. Yes. It’s a 1984 R65LS. But the fairing is not original. I’m also out to lunch on the original but I am old enough to have bought magazines when they first released it and I thought it was the bomb. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it fairing wise. If it’s all there I’ll keep it but it looks like it’s lost the screen in the 6 years it’s been inside.
What am I going to do with it ? Well I’m not going to be spending £795 on a new fairing for it ! That’s more than I paid for the whole bike ! I want it running and riding nicely. It was advertised non runner with dreadful photos and no description, I got talking to the guy agreed a deal and the next thing I know he says “charged the battery, started first time, with 6 year old fuel”!! So yay. Basically I want it back on the road, all fluids changed, pads, tyres, new cables and fluid lines, hydraulics etc and then clean it up and ride it. A lot.Like many on here I’ve had a good few bikes. Started in Australia in the late ‘80’s on a couple of year old Suzuki RG250, the first one. Mental thing. Loved it. Sold it when Madame Ducati came calling, first a Pantah then a (gulp) Mike Hailwood Rep 900. Wish I still had that. Dreadful thing to rise but the sound and the look. Mmmm. Most recently had a 1100GS 100,000 miler. Good fun. But huuuuuuge !!! Too tall for my short legs, I’m really built for old Dukes, 6’ tall but with 29” inside legs. I’m a freak, all top end !!! Then a few Vespas but while fun in Bristol are less enticing on the Isle of Harris.
So I’m hoping the 65 will do it all. Keep my wife on the back without apololexy and me on a bike having some fun keeping it running and just loving the incredible roads (and zero traffic) we have up here.
I’ll keep you guys informed when it finally arrives and update with some pics. Thanks all for the interest.
Sean
roadiesean-
As I said upthread, your current fairing is from a Moto Guzzi Le Mans, or a Benelli Sei. There's a screen for it for £37.50 here https://www.gutsibits.co.uk/pr/TheShop/index.php?f=e&Shnew=1&Model=7&ModelName=Le%20Mans%201&Cat=FAA&CatName=Fairings%20and%20Screens&spPage=5#topbar
A used R65LS fairing is a lot less than £795 at Motorworks. £180 if you don't need the inner bits.
https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=10&M=20&Ct=UA&SbCt=BA_10_20_UA_20 -
Great bikes, but here is my advice. Not sure if airhead will agree or I am teaching you to suck eggs. Learn how to get equal pull from the accelerator cable to both bing carbs as this will vary over time and cause strange running issues.
Valve clearance and rocker adjustment are easy to do. Is it still points? Carry two sets of spares of points and condensors in a seal bag with silica. Learn how to change them in the dark, the wet and freezing cold ;) But having spares chases that gremlin and the new parts failing gremlin too.
-
You should have no problem keeping it ticking as a great way to potter round the island. As long as you don't go crazy and start trying to make it concourse.
Brakes on all the airheads are matching the performance and geometry of the bike. It's rare to lock the front up on tarmac. I wouldn't chase extra performance there. Apparently the original rubber brake lines are better suited than the common braided replacements.
Try and get the correct (imperial) size tyres. I was running Avon for years in a metric size and they're a little bit tall on the back.
I'm sure it will offer you loads of opportunities to spend money but they are pretty robust if you are running it on a budget.
nick_h.
lynx
Airhead
Yes got there eventually. Not that interesting a variant for me, the original fairing looks pretty awful to my eyes.
From the wiki photo I've seen the original triangle fairing was still coupled with higher (normal) bars.