The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Discussion about "Lesser" makes, er, Non-BMW ;-) => Topic started by: Ed Miller on August 08, 2008, 09:41:08 PM
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As of yesterday, my '70 Bonneville is up to 90,000 miles. Many hassles at times, not much money.
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...Many hassles at times, not much money.
Sounds like the story of my first wife and ultimate divorce [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]
Gotta love the Bonny! Way to go, cousin.
Monte
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Thanks! I think I meant the opposite of what I think you meant; lots of fiddling but it has never COST me much money. ;D
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Congrats on the milestone! Have you had the bike since it was new? You're close to that 100k mark now!! 8-)
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PFFFFT, Everyone knows that Triumphs dissolve into a puddle of oil at 50K. ;D Congradulations! that IS remarkable!
rich
Who has several still in in crates... milk crates that is!
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Congrats on the milestone! Have you had the bike since it was new? You're close to that 100k mark now!! 8-)
Oh no, I was about 7 years old when the bike was new. I think 3 years to the 100K, the way the weather is around here. My R65 will probably catch up around 2010 or so.
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Ed,
How long have you owned the bike, and how many of those miles were ridden by you ?
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That's amazing! I did not know it was possible to keep that special "Lucas Smoke" contained that long! I would have figgered it'd all leaked out by now... ;D
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That's amazing! I did not know it was possible to keep that special "Lucas Smoke" contained that long! I would have figgered it'd all leaked out by now... ;D
Justin, that is so unkind. But as a former Turnip rider during my college days, I kinda understand :D
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Hey Monte, when you have a 2nd, first wives are usually always like you describe!lol
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Hey Monte, when you have a 2nd, first wives are usually always like you describe!lol
So true, Kiwi. Just an experienced guess but I'd say you may be a fellow traveler... down that hard scrabble road.
Cheers, mate [smiley=beerchug.gif] And like the cowboy song goes... Thank God and Greyhound she's gone [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif] BTW, Greyhound is an American bus company.
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I have had several MGBGTs over the years so have had some experience with the "magic smoke"... :P
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Ed,
How long have you owned the bike, and how many of those miles were ridden by you ?
The odometer read about 26,000 miles when I bought it in 1987. But I've never had a working one for long so I work with hash marks in my shop manual, the same as I do for my R65. My commute is almost a hundred miles a day, so I figure a slash per hundred miles. I figure I've personally put over 60,000 miles on it.
Justin, the only Lucas problems happened a year or two ago when my zener diode finally quit. My puny 120 watt alternator was pushing over 15 volts to the battery, oops. I have a Chinese solid state replacement which works for now. But I have to point out that the regulator on my R65 (at 60,000 miles now) quit before that, so I knew what to look for. I get a kick out of people wanting to upgrade their 280 watt Bosh alternator. :-)
Sigh. A warm (hundred degree) weekend is predicted, so I hope to get the the R65 out for a short ride to warm it up, then change the fluids, then remove the heads and haul them on my Triumph to Steve Prokoff for new valves, guides, and seats. And a big hole in my checking account.
Ed
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Ed sed: "And a big hole in my checking account."
A hole that will be filled with smiles many times over! (I [heart] my refurbed heads!)
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Not just that Rob, but I have good reason to hope this will be the last of the big expenses on it. Rebuilt tranny and new clutch assembly last year, then the valves/seats this year. That covers the issues I'm aware of for this year R65. Steve suggested new rings as well, though it doesn't burn oil. It leaks about a half quart in 5,000 miles.
Heck, I'll even put in new push rod tube seals so it will stop leaking oil!
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Probably sitting in the garage next to the bonny, it learned the bad habit of dripping a bit of oil to mark its spot...
Wasn't the '70 Bonneville pre-"oil-in-frame" design ? Most folks I know actually seem to have better longevity
with those bikes than the ones that came after they started using the oil-in-frame design.
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The Bonnie almost never leaks, though it certainly wasn't always that way. It's changes are only 2,000 miles apart so it doesn't have time to need any added.
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Congrats Ed,
Hope I can get that much out of my Beezer.
(shake rattle and ROLL) :D
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Thanks! After your hands and butt go numb it's a smooth bike. Actually when I'm riding it and not looking at it I wish I had a Russell Daylong on it. :o
Glad you're back from where ever you were.
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Thanks. I might opt for a Russel on the T-bolt after I get the motor back from Beno Rodi. He is doing the timing side bush and what ever else he finds. I'm looking forward to riding it again. The Firebird runs like a top. (knock on wood) Sweet ride. Counting my blessings.
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Thanks. I might opt for a Russel on the T-bolt after I get the motor back from Beno Rodi. He is doing the timing side bush and what ever else he finds. I'm looking forward to riding it again. The Firebird runs like a top. (knock on wood) Sweet ride. Counting my blessings.
Post pics if you get the Russell. I'll make sure I have an empty stomach.
I KNEW a Firebird was a BSA, not some silly car!