The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Restoration Progress Logs => Topic started by: Justin B. on August 12, 2017, 09:10:54 PM
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Years ago, probably 12 or so, I picked up a poor neglected '81 R100RT off fleabay. I already had a '95 R100RT so I decided to make it into a nekkid summer bike - in essence an R100T.
After stripping it down I rode it for a summer (commuting) with one cylinder at about 50 psi compression on one cylinder and 110 psi on the other (straining to remember exact numbers...) but it actually ran OK for a commuter.
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Once I had the engine up to snuff I decided it was a keeper so I had to make it not quite so embarrassing to ride so I cleaned up the frame and gave it a nice jet-black paint job. I'd never owned a black motorcycle before so it seemed like a good thing to do.
Those of you with an eagle-eye will note that I adapted a monoshock rear cowl and seat to the dual-shock. I was then able to use the monoshock BMW Comfort Seat.
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Alas, I let the '95 RT go after buying an R1150RTP and immediately started kicking myself for dabbling with the "dark-side" and yearned for my R100RT!
Late last year I decided that I would dig the busted up fairing bits out of the attic and properly clothe it once again as an R100RT! I had to buy the two lower panels and lower center panel but was able to get out the fiberglass and save everything else. About a month ago I got most of the "bodywork" finished and squirted on a coat of high-build primer. After sanding that down I realized there were a lot of little nicks and stuff I missed but I figured I could nit-pick it to death and have it finished right before I wound up in an old-folks home. After seeing the stunning contrast Marc Miller achieved on his R65 re-paint I decided that I would paint the fairing satin black which would give a stealthy look and also make the imperfections a bit easier to overlook.
I squirted the black on Thursday and started putting it back together yesterday. I was really happy that I bagged up most of the original hardware in a somewhat logical manner and only lost a few screws. I ordered a new "dash" (old one has some cracks) and windshield rubber from Max and as soon as it gets here I can finish assembling the upper fairing. The shocking thing is that the clock and voltmeter work like a champ! I never even tested these before tearing it down as I wasn't going to use them.
Here's as far as I got today...
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Great job Justin. I wish I had the time and space to do the same.
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Nice looking bike mate - thanks for the photos :-)
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Nice job.
From the time I bought mine, I wanted it to be black and was really leaning towards satin. I decided I'd better get the running things taken care of before the cosmetics, but it's still on my mind every time I ride it.
What kind of set-up do you have as far as a paint gun? A while ago, Montmil posted about his DIY paint job and made it sound doable, with some patience.
Do you have a lot of experience and/or proper equipment?
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I have a nice set of DeVilbiss HVLP guns but I shot this with an old Harbor Freight HVLP.
I have painted for a long time although not so much in the past 10 years or so.
The fairing was painted with DuPont Hot Hues "Hot Rod Black."
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Ah, ok. So you do have some background and skills then. I may give it a try. Haven't decided yet but budgetary reasons might lead me on that direction.
Anyway, nice job on that. Good luck on getting it all sorted out.
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It'll be back together by the end of the week, as soon as my hardware order from McMaster gets here...
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OK, almost there! I got everything back together (that I could find), changed the oil and filter, and flushed the front and rear brakes yesterday afternoon and took it for a spin. Went about 4 blocks then cam back and tightened a few things I forgot! After tightening these few things went for a couple mile ride this morning and all seems great except I think I have the steering head bearings a hair tight. It handles a bit sluggish at low speed and has a low speed "weave" unless I am really paying attention. I really hate messing with this now that the fairing is on and I'm hoping maybe after a little riding it will loosen up a bit but I'm not going to hold my breath. I'm still missing a couple of little bits (L/H side air intake vent mainly) but it can be ridden. I'd forgotten how loud the engine sounds on an RT!
This is my second R100RT and I still think the design is still about the best looking motorcycle ever made. I am going to call this "Stealth RT" as the satin black fairing gives it a bit of a sinister look. Here's thanks to Marc for his paint scheme or I would never have thought of painting it satin!
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Justin............ Lamont has some RT fairing pieces on his site if you lost anything.....
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Sweet! Looks great, and I like the Stealth idea.
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Thanks, BPT, I was going to paint it gloss black to match the rest but seeing how nice the satin came out on marcmiller's R65 I decided it would look wicked!
The only fairing piece I don't have is the L/H side air intake vent and I have one coming from fleabay. When I bought the bike there was considerable "body damage" on the R/H side and I think I remember the vent being gone so I snagged one off fleabay. When I went to paint them realized I "snagged" the wrong one so I wound up with two R/H ones!
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Since I bought my bike I'd wanted it to be black. I wasn't sure what type but, like yours, figured it would be the shiny version. Shortly after I got it I saw a car that had been done in the satin. It was a nice job, not the usual crappy looking flat black you see (or whatever that is that they use for the pseudo-carbon fiber hood look?).
I went to English paints and they showed me a version that looked pretty close to what I'd seen, can't remember what they called it. But I put off changing the paint for a while.
When I saw Marc's I thought "Yes, that's exactly what I'd pictured, and damn that looks nice!".
But now I've waited so long I'll just be a follower in the crowd.... :'(
;)
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The "Hot Rod Black" I used was for the side covers on an R100S for a dude a number of years ago. I only used a couple of ounces and I had a bunch left over so that was another big point in it's favor!
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I'll keep that in mind for when that time comes. I thought maybe this winter. But I need to get the running things taken care of for now.
I like the fairing on the one above, do you know what that is? One of the "real" (and pricey) ones? Or is that a knockoff?
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The Red Smoke? It was a re-paint I did on a "real" R100S so that would be an "S" fairing.
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Nice. I figured it must be but thought just maybe it was a really good repro.
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I put one of these on the "Project Junkyard Dawg" when I started riding it and took it off before I sold it. It's yours if you want it...
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If you are interested in fairings these folks make some of the best I have found.
http://boxercafe.com/BMWSfairings.htm
They aren't the price of an original but they are not cheap, but they are some of the best I have found. Have a friend with an R100S that had a damaged fairing and he replaced it with one of theirs. Once painted you would be hard pressed to tell it from an original.
fyi - They have an R65 fairing
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I may have to talk to you about that, Justin. I have one now, a Givi that was on it when I bought it. I think looks-wise, the styles we're talking about here look better. I still can't tell if mine puts the air over me or just right into my face.
Marcmax - I think you and I discussed these before and, yes, they do look nice. For you and Justin, regarding this shorter style, do you notice that they do any good in normal riding? Or is it only if you're hunched over in the speed racer position? Maybe they're mostly for looks, to clean up the front end?
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I think they are mostly for looks unless you are laying down on the tank...
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I thought I was done with this but after getting it back together it just didn't handle right. After pulling the fairing back off and removing the forks (needed to replace the seals and add gaiters) I found that one of the bolts I used to attach the fairing bracket to the steering head was about 1/32" too long and was slightly rubbing on the triple-tree tube!
I got it all back together with fresh Mobil 1 grease in the steering head, new fork-seals, fresh BMW 7.5w fork oil, and the front wheel bearings serviced and lo and behold it started raining! Hadn't had much more than a few drops for the past couple of weeks so will try to give it a test ride tomorrow if the weather cooperates.
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The weather cooperated today, for the most part, so was able to put a few miles on the RT. Man, I'm happy!! It handles just like an RT should!
I guess this project is about done so I guess I need to look for something else to do. I have been toying with the idea of putting a set of monoshock forks on it... Kinda pricey but maybe I'll catch a good deal on a complete set w/brakes and wheel.
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Congrats on getting the problems figured out and also on finishing the project.
I was going to say that maybe I'll see you cruising down one of our local highways some day but then I remembered that Stealth paint job.......
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Once I had the engine up to snuff I decided it was a keeper so I had to make it not quite so embarrassing to ride so I cleaned up the frame and gave it a nice jet-black paint job. I'd never owned a black motorcycle before so it seemed like a good thing to do.
Those of you with an eagle-eye will note that I adapted a monoshock rear cowl and seat to the dual-shock. I was then able to use the monoshock BMW Comfort Seat.
Outstanding job on refinishing the outside of the panniers! Do the insides look as good?
They appear to be the same vintage as mine but the interiors of mine are shot (liner ripped out, holding elastic gone, bent drain channels and missing seals).
My locks are missing on one of them and barely catch on the other. I use straps to keep them shut but they don't really seal.
Where should I start if I want to restore?
Any tips or suggestions on doing that job and do your locks really catch and hold with those little thin slotted plates?
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I was lucky to pick up a very good used set from the Northwest. After 10 years of occasional use in the Texas sun they are starting to look a bit bleached out so I will probably paint them in the near future. I have a couple cans of Eastwood Plastic Restorer so I'm going to try that. The latches still work and I try not to ride in the rain...