Am I paranoid?

[Trickydisco]

Hello All,

you may have noticed from my two other posts that I have just acquired my first airhead, a '79 R65, which I love already, but it doesnt come with much history and I bought it from a dealer so I dont know how it has been treated. I suspect reasonably well but frankly it is an old bike and things can and will go wrong.
FRom the responses I have had to my posts it has led me to think that I may be being paranoid, (having owned a couple of triumphs I think this is justified) but to put my mind at rest is there any event I can go to, from an owners club or something that I can turn up to and let someone who has had more spannering time than me cast their eye, and ear over my bike to either put my mind at rest or give me my first "project" list.
By the way, Im in North East London.

Thanks again all

TD

[steve hawkins]

Tricky,

Here is another more local forum in the UK.  It is not R65 specific, but is BMW (although definately not affiliated with the UK BMW Owners Club), and many of the owners are currently or have been airhead riders.

They meet regularly all over the uk and organise trips.  Although they normally specify a place to meet and you all just turn up, rather than ride around in big groups.  All very low key, easy going and friendly.  

I am off to France next month and hope to meet some of them there.  I am going to the Somme to look up my great grandfather who is buried somewhere there (I know the locality and time of death, but he does not have a marked grave).  Most of the rest are going to Ypres.  But we will meet up for a Coffee at some point.

And there are some in the members in the London area.

http://gabfesters.co.uk/index.php?

In the mean time the best thing you can do, is to take a picture of your bike and show it to us.  

Then keep bothering us with anything that is bothering you.

You will find people here are helpful and constructive.

Cheers

Steve H

[Bob_Roller]

If you need a project list, that's simple enough, though I don't know your mechanical expertise, and what you're comfortable working with.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Well just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to getcha!  Just kidding but actually, it's prudent to be concerned about a more "experienced" motorcycle.  Whenever I obtain a new ride the first thing I do is find out what an annual service consists of for that particular machine and perform it.  Usually it means changing all of the fluids, lubricating bearings, checking torque specs, timing and valve adjustment.  Take copious notes and photos for the file you are going to keep on that bike.  Without being too AR I like to keep records on one side and receipts on the other side.

Hopefully you will find that by performing all of the little services you will discover where the blemishes and warts are as well as gaining the confidence in that particular bike.  Pay attention to the guys on this forum.  There is a vast amount of knowledge here to help keep the troubles to a minimum.  Good wrenching and great riding!