British (Scottish, actually) Newbie...

[Thorfinn]

Just to say Hi, i've just bought an R65 RT (a rare beast, at least here in Blighty) from a colleague. She's been sitting idle (but in a nice warm garage) for 15 yeras or so, a little bit of "fettling" to do.

She's 1983 and in silver...don't like silver much, might make a new colour scheme part of my Winter Project. Bright, scary yellow, perhaps, or "police-bike" white to scare Audi drivers. BTW, anyone got any experience of prepping a BMW Fairing for new paint?

I'll post pictures of it as as soon as poss, in the meantime all the best to all the other Airhead riders on this site.

Cheers

Simon

[Bob_Roller]

Welcome Simon, an R65RT is a rare find indeed ! It will be interesting to see what needs to be done, after sitting for 15 years. I think JustinB. the moderator of this site could help you out with painting prep questions, as he does bike painting on the side.

[thrang]

Hello from Cumbria Simon, and congrats on finding an RT. Mine's a metalic black (well it was when it came out of the factory) and the PO decided to spray the fairing with satin black, so I'm also kind of curious to hear any repilys about preping a fairing for paint.

Oh yeah! A white RT can be an absolute hoot on the motorway especially if you wear a white lid, and a reflective H belt, car drivers think you're plod, and plod think you are one of them! Rode a white ex-Northumbria plod R80 when I was dispactch riding as a student and I was never nicked once for speeding.

Cheers
Tony

[scottyintex]

Hey there...welcome to the clan of ghost riders. My 1980 R65 sat under a tarp for some 18 years. I used the old brake expansion tank or reservoir ...which may not have been the best idea. I replaced the brake lines .........the Texas heat had rotten them and should have replaced the tank too.  The brake fluid had turned to a goo.............which I thought I had out........but did not.  About 1000 miles down the road the brakes start going soft.  Turns out I didn’t get all the goo out. So I replaced the expansion tank .........which I wish I had done the first time.  In the process of doing your brakes....when you think you have all the crap out......do it more time. Or better yet................throw it all away and buy new ones. I have heard others say the brakes are the Achilles heel of barn finds.  So far that has been the one and only problem on conjuring it back to life.  Mine was silver too.......but the paint on the gas tank was under a tank guard all those years and peeled............she became my black beauty.  By the way.......my folks came from just North of Glasgow.

[SCJJR65]

Hey there, Simon!  Just wanted to add my own "welcome" to you!  Good to have you as a member!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

You gotta post a pic of your RT asap, so we over here can admire and covet it.  They are as rare as hens teeth here in the States, and I would love to own one!  

[welshman]

Welcome to the forum Thorfinn.I have a 1985 R65RT twinshock that stood idle outside! for over a year and is now almost ready for the dreaded MOT. Looking forward to actually riding on the road rather than up and down the garden path. Look forward to seeing the pics. I'm in south Lincs. Glyn.

[Dick_Stilton]

A big welcome to the forum and the wonderfull world of the R65. I agree, white is a snazzy colour and its real fun creeing up on unsuspecting motorists and see em trying to slowdown with handbrake only then pootling along mile after mile with one eye on the rear view mirror. Mine is an ex cop bike, have a look. s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb255/itsme_hooray/?action=view&current=IMG_4293.jpg

[tagordon]

Welcome Simon,
Good that another great bike has been rescued.
Please favor use with pics ASAP.

Troy