New Member from Southampton UK

[rickloader]

Hello, I`m Rick. Thanks for having me on the Forum. I have already learned a lot from here. My story:
Way back about 1985 my Norton was unavailable ( for <cough> adjustments). A lady colleague kindly lent me her small BM. I was impressed and found it much preferable to the larger R series I had tried.
Returning to the present, I`m finding the trusty Norton a bit of a stretch for my 5ft 6", especially when loaded with camping gear. That distant memory suggested an R65 might be easier to handle.
So I bought a 1981 registered twin shock R65. It has a stack of old receipts that suggest a genuine 15,000 miles. Even the worn out front tyre might be original. I`m slowly checking things for recommissioning in the new year.
However, I`m not exactly  sure what it is, and where it sits in the 80/81 change over. Colour 589 - Bronco? twin ATE calipers Points ign
A short ride has convinced me that it is a keeper!
Rick

[wilcom]

Welcome aboard Rick. You have found a nice ride and good luck, with only 15K miles/Km you may have found a bike for a lifetime

[rickloader]

Thanks for the welcome Joe. I think you are right, and that the bike will see me out! It is a great privilege to have an unmolested machine.
My plan is to keep it as original as possible. Conserving, as against restoring. As they say " It is only original once". With this in mind I have tackled the light frame rust with phoshoric acid and nylon scourer. Then a light coat of "Owatrol". ( a kind of semi drying oil) This lets the original paint show while halting further rust. Someone else can do the full strip and frame repaint.
I might have to bring the bars back a little though. Have to lean fowards a lot, meaning my neck is bent up, and I`m not comfortable.
I was a bit surprised to find points ignition. This and the Bronco colour makes me wonder if it is actually a 1980 model. Registered in January `81. I guess I will have to be careful ordering parts.
Rick

[Bob_Roller]

Hi !!
If it's got points ignition, most likely an '80 model bike .
What are the last 7 characters of the VIN ??

[rickloader]

vin is 6349204
Thanks, Rick

[dogshome]

Hiya!

Looks 80 to me with metal airbox. Points ignition confirms.

Distinct lack of leaks or bad rust from this side :-)

[Bob_Roller]

Date of manufacture is 07/80 .
Tail end of the '80 production .
Important to know this, as starting with a production date of 09/80 a lot of differences in the bikes .

[rickloader]

Oh! Thank you so much Bob! That is very helpful indeed.  Yes, I see there are big differences with the early models in many areas . I will need  need to be careful with parts.
I see some info on the web dismissing the 78-80 models as inferior. Perhaps that explains the 7 month delay between production and sales of my bike. Are they considered worse still today? I`m happy with this one though. Especially as some say the seat height is lower - crucial for an aged shortass like me.
With a 1980 production date I can get an exemption for UK road tax and MOT now, instead of waiting till next year.
(Am I ok to discuss this bike here or do I need a new thread?)
@ dogshome Yes, it has an cast alloy airbox retained by a single long screw. The air filter is round. There are no leaks, but the frame has light rust spots. It seems to have been stored for many years, only emerging for the MOT every year. ( Uk annual safety inspection)
Thanks again, Rick

[Justin B.]

I would start a new thread in whatever proper section the post pertains to.

I don't think that they're particularly "inferior" but are different.  My youngest son cut his teeth on a 1980 r65 and still has it.  I guess I'll never get it back since he smuggled it to Maine! 

[Burt]

Welkom Rick,

Looks like the others have identified it so all good there.  A very good looking example for its age.  A round air filter instead of the squarish one and you have dual front discs.  Replacements can be a bit expensive nowadays but you should be fine with that mileage. 

Justin,
Just out of curiosity with your son's 65, were shorter bars fitted to enable the RS fairing bar end clearance?