valve recession

[Bob_Roller]

These airhead engines also don't have any valve guide seals, like most  engines .

[steve hawkins]

30,000 miles is kinda low for top end rebuild.

I wish the inside of my rocker covers was as clean as that.

Enjoy your ride.

Rev. Light

[livingdeadhead]

no valve seals? is that how my sump was filled with petrol on delivery? also if 65 is riding hard (ive blown an rd 250 and a zx10 in the past) have i picked the right bike?

[Barry]

There are no oil seals fitted to the valve guides although the occasional enterprising owner has managed to find some car seals that fit. No info on what they were.

Absence of valve guide seals has nothing to do with petrol in the sump. More likely to have been the result of parking up with the fuel tap open.

An R65 is happy enough being revved but oil consumption is always going to increase at sustained high speeds. Might be a good idea to check the engine breather is working OK as that is important to control oil consumption at high revs.

[Matt Chapter]

also if 65 is riding hard (ive blown an rd 250 and a zx10 in the past) have i picked the right bike?

well, the R65 is no ZX, but I've had mine up to the redline in top gear.  The trick is good maintenance, and an understanding of how the bike likes to be treated.  I'm up to 49xxx miles now.  I have an '86 chasis with an '84 motor, and I would guarantee it goes over 6k on the tach every time it goes out on the road.  In fact, I rarely ride it below 4k.. not very much oomph below about 3500 rpms.

[livingdeadhead]

nah, i'm not going to thrash it or neglect it! but i do want to use all its performance , i had a bsa a65.....i think (hope) i've got silly speeds out of my system now, mind you i've said that before , and i loved my sportster, if i haven't theres lots of old sports bikes , cheap!