The Dawg Lives!!

[Justin B.]

I finally got around to getting a temporary tag for the Junkyard Dawg as I was getting bored with just doing laps around the back yard.    It's maiden voyage was about 1.5 miles to the inspection joint where I had to put up with a little bit of razzing about needing a fire extinguisher, etc.  The anti-seize was still burning off when I got there so there was a fair amount of smoke going on!

It passed inspection so I took a mixed city/highway loop of about 15 miles to make sure nothing would fall off and I was pleasantly surprised I'd only forgotten to tighten a couple of things.  The engine wound up quickly, ran smoothly, and felt quite peppy.  My tranny rebuild seems to at least be marginally OK as there were no strange noises, it shifted butter-smooth, and I had no missed gears.  

A couple other "firsts" are my stainless steel rear axle, adjustable shift lever, and my stainless steel caliper pistons.  The axle is still in one piece and the brakes work nicely so apparently those parts seem to be working.  After torturing the rear axle I'll machine one for the front as well as the current one is pretty ratty looking.  The shift lever worked great although I need to make the "toe portion" a bit longer.

All-in-all a successful shakedown run and as soon as I find some blasting sand I can refurb. the rear wheel and put the new Michelin on it.  If it's still alive after the 30 day tag is up I'll go ahead and register it and think about painting it.

[msbuck]

 [smiley=clap.gif] Woof woof woohoo!  Way to go Justin!  Now, where are those pics?  Gotta have before and after - paintwise, at least.  

[Justin B.]

It's not gonna be painted until maybe this winter.  I may just spray everything matte black and be done with it!  It looks exactly as it did when I bought it except for a blue tank, silver front wheel, and new seat-cover.

[nhmaf]

Glad to hear the project is on the road again!   We missed hearing from you round here lately!

[trolle]

Looking forward to the pics.

Are you manufacturing the axles yourself?

greetings from a sunny north

[Justin B.]

Trolle - Yes, I machined it from 303, I should be able to test it's durability with the crappy road I have to take to work...

Been very busy with other hobbies that had been neglected for far too long and there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish what I need to get accomplished...

Not much to look at but it will stay this way through the summer and if I decide it's worth it I'll paint it this winter.

[montmil]

Perhaps a little late in on this thread but in Texas you can license a motorcycle that's 25+ years old with an Antique Motorcycyle plate. The plate is good for five years and costs just $53.00 IIRC. And licensed as such, no inspection sticker is required either.

There are a couple legal hooks within this category. Among them, the bike can only be ridden in parades and exhibitions, ridden to a service facility and a couple others. And then there's my favorite point in the law... the bike may be ridden on test rides. Test rides, you say? These are thirty-year-old motorcycles! EVERY ride is a test ride.

Several Airhead Beemer buddies and a few UJM riders in my village have been using the antique tags for many years. Never been questioned. Nor have I been and I live next door to an LOE.

Both my R65s have Antique M/C tags. A one-time $52.00 for five years or $60.00+ annually. Put another way... 5 years/$53.00 or 5 years/$300.00+

Have no knowledge if other states have this M/C license offering.

Monte

[Justin B.]

My usage doesn't fall under the guidelines.  I've had restored cars with antique plates but didn't drive them that much.

Met the wife for lunch today and she said the bike looked like an orphan so I put the front fender on...

[Darwin_R65]

I'm trying to work out if you mean $60 per year is standard "non vintage " rego.

Here in the NT my bike is $650 per year for rego with annual roadworthy inspections.
Club plates are for 30 + years and cost $130 per year, but you are limited to 90 days driving per year, 60 days with club rides and 30 days personal (whatever you want)

Hanging out to get 90 days a year onthe 1950 sunbeam, but i need to put it together first.

john

[Bob_Roller]

Here in Arizona, the yearly registration cost is based on the original manufacturers list price, can't quite remember what starting percentage is, then it goes down by about 10% per year .

The '81 R65 costs $18US per year for registration, I have 'Historic Motorcycle' plates, issued after the bike is at least 25 years old, this costs an extra $10US per year .

Starting next month, the requirement for annual motorcycle exhaust emissions testing will be dropped in the two counties in Arizona that required it, it was for the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas .

[montmil]

...I'm trying to work out if you mean $60 per year is standard "non vintage " rego. john

Yes. It's $60-ish per year for the standard Texas MC license plate and annual renewals. We don't have anything even close to your MOT inspections. Basically, in Texas, if the lights work the horn honks, it appears to have some tread on the rubber and you have liability insurance... you're good to go for $12.50/year. No emissions testing at all for Texas M/Cs.

Monte

[Melena]

Justin,

I like that blue and red and black color combo on the bike.   8-)  The blue R65LS on the LS fairing goes with the blue tank, so it's all compatible.    

Ummmm, what color is the fender?  

[Justin B.]

Faded Henna Red - matches the snout and seat cowl...  I put the fender on, it just looked too pathetic without it!

It survived a weeks worth of commuting, my tranny rebuild seems to be holding up, and the rings appear to have seated so all-in-all I'm pretty pleased with everything.

[Bob_Roller]

A fresh paint job, and a couple of hours work with a baking soda blaster to clean up the aluminum cases, and you'll  have a great looking bike !!!

[MrRiden]

It brings to mind the term "sympathetic restoration". So I extend my sympathies! That is one ugly bike! Glad to hear it runs like a beauty though! ;-)