Dating outside the religion

[davidpdx]

Well I feel like I have gone astray a little from the R65 denomination by buying this 1977 R100s a few months ago. After new tires and fluid change it has been fun to learn my way around a different airhead. It is defiantly a little heavier and way more powerful. It seems to handle better in the corners which surprised me because I have always read that the the R65 is more nimble due to being lighter and shorter. It may be the fact that it has progressive springs in the forks or the narrower handle bars. Anyone with experience on both bikes have any ideas? Planning on a long trip in June so it will be interesting to see how it feels for all day riding. Already discovered that mileage in way less.        

[nhmaf]

Wow - it looks in beautiful shape, David!

I have a 78 R100/7, which is now semi-scramblerish in configuration  (wide Renthal handlebars, Trawilwing D/P tires) but I've also ridden other early 80s R100 bikes and also owned an 88 R100RT monolever for a number of years.

I think that the R65 is still the more nimble bike, and when pressed harder into the corners, etc. doesn't seem to give me the eventual tendencies to "wallow" like several of the R100 bikes I've ridden, including my current one.   I attribute this in part to (when properly setup) the better fork design on the  1982 R65 in terms of compliance and response to a variety of suspension inputs, and the thicker, stiffer top plate of the R65 steering head assembly compared to the stamped metal piece on the R100 bikes.    On an R100 with a Toaster Tan or similar aftermarket steering head top clamp piece that is even more robust than the R65 one, I've noticed significant improvement.   I may get one for my R100/7 soon anyhow as it is also to be doing duty with a sidecar.

The R100 engine is definitely slower to rev up compared to the R65, even with the lighter clutch carrier assembly from the 1981+ bikes.   It definitely has a noticeable step up on the torque curve though.

[montmil]

I have a 1978 R100S that has been turned into a nekkid roadster. Works Performance rear suspension, stronger front springs along with a stronger fork brace, a Toaster Tan top plate clamping BMW sidecar handlebars -think low and wider than the shorter OEM sporty bars- plus digital instrumentation and an 18-inch front wheel makes this bike a high speed hustler. I enjoy the "S" out on the road but it is not as much fun in an urban setting as is my '81 and '83 R65s.

As the saying goes, Different horse for different courses.  

Any Airhead running the flat steel upper plate -and you cannot call it a triple clamp as it's nothing close to one- will benefit greatly in the handling department with one of Stephen's beautiful products. Pricey, they are, but so nice.

 http://www.pbase.com/toastertan/top_braces