Operation Spring Break

[awaffa2003]

Hey guys! I'm buying all the parts i've ever wantet right now so I can be done working on my bike while i'm on spring break. Just for now I only have one question. What flange size should I buy for a K&N filter, I dont want to use a ruler because I might mess up so I want to know for sure . I'm going for the round tapered style for each carb. Also does anyone know the fork tube size is? I need all these measurements because i dont own a caliper or anything accurate (maybe i should add that to my list).
So far i've bought:
NGK Iridium spark plugs
Headlight bucket
subframe(it was $9.99 and had a seat lock which is all i need)
Clymer manual
Clip-ons
fuel line
So far I still need:
Aztec8 Dual Headlamp Kit (check it out it's so cool aztec8.com)
Raask rearsets
Koso Tack/speedo or Trailtech tach speedo (haven't decided yet)
SS Brake lines
Rotor and caliper for dual disk set up

[Ed Miller]

I would just have to go measure my carbs with a ruler, so never mind that.

Which dual headlight kit?  I was hoping they were HID but they still look pretty cool.  I look forward to pictures when you're done.

[nhmaf]

How many watts does the new headlamp set consume ?  The charging system on these airheads can only support so much electrical draw, and that is in the vicinity of 280 Watts maximum, at which point it can't keep the battery charged.   At lower RPMs it doesn't produce peak output either, so if it is a 100+W headlamp system and you leave it on while just chugging around in low speed in-town traffic, your battery is probably going to need some help from a charger the next morning.

[airhead]

Why are you going for K&N's?? Other than for purely looks, the stock aircleaner is far superior for the road in filtering ability and no heartaches if it rains. Unless you are going to free up the breathing with head work, carburation and exhaust, any HP gains are, if any, minimal at best.


Bill................;-)

[awaffa2003]

Ed, I'm getting the 5 3/4 in. kit. I thought about buying a HID kit for it but they're so expensive. but for sure i'm putting some Phillips bulbs in them. I dont know whether to go with the orange "motorcycle lights" one or the super blue ones which would be really cool...Nhmaf, i have no idea how much power it would take because i don't know which bulbs i'm gonna get but thats a really good point, i never thought about that lol! Bill, i'm going with the K&N's purely for looks. I've always liked the look of the airbox and that black thing on top being removed. also there are shields that can be bought for them to prevent water from getting in them.

[Ed Miller]

How many watts does the new headlamp set consume ?  The charging system on these airheads can only support so much electrical draw, and that is in the vicinity of 280 Watts maximum, at which point it can't keep the battery charged.   At lower RPMs it doesn't produce peak output either, so if it is a 100+W headlamp system and you leave it on while just chugging around in low speed in-town traffic, your battery is probably going to need some help from a charger the next morning.

I know I'm only one data point, but when I installed my two 55 watt fog lamps I checked the charge at my battery with them and the high beam (60 watt?) on, and when the rpms were up to 4,000 I was getting almost 14 volts at the battery.  I don't use the fog lamps when I have to go through a town, and rarely have my revs below 4,000 when I'm riding any place else.  

[Bob_Roller]

I installed a set of PIAA 40  55 w driving lights, and with the driving lights on, and the headlight on highbeam, 45 mph with no stopping is the slowest I can go without having battery charging problems.

If you are in 'city ' traffic, leave the driving lights off.

[Ed Miller]

Heh heh, the point of having all that light is so you don't have to go slower than 45!  

[awaffa2003]

ok you guys have thoroughly scared the crap outta me....if i put 2 normal 60/55's in there is it gonna run down my battery?

[Bob_Roller]

If you ride in city traffic a lot, then the answer is  yes.

When I lived in the Chicago area, I rode the bike to work during the warm weather.

I had a 5.5 mile ride, and 14 stop lights, if I didn't put the charger on the battery, or got the bike out for a high speed run on the weekend, the battery would get discharged in 7 work days to the point to where the starter would not work.

Since I moved to Phoenix, I have an 11 mile ride to work, 9 of those miles are urban expressway, and I have not had a problem in the 15 years here in Phoenix.

So you pretty much have to see what kind of results you get in your riding situation.

If you get out on high speed roads without much stopping, it's not a problem.

The charging system on your R65 puts out 280 watts maximum, with 3 55 watt lamps on that's 165 watts of use, factor in the tail light bulb, instrument lighting, and the ignition system, and you are probably in the area of 210 watts, not much if any left to charge the battery at low speeds.

[awaffa2003]

3 lights? naw i'm replacing my headlight with the dual lights. so like 2 55's for now (it doesn't even have a parking light, and the reflector os glass or something so I can't drill into it or at least that's what they told me) . I'm not putting the original ins. panel back on so its LED's for the digital gauges. I got that LED (motorrad elektric i think) tail light, the only other lights are my 4 turn signals wich don't really count depending on how much you use them. but isnt there some other alternators that you can buy for our airheads? omega and something else right. i'll check snowbum....

[nhmaf]

There are replacement 400W aftermarket charging system replacement kits that are better able to handle these things, along with
the heated grips and/or electric vests that many beemer riders seem to have.   As long as you are aware of this "achille's heel" of
the airhead bikes and ride/plan appropriately, you may be able to get along with your increased illumination system without
being stranded - either be sure to run with less lights if stuck in traffic, or be sure to get her out on the open road at or above 4K
for a respectable period of time, or just hook up a battery tender leads to it when it is in the garage.

[Bob_Roller]

I remember an article from the BMW Owners News , quite a few years ago, and I don't know if this statement is true or not, but it was stated that the airhead bikes of our era, the early '80's, with no extra electrical loads other than what the bike came out of the factory with, that at 4000 rpm the alternator was producing enough electrical power to run all of the electrical load, and was not charging the battery.

There are two aftermarket higher output charging systems available for the R65, in the $500-600 range, the Omega, and the Enduralast systems.

One of the big differences in most motorcycle charging systems, is that the alternator rotor is spinning at engine crankshaft speed.

Next time you are under the hood of a car, take note of the difference in diameter between the pulley on the alternator, and the drive pulley coming off of the crankshaft.

The drive pulley is probably 2-3 times the diameter of the alternator pulley, so even at idle the alternator is spinning at 2-3,000 rpm, so it starts charging even at a lower engine rpm..

[nhmaf]

I don't recall that article, but I am suspicious that the statement about the system's output being that low at 4000 rpm may not be right.
When the weather warms up some and I can stand to be in the garage again, I will perform an electrical test of Tillie's (r65LS) charging system.

Reading the other thread about spring rides I was very jealous - at least the temperature broke 40 degrees F today, but we had snow off and on all day,
which melted, and now has covered the roads in black ice.... almost ran into a car that was on its side in the passing lane on the interstate while driving back
from a client's office tonight.   Now we've got wind gusts of around 50 mph, and this is the worst season for frost heaves in the road that I can recall in
at least 10 years - yup, this is springtime in new england !
 

[Justin B.]

So far I am pretty happy with the amount of light the HID conversion I used puts out.  A single light kit is not much more than $100.