FINALLY DONE!

[awaffa2003]

after 2 years of having the R65, i'm finally done!!! well at least, road ready. not sur what the grand total was but i'm thinking that it was around $700. new parts included dual headlights, Vapor computer, NGK spark plugs, K&N pod filters, clip ons and emgo shorty mufflers. pics on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13371&l=eea7b&id=533986563

[DgM]

That's one sporty R65.  Cool.

[Justin B.]

Looking pretty good , I like that digital cluster more and more.  The only negative I can see (just being subjective here) is I think maybe bit more thought might need to go into cleaning up the wiring, or hiding it somehow...

[not-so-fast-ed]

Now that's something you won't see on the road every day!
Looks nice Harrison.
How does it ride?

[awaffa2003]

Thanks guys! Justin you are absolutely correct! all that wiring is a PITA!!! i'm still EXACTLY done with it but its fine for now. Ed, it rides like a champ, i couldn't believe how nimble it was seeing as i haven't ridden it since my dad's old Luftmeister, Reynolds racks, mufflers and everything else i took off the darn thing came off! Haven't mastered a wheelie yet, tho. going slow (like 5mph) is fine, but anywhere after that it just shoots off instead of popping it up...

a few questions tho, i'm not sure if my tach is too accurate, i have 7500 as my redline cuz i think thats what it was on the old one but iit says i hit 14000 in 5th gear and i was only doing 72mph. is this normal? i've never had a functioning tach so i don't know. i think i was at redline or maybe past it but i thought these bikes went faster than that. i only had a short stretch of road tho, maybe if i had more time to gently climb up there it would be different...idk?

[Justin B.]

Harrison, it looks like it's time to get out the Vapor manual and re-calibrate your tach.  If you even approached those kind of RPMs you would start "wearing" most of the internal rotating assembly!!

These things are not in any "fast" as I think top speed is between 105-110 mph.  As far as wheelies are concerned it had always been my opinion that it wasn't possible on an Airhead.   I've read, though, there are a couple of expert riders that are able to get any front wheel off the ground and ride it out - even on a K1200LT!!!

[montmil]

...but iit says i hit 14000 in 5th gear and i was only doing 72mph...

The Vapor manual addresses the issue of fine tuning the tachometer readout. For those interested, the Vapor manuals may be downloaded for free at http://www.trailtech.net/index.html.

[Jon_P]

i have pulled wheelies on mine! it is not something i would do on a regular basis because it does cause alot of wear and tear on the clutch.

i can pull a wheelie from a dead stop and keep it there as long as i want. on a run pulling one at say above 20 mph it is pretty tough but again i have done it. again i dont recommend it because that puts a ton of tear on the clutch dumping the gears down and then shifting back up once you have it up in the air.

[Ed Miller]

I didn't realize the vapor was so small!  Now I wonder how it would look with a pair of the HID high and low beam bulbs I've seen somewhere...  Would those fit in a Windjammer?

The kids hanging out at the local grocery store frequently want me to do wheelies or burnouts.  I decline.  They're used to little cheap dirt bikes, which are probably very good at that sort of fun.  I don't think they understand the concept of a motorcycle being anything other than a toy; one even asked if he could ride it.  

[billygoat]

 DUDE! You rocked it! Nice bike for sure. Great aditude! Your bike looks to be in very good shape, how many miles? I dig the digi speedo, if I wasn't such a prude I'd change my bike from stock.
 I see you removed the smog pipe   Good deal. How long have you been riding? I wouldn't try to weelie this bike, I don't think Jason Britton could stunt these much. Dude, be carefull, these things are dangerous. A m/c cop told me and I never forgot, "It's not IF you go down but WHEN you go down."
jmtc

[awaffa2003]

ok fixed it, i think. havent gotten it on the road yet tho. wrapped the Tach wire around the sparkie wire. and yea i was kinda disapointed when i get the vapor, they make it look bigger online but no problems reading the display. i was thinking about getting the HID kit but then realized that i would have to buy 2 i was like nahhhhh! now if you guys want to put something together for me to be a "test horse" of sorts...i wouldn't mind. JK! but i was thinking about getting the ultrablue phillips or PIAA lights. anybody have any experience with those? only problem is that i need a relay, i think i'm pushing it with the duals and no relay. my switch doesnt get hot like i hear of, but if i turn off my headlights, my high beam light comes on and that is REALLY hot.

BTW thank you Mr. Goat and yea i removed a lot of stuff, i think it gave the bike a lot more angles to look at, although the main thing was the rear fender, i had to put it back on because i couldnt find/make/buy a rear hugger and that's what i want. and i've been touring with my dad since 2003, still dont have my licence but the bike has 23000 miles on it.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Wouldn't a cow have been more appropriate?



Now you need to get those handlebar risers milled down!



Any plans to remove some material from the fenders?  And a seat?



Looks great!

[billygoat]

 Someone used to sell "Fly screens" for airheads on Ebay. I don't see them now but I posted a pic. I also photoshoped one on your bike just for fun.

[billygoat]

your bike

[Semper Gumby]

Nice job Harrison.  I love the bugeyed headlights and the computer speedo.  Cool set up.

 <snip>
a few questions tho, i'm not sure if my tach is too accurate, i have 7500 as my redline cuz i think thats what it was on the old one but iit says i hit 14000 in 5th gear and i was only doing 72mph. is this normal? i've never had a functioning tach so i don't know. i think i was at redline or maybe past it but i thought these bikes went faster than that. i only had a short stretch of road tho, maybe if i had more time to gently climb up there it would be different...idk?

Sounds like you got the tach wired wrong.  With my 32/9 rear end, 72 mph should work out to about 5000 rpms.  THe R65 ignition system is a "waisted spark" system as both plugs fires when one of the cylinders hit top on compression.  So you may be reading high by a factor of 2 but that doesn't sound correct for the mph.  At 7250 rpm in 5th gear you should be up near 100 mph.  Something else is going on.  

I never go over 7000 rpms even though the red line is a bit higher.  

My .02.