I'm moving up ..................

[balibeemer]

Since this is the place for announcements, I have one.
Just landed a job as region manager, East Indonesia with an outfit called Group 4 Securicor. So, to celebrate, I've put down a deposit on a 1987 R 80. Needs a bit of work but apart from a wider engine and a different ignitions switch position, it is rather similar to my R 65. Any tips?

[balibeemer]

And another pic!

[not-so-fast-ed]

Congratulations on both moves!  Looks like 2009 is starting out well for you already.

Will you be moving from Bali?   It's more centrally located, isn't it?  Close to Java (Jawa?).  Is there a ferry over to Java to enable you to ride there, or would that be too much of a hassle?

The R80 shares its mono shock frame with my '87 R65 I'm told.  Shouldn't be too much different from your dual shock R65.  Little more torque, possibly a few more sophistications.  Did it come with an Owners Manual?  When I tried to find one for my bike the only one available was the R80 version, which I bought and still use from time to time.  The Service Manual is also still available and covers both.

Enjoy & keep us posted.

Best Holiday wishes,

Ed

[Ed Miller]

Looks good.  What kind of running lights are those on the crash bars?  I would like to find some mounts to put my running lights on the sliders rather than my Windjammer mounts, so that they will actually point in the direction I'm going.  Right now both the running lights and the headlights point in the frame direction, not the wheel direction, so it's hard to see around corners at night.  And that's just where the deer lie in wait!

[balibeemer]

Ed, The running lights, I think, are made out of recycled Coke cans! seriously, the mounts are good but the lights themselves are locaslly made and will be the first things to come off in about 4 months time. Do you want the mounts?. PM me

And, Yes, I will remain on Bali.

[aussie]

Hey congrats on the new job and bike! Gawd, I just hate those front number plates - Aust got rid of them back in the '70's, though there is some talk about going back to them - after all how can speed cameras pick up the owner of the bike without a front number plate? (Don't worry about the injuries they cause in accidents).....

[balibeemer]

HEY AUSSIE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE FRONT PLATE! It will be the first thing to be removed  - "Sorry officer, it must have fallen off, and here's 10,000 rupiah for your pension fund!"

I can always put small white plastic numbers on the bottom of the windshield.

Speed Cameras? In Bali?

[Justin B.]

You mean Bali bureaucrats have not discovered that marvelous piece of revenue generation technology yet?  Give 'em time...  Red-light cameras are sprouting up around here like bad weeds.

[Altritter]

From Rob: << Red-light cameras are sprouting up around here like bad weeds. >>

That brings up a question: Some time back one of our local TV stations (Wash. DC area) did a product review of products claiming to thwart red-light cameras by virtue of their being clear spray coatings or adhesive films that were more or less invisible in normal light, but extremely reflective when hit by a camera strobe. I recall that the tests revealed that one of the products (I couldn't write it down, and promptly forgot it) was particularly effective, obliterating the license numbers completely and showing up on the photo as a plain, bright reflected light. (The news spot showed the results on a test photo.) Anyone have any information about it?

[aussie]

You're still allowed to use these devices??? Damn and MOG. The Aussie revenue raisers put that little lurk to bed very quickly. We're not even allowed to have plastic covers over the number plates as some unscrupulous people   did a little sanding with some steel wool and while you could read it from the rear from a red light camera it was all but impossible.

[not-so-fast-ed]

"A little sanding with steel wool" you say  .....Eh?

 

Thanks