Tony's restoration of Steve's old knacker

[clonmore1]

It's looking very good Tony, a job well done!

Enjoy...

[Dustybin]

It's in bits again, this time I noted a bit of a clonking on the front end and was trying to find the info on front forks, bearing in mind this is supposed to be a 79 R65 it has had a pair of brembo brakes fitted and has progressive springs fitted. Although the first fork leg is out I have yet to dismantle it. But I understand there may be two versions of the fork internals fitted to the R65. I am sure I have seen a recent thread but cannot find it nor does the search bring it up?

[AlfromNH]

I think the difference is whether a plastic cushion or spring assembly is used as a top-out cushion. I know I started a thread when I took apart my forks. I think NHMAF had the a thread with a lot of detail, titled "does my damper look right?" or similar. Just going off memory here...

[AlfromNH]

Here are a couple threads that were helpful to me when I was rebuilding my forks:
http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1381000733

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1371526053

A '79 will have the plastic top out cushion, not the spring. Mine did, anyway.

[Dustybin]

Thanks Al I will be taking a look inside the forks in the next day or so, did a bit of a push down test on the one I removed this evening, lots of squishing noises ( like airiated oil) on the way back up and little no rebound damping that I can detect.. :-?

[steve hawkins]

It turns out that we were several little issues that made the forks harsh.

1.  A little light on fluid - needed a change anyway.
2. The bumpers were in there, from the last time I was in there, but Tony put a new set in, as he had them.
3. There were some preload spacers I put in from its café racers days which are no longer required. Those coupled with firmer springs made the forks too stiff for a Bobber.  This was not an issue when this bike was a café racer, as the clip-ons and rear sets put more weight up front, but when the weight moved back, with a more upright riding position, the forks would rebound with a 'clunk'.

So sorted.  

As was the tuning, next time Tony messes with his dynamic timing he want to sung up the bolts of the bean can and points a bit more, then they wont move.  The bike is now as fast as it ever was.  As I can testify as I was overtaken by him on a spirited ride over the Wiltshire downs a week or so ago.

Rev. Light

[Dustybin]

Well the tinkering goes on, having lost a lot of weight over the years (the R65 that is). I have felt that the rear shocks are a little harsh being koni's and built to beef up the rear end of a standard bike with luggage. Any way being tight I want to soften things up economically, so I ordered a set of Hagons....................that didn't arrive, on back order aparently. Anyway it gave me time to investigate re-springing the koni's. So I contacted Norman Hyde motor cycles who were able to supply a lighter pair of Ikon springs which fit very nicely, although compressing springs is always fun! looking forward to seeing how they feel but not before I have replaced the progressive springs in the forks for the originals.
TTFN

[Dustybin]

well what a revelation, the new lighter rear springs and the refitting of the standard springs in the forks have totally changed the bike. Much less skittish and far more enjoyable to ride! Well pleased

[steve hawkins]

This really needs to be flagged up to everyone.  The fact that you can source new springs for existing koni/ikon shocks that are of a lighter weight than those normally supplied.

Tony, can you let everyone know what weight of spring you had fitted and what you replaced it with.

I personally think that this is still a nicer and higher quality package the Hagons, as long as you can specify a better spring weight when you buy them.

I do not want this little snippet of info dropping through the cracks.

Rev Light