Farewell, old friend

[rinty]

My '82 RS has been sold so I took it out for a last ride the other day. I went out to Bragg Creek, where all the local riders congregate, had a coffee, and then came back to Calgary. I hadn't had it on the highway for quite a while, but everything was working well and I had forgotton how good the wind protection is compared to my '02 RS. When I got home, I dropped the oil hot, put in fresh 20w-50, and checked it over so it would be ready for its new custodian to ride home.

Graham flew out from Vancouver Island a few days later and I picked him up at the airport, after which we went to the registry to get a transit permit. As I pulled in front of the garage and hit the door opener transmitter, he said: "I remember that door from the pictures you sent!" He walked over to his new bike and was immediately enthralled. He was really excited and I was happy for him.

It didn't take Graham long to sort his gear out and pack it into the Light Touring Cases, and then I did a detailed walk around with him. We took pictures, started the bike, and he mounted up. I watched him as he rode away down the lane and had conflicting feelings of sadness as it left my life, and happiness knowing that it was going to such a good home.

I bought the airhead just after my dad died 16 years ago, and it was such a good machine that it took until last year before I got the newer version. Several months went by before I could decide whether to keep it, and to come to the realization that I would prefer to have only one sport tourer.

And the bike deserves to be cared for by an owner who is as enthusiastic as Graham.

Rinty

[BradfordBenn]

Maybe you can go for visits to it.....

[jdiaz]

I just spent a couple of weeks on my '86 R80RT, buzzing out and around the east coast. 44-49mpg, had just enough power, and plenty of fairing while enjoying some of the most torrential rain I've seen in the last few years. Even after only having this bike a couple of months, I have a hard time envisioning selling it.

[R80RTJohnny]

I hope that the new owner gives the bike a good new home. My 86 R80RT will, hopefully, stay with my till the end. Adding a new bike yes (R12RT). Selling the old one NO!

See you in Vermont.

[rinty]

You think I have a problem, Brad? And shouldn't you be on your way to Vermont?

Actually, what drove the decision to sell, was the guilt resulting from 20 years of conservative Dutch upbringing. You can't have too much fun.

It was actually a pretty neat bike. It was restored by our famous local BMW genius, Dave Anderson, (Anderwerks BMW) who was really proud of it, and it had just about every mod available for an airhead. And there was only one Luftmeister part in the whole lot, front anti-bottoming springs. It had twin SuperTrapps with 12 discs and when you gassed it, there was a fair amount of noise. It reminded me of what one of the Snowbird pilots said to me once about their Tudor jets: "We call them 'converters': they convert fuel into noise."

And Johnny, I'm sure the new owner will take good care of it; he's your stereotypical BMW owner. And no more will be said about that.

Rinty

[BradfordBenn]

You think I have a problem, Brad? And shouldn't you be on your way to Vermont?

No problems... Six days until I leave for VT. Still trying to decide what route to take. go through the Great White North or stay in the States.

[rinty]

I've heard the Trash Canada north of Lake Superior is pretty dreary, but you'd probably be entering east of there.

Have a good one.

And don't forget your jeans(s).

Rinty

[BradfordBenn]

Thanks for the tips. So are you attending?

[rinty]

No, it's too far for me. I don't like riding in the vertical for more than a five hundred or so kilometres. I've gone to two International rallies in the west, but I always go to at least one regional rally each year. This year it's the Stanley Stomp, but I usually do the Beartooth or the Nakusp. I'm looking forward to the next northwestern International so I can meet all the Forum folks. I hope we all get name tags.
This month it's family stuff for me: the Craven International critter music festival next week in Saskatchewan (a hell of a party) and then off to San Francisco and Monterrey for 10 days. Going to Craven means I'll miss the Jack Sh*t Invitational International Pro Am for the second year in a row, and my fellow hooligans haven't even seen my new super boxer yet.

So I'll be thinking about you all down in Essex Junction.

I think I will do a cross continent one of these days; the new oiler has that tall sixth gear, which is good for slab work.

Drive safe and watch out for those Ontarians.

Rinty

[kbasa]

When I sold my 83 RS and it headed on down the road, I thought I was going to start crying. I still miss that bike.

[28796]

When I sold my 83 RS and it headed on down the road, I thought I was going to start crying. I still miss that bike.

I can't believe you sold it!!

[The_Veg]

The previous owner of The BatBike (Hi Stacey! :wave ) was pretty sad to see it go. But I've given it a great home.

[lkchris]

I'd replace my RS with an Oilhead if it weren't for the stupid two-piece seats.

[kbasa]

I can't believe you sold it!!


Me either. It was the second dumbest thing I've ever done, after selling Tina's CB400F. I wish we still had that bike too.

[rinty]

I'd replace my RS with an oiler...if it weren't for the stupid two piece seats. lkchris

Kent:

Actually, the oiler seats aren't that bad. I get butt burn after about the same distance, 700 km, as I did on the airhead, even after I had the seat scooped. The '80 to '84 seat is a bit wider than it needs to be for most people, I think, and BMW narrowed the seats on the reborn boxers. The oiler seats come off in a fraction of the time that it takes on an airhead, but you do need to be very careful that the passenger seat is properly latched in before you take off. Getting at the tail cone cavity is admittedly much easier on the airhead, but only if you keep the latch unlocked.

But the airhead S saddle, with its little step in the middle, is a thing of beauty, and the 3/4 RS seat/cowl is even more attractive. I never got the latter, because I like to strap a medium size duffle bag across the luggage if I'm carrying camping stuff, and the cowl would get in the way.

Rinty

[28796]

Having lots of garage space I never sell my old bikes unless I didn't like them. My R90/S has been around 30 years & my Morini 3.5 Sport for 24. Earlier this season I briefly thought about selling my 907ie which hasn't seen much use lately. Then I walked over & took a good long look at it's beautiful lines and realized it's not going anywhere.

[rinty]

Paintr:

That is a very interesting collection listed in your profile. But, with the exception of the /5 and R60, your bikes are all totally different. I had two sport tourers, and I thought that if I have any regrets in the future, I could always acquire another good RS then; they are not rare and they are not expensive. But before that happens, and in any event, after we add a third bay to the garage, I would get a bevel drive 900 SS Duc or maybe a /2.

My good friend Paul Puky, who is a keen airhead RS owner, likes to say: "When you go out to the garage, you don't want to just ride the one that has the most gas in it."

Rinty

[28796]

Variety definitely makes the garage much more interesting. I had a 76 bevel drive 900SS & I probably should have hung onto that one considering the current prices. The earles fork R60 & R75/5 are actually quite different to ride especially with the Mikunis on the R75. Even though I've got 2900 sq ft of garage space I was struggling this morning to find a good spot for my new 14' kayak. The more space you have the more stuff you'll find to fill it.

[rinty]

John:

That R80/100 conversion you just posted is really nice. My tech, Dave Anderson, is really excited about the Siebenrock stuff. And 34 mm is a good size carb for that engine. The standard 40 mm is a bit too big, I think. It gives away some mid range power.

Rinty

[28796]

John:

That R80/100 conversion you just posted is really nice. My tech, Dave Anderson, is really excited about the Siebenrock stuff. And 34 mm is a good size carb for that engine. The standard 40 mm is a bit too big, I think. It gives away some mid range power.

Rinty

Most guys tend to over carb these engines when they go to an aftermarket carb. With the small valve head used on the later Airheads a big carb is a waste of power. You lose a lot of low end torque with the bigger carbs & pick up very little up top without valve work.

I'm VERY happy with the Siebenrock/Mikuni combo as well as the change to a 33/11 rear end. With the 32mm Bings & stock gearing it was fun on the back roads but way too busy on the highway. The Mikunis made a dramatic improvement in performance & the taller rear drive is the frosting on the cake. Even with the taller gearing I can grab a handful of throttle while rolling in first & lift the front wheel several feet off the ground.

[rinty]

I had considered switching the Bings out for 38 mm Mikunis on my RS, which had an 8.8:1 compression ratio; flowed/ported and polished heads, and Supertrapps. But I was getting a fair bit of throttle hand blistering from even the Bings, and I was told that the Mikunis had even more throttle spring resistance, so I left it alone. It was a Bill Stermer side bar piece to a re-born boxer test in a magazine that made me aware of the improved mid-range performance of the smaller diameter carbs. The 40's were probably selected by BMW for flat out riding on the autobahns.
I thought both the 2.91:1 axle ratio, and the transmission ratios, on the RS were ideal for North America riding. Your 3.00:1 is the /7 ratio I believe. It had the slightly smaller valves, so this would work.
Good decision on your part to keep the 907 ie, that one has to be a keeper. How do you like it compared to the Futura? It keeps getting rave reviews.

Rinty

[28796]

THE VM series MIkunis (round slides) have a very light throttle spring. Much lighter then the stock Bings so that isn't an issue.

The 33/11 mono shock rear drive was a tough find as it was only used on the 88-92 RS/RT from what I could see. Emailed all over the country before finding one, of course now I have to either replace or have the stock speedo recalibrated as its way off. Only a minor problem at the moment as I seldom look at the speedo.

The 907ie is a very enjoyable Duc to ride but not in the same league as the Futura. I set the 907 up with Givis & did 2 cross country trips on it with no problems or valve adjustments required. Since I bought the Futura in 02 it sees only occassional use but it's always a treat to hear that siren song playing through the Staintunes. Nothing sounds as good as the 2 valve Ducs with aftermarket pipes!

The Futura has another 35-40hp & a whole generation of development on the 907. It's without a doubt the nicest motorcycle I've owned in 40 years of riding as far as performance & handling goes. Lots of nice new bikes out there these days from all the manufacturers but the Futura does everything I need a bike to do & then some so it will be staying my garage for the forseeable future.

[rinty]

Thanks for the report John. I was on an ST4s recently and it truly is riding the symphony. But I thought the seating position was a bit severe for touring; emphasis is on sport with a lot of forward lean. I understand the geometry of the ST2's and ST3's is the same. I'll probably be getting some seat time on a friend's 2 next month, on our way to the Stomp. His red bike and my Pacific Blue one look like dynamite parked side by each, and they photograph very well.
By splicing that monoshock drive line on your R80 frame, you're really having your cake and eating it too: upgraded suspension of the reborn boxers, without the lower capacity fuel tank. Good thinking. The four extra litres of fuel has saved me a lot of inconvenience on more than a number of occasions.

Rinty

[rinty]

Six days until I leave for Vermont.... Bradford Benn

Who's riding with you this year Brad, and is your route finalized yet?

Rinty

[BradfordBenn]

Who's riding with you this year Brad, and is your route finalized yet?

Rinty

No one is riding with me, so I am slabbing it. Going to take two days to get out there and maybe a day to get back. I have decided to stick to the states.

[28796]

By splicing that monoshock drive line on your R80 frame, you're really having your cake and eating it too: upgraded suspension of the reborn boxers, without the lower capacity fuel tank. Good thinking. The four extra litres of fuel has saved me a lot of inconvenience on more than a number of occasions.

Rinty

There's nothing spliced on here, the bike is an 87 monoshock so it does have the slightly smaller tank. I did cut out the flapper extension inside the tank before repainting it. This allows you to fill the tank like the earlier models & you don't have to deal with the assinine flapper. Haven't had a chance to check fuel mileage yet but with the higher compression, taller gearing & Mikunis it should be pretty good.

[rinty]

And you probably won't be touring on it anyway, with the Futura and 907 in the fleet.

...I am slabbing it... Bradford Benn

That's one of the advantages of the 1150's: the overdrive for those long distance runs where you may as well get it over with. My RS feels best beginning at 4000 rpm in sixth, 130 km/hr or 81 mph, which is probably not going to attract too much attention on the interstates. And going, solo, no-one whines about your route. When I'm on my own, I sometimes don't decide which way I'm going to turn at a junction until a few hundred metres before. I let my instincts decide.
We're loading my other boxer (from Fuji Heavy Industries) with a 20 litre iced - down keg of Calgary's finest mircro tomorrow morning, and heading out to Craven (craven country jamboree.com). Should get our group through the first few sets. It's a bit too much of a load for my System luggage.

Y'all drive safe now, hear? And have fun.

Rinty

[BradfordBenn]

Y'all drive safe now, hear? And have fun.

Rinty

Thanks you also!!!
:buds :clap