Sorta NMR: Motorcycles Anyone?

I had a Connie for many years. Watch it if it (they) are 86's... they had a tendency to eat their intake valves when ridden hard. My spring retainers were hitting the rocker arms at 32K. Solution was a Paul Gast cylinder head re-work. Stainless valves and some mild porting. My goodness she ran a lot better after that fifteen-hundred dollar infusion. And I hardly ever had to re-set the tappets. They ARE pretty big, heavy bikes though, and you want to take it easy in greasy rain on off-ramps and such. I never crashed mine but I came darn close a few times. The stock Dunlops are great, but the front starts getting weird after 3k of late braking. Good bikes overall, the gas tank is quite big. Final drive never gave probs but grease the splines every other rear tire change. I lost a water pump once. There's a 'junction box' w/relays and such under the sidepanel that can go bad, mine never did. Mine did like to eat speedo cables. Check out the Connie owner's group (COG)-lotsa good compiled info there. I did get caught at work once and rode it home in heavy, melting snow. Made it but was on tiptoes the whole way. If there is ice you will fall down.

Ed Peterson

I've had too many hammers find my thumbs :) cheers

Most of the head issues are urban legands. Ive dumped em at speed, and it just grinds up the valve covers a little bit. Nice thing is..it doesnt trap your foot and leg under the bike while you are sliding. Maint is easy, do it yourself, its basicly half a VW engine, dry clutch, drive shaft. Part can be expensive or cheap, depending on where you look and how much of a ripoff your dealer is. Bakersfield has a rat bike dealer...Johnnys BMW.

If you hit something hard enough to f*ck up a jug..you are going to be in far worse shape than the scooter.

I paid $600 for my '78 R90/6. Ive got 187,000 miles on the engine..havent had the heads off yet. Mine has points rather than electronic ignition..someday Ill do a conversion.

Gunner

"The importance of morality is that people behave themselves even if nobody's watching. There are not enough cops and laws to replace personal morality as a means to produce a civilized society. Indeed, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Unfortunately, too many of us see police, laws and the criminal justice system as society's first line of defense." --Walter Williams

I LOVE the look and sound of a properly maintained and equipped HD.

My buddy has a full dresser and we ride all the time. He and I swapped a few weeks ago and all I can say is that I'd love to have one in my garage for parades, short rides (100 miles or less) or when I go to an event where the model you ride matters... But to ride it like I do - which is sauntering around for 300-500 miles on a weekend, it would kill me.

Plus, I hear his stories about maintenance costs. His last maintenance (10,000 mile) cost more than half the price of my bike and it was routine stuff.

That is a beautiful thing. It's all a matter of preference, right? You do that with your bike... I'll do it with my Opel GT or a 1960 Humber Super Snipe if I can find one again.

I hope this thread doesn't become a bike brand debate... :(

Regards, Joe Agro, Jr. (800) 871-5022

Okay, so I'm late and catching up, but Gunner wrote on Wed, 10 May 2006 09:26:35 GMT in rec.crafts.metalworking :

dang, I wish I had written down what George told me. George drove a Moto Guzzi, but told me of a mod then possible with "older" BMWs (this was in 74), which basically involved removing the engine and sticking a stock

Your mileage will vary...

pyotr

True enough. On the Beemer...nothing gets close to the exhaust pipes so I never worried about it. The VF-700 did melt a pair of those foam type walk around in the snow boots on the inside, so I went to Sorrels in the winter.

I've still got my full set of leathers, though the pants are getting a bit tight in the belly ..blush...kevlar inserts in all the hard points and I generally wear em when on long road trips, but when its 115F here in the desert....they can be a bit hot.

One of the advantages of the Boxers..they will keep your legs warn in the winter and a small windshield/fairing is generally good enough. Mine sports a Luftmeister.

Gunner

"The importance of morality is that people behave themselves even if nobody's watching. There are not enough cops and laws to replace personal morality as a means to produce a civilized society. Indeed, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Unfortunately, too many of us see police, laws and the criminal justice system as society's first line of defense." --Walter Williams

Ah, you might have wanted to check the parts book at the Kaw dealer, they were known for putting softer intake valves in bike around that vintage. My KLR (88) was needing those intake valves slacked off nearly weekly until I decided to open it up and see what the

A trip to the dealer revealed an "updated" part for the intake valves only. NB, my original ex valves never showed the problem. For a hundred bucks I got new springs, valves, seals, and a head gasket.

I've checked them after that, but have yet to have to actually take a wrench to them - nothing's moving now.

Jim