GREETINGS ALL!!!
My wonderful wife just gave me a great excuse to get a second bike (and a return to BMWS!).
Ya see, we married last June and, to help pay for the wedding I said goodbye to my 1996 R1100RSA...
.. honestly, I was ready to see it go. I mean the bike was GREAT, but it never tugged at my heart strings the way some of my other bikes (mostly Harleys believe or not) did.
Of course, many years before I met my wife I had a brief fling with an R80/7... (brief meaning a couple of years).
But she was a tired old girl of more than 80k miles and I had 3 other bikes in the garage (A LOT newer) who demanced less attention and therefore got more attention (riding at least).
Anyway...
Jenn is about to take the MSF and we needed a first bike for her, but just couldn't bring ourselves to get the typical UJM that we wouldn't care about in a year.
We looked at some older 650 Guzzis and at R60/R65s figuring that they were small enough to inspire some confidence, but large enough to want to keep around long term.
Last night we went to look at a 1981 R65 and I rode it home for her (I'm SUCH a nice guy).
Anyway, it's not perfect, but in DARN nice shape. Decent compression, all original, 2 owners before her but they were friends and we feel PRETTY confident we've got the true history, never been down... a couple of scratches here or there, no biggie.
It needs a couple of things and Jenn would like a couple more.
So I know it's our first post here, but could we possibly impose upon you guys to point us in the right direction.
PLEASEEEEEEEE
Well, assuming your agreeable, here's what we're looking for.
1. Odometer rebuild or replacement speedo. The odo isn't working (it was rebuilt once already). Any recommendations of rebuilders or replacement sources. The dealer already quoted us $330 for an OE replacement.
2. SMALL windscreen. Jenn wants something small to deflect a little wind, but she's not a fairing type of girl. She passed on a buddies R65LS because she just doesn't like the looks. Anyway, is something like National Cycle the only option. Anyone know how well the look/fit??? Any other suggestions?
3. BAGS ... well, we'd honestly LOVE a set of system cases (Krauser or Hepco & Becker.. like I have on my Guzzi), but I'm not sure if they still make cases that will fit. Anyone have this answer or can point us in the right direction? If we buy used, what other bikes could share (donate) their mounting brackets??? If we can't find anything, does anyone here have experience with some soft throw-overs that work well and don't look too horrible???
4. LASTLY... crash bars. It's her first bike, I don't see any reason to let the poor virgin valve covers do all the work. Anyone have recommendations for sources? Again, what bikes share the same guards/could donate???
OK, I realize that's a lot of questions, but I'll be happy to reciprocate if anyone has questions about boats/boat motors (what I currently do for a living), cars/trucks (what I used to do for a living), Harleys (where I've spend WAY too much of my time over the years) or Guzzis (where I'm currently wasting... uhh, lavishing my times).
Thanks in advance.
Kev (& Jenn)
My wonderful wife just gave me a great excuse to get a second bike (and a return to BMWS!).
Ya see, we married last June and, to help pay for the wedding I said goodbye to my 1996 R1100RSA...
.. honestly, I was ready to see it go. I mean the bike was GREAT, but it never tugged at my heart strings the way some of my other bikes (mostly Harleys believe or not) did.
Of course, many years before I met my wife I had a brief fling with an R80/7... (brief meaning a couple of years).
But she was a tired old girl of more than 80k miles and I had 3 other bikes in the garage (A LOT newer) who demanced less attention and therefore got more attention (riding at least).
Anyway...
Jenn is about to take the MSF and we needed a first bike for her, but just couldn't bring ourselves to get the typical UJM that we wouldn't care about in a year.
We looked at some older 650 Guzzis and at R60/R65s figuring that they were small enough to inspire some confidence, but large enough to want to keep around long term.
Last night we went to look at a 1981 R65 and I rode it home for her (I'm SUCH a nice guy).
Anyway, it's not perfect, but in DARN nice shape. Decent compression, all original, 2 owners before her but they were friends and we feel PRETTY confident we've got the true history, never been down... a couple of scratches here or there, no biggie.
It needs a couple of things and Jenn would like a couple more.
So I know it's our first post here, but could we possibly impose upon you guys to point us in the right direction.
PLEASEEEEEEEE
Well, assuming your agreeable, here's what we're looking for.
1. Odometer rebuild or replacement speedo. The odo isn't working (it was rebuilt once already). Any recommendations of rebuilders or replacement sources. The dealer already quoted us $330 for an OE replacement.
2. SMALL windscreen. Jenn wants something small to deflect a little wind, but she's not a fairing type of girl. She passed on a buddies R65LS because she just doesn't like the looks. Anyway, is something like National Cycle the only option. Anyone know how well the look/fit??? Any other suggestions?
3. BAGS ... well, we'd honestly LOVE a set of system cases (Krauser or Hepco & Becker.. like I have on my Guzzi), but I'm not sure if they still make cases that will fit. Anyone have this answer or can point us in the right direction? If we buy used, what other bikes could share (donate) their mounting brackets??? If we can't find anything, does anyone here have experience with some soft throw-overs that work well and don't look too horrible???
4. LASTLY... crash bars. It's her first bike, I don't see any reason to let the poor virgin valve covers do all the work. Anyone have recommendations for sources? Again, what bikes share the same guards/could donate???
OK, I realize that's a lot of questions, but I'll be happy to reciprocate if anyone has questions about boats/boat motors (what I currently do for a living), cars/trucks (what I used to do for a living), Harleys (where I've spend WAY too much of my time over the years) or Guzzis (where I'm currently wasting... uhh, lavishing my times).
Thanks in advance.
Kev (& Jenn)