R
rocketman
Guest
Ok, so let me explain…
After ten years and 150 thousand glorious miles spent exploring the back roads of the eastern seaboard in company with Tourizmo ( my 78 R100T ), I figured it was high time to treat the old girl to a nice Motor Spa treatment and she now has a completely rebuilt motor. Pretty much everything except the case, crank, camshaft and internal bearings has been replaced. No only the internals but also timing chain and bearing, clutch (which still had another 30k to go) valves etc and seals have been replaced. Nothing cosmetic, I could care less about looks, this was just all the important stuff.
She now has 600 miles since I brought her home 3 weeks ago. I had forgotten just how peppy a 1000 can be. On the last leg home I couldn’t resist passing a cars I really didn’t need`to (we were doing 70 on a two lane country road) These things are anything but slouchy when it comes getting up and going (well for airheads anyway!). She in better shape motor-wise than when I got her with 22K. I've put essentially nothing into replacement part during that time other than a clutch and timing chain.
( shameless plug )
Kudos too to the young mechanic who did the work. He came over about 2 and half years ago to learn the business from his dad who had been working on Airheads for over the past 30 some years and was also a personal friend. Even with the death of his father, Lap, last year, Khanh has really learned the ins and outs of and developed a real feel for these machines. Anyone in the northern va/dc/md area interested in his location, quality of work, etc, ping me with a PM. There is nothing like having an independent shop with a knowledge proprietor for us who love these old machines so close by. I’d rather deal with a good independent shop any day, esp. when its a place you can often ride in and get stuff done and ride home that afternoon.
Ok I know, I know, stop rambling and get to the question..
Considering that I have an essentially brand new motor, seals etc;
Should I switch over to using synthetic oil?
RM
After ten years and 150 thousand glorious miles spent exploring the back roads of the eastern seaboard in company with Tourizmo ( my 78 R100T ), I figured it was high time to treat the old girl to a nice Motor Spa treatment and she now has a completely rebuilt motor. Pretty much everything except the case, crank, camshaft and internal bearings has been replaced. No only the internals but also timing chain and bearing, clutch (which still had another 30k to go) valves etc and seals have been replaced. Nothing cosmetic, I could care less about looks, this was just all the important stuff.
She now has 600 miles since I brought her home 3 weeks ago. I had forgotten just how peppy a 1000 can be. On the last leg home I couldn’t resist passing a cars I really didn’t need`to (we were doing 70 on a two lane country road) These things are anything but slouchy when it comes getting up and going (well for airheads anyway!). She in better shape motor-wise than when I got her with 22K. I've put essentially nothing into replacement part during that time other than a clutch and timing chain.
( shameless plug )
Kudos too to the young mechanic who did the work. He came over about 2 and half years ago to learn the business from his dad who had been working on Airheads for over the past 30 some years and was also a personal friend. Even with the death of his father, Lap, last year, Khanh has really learned the ins and outs of and developed a real feel for these machines. Anyone in the northern va/dc/md area interested in his location, quality of work, etc, ping me with a PM. There is nothing like having an independent shop with a knowledge proprietor for us who love these old machines so close by. I’d rather deal with a good independent shop any day, esp. when its a place you can often ride in and get stuff done and ride home that afternoon.
Ok I know, I know, stop rambling and get to the question..
Considering that I have an essentially brand new motor, seals etc;
Should I switch over to using synthetic oil?
RM