Look, I'm in agony here.

[John Roberts]

I want to go touring on the bike, a 1982 R100RS which I have owned since new, to Europe with my wife on the back. She finds the lack of a backrest uncomfortable and very tiring after a while, and would be happier with a newer bike which, as it happens, may turn out to be an R1200RT.

I am going to have to sell the airhead because I don't have enough room in the garage and I am absolutely gutted.

I've told a few people that I'm selling, and this morning I asked someone if he knew of anyone that might be interested. Ten minutes later he texted me saying that I'd got him hankering for another RS and how much was I asking. Oh, sweet Jesus, what had I done- reality struck home, can I possibly live without my RS??

The brutal truth is if you have had the same bike for thirty years then the chances are that you really, really like it. And I do. It wasn't the case that I couldn't afford a new bike, but this one has everything I need: it isn't fast by today's standards, but plenty fast unless you want to loose your licence. It let me down once just out of warranty with a broken selector spring in the gearbox, but if it did break down in Europe then the chances are that it would be something I could fix myself, I mean, it doesn't have an effing computer to break down for a start.

Another, slightly silly, though just as valid, reason perhaps is that I looked forward so much to last year's Gentlemen's Wee-kend and in the end I couldn't make it, and I have been looking forward even more to the next one. I don't suppose I'd be too welcome turning up on something (horror of horrors) modern, now, would I? Still, if I promised to turn up smelling of wee, would that make a difference, perhaps?

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Buy a cheap but decent VFR and keep it outside!

DON'T SELL THE RS, You'll never get the 30 years of ownership back!

 

[brassmonkey001]

Have you considered tidying up the garage to make a bit more room?

 

[John Roberts]

Have you considered tidying up the garage to make a bit more room?

Not an option, I've got my 1934 MG midget in there as well. I have had that since 1966 and I am definitely, definitely going to get it finished when I retire. Oh, hang on...
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Been retired ten years.
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[bumpmuncher]

Top box with a back rest ??

 

[brassmonkey001]

What about an additional shed then?

 

[John Roberts]

Top box with a back rest ??

Weeeell, the only top box I've seen on an RS was a bit rickety, it wasn't well supported and "gave" rather disconcertingly when leaned on.

 

[John Roberts]

What about an additional shed then?

I do have a workshop as well but that's got lathes and a miller in (as well as a whole heap of sh*t, admittedly) but still not enough room though.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Weeeell, the only top box I've seen on an RS was a bit rickety, it wasn't well supported and "gave" rather disconcertingly when leaned on.

How about making a backrest?

 

[John Roberts]

How about making a backrest?

The seat pan isn't robust enough, a bit flimsy I'd say. I'll think about it, though, cheers.

 

[bumpmuncher]

Weeeell, the only top box I've seen on an RS was a bit rickety, it wasn't well supported and "gave" rather disconcertingly when leaned on.

even the ones mounted like this
hurumph piccy not working its Part No. 69711C from motobins

there are sill quite a few options for boxes some more sturdy than others

 

[John Roberts]

Just a thought, I was wondering how long people hang on to their bikes for? What's the longest time you have kept a bike? Is there the Poll option available here on the Airheads section?

Perhaps not. I'll post it in the B. & Bollox then.

 

[brassmonkey001]

The seat pan isn't robust enough, a bit flimsy I'd say. I'll think about it, though, cheers.

Someone like Ernie at Overland Solutions would be able sort all that out for you. Maybe you could get a second subframe and beef it up suitable for touring with luggage and pillion etc. then when you get back home you could put your original back on.

 

[bumpmuncher]

Someone like Ernie at Overland Solutions would be able sort all that out for you. Maybe you could get a second subframe and beef it up suitable for touring with luggage and pillion etc. then when you get back home you could put your original back on.

Hpeco make a rack with attached topbox rack. you just need a sturdy topbox that wont flex toomuch when you lean on it. had similar set up on my old fj with junior top box and that was quite rigid. if you look at the pic of Part No. 69711C from motobins you should be able to see what I mean hepco pannier rack there are probably origional bmv ones about aswell

or corbin do some very nice seats with back rests

 

[bustupbiker]

Sell me the bike John and you can use it to go to the Wee-Kend

 

[PW Cymru]

If you sell the RS you probably won't get a whole heap of cash for it and will regret for ever more.

Find a compromise but don't sell the RS.

We need pictures by the way

 

[Rob Farmer]

Just trade in the wife for another that doesn't know about backrests

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Sid went out to pick Packer up yesterday, and came back with a
R100RS and a R75/7 RS !!!

R75 has the givi type webbed rails with BMW city boxes and IIRC there used to be a bridging piece to take a top box, very rigid and top box had backrest built in..

See if any of us has a set lying around, I'll check my supply later today

PS.. Don't sell the RS you muppet, cos you will regret it evermore

 

[Bill-H]

Won't the RS fit through your living room door?

 

[BigyellowGS]

Agree with pretty much all the comments above.. I sold my 1970 Bonnie about 5 years ago (having built it when I was 18 as my first project) to fund buying an 1150GS (a bike I then sold after only a year as I liked my airhead better), I still get pangs of regret every time I think about the bonnie..
If it's a space issue have you thought about a "bike box".. one of those steel/alloy mini garages?

Oh and we need piccies.. of the RS and as I'm an MG owner/fan the midget too!