Canuck
Registered user
How is your frame? Can you sort out that rear hanger or will a new frame be easier?
New-to-me 1987 R80RT Project
- Thread starter gog
- Start date
I think I will do just that Kenny, they are not expensive so a better option for me than a new full system.
The rear hangers are knackered Canuck. The main frame seems true though, so I should be able to cut off the bad welds, neaten it up and bolt some shorties on to the hanger stubs using a couple of brackets. Shame that someone would hack it up like that.
Got my module 1 test tomorrow at 10am, then module 2 a week later. Sooner I can get the bike through an MOT the better, assuming I pass!
The rear hangers are knackered Canuck. The main frame seems true though, so I should be able to cut off the bad welds, neaten it up and bolt some shorties on to the hanger stubs using a couple of brackets. Shame that someone would hack it up like that.
Got my module 1 test tomorrow at 10am, then module 2 a week later. Sooner I can get the bike through an MOT the better, assuming I pass!
the 'oil' light at idle turned out to be the GEN light. phew.
Canuck
Registered user
Let me just check but i may have a frame that may be of use to you. Pm me your phone number and ill give you a ring.
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PM sent 
Some of the stuff arrived for the new back end, so I snuck out at the end of a nice sunny day to get a few hours in.
The (universal for 19" wheels) stainless rear mudguard arrived horribly bent - looked like someone had stood on both ends and jumped up and down. The ebay seller kindly refunded me and didnt want it sent back, just photos to prove damage for his courier claim, so I did my best to un-bend it so I can at least have something on the bike until I replace it with something new. Its not perfect, those bends could never be completely straightened, but it will do for now.
I cut the mudguard down by about 8 inches as it was way too long, and bolted it on. I also fitted rear bullet indicators to convenient holes on the subframe.
I drilled and bolted on the new tail/brake/plate light too
... and wired everything up with bullet connectors
let there be light
New (to me) ebay seat arrived. Its not from an R80 mono, in fact I cant seem to find out what it was off originally (its an original BMW part) but it seems to fit very well. Both hinges and locking pin line up perfectly. Looks a bit odd, the white not matching the tank, but Ill likely paint the tank white anyway.
Hopefully get some time at the weekend to get those exhausts off and replace the broken instrument cluster glass and perished rubbers. Hoping to get it through MOT next week.
The (universal for 19" wheels) stainless rear mudguard arrived horribly bent - looked like someone had stood on both ends and jumped up and down. The ebay seller kindly refunded me and didnt want it sent back, just photos to prove damage for his courier claim, so I did my best to un-bend it so I can at least have something on the bike until I replace it with something new. Its not perfect, those bends could never be completely straightened, but it will do for now.
I cut the mudguard down by about 8 inches as it was way too long, and bolted it on. I also fitted rear bullet indicators to convenient holes on the subframe.
I drilled and bolted on the new tail/brake/plate light too
... and wired everything up with bullet connectors
let there be light
New (to me) ebay seat arrived. Its not from an R80 mono, in fact I cant seem to find out what it was off originally (its an original BMW part) but it seems to fit very well. Both hinges and locking pin line up perfectly. Looks a bit odd, the white not matching the tank, but Ill likely paint the tank white anyway.
Hopefully get some time at the weekend to get those exhausts off and replace the broken instrument cluster glass and perished rubbers. Hoping to get it through MOT next week.
The plastic; R65?
But the upholstery appears more Sofas 'R' Us 
It does look awfully like a DFS special, doesnt it? Its pretty comfy, so it will do for now
Its pretty comfy, so it will do for now Well, I passed my mod 2 test last week, so now have a licence to ride the bike. MOT was booked for today and I thought I had everything sorted out so that it would probably pass.
Decided yesterday to address the exhaust leak around the left exhaust rose. Gave both sides a good heat with a blowtorch and kept my fingers crossed that they had been greased properly and would come off without having to cut them.
Right side started to unscrew fairly easily, and threads seem fine.
Result. Now for the left side. It turns too easily, with basically no force at all. Was it left loose by whoever had it off last? No such luck.
Balls. Stripped almost bare. Now we know why it was leaking anyway.
After a lot of swearing, I go upstairs and order the clamp modification kit from motorworks. Another expense I could have done without but I dont have the skill or tools to rethread it.
No chance of it going through the MOT now anyway, ill have to reschedule it. Still early so I carry on stripping the exhausts off. The cans come off no problem, along with their scabby welded brackets. The collector box is an absolute mess of rust and messy welding, and someone has welded it to the downpipe on the right side. WELDED to the downpipe. great.
The box is getting junked anyway, so I cut it away from the downpipe with a hacksaw. Lost about 1" off the downpipe end but im putting reverse cone short silencers on the bike anyway, and have pipe and joiners to extend the downpipes as far as needed anyway.
Right downpipe was really jammed in to the head, took a lot of wrangling to finally get it to come out.
Will have to wait for the new exhausts and clamp mod kit to arrive now before I re-book the MOT. Should hopefully get here early in the week.
Had some free time still, so I shortened the rear mudguard again as I thought it was still too long. I also neatened up the old shortened seatpan with which I will be making a new low profile shorter seat (about 3/4 original length).
Enough for today. Hoping theres not going to be any more surprises and she may even get an MOT at some point!
Decided yesterday to address the exhaust leak around the left exhaust rose. Gave both sides a good heat with a blowtorch and kept my fingers crossed that they had been greased properly and would come off without having to cut them.
Right side started to unscrew fairly easily, and threads seem fine.
Result. Now for the left side. It turns too easily, with basically no force at all. Was it left loose by whoever had it off last? No such luck.
Balls. Stripped almost bare. Now we know why it was leaking anyway.
After a lot of swearing, I go upstairs and order the clamp modification kit from motorworks. Another expense I could have done without but I dont have the skill or tools to rethread it.
No chance of it going through the MOT now anyway, ill have to reschedule it. Still early so I carry on stripping the exhausts off. The cans come off no problem, along with their scabby welded brackets. The collector box is an absolute mess of rust and messy welding, and someone has welded it to the downpipe on the right side. WELDED to the downpipe. great.
The box is getting junked anyway, so I cut it away from the downpipe with a hacksaw. Lost about 1" off the downpipe end but im putting reverse cone short silencers on the bike anyway, and have pipe and joiners to extend the downpipes as far as needed anyway.
Right downpipe was really jammed in to the head, took a lot of wrangling to finally get it to come out.
Will have to wait for the new exhausts and clamp mod kit to arrive now before I re-book the MOT. Should hopefully get here early in the week.
Had some free time still, so I shortened the rear mudguard again as I thought it was still too long. I also neatened up the old shortened seatpan with which I will be making a new low profile shorter seat (about 3/4 original length).
Enough for today. Hoping theres not going to be any more surprises and she may even get an MOT at some point!
Its been a while since i've updated this thread. Ive been spending most of my free time either tinkering with or riding the bike.
Since my last update, the bike has passed her MOT. I still have some work to do but have been enjoying using the bike so much that 'tidying' her has really become less of a priority.
I got the aftermarket exhausts on. They run independently straight from each head with no crossovers or collector. Its loud but not overly so.
Im still noticing that the right side exhaust output is less strong and steady than the left. I have carefully changed carb settings and doesnt seem to increase the output. Im thinking a compression test is a good idea.
Theres also a loudish ticking. I thought it was valve clearances, and checked them over and over again even though I did them a few weeks ago. Now I think its probably a loose and worn timing chain so thats really the next real job.
Anyway, here are some pics how she is being used now:
Since my last update, the bike has passed her MOT. I still have some work to do but have been enjoying using the bike so much that 'tidying' her has really become less of a priority.
I got the aftermarket exhausts on. They run independently straight from each head with no crossovers or collector. Its loud but not overly so.
Im still noticing that the right side exhaust output is less strong and steady than the left. I have carefully changed carb settings and doesnt seem to increase the output. Im thinking a compression test is a good idea.
Theres also a loudish ticking. I thought it was valve clearances, and checked them over and over again even though I did them a few weeks ago. Now I think its probably a loose and worn timing chain so thats really the next real job.
Anyway, here are some pics how she is being used now:
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Getting there 
Make sure the ticking isn't coming from the rocker roller bearings ( as these wear they also produce this type of noise ). Just back off the 'tappets' and see if you can rock
the rocker arm for free play etc. May be a simple fix
Make sure the ticking isn't coming from the rocker roller bearings ( as these wear they also produce this type of noise ). Just back off the 'tappets' and see if you can rock
the rocker arm for free play etc. May be a simple fix Cheers Kenny. I will check the rocker bearings at the weekend to rule that out before tackling the timing chain.
Canuck
Registered user
Your rear brake... Undo the threaded wing nut, then take off the bolt holding the lever that is pointing downwards... Rotate arm 2-3 spline notches clockwise then re attach.... Your rear brake will work much better. 
When the brake is not applied... The little actuation arm should be almost vertical which will give you a few centimetres of threaded rod sticking out of the back.
When the brake is not applied... The little actuation arm should be almost vertical which will give you a few centimetres of threaded rod sticking out of the back.
Thanks for the tip Dana, Ill try that. The rear brake lever does need to be pushed down quite far in order to have any noticable effect. I hadnt really looked in to it much as to be honest I rarely touch the back brake.
I agree though that I had better make sure that it works *before* I need to use it in an emergency and find that its useless
I agree though that I had better make sure that it works *before* I need to use it in an emergency and find that its useless
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