R80 nikasil?? 1979

[Northern Monkey]

I have a 1979 r80 ( first reg February 1979) I've been reading about nikasil, what is it? Do I have it? Do I need it?

It's showing 49k it's an ex police bike so proper mileage unknown!

Cheers

 

[Kenny]

Nikasil is the bore lining having been treated....so just piston rings wear but bore doesn't

I think yours will be Nikasil lined ( bit late at the mo to start Googling it though ! ) Still needs a petrol additive btw

 

[Box’a’bits]

I think yours will be Nikasil lined ( bit late at the mo to start Googling it though ! ) Still needs a petrol additive btw

Nope, unless the barrels have been changed you'll have iron bores. Nikasil (or Galnikal as it was then) started 1981.

 

[Northern Monkey]

Do I need to do anything to iron bores?

 

[Box’a’bits]

Do I need to do anything to iron bores?

They run perfectly well, but wear as the mileage gets up. So next time it needs major work it might need a rebore & o/size pistons. Or instead of going to an overbore you could either replace with Seinbenrock items & get Nikasil then, or replace with second hand stock BMW nikasil barrels. Depends on how deep your pockets are.

Iron bore also tend to be more porous, & may use a bit more oil.

Unless the bores are worn & its blowing smoke (& its not guides) then I wouldn't worry about it.

The iron bores used to be desireable because they gave you the option to increase capacity. These days most people like the longevity of the nikasil bores however.

 

[Northern Monkey]

Thanks it doesn't smoke atall and compression is good - I'm getting valve guides and seats done for the unleaded anyway - thanks I'll keep em until I need to make em bigger ! thanks

 

[duckspeed]

Nowt

As long as the engine starts and runs well without significant oil consumption you haven't got a problem

 

[Rob Farmer]

The nickasil barrels generally have a small lip on them for the oil seal that prevents them being fitted to the earlier crankcases. You can turn the lip off on a lathe to make them fit. You do end up with a slight overhang on the barrels at the junction with the crankcases but this is just a visual thing.

The last of the heavy flywheel bikes (late 80) had nickasil barrels though so you may get lucky and find them. I always thought the heavy flywheels were all iron bores but was caught out when I bought a pair of barrels on eBay that turned out to be nikasil.

Sieve rock sell a set if barrels and pistons to upgrade the earlier bikes to nickasil but I don't think they do a kit for the 800