rs or rt which one

[Crapaud]

So, which Airhead did you have? How long did it last? How much did it cost to keep in A1 condition last year ? Go on, do tell.

I dispatched and then instructed on the fuckers, like, didn't start/broke down couldn't pay my rent like. Loved them to bits, but bits is all that is left if used nowadays. At least if used by me.

So my opinion 'pisses you off' - well like that worries me as much as not being able to put a roof over and/or feed the kids.

And there are people I know who could still make a living relying on an airhead, and they are all riding something else.

You do seem to assume that people take their bikes to main dealers for servicing? E.g. your example of 160,000 mile RT maintained by main dealer.

I've owned and ridden airheads for the last 30 years. Had R80 G/S and R100RS in 1982 and numerous since over the years. None of them have ever let me down or failed to start ever. I have toured many thousands of miles on them. Favourite was probably a R80RS that we toured around Europe in 1984. Today my everyday roadbike is my R100RS. Since I bought it, it has cost me nothing at oil to run apart from an oil change. It is a 1980 model and still 100% reliable. I would have no hesitation in taking in a long distance tour tomorrow.

Go to Horizons Unlimited and see people like Tiffany or Sam Manicom who ride airheads all over the world with stella mileages and tell them that their bikes are unreliable.

I still think that a bike does not become unreliable just because it is old. It might be unreliable from new (Guzzi electrics?) or certain components may become worn out but good regular preventative servicing can keep any vehicle in a reliable state.

By comparison, I drive a 2003 Skoda Octavia with 187,000 miles on the clock. 100% reliable and never ever let me down. Only costs in those 187,000 miles is basic routine servicing but most people think a car is unreliable after 50k or 100k miles and must be swapped for newer one.

Perhaps its best that we just agree to disagree. You consider old airheads unreliable, that's fine. Keeps the prices down for me to buy them.

 

[John Roberts]

Following on from Crapaud's post above regarding dealer servicing, during the 600 mile service on my RS the dealer plugged the connector in the wiring loom to the lights at the back of the bike back wrongly- how on earth he managed that I still do not know- the side/brake/indicator functions got scrambled. Then, on the way home, ten miles down the road, the engine cut out, they had trapped the lead to the bean can when replacing the front engine cover and shorted the wires inside.

That was thirty years ago and it hasn't been back to a dealer since.

 

[Backmarker]

You do seem to assume that people take their bikes to main dealers for servicing? E.g. your example of 160,000 mile RT maintained by main dealer.

)

Sorry old bean, but I never said this. I said I took my RT to a main dealer (another gearbox failure - one of the few jobs I couldn't do myself quickly enough to make it more economical for me to do slowly than main dealer quickly). The 160k RT was main dealer maintained. But yes, I do believe that that level/cost of care was the main reason his bike was still reliable at 160k when mine was not.

 

[Backmarker]

Perhaps its best that we just agree to disagree. You consider old airheads unreliable, that's fine. Keeps the prices down for me to buy them.

Fine. I run a '53 plate Subaru Forester Auto that used to do 400 motorway miles a week, and due to a change in jobs my wife now drives it 1.5 miles to work (each way), I doubt the transmission oil ever warms up. Gets an oil change and once over every year. Failed to start once (new battery). It replaced a MK2 Golf (167k) because we needed 4 wheel drive when we moved to the sticks (ungritted roads in winter). I don't think we are disagreeing in principle, I just think that airheads are not economically viable anymore. If that keeps the price down for you then great and good luck.

 

[Backmarker]

And how do you judge 'decent' - by the amount the owner has spent with a reputable BMW dealer on spares and repairs.

Decent? Main Dealer? You are having a laugh!! Gave up on main dealer servicing for my Oilhead (the only vehicle I have ever main dealer maintained) when it broke down on a trip to Morocco (my Honeymoon) just after the 60k service.

But interesting question, what do I class as decent?

First thoughts as follows: Feels like it was run in by me, done more than 3k per year, not spent more than 2 consecutive years 'off road', oil change at least once a year, frame & engine numbers that match the V5, straight frame/forks, all control cables/levers working freely, all light bulbs working (I know they are easy to change, so what does that say about an owner who can't be arsed to?), all original paperwork, keys, no obvious oil leaks from..well, anywhere really....

I am sure there is more, but that would be my starting point(s)

 

[ChasF]

because we needed 4 wheel drive when we moved to the sticks (ungritted roads in winter). airheads are not economically viable anymore. If that keeps the price down for you then great and good luck.

4wd is a complete waste of time - if there is no grip, there is no grip, doesn't matter how many driven wheels you've got. In fact, like other features such as ABS it inspires over confidence in some drivers causing more accidents.

Airhead reliability is all a matter of attitude and ability, if you want a switch on and go motorbike buy something Japanese - we prefer not to.

 

[Backmarker]

4wd is a complete waste of time - if there is no grip, there is no grip, doesn't matter how many driven wheels you've got. In fact, like other features such as ABS it inspires over confidence in some drivers causing more accidents.

Airhead reliability is all a matter of attitude and ability, if you want a switch on and go motorbike buy something Japanese - we prefer not to.

LOL I had to be ferried about by the missus last year when my FWD Fiat got stuck in the train station carpark along with everyone elses everything.

Ok, ok, I'll give you the over confidence thing in that 'cause I have a 4 wheel drive and thus have traction I also have grip when braking' causes accidents, will also concede that fitting a 4 wheel drive with certain low profile rubber negates the advantages over a 2 wheel drive with pukka winter tyres. And now you come to mention it I do know a farmer who claimed his Citreon CX was better in the mud than his Landrover (but only because it didn't leak through the roof and break down every few yards), Memory lane stuff this, I also remember when every pundit pointed out the pointlessness of 4 wheel drive in rallying when Audi entered a Quattro ........ Ahhh, the early 80's when an RS 200 was the weapon of choice for real men, and Airheads were mine (I had a Capri as well, fuck useless in the snow - but probably no more useless than my current Fiat).

Enjoy your Airhead. I loved mine, but the world has moved on. Oh yeah, perhaps not in France where it seems things are just going backwards in a delusional sea of nostalgia.

 

[Backmarker]

if you want a switch on and go motorbike buy something Japanese - we prefer not to.

I don't want a 'switch on and go motorbike' .... I NEED one. Which is why I stopped buying Japanese and bought an Airhead, and then a K and then an Oilhead and then another Oilhead......

And best Jap bike I ever had was a CX500, not as good as the Airhead I replaced it with ...... but are you suggesting that if I want a reliable 'switch on and go' motorbike I should buy a CX500???? Don't think they are past their best?

 

[Backmarker]

It just gets better http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3293594&posted=#post3293594

 

[ChasF]

I think the reason for the growing numbers of people 'just going backwards in a delusional sea of nostalgia' is the fact that every modern vehicle seems to need to be strapped to a diagnostics station to determine a fault of which the cause would/is otherwise blatantly obvious.

IMO the airhead is streets ahead of other bikes from the same era mainly because of its simplicity. Most Japanese bikes offer reliable transport for a relatively short time and then you just throw them away and get another one. Whilst the airhead is, like all vehicles, just an inanimate lump of metal its simplicity and general quality means that it can and should be kept going.

I agree that assessing whether a bike has been properly maintained is important if you are considering buying but I think you'll find there are many airheads available which would meet your requirements.

 

[fayeslane]

IMO the airhead is streets ahead of other bikes from the same era mainly because of its simplicity.

When I bought my first airhead (R80RT) I remember having a good look at it and thinking that whoever made this realised that some poor bastard may have to pull it apart one day. That thought has never occurred to me whilst working on other brands.

 

[The Grey One]

LOL I had to be ferried about by the missus last year when my FWD Fiat got stuck in the train station carpark along with everyone elses everything.

Ok, ok, I'll give you the over confidence thing in that 'cause I have a 4 wheel drive and thus have traction I also have grip when braking' causes accidents, will also concede that fitting a 4 wheel drive with certain low profile rubber negates the advantages over a 2 wheel drive with pukka winter tyres. And now you come to mention it I do know a farmer who claimed his Citreon CX was better in the mud than his Landrover (but only because it didn't leak through the roof and break down every few yards), Memory lane stuff this, I also remember when every pundit pointed out the pointlessness of 4 wheel drive in rallying when Audi entered a Quattro ........ Ahhh, the early 80's when an RS 200 was the weapon of choice for real men, and Airheads were mine (I had a Capri as well, fuck useless in the snow - but probably no more useless than my current Fiat).

If your Fiat was fitted with decent winter tyres it would not get stuck. Where I live we have to fit winter tyres and in 4 winters here so far I have never got stuck in our front wheel drive cars. Here in the Austrian Alps there are far less 4X4s than in Surrey. Given the same tyres a 4 wheel drive might find more grip when accelerating but ultimately it can't have any more grip when braking.

John

 

[jackassdave]

just in case anyones forgot ,its an rt for me ,with one now sitting in the garage .....happy days

 

[fayeslane]

just in case anyones forgot ,its an rt for me ,with one now sitting in the garage .....happy days

Good on yer Dave, I reckon you'll be more than happy with the choice, I enjoyed my R80RT when I had it. I was wondering if you had been forgotten as this thread progressed

 

[Kenny]

just in case anyones forgot ,its an rt for me ,with one now sitting in the garage .....happy days

Top man

 

[Devon]

just in case anyones forgot ,its an rt for me ,with one now sitting in the garage .....happy days

Where's a picture then?

 

[jackassdave]

it will be along shortly ,wellits the one eliminator had for sale

 

[Kenny]

You bought Eliminators old Rt with the dodgy gearbox and big ends?

Only kidding...get those pics up !

 

[PW Cymru]

Hope he passed on the pipe and slippers

You can soon be classed as one of the great unwashed

 

[The Other PaulG]

If all this idle airhead chat has triggered anyone else's interest, there's a decent looking RS for sale for what seems to be a fair price at Oxford Classic Honda:

http://www.classichondamotorcycles.co.uk/bikes/more.asp?bike_ID=1903

PG