Thread: A General Airhead Question

Perhaps we should compare apples with apples. Is a 5 speed R75 as smooth as the 5 speed R80? I looks like the /5's and older had 4 speed trannies. One comment that I have heard is the /5's and older machines could really use a 5th gear for the highway. So the logical question is: Can a /6 trans fit with a /5 engine? Have any of you replaced the smaller airhead 280 watt alternators with a larger one so you can use aux driving lights,...

Advantages of the /5 4-speed: (i) a useable kick-starter on so-equipped transmissions (the later /6 and /7 kickers were very fragile), and (ii) fewer shifts to get to the same final drive ratio. Disadvantages of the /5 4-speed: (i) ratios spaced further apart (only an issue if you are pushing hard and want to stay closer to the peak torque band), and (ii) a truely agricultural shifting experience The farm equipment reference is intended with...

(Quote): Not sure how much I can or would do on an Oilhead outside of oil changes, but that may change. On the otherhand, I'll never relinquish control of my Airheads though, +1 on the personality of these machines. There is a Zen-like feeling when you are on a sweeping backroad. I duck down behind the windscreen just to hear the cylinders working ther magic and grin like a Cheshire cat. Part of it is also that I have taken apart and...

Quote: Originally Posted by ultracyclist The 84-95 R80's were Monolever (I had indicated mono-shock). Same thing. Everything '85-on was monoshock, but a few of the R100 models were Paralever instead of Monolever. Quote: Was the later R100 power plant a step backwards? They fixed the valves in one way (got the metallurgy right, or mostly so) but then shipped some bikes with really bad valve jobs. At this point all of the US bikes...

Quote: Originally Posted by Bombayduck Having owned 3 airheads, R60/5, R100RS and R100S, and one oilhead, R1100S, some observations. The R1100 (oilhead) does everything better than the airhead; braking, acceleration, handling, etc. BUT, IMHO, it has the personality of any major appliance, namely, NONE! The airheads are soooo much more enjoyable to ride and have tons of personality. Good to live with for a long time. Brad This is exactly how I...

Quote: Originally Posted by ultracyclist Other than the R75/5-6, are there other models that represent a benchmark? Is it a big deal to upgrade brakes, suspension, etc, on these bikes? TIA In chronological order, the engineering (EO) benchmarks that I know of are as such; 1) My 1973 R75/5's have 3 fuses in the headlight bucket. Not sure when they started doing that but I know that the 70 models do not have any fuses 2)1974, /6 models...

Am I nuts for thinking that my '82 would be perfect if it had the high compression and flywheel from my '80?

I've only owned Airheads, but have ridden a couple oilhead RTs. Very different beasts, but I want one. I'd not been riding much more than a year when I first road one and after a 16 mile test ride, I felt like I'd been on that bike for 20 years. Very smooth, comfortable and fit my body perfectly. I like them both. I think the comparison is like an old BMW 2002 to today's modern 3-series. I like both, but would prefer the...

I never meant to offend anyone riding an earlier /7 beamer by calling it agricultural.That is how it was explained once to me.I had the one /7 with a windjammer for 5 years with no problems. I wanted an r80 rt with the factory fairing.When one came along I noticed the lighter flywheel instantly suited me better.I sold the /7 to someone I know and he has had it 17 years since I bought this one.He loves it.Every model has its likes and...

Quote: Originally Posted by mneblett No offense intended, but what does the experience with a K75 have to do with comparing an R75 to an R80? If I'm missing something here, please let me know. (btw, I believe you intended R1200CLC -- all the boxers (air, oil and hexhead) are "R"s). Sorry. Can't read