New poster

[Peter Bowles]

Greetings All

New poster here with what I am sure will be an endless stream of questions, queries and calls for help. I’ve been lurking a while and reading through the masses of information and comment (and wit) and am now somewhat overwhelmed by the task that lies ahead of me. All the stuff I didn’t know I didn’t know seems to greatly outweigh the stuff I knew I didn’t know – and the stuff I knew I didn’t know was far greater than the stuff I knew I knew. So here goes.

So I’m going to break everything down in bite size chunks, ask my questions and hope that you can chip in with your knowledge and any pointers or guides – all comments will be much appreciated and I’ll be happy for you to assume that my understanding of restoration as that of the most simple minded, yet keen enthusiast.

A bit of background…..bought the bike when I first arrived in Australia about 15 years ago and used it as my commuter and tourer for a good 7 years or so. Life and a new business overtook the running and looking after it so it was garaged for a while in not perfect conditions with the view that I would get around to doing something with it when I had the opportunity. And that’s now.

The bike is an R75/7 with an R80 engine. I’ve stripped everything off the frame, started to clean things up (many questions about this later) and getting ready to put things back together. I’ve not got into the engine or gearbox at all and am hoping not to have to. The idea is to get it up and running for next year for a run about and more touring of WA and possibly Tassie. Function and practicality are more important to me that the look of the bike though I’m not shy of trying to make a nice job of it in terms of the paintwork etc. Also I’ve got more time than cash to spend on the project so am keen to do as much as is practical to get him back up and running.

So far, I’ve cleaned up the frame and repainted that – and ready to start putting things back together. The plan so far is to..

Repair and repaint, tank, mudguards, covers, fairing and side boxes.
Replace all rubber parts
Clean all connections on electrics
Replace steering head bearing (I’ll post separately on this)
Carb overhaul
Straighten a ding in the front wheel
Replace seat
New fork seals and gaiters (not looking forward to that)
Clean all alloy housings etc
New cables
New hoses
New battery
Fluids
Brakes (might get someone to do that for me)

And everything else along the way.

I’ll post my questions as I go and call on the wisdom here for guidance, thoughts and opinions. Best for now.

Peter

[Ross]

Welcome Peter. Where in Australia are you? I on on the Central Coast NSW.

How about some photos of the bike?

[Peter Bowles]

Hi Ross

Here it is. Though the pic says more about my early adventures here in Australia than about the bike itself.

Currently living in Perth, though a move to Tassie might be on the horizon.

[Ross]

Great shots. Are those Craven panniers?

[Peter Bowles]

Yes, Craven 'Golden Arrows' I believe - they were on the bike when I bought it, along with the racks over the heads.

And I have to say that ride across the Nullabor was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Hadn't been in Australia that long and thought it would be great fun to ride from Perth to Melbourne. Was totally blown by the sheer vastness of the landscape.

[ME 109]

Welcome Peter, there's always someone here with an answer.
Whether it's right or wrong is besides the point!

[SteveD]

Welcome Peter.

Get cracking. You've got a boxerworks ride to get to on Saturday. Pick up Sterob on the way!

Have you been to Tintaldra yet?

[dougie]

Welcome Peter.
If you have "more time than cash to spend on the project" you're not alone here.

(Another Aussie. YIKES!)

[Garnet]

Welcome Peter, it's allways nice to have some fresh meet one new around the place.

[She'llbe]

Welcome Peter, When I look at the photo of your bike, the phrase"My, what big eyes you have" comes to mind. Where did you come from 15 years ago?