/5 lessons; what's stock, what's not, and what to look for - Page 2

datchew · 01-13-2007, 06:30 PM

man, you guys are good.

I read his advertisement so i knew about the springs, seat, valvecovers, etc.
I'm sure i've read at least 3 times on this site about the yellowish color of the original carb tubes, but i didn't even catch it this time.

Thanks much for the feedback. I'm making a list for when the time comes.

If I had a garage, it would be mine!!!

Phil, it's in "Bois D Arc, MO"

Kixstand, would the crashbars damage the frame because they don't "give" like the ones on my gs? I'd find it surprising that they'd design something like that to protect the valve covers by bending the frame, but you never know. They did make the Ford Pinto afterall.

ctfz1 · 01-13-2007, 07:13 PM

Careful owners/dealers used tape or tube material or both when mounting accessories as vibration and less precise fit would damage paint/ rust frame. Some never got the word. Some designs reputedly bent or crimped frames, never seen it myself, NOT an authority on crashed bikes. Must have rubber flap bolted to front fender to be period New England. Del Orto power upgrade?

woodgrain · 01-14-2007, 11:36 AM

Methinks that if you ended up with a bent frame because of the mentioned 1-piece crash bar you'd not have to worry about it. They'd be taking you away in a body bag. Not to step on kixstand's toes, I think he meant cosmetic damage from attachment to the frame without using any kind of protection for the paint.

Wooodgrain

kixtand · 01-14-2007, 06:02 PM

The main concern I would have is the cosmetic side. From what I can tell, a lot of the time(s) these were installed there was no thought given to the long term wear on the paint, and if thst is the case, there is probably wear by now. Additionally, as someone else noted, if the crash bars were not installed w/ the proper care, then the frame could be crimped, but probably not likely. All in all this is probably not a big deal, but something to look for just in case.

As far as actually damaging the frame, I have heard, and agree, that the crash bars might actually do more harm than good in a crash. Yes they will protect the cylinders and such, but that may be at the cost of tweaking the frame. In my mind, the valve covers, cylinders, etc are easier to source and replace than a bent/tweaked frame. If the bike has never been wrecked--and by the looks of it, that is the case--then you have no worries. However, if it were me, I would remove the crashbars permanently.

Just my thoughts--

kix

datchew · 01-14-2007, 06:57 PM

So when you talk about cosmetic damage to the frame and how they're attached etc...

Would you just put some black electrical tape or something between the two pieces to protect them or is there more to it than that?

Lornce · 01-14-2007, 09:19 PM

Datchew,

That's a pretty sweet example of a '70 /5. For $2.5k I'd buy it in a heart flutter.

I like the chrome one piece crash bars on these old bikes. Adds a cool bit of period bling. Yes, in a prang it may bend the frame or flip the bike over turning a harmless lowside into a highside. So don't crash it. Relax and just style around. Ride it like a classic.

The bars appear to be /6 or /7 US bars, not /5 US bars and the horn's not stock. But who cares?

Original horn looked like this (btw, this is a '72 with a /6 24liter tank, before someone has a 'riginality fit):

Mugwest · 01-14-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lornce

I like the chrome one piece crash bars on these old bikes.[...]Yes, in a prang it may bend the frame or flip the bike over turning a harmless lowside into a highside. So don't crash it. Relax and just style around. Ride it like a classic.

I like this advice-- realistic; takes into account that one prolly should'nt be riding a classic like a daily-driver commuter War Machine in the first place. Arming a classic highly-polished Bling/pleasure machine into a Real World combatant results in a much different bike and experience, negating the original ride intent. Any modern machine will do grunt roadwork for that. Keep the oldtimers stock and ride the classics sober and carefully for genteel oldschool pleasure.

(still, all this yack about crash bars makes me appreciate the thought BMW has put into the later units: useful and disposable, sparing the frame in all but the harshest crashes)

fixer · 01-15-2007, 12:16 AM

like the seller says, good condition for a 27 year-old bike.

however, it's 37 years old!

math is hard!

datchew · 01-15-2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lornce

Datchew,

That's a pretty sweet example of a '70 /5. For $2.5k I'd buy it in a heart flutter.

Man, I hear that. My wife was even surprised I didnt' jump on it. I just can't right now. New baby in May, end of school in April, and it'd have to sit outdoors which is probably some kind of cardinal sin or something.

It's probably long gone anyway. There will be more.

Thanks all.

Mug, i'm with you on that one... I'd just enjoy it and not beat it daily.

01-13-2007, 06:30 PM	#16
datchew ^OP Don't buy from Brad Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Savannah - the dirty south Oddometer: 7,403	man, you guys are good. I read his advertisement so i knew about the springs, seat, valvecovers, etc. I'm sure i've read at least 3 times on this site about the yellowish color of the original carb tubes, but i didn't even catch it this time. Thanks much for the feedback. I'm making a list for when the time comes. If I had a garage, it would be mine!!! Phil, it's in "Bois D Arc, MO" Kixstand, would the crashbars damage the frame because they don't "give" like the ones on my gs? I'd find it surprising that they'd design something like that to protect the valve covers by bending the frame, but you never know. They did make the Ford Pinto afterall. __________________ On tap:Nada Aging: 3 experiments in mead - blackberry, apple, and straight honey

01-13-2007, 07:13 PM	#17
ctfz1 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Oddometer: 1,132	Careful owners/dealers used tape or tube material or both when mounting accessories as vibration and less precise fit would damage paint/ rust frame. Some never got the word. Some designs reputedly bent or crimped frames, never seen it myself, NOT an authority on crashed bikes. Must have rubber flap bolted to front fender to be period New England. Del Orto power upgrade? ctfz1 screwed with this post 01-14-2007 at 11:15 AM

01-14-2007, 06:02 PM	#19
kixtand Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Lexington, KY Oddometer: 2,077	Crashbars The main concern I would have is the cosmetic side. From what I can tell, a lot of the time(s) these were installed there was no thought given to the long term wear on the paint, and if thst is the case, there is probably wear by now. Additionally, as someone else noted, if the crash bars were not installed w/ the proper care, then the frame could be crimped, but probably not likely. All in all this is probably not a big deal, but something to look for just in case. As far as actually damaging the frame, I have heard, and agree, that the crash bars might actually do more harm than good in a crash. Yes they will protect the cylinders and such, but that may be at the cost of tweaking the frame. In my mind, the valve covers, cylinders, etc are easier to source and replace than a bent/tweaked frame. If the bike has never been wrecked--and by the looks of it, that is the case--then you have no worries. However, if it were me, I would remove the crashbars permanently. Just my thoughts-- kix __________________ Bacon... it makes everything better.

01-14-2007, 06:57 PM	#20
datchew ^OP Don't buy from Brad Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Savannah - the dirty south Oddometer: 7,403	So when you talk about cosmetic damage to the frame and how they're attached etc... Would you just put some black electrical tape or something between the two pieces to protect them or is there more to it than that? __________________ On tap:Nada Aging: 3 experiments in mead - blackberry, apple, and straight honey

01-14-2007, 09:19 PM	#21
Lornce Lost In Place Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Way Out There. Oddometer: 15,974	Datchew, That's a pretty sweet example of a '70 /5. For $2.5k I'd buy it in a heart flutter. I like the chrome one piece crash bars on these old bikes. Adds a cool bit of period bling. Yes, in a prang it may bend the frame or flip the bike over turning a harmless lowside into a highside. So don't crash it. Relax and just style around. Ride it like a classic. The bars appear to be /6 or /7 US bars, not /5 US bars and the horn's not stock. But who cares? Original horn looked like this (btw, this is a '72 with a /6 24liter tank, before someone has a 'riginality fit): Attached Images __________________ Across Canada on a '83 R80G/S-PD Across Canada on a '71 R50/5 My Garage Of Doom *Wear The Fox Hat*

01-14-2007, 11:36 AM	#18
woodgrain In-Dented Savant Joined: Jan 2006 Location: east of Scarbaria Oddometer: 756	Methinks that if you ended up with a bent frame because of the mentioned 1-piece crash bar you'd not have to worry about it. They'd be taking you away in a body bag. Not to step on kixstand's toes, I think he meant cosmetic damage from attachment to the frame without using any kind of protection for the paint. Wooodgrain

01-15-2007, 12:16 AM	#23
fixer KLR-riding cheap bastard Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Lost Wage$, NV Oddometer: 7,439	like the seller says, good condition for a 27 year-old bike. however, it's 37 years old! math is hard! __________________ Sit tall in the saddle, Hold your head up high Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky And live like you ain't afraid to die And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride. "... in my version of Heaven you get all your dogs back." – Mista Vern "Old dogs don't die, they just wait for you in another place." – Twilight Error I'll show you a place, high on a desert plain, where the streets have no name.

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