Tue, 08/17/2010 - 16:26
I recently began riding a 1964 R50 again after several years away from vintage motos, and would like to find an experienced vintage home-based mechanic in the Phoenix area who can do a tune/time/carb adj for me. I've tinkered with it but cannot get it to run great. It will only top out at 65mph, 70 on a good day, and is slow accelerating. Can I expect the bike to get near the 89mph listed in the original owners manual? Engine was rebuilt several years ago and has low mileage on it. Thanks for any info you can pass on to me,
Mike Rupp, Phoenix, AZ
- 274 reads
Sat, 08/21/2010 - 23:24
#2
If you want to go faster than 80 mph.....
Get a newer bike.. treat the old machine with some respect!
There running bikes are getting rarer every day.. charish it and take care of it, rather than running it at the end of is capability..
it may take revenge on you.
be careful.. and ride safe.
Jim, Ketchikan,l AK.
It's probably going to take more than tinkering, but you're on the right track. Valves need to be set, timing should be adjust, clean air filter, carbs cleaned and adjust and synched. Could be you're spark safety gap is too wide, your spark plug wires are breaking down, plugs not gapped correctly. Yup, takes a bit of tinkering.
From a list I've seen, there are a couple of Airhead era and probably earlier people in the Phoenix area. You'll have to check with them and see if they sound like they can help you out.
Motoghost on Central Ave. in Phoenix http://www.motoghost.com/
Paul Rhodes in Scottsdale at 480-862-0226 (no website that I know of)
Quality Cycle Service in Mesa at 480-964-4800 (didn't see a website)
A couple of these guys are listed on:
http://www.ibmwr.org/dealers-independent.shtml
Hope that helps! If there's specific things you need help with, let us know...we'll see if we can diagnose it from a billion miles away!!
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2