My bike just turned 100.... Now what?

More_Miles · 10-05-2012, 10:06 AM

Hey all!

Just rolled up a metric 100000 miles (160000 km) on the '83 R100RT. I got to thinking about major items as opposed to routine maintenance that may or may not need to be done. I've been repairing things that come up and reverting some kludges for the last four years since I bought the bike. I've had a few ideas, like:

Timing chain, since I have a weeping timing chest gasket anyway. A "since I'm in there" issue. I don't have any symptoms of problems and for all I know it was changed sometime in the past
Final drive spline and new drive cup for the rear wheel even though the splines are about 50%
New rings as I'm burning a bit of oil and AFAIK they are original. Relatively cheap and not too difficult for a Nikasil bore
Starter rebuild, just 'cause.
New springs in the forks

Some items I've already done as a break/fix over the last couple years:

New alternator rotor
New diode board
Replaced some cracked and hacked wiring on the charging side
New wheel bearings in the rear wheel
New seat foam and cover (how did I ever ride that clapped out POS!)
New second hand heads to get me through a valve recession problem until I could scrape up the scratch and time to get the original heads rebuilt.

I've been wondering about pulling the transmission and sending it out just because, but that's a lot of dough to throw even though it could be a DRT (Dead Right There) problem should it ever decide to go south. There is also a clunking that comes from the drive line that I am quite sure is the "cush" drive getting old. Might fix that just 'cause as well.

Did I miss anything major, or am I, as usual, over thinking things? Wait a moment, I ride an airhead, the only motorcycle that requires precision measuring tools to change the oil! Of COURSE I'm over thinking this!

disston · 10-05-2012, 10:36 AM

I don't think I would do splines if they are still around 50%.

Sounds like rings first and maybe timing chain. Those other two things also wouldn't do unless I saw more of a reason.

Mark Manley · 10-09-2012, 10:12 PM

Your list of things to do is pretty much what I did to mine at 100,000 miles, new rings, valves, valve springs, I checked the guides and thought them ok but yours might not be, timing chain I also dropped the sump, cleaned it and the intake filter which were both spotless.
I did think about the gearbox but left it and at 160,000 miles it is still ok.
In terms of mechanics that was it, all other work was cosmetic

10-05-2012, 10:06 AM	#1
More_Miles ^OP über-n00b Joined: Aug 2009 Location: New Brunswick Canada Oddometer: 280	My bike just turned 100.... Now what? Hey all! Just rolled up a metric 100000 miles (160000 km) on the '83 R100RT. I got to thinking about major items as opposed to routine maintenance that may or may not need to be done. I've been repairing things that come up and reverting some kludges for the last four years since I bought the bike. I've had a few ideas, like: Timing chain, since I have a weeping timing chest gasket anyway. A "since I'm in there" issue. I don't have any symptoms of problems and for all I know it was changed sometime in the past Final drive spline and new drive cup for the rear wheel even though the splines are about 50% New rings as I'm burning a bit of oil and AFAIK they are original. Relatively cheap and not too difficult for a Nikasil bore Starter rebuild, just 'cause. New springs in the forks Some items I've already done as a break/fix over the last couple years: New alternator rotor New diode board Replaced some cracked and hacked wiring on the charging side New wheel bearings in the rear wheel New seat foam and cover (how did I ever ride that clapped out POS!) New second hand heads to get me through a valve recession problem until I could scrape up the scratch and time to get the original heads rebuilt. I've been wondering about pulling the transmission and sending it out just because, but that's a lot of dough to throw even though it could be a DRT (Dead Right There) problem should it ever decide to go south. There is also a clunking that comes from the drive line that I am quite sure is the "cush" drive getting old. Might fix that just 'cause as well. Did I miss anything major, or am I, as usual, over thinking things? Wait a moment, I ride an airhead, the only motorcycle that requires precision measuring tools to change the oil! Of COURSE I'm over thinking this! __________________ Larger than life and twice as ugly! My photos: stewie.smugmug.com

10-05-2012, 10:36 AM	#2
disston ShadeTreeExpert Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Silver Spring, Md Oddometer: 4,993	I don't think I would do splines if they are still around 50%. Sounds like rings first and maybe timing chain. Those other two things also wouldn't do unless I saw more of a reason. __________________ Never memorize something you can look up. ---Albert Einstein

10-09-2012, 10:12 PM	#3
Mark Manley Somewhere else Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Heading East Oddometer: 371	Your list of things to do is pretty much what I did to mine at 100,000 miles, new rings, valves, valve springs, I checked the guides and thought them ok but yours might not be, timing chain I also dropped the sump, cleaned it and the intake filter which were both spotless. I did think about the gearbox but left it and at 160,000 miles it is still ok. In terms of mechanics that was it, all other work was cosmetic __________________ If it's in the Touratech catalogue then you don't need it No man is an island, except for the Isle of Man

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