Let me say I should have started a rebuild post a while ago, because I have come a long way, thanks in large measure to other posters. I hesitated in part because my level of mechanical competence is far below most in this section. But I can't be alone in this, I have learned a couple things and I still have questions and a way to go, so here goes. I will spend a couple posts doing catch up, trying not to repeat earlier posts.
As background, I spent quite a lot of my youth working on old cars with my father who always had a project on the go. That largely ended 37 years ago with university, then a busy professional career, family obligations, the usual thing. My cars changed from things like a quirky 1968 VW or a restored Mercury Cougar to a reliable Toyota Tercel, and eventually newer cars that just went to the dealer for servicing once a year. I had a Kawasaki 400 back then, but gave up motorcycling too until the kids graduated about 7 years ago. All of which is to say, I am at best a poor mechanic and surprised when things go well.
This spring I convinced my brother in law to fly to Los Angeles, rent motorcycles, and take the coastal highway to Carmel where the Quail motorcycle show was happening. Fantastic ride and amazing show, worth googling. Everything from new electrics to maybe a dozen Brough Superiors. Definitely a bucket list ride. I caught a bug there.
About 2-3 months ago, I found it, the bike I wanted to restore. A 1970 T120R Bonneville, partly disassembled and not running for 20 plus years. I trusted the owner, took a risk, bought it and had it shipped. It was exactly as described, mostly complete and original. Picture below.
My goal is not to have a bike for show, but a fun bike to ride around the city that is mechanically reliable. I have a trouble free 2014 BMW R1200, which I love on the highway, but I find a little much to pull out of the garage for city trips.
First thing, I had to change the handlebars, then get it running. I followed the many excellent replies to my inquiry on this site. Changed oils, gators, plugs, gas lines, lubed cables, checked compression, cleaned carbs and gas tank, set points, new battery, cleaned everything, etc. And it ran, not well, but it ran.
So I doubled down and bought more things, like new Amal carbs, tires, some cables, some rubber pieces and so on. A few comments on this. If you are buying new carbs, make sure they jet them to your location. My city is 3800 feet above sea level, and I suspected it was running rich, though I also (it turns out correctly) thought I might have bigger problems. Tires are something you can do yourself, but it is a real bear to do, and I would not do it again with 25 year old tires.
I have so far used 5-6 parts suppliers, all North American. On this subject, you get what you pay for is lesson 1. It is in my very limited experience not worth buying something cheap if an original British or well made American component is available. Second, the parts on the bike are generally better made than replacements. Lesson 3 is that many people talk like they know what you are asking for, then send you the wrong thing. You do need to quote the part number and ask a few questions to avoid the tedious task of sending stuff back. By the way, I have finally found a great supplier.
I will end this post by saying that after all this, I insured the bike and took it out for a good 20-30 km ride. It shifted badly but all the gears worked. This turned out to be in part due to the casings on the second set of throttle cables I bought being too long - I had a bike shop shorten them. The bike pulled really well and I had it up to 60 mph. Lights all worked. Speedo and tach worked but the speedo needle bounced around. Brakes worked but were not acceptably easy. By the time I got back it leaked oil from just about every gasket or plug, except the bottom casings. Second picture below, where you can see I have new, but incorrect, gators and I am still working on getting that front fender to align correctly. Could the rear stay be too long?
As background, I spent quite a lot of my youth working on old cars with my father who always had a project on the go. That largely ended 37 years ago with university, then a busy professional career, family obligations, the usual thing. My cars changed from things like a quirky 1968 VW or a restored Mercury Cougar to a reliable Toyota Tercel, and eventually newer cars that just went to the dealer for servicing once a year. I had a Kawasaki 400 back then, but gave up motorcycling too until the kids graduated about 7 years ago. All of which is to say, I am at best a poor mechanic and surprised when things go well.
This spring I convinced my brother in law to fly to Los Angeles, rent motorcycles, and take the coastal highway to Carmel where the Quail motorcycle show was happening. Fantastic ride and amazing show, worth googling. Everything from new electrics to maybe a dozen Brough Superiors. Definitely a bucket list ride. I caught a bug there.
About 2-3 months ago, I found it, the bike I wanted to restore. A 1970 T120R Bonneville, partly disassembled and not running for 20 plus years. I trusted the owner, took a risk, bought it and had it shipped. It was exactly as described, mostly complete and original. Picture below.
My goal is not to have a bike for show, but a fun bike to ride around the city that is mechanically reliable. I have a trouble free 2014 BMW R1200, which I love on the highway, but I find a little much to pull out of the garage for city trips.
First thing, I had to change the handlebars, then get it running. I followed the many excellent replies to my inquiry on this site. Changed oils, gators, plugs, gas lines, lubed cables, checked compression, cleaned carbs and gas tank, set points, new battery, cleaned everything, etc. And it ran, not well, but it ran.
So I doubled down and bought more things, like new Amal carbs, tires, some cables, some rubber pieces and so on. A few comments on this. If you are buying new carbs, make sure they jet them to your location. My city is 3800 feet above sea level, and I suspected it was running rich, though I also (it turns out correctly) thought I might have bigger problems. Tires are something you can do yourself, but it is a real bear to do, and I would not do it again with 25 year old tires.
I have so far used 5-6 parts suppliers, all North American. On this subject, you get what you pay for is lesson 1. It is in my very limited experience not worth buying something cheap if an original British or well made American component is available. Second, the parts on the bike are generally better made than replacements. Lesson 3 is that many people talk like they know what you are asking for, then send you the wrong thing. You do need to quote the part number and ask a few questions to avoid the tedious task of sending stuff back. By the way, I have finally found a great supplier.
I will end this post by saying that after all this, I insured the bike and took it out for a good 20-30 km ride. It shifted badly but all the gears worked. This turned out to be in part due to the casings on the second set of throttle cables I bought being too long - I had a bike shop shorten them. The bike pulled really well and I had it up to 60 mph. Lights all worked. Speedo and tach worked but the speedo needle bounced around. Brakes worked but were not acceptably easy. By the time I got back it leaked oil from just about every gasket or plug, except the bottom casings. Second picture below, where you can see I have new, but incorrect, gators and I am still working on getting that front fender to align correctly. Could the rear stay be too long?