Meet Derek......
Discussion
I dropped a photo on picture a day about 6 weeks ago showing my recent purchase
Meet Derek, my 1982 Kawasaki AR80
I bought this for a bit of fun, a bit of nostalgia and a bit of a project. I doubt I will make a penny on it should I sell it, but it was bought as a keeper and a user....in summer of course.
I gave it a bit of a check over when I first got it home, but due to work and family commitments had been unable to make the first official step until this weekend. The bike was imported by a friend from France, so it came with a NOVA certificate and one of these....
With a bit of time on my hands, I stuck it in the van and took it to a local MoT station. The chaps at the station were all over it which I think helped getting the pass. The only sticking point was the 6v electrics and the need to rev to get the indicators flashing. I forgot how bad 6v electrics could be. The horn had everyone laughing, the sound being similar to a train horn from about 20 miles away.
I now have all the paperwork ready to send to get the bike registered here and get an age related plate.
The next step was to get everything ready for sending off to the sprayers. Over time the plastic panels have deepened in colour. Stripping the panels, tank, mudguard etc took all of an hour. So much easier than stripping modern bikes
The frame has got areas of flaking paint/rust spots but generally it's not in too bad a condition. I don't plan to give it a full nut and bolt restoration as I would prefer it with some signs of patina and befitting of its 34 years, but I will sharpen her up a little where it's not too time consuming. One thing that will get sorted for certain is the head blasted and repainted. This will coincide with new piston/rings.
I have a couple of questions for you guys.....I can't remove the screen from the cockpit fairing. On the modern bikes, you simply push the centre pin and it loosens the fixing. I'm baffled by this one....the centre pin isn't budging
Outside
Inside
Next question....How do you restore the plastic screen? Not many scratches on it but it is very cloudy??
Big brother...little brother. Only 190 horses difference!
Meet Derek, my 1982 Kawasaki AR80
I bought this for a bit of fun, a bit of nostalgia and a bit of a project. I doubt I will make a penny on it should I sell it, but it was bought as a keeper and a user....in summer of course.
I gave it a bit of a check over when I first got it home, but due to work and family commitments had been unable to make the first official step until this weekend. The bike was imported by a friend from France, so it came with a NOVA certificate and one of these....
With a bit of time on my hands, I stuck it in the van and took it to a local MoT station. The chaps at the station were all over it which I think helped getting the pass. The only sticking point was the 6v electrics and the need to rev to get the indicators flashing. I forgot how bad 6v electrics could be. The horn had everyone laughing, the sound being similar to a train horn from about 20 miles away.
I now have all the paperwork ready to send to get the bike registered here and get an age related plate.
The next step was to get everything ready for sending off to the sprayers. Over time the plastic panels have deepened in colour. Stripping the panels, tank, mudguard etc took all of an hour. So much easier than stripping modern bikes
The frame has got areas of flaking paint/rust spots but generally it's not in too bad a condition. I don't plan to give it a full nut and bolt restoration as I would prefer it with some signs of patina and befitting of its 34 years, but I will sharpen her up a little where it's not too time consuming. One thing that will get sorted for certain is the head blasted and repainted. This will coincide with new piston/rings.
I have a couple of questions for you guys.....I can't remove the screen from the cockpit fairing. On the modern bikes, you simply push the centre pin and it loosens the fixing. I'm baffled by this one....the centre pin isn't budging
Outside
Inside
Next question....How do you restore the plastic screen? Not many scratches on it but it is very cloudy??
Big brother...little brother. Only 190 horses difference!
Looks great ........
I had a BMX with wheels like that
In regards the screen, take a look at the car headlight restoration kits, something like http://www.autoglym.com/products/products/headligh...
I had a BMX with wheels like that
In regards the screen, take a look at the car headlight restoration kits, something like http://www.autoglym.com/products/products/headligh...
)
I love Derek...smashing project, good to see your well under way with the registration.
Never seen that type of fitting before, I know if you flip an AR80 into a concrete support pillar in a multi storey car park, the cockpit fairing as a whole pops off rather easily..
These boys are the AR geeks and having been in a few magazines with their ARs so im sure they will know.
http://www.holmetech.co.uk/
Never seen that type of fitting before, I know if you flip an AR80 into a concrete support pillar in a multi storey car park, the cockpit fairing as a whole pops off rather easily..
These boys are the AR geeks and having been in a few magazines with their ARs so im sure they will know.
http://www.holmetech.co.uk/
The first bike I ever used on the road was an AR50, at 16 I felt like a hero whizzing along at 35mph.
Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
pozi said:
The first bike I ever used on the road was an AR50, at 16 I felt like a hero whizzing along at 35mph.
Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
It will feel like a 50cc with his fat arse on it.Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
pozi said:
The first bike I ever used on the road was an AR50, at 16 I felt like a hero whizzing along at 35mph.
Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
Your analogies make you sound like you are on the sex offenders register.Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
pozi said:
The first bike I ever used on the road was an AR50, at 16 I felt like a hero whizzing along at 35mph.
Fast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
I've been a 2 stroke man most of my lifeFast forward 20 years and I had the opportunity to ride one again, what a disappointment and hence I now liken a 50cc to sex, what you thought was great at 16 is actually pretty rubbish once you have some experience under your belt.
Is an AR80 more like sex in your late teens? As in you still had a lot to learn but at least you knew about the "power band"
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