My first Project: R60/2 Conversion to R90/6

[PaulieB]

Hey folks, it's good to be here - I'm a newbie to the motocycle world. Got some experience with building jetskis is about all I can claim for being a gearhead.

Anywho, I'm building a bike - A cool bike I think. I am starting with a 1967 R60/2, a beautiful class act for sure - I understand the craze over these things, they look great.

So the plan is to take my R60/2 and bring her up to speed a bit with the donor parts from a well running and maintained 1974 R90/6 with ~35K on it.

The R60/2 has some internal rust issues, which I am hoping to alleviate with a frame repair shop, but unfortunately might have to resolve by purchasing a new frame :-/

Anyways, here are some shots of both. I am sure to have many questions to come with this build.

[khittner1]

Paul---They're your bikes, but some, including me, would tell you to leave that lovely 90/6 alone, or, at most, take the old Lufty fairing off and ride it. There were issues with the first-year 5-speed trannies that might make it sub-optimal for tug usage, but I'll defer to others with better knowledge. That 90/6 looks pretty sweet otherwise, so maybe you want to get some cycle and airhead experience with it first.

[PaulieB]

Paul---They're your bikes, but some, including me, would tell you to leave that lovely 90/6 alone, or, at most, take the old Lufty fairing off and ride it. There were issues with the first-year 5-speed trannies that might jake it sub-optimal for tug usage, but I'll defer to others with better knowledge. That 90/6 looks pretty sweet otherwise, so maybe you want to get some cycle and airhead experience with it first.

I read the same thing about the '74 tranny, which unfortunately this bike is. I read there is a spring in there that will break around 30K miles and will basically lock the trany up - which sounds terrifying. Not to mention others said to never use the kick start unless it is an emergency - something about a soft gear. I might just get out while I'm ahead and find a lightly used transmission from a later year to swap in.

It is actually my plan to take the fairings off and just learn to ride this up coming summer before I start the conversion. I think after that point I can start disassembling the R90/6 for integration into the better looking frame of the two.

I'm currently exploring fitting a BMW F650 front disc system into the front end as well to boost braking. Haven't really been able to find much on it, I think I'm expecting some custom machining at this point.

[Steve in Golden]

That is a damn nice /6. 'twould be a shame to cannibalize it. I'd remove that lufty in a heartbeat if it was my bike.

[Major Softie]

Yep, that's a gorgeous /6. You'll come out thousands ahead if you sell the /6 and buy another motor for the conversion.

Of course, if the /2 has it's original motor, then you'd also come out money ahead if you sell it and can find a rolling /2 chassis with no motor, but that could be a lot more difficult than finding a good Airhead motor - Airhead motors are really easy to find, and quite affordable. Seems a shame to split a numbers matching /2 apart, but If the /2 motor is toast, then parting out/converting the /2 is no terrible crime.