Recent new 1978 R80/7 owner

[jackonz]

Hi, I should have posted this earlier but I suppose its never too late, mid last year I aquired this almost one owner bike, seems the first owner in Yorkshire Uk only did about 100 miles on it before selling to my Mate who brought it out to NZ and now I have it.
Its all compleate and has 54,000 miles on it, it was leaking oil from what I now discover are the usual places pushrod tubes and sump gasket that was an origional cork item and had split in several places, funny it reminded me of my old Commando that seemed never to be oil tight.
Most of what is needed is cosmetic as the paint on the tank and so on has faded due to the UV rays from the sun, it's quite severe here in NZ.
The rest is going over the bike and checking all is in order, with the brakes getting a full refurb and so on, I need to pull the Gearbox out and check and lube the spline, am praying it's Ok as I understand repalcements are not cheap, same with the drive dog on the rear wheel.

So if anyone can point me in the direction of what I need to be aware would be most helpful, surprising thing is when I removed the cylinders and measured them they are so close to standard it is noting short of amazing, inside the engine is like new, same with the valves and guides.

[SteveD]

Other than the obvious cosmetics and what you find under the tank and in the headlight, going over the electrics to clean connections, maybe replacing stuff that looks dodgey.
Diode board connections, main earth at the coil, make a new battery neg cable and relocate it from the trans breather screw.
Replace the diode board mounts for solid ones. Clean the relays and starter motor connections.
Consider new swingarm and wheel bearings too.
I'd leave the trans...new oil of course. If you replace swingarm bearings you can pull back the trans easily enough. That'll give about 2cm access to see the spline to clean and grease with a long brush. Not too much, just enough.
Look at EI maybe?

[RPGR90s]

I agree with Steve. The mechanicals are pretty obvious to check, but most people tend to ignore the electrics. I've restored a few R90s's and fifty year old wiring harnesses almost always need severe attention. A mechanically sound bike won't get you home if the neglected electrics fail.

[jackonz]

Thanks Guys, well the gearbox and swing arm are now out and thankfully the input spline on the gearbox is like new as it clearly had been lubed, in fact ot looks like it had been overdone as its all over the clutch plate, to add to it you can see oil is washing the crap from the clutch away from the bottom behind the flywheel so I will replace the rear main seal.
Gearbox input seal is rock hard with age and is also leaking and that too will be done and new clutch plate.
As for the electrics while it seems no where near as bad as the stuff I used to have to put up with on old British bike I am working through it and considering replaceing the lot with a an M-unit Blue, it takes away the need for all the relays and fuses and simplifies the lot and switching is ground based, but I will wait untill I upgrade the generator for that.
Now its time to order the parts.