My "new" T3

[Shadyapex]

Well, I finally got another short ride on my recent purchase. A '77 T3 with fancy tank, seat and new bars. I couldn't ride the faux clip ons that the bike was fitted with as I'm not in my 20s anymore. I had to do a fair amount of work to fix some electrical connections, exhaust leaks, installing some turn signals (thanks for the suggestions) and the usual service but it's coming along nicely. It's a hastily put together bike but at least it's got a nice paint job and I'm having fun sorting out the details.
I love it. It reminds me a bit of my R80/7 but with a rather more aggressive motor, especially in the low RPM range, better handling, a better exhaust note and less shaft jack.
I still need to attend to some things like a slight carb leak, replacing a stud on the final drive to axle housing and bleeding the brakes one more time but so far I'm thrilled to be riding again after many years and this bike is just what I wanted, namely old, but not as old as me, and fast enough, but not stupid fast.
It's a rather high mileage unit but I have no reason to suspect the bottom end and I imagine I'll fit the nikasil cylinder/piston kit at some point.
Love to hear any thoughts/suggestions folks might have for me. Encouragement encouraged!

[rodekyll]

Have we seen pics yet?

My kid has a /7 and a Jackal.  He says the beemer does what the Jackal does only it needs 1krpm more to do it.  The /7 gets better economy, but the Jackal has a higher constant cruise speed.  His is an R80.  I'll bet it's on a close par to your T3.

[jas67]

 :PICS!:

W/O pics, it didn't happen, it doesn't exist, etc.
Blah blah blah.

I'm sick of looking at snow and ice.    I want to see (and ride) motorcycles!

[Shadyapex]

http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/e20d92933
Here's a pic from the seller. I've taken off the fairing as it interfered with the necessary turn signal mount and changed the bars. I'll post some current pics in the morning.
You guys are too nice.

[oldbike54]

 Stick around , your opinion of us may change  ;D
 Seriously , good luck , and welcome to the clan .

   Dusty

[Lannis]

http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/e20d92933
Here's a pic from the seller. I've taken off the fairing as it interfered with the necessary turn signal mount and changed the bars. I'll post some current pics in the morning.
You guys are too nice.

I like bars that are more than clip-ons but less than the big wheelbarrow bars that Guzzi police and touring bikes used to come with.  R90S or SP-NT bars are what go on my older Guzzis.   Be interesting to see what your interpretation of "comfort" is!

Lannis

[Shadyapex]

I like bars that are more than clip-ons but less than the big wheelbarrow bars that Guzzi police and touring bikes used to come with.  R90S or SP-NT bars are what go on my older Guzzis.   Be interesting to see what your interpretation of "comfort" is!

Lannis

You and I are on the same page I think. I found bars that were as close as I could find to BMW "S" bars, about 1" rise. I wanted a sport position that I could maintain without pain given some bulging discs and a partially frozen shoulder. I have yet to do a long ride on the thing but based on previous experience I think it'll work. No ape hangers or wheelbarrows here.
Pics to come in the AM.

[krglorioso]

I like bars that are more than clip-ons but less than the big wheelbarrow bars that Guzzi police and touring bikes used to come with.  R90S or SP-NT bars are what go on my older Guzzis.   Be interesting to see what your interpretation of "comfort" is!

Lannis

Careful, Lannis.  If not for the wide, wide, wheelbarrow bars on my Stones, my age and 138# would not allow me to handle them and I'd be navigating the rabid SoCal freeways on a Stornetto.  You wouldn't want that...would you?

Ralph

[Turin]

That is pretty sweet, and IMO how a tonti should be sported up. btw, wanna get rid of the fairing?

[Perazzimx14]

It's a rather high mileage unit but I have no reason to suspect the bottom end and I imagine I'll fit the nikasil cylinder/piston kit at some point.

Once the chrome bores flake you won't have to guess about the condition of the bottom end :beat_horse.

[blackcat]

Nice.

Doesn't look like the stock front fender.

[Lannis]

Careful, Lannis.  If not for the wide, wide, wheelbarrow bars on my Stones, my age and 138# would not allow me to handle them and I'd be navigating the rabid SoCal freeways on a Stornetto.  You wouldn't want that...would you?

Ralph

Well, we'd have to have a Youtube video of the experience!   

I've got a stock Convert in the garage with the wiiiiide bars and they just kill my wrists, PLUS I have to remember to get my leg out of the way BEFORE I start a tight parking-lot turn or my leg gets pinned between the grip and the tank and I can't go the way I want .....  so it's narrow bars for me so my arms (puny though they are) can help my legs and my arse support my weight - they can't do it alone!

Lannis

[Erwin8r]

Well, we'd have to have a Youtube video of the experience!   

I've got a stock Convert in the garage with the wiiiiide bars and they just kill my wrists, PLUS I have to remember to get my leg out of the way BEFORE I start a tight parking-lot turn or my leg gets pinned between the grip and the tank and I can't go the way I want .....  so it's narrow bars for me so my arms (puny though they are) can help my legs and my arse support my weight - they can't do it alone!

Lannis

I'm with you, Lannis--had wheelbarrow bars on my HD Roadking and full lock turns were a bear.  I think we forget that long pullbacks or widths put the bars that much further away at full lock turns.... ;)

Oh,  btw, nice T3! That little fairing looks great on there!

[oldbike54]

Careful, Lannis.  If not for the wide, wide, wheelbarrow bars on my Stones, my age and 138# would not allow me to handle them and I'd be navigating the rabid SoCal freeways on a Stornetto.  You wouldn't want that...would you?

Ralph

 Us little guys need some leverage , huh Ralph  :D One of the things that make a Jackal so nimble and comfortable  to me are the flat track style handlebars .

  Dusty

[guzziownr]

Nice.  Doesn't look like the stock front fender.

What DOES it look like Mr. Cat?

[blackcat]

What DOES it look like Mr. Cat?

If the owner wants to measure the fender from tip to tip and it is in 25" range and it is unmolested,(not cut) then I can explain.

[NCAmother]

http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/e20d92933
Here's a pic from the seller. I've taken off the fairing as it interfered with the necessary turn signal mount and changed the bars. I'll post some current pics in the morning.
You guys are too nice.

Nice purchase!  The tank looks like it came from either TAB2 Classics in England or the Tank Shoppe in Scotland.  That's a $1000 piece right there!   PS, if you want to get rid of the fairing, I'm working on an 850T and have been looking for a fairing like that.  Cool BIKE!!!!!

[John A]

I wonder what has been done to the engine, it has PHF carburetors. That is a nice upgrade

[Shadyapex]

It's a rather high mileage unit but I have no reason to suspect the bottom end and I imagine I'll fit the nikasil cylinder/piston kit at some point.

Once the chrome bores flake you won't have to guess about the condition of the bottom end :beat_horse.

Good thought and nicely worded. Think I'll have to bump up my schedule. Wouldn't mind the displacement bump, either.

The front fender measures about 24" and isn't cut. I have no idea if it's stock or not but none of the other body work is. The seat and rear fender allegedly came from an S3.

I think I'll keep the fairing for now, might put it back on if I can find a bracket for the front signals. I got a Le Mans bracket but it's too narrow for the triple clamps on this bike.

http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h2834aa21
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h3bde98ad
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h29e6cc56
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h29ad3258
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h3757ab30

[Lannis]

Good thought and nicely worded. Think I'll have to bump up my schedule. Wouldn't mind the displacement bump, either.

The front fender measures about 24" and isn't cut. I have no idea if it's stock or not but none of the other body work is. The seat and rear fender allegedly came from an S3.

I think I'll keep the fairing for now, might put it back on if I can find a bracket for the front signals. I got a Le Mans bracket but it's too narrow for the triple clamps on this bike.

http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h2834aa21
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h3bde98ad
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h29e6cc56
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h29ad3258
http://stevenbaldwin.zenfolio.com/p1041015419/h20d92933#h3757ab30

Nice shape, to me.   Looks the business.   I'd change the colors a bit, but the bike looks good.   Get the mechanical concerns sorted and you've got a mostly metal, mostly non-electronic bike that'll last you a lifetime ....

Lannis

[Triple Jim]

I'd change the colors a bit, but the bike looks good.

That paint looks like it's in really good condition.  It would be a lot less work, and much cheaper, to adapt to the paint and decide it's great as-is.   ;D

[Shadyapex]

I actually like the colors, at first I thought it was just a bit much but I've grown to really like it. And I love the lines of the tank. Now on to new cylinders, etc. But I think I'll just ride it for a few weeks first.

[blackcat]

"The front fender measures about 24" and isn't cut."

I believe it is a rare 1000S front fender. If you ever want to swap it out for the stock fender I will gladly buy it.

[Lannis]

I actually like the colors, at first I thought it was just a bit much but I've grown to really like it. And I love the lines of the tank. Now on to new cylinders, etc. But I think I'll just ride it for a few weeks first.

"Ride it and see how you like it" is always the best plan.   I'd do the same before making any changes.   

For example, I used to think (15 years ago) that the Hot Dog and Mustard EV paint scheme was the ugliest one going.   Now it's my favorite .....

Lannis

[Shadyapex]

Have we seen pics yet?

My kid has a /7 and a Jackal.  He says the beemer does what the Jackal does only it needs 1krpm more to do it.  The /7 gets better economy, but the Jackal has a higher constant cruise speed.  His is an R80.  I'll bet it's on a close par to your T3.

My guess, based on my experience, is that they're pretty similar bikes. I loved my R80/7 and did a lot of modifications to make it faster, handle better, etc. It was a great bike. I'm not going to get as carried away with the T3, just going to ride it as somebody already did a lot of work to it, although some of it is a little sloppy. I think the phrase "that'll be good enough" must have been uttered more than once.

[Joliet Jim]

That is sweet. Good find.

[Shadyapex]

Ordered some nikasil cylinders from Harpers today along with some seals and a couple little odds and ends. Looking forward to the extra displacement and the alleviation of worry regarding the chrome bores. Slowly going over the bike and keep finding things that need attention but hey, it's a 37 year old bike and I'm going to ride it for many years. My longest ride so far was about 30 miles so I'm still getting used to the bike. Things like learning how aggressively I can down shift going into a corner without wagging my tail (not very). Training my left thumb to hit the horn in a nano second, where all the false neutrals are (between most gears) and whether or not to bother down shifting (frequently not necessary).
I live in a town where there are about 3 non Harley street bikes so haven't found anybody to yak with or ride with but I don't really care. I'm not going to go down to the coffee shop with it, I'd rather go up into the mountains and enjoy the pleasure of bending my right wrist down hard and feeling the ancient power turn on. And no, it's not the same as my old Desmo but it's enough for me at my slightly advanced age.  But if anybody is coming through Bishop, CA do let me know. First round is on me.

[Triple Jim]

Things like learning how aggressively I can down shift going into a corner without wagging my tail (not very).

With the right throttle blip, you can downshift quite aggressively.

[rodekyll]

Yeah -- once rolling I seldom use the clutch.  I just roll the throttle to where it needs to be and snick the lever.

Also -- in all my years of riding (46 and counting) I've maybe used the horn a half dozen times.  I wouldn't be too worried about muscle memory for that.

[Shadyapex]

Yeah -- once rolling I seldom use the clutch.  I just roll the throttle to where it needs to be and snick the lever.

Also -- in all my years of riding (46 and counting) I've maybe used the horn a half dozen times.  I wouldn't be too worried about muscle memory for that.

I used to ride in Los Angeles. Quick on the horn was a life saver many times.
Now I ride in a remote rural area but wanted to make sure I was ready none the less.
I'll be trying out the clutchless down shifting. So far I find that if I downshift aggressively the shaft response wiggles the back end a bit and I have to re-engage the clutch a little more slowly than with a chain drive bike. It's just a matter of learning how the bike behaves. Although I do think that the shaft jack is less than on my R80/7, although that was so many years ago that I wouldn't call it a fair comparison.