T3 FB owers please weigh in (updated w/ pics)

[spmoto]

I have an opportunity to pick up a '78 T3 FB with 17K mi. I'll probably get to see it tomorrow. I've had a couple of T's in the past and ridden a T3 but never an "FB". Aside from the floor boards any major differences? What are your impressions, do you love, or...?

Thanks,
Steve M

P.S. any pics would be great!!

So I saw the bike today. Basically very sound but a project non the less. Fork internals are bad, rear shock original and 42 years old. Some battery acid damage on the frame and swingarm etc. Pictures give a better idea. Low mileage and some  receipts for recent work like caliper and carb rebuilds is a plus. Needs a battery to see it run which will be in the next few days. I'm thinking it's got good potential.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I don't *think* there are any differences..

[antmanbee]

Same as a  T  but with better brakes and an oil filter.

[Two Checks]

Late 75 Ts had oil filters.


Only difference is the floorboards, heel/toe shifter and different brake pedal.

[Tom]

Ride with the heel/toe shifter.  You might like it.     If you don't like the shifter arm for that and want to go to a toe shift, don't cut it up trade it. 

[n3303j]

Most recently turned 100,000 miles. 76,000 miles are mine. Loved every one of them.

[Gliderjohn]

Really like mine and the toe/heel shifter. I have only rarely scrapped the FBs in the curves.


GliderJohn

[acogoff]

     Never knew any different than having floor boards. I would have a hard time to shift it without the heel toe shifter. 

[Tom]

Had that on my Jackal.  It's the foot brake nub that took more time to get use to.

[spmoto]

Thanks all. And Glider John, love the SP fairing on yours. So I guess it works just fine with the higher bars etc. I've had more SP's than I dare to count and the fairing kept bringing me back. But I'm hoping the FB ergos will suit me better as I have, "matured"

[spmoto]

Hey Ron,
Cudos on racking up the miles! I know Frank Wedge piled a lot of miles on his also. Back in the late 80's I went to Brooklyn NY to pick up my LM from Manfred at Raceco and he was crating up Franks engine and trans for shipment back to Kansas. He said the motor had over 80K on it and he should have saved himself some money and kept riding it. He said this all with a wink as I wrote my check for the rebuild of my 30kmi. LM. I learned a lot from him and he's missed.
SM

[n3303j]

*SNIP* So I guess it works just fine with the higher bars etc. *SNIP*

I most immediately dumped the tall "police" bars for the lower "civilian" style with less sweep (MG Cycle). (Did the same on my EV, but those are custom).

The tall bars put my spine too vertical and every hard bump was an uncomfortable compression shock from head to pelvis. The slightly forward lean of the "civilian" bars puts the spine at a forward angle and it flexes on hard bumps, not compresses. It made a world of difference for me.

[Dave Swanson]

I have an opportunity to pick up a '78 T3 FB with 17K mi. I'll probably get to see it tomorrow. I've had a couple of T's in the past and ridden a T3 but never an "FB". Aside from the floor boards any major differences? What are your impressions, do you love, or...?

Thanks,
Steve M

P.S. any pics would be great!!

No differences other than the obvious. 

Let us know how it went today!

My T3 if a FB model with all the trimmings.  The T3 California.  A work in progress.

[Tom]

A Brillo/SOS pad is your friend. 

[Simon_London]

photo club download


Later T4 with Le Mans Carbs exhaust and flywheel. Quick.

[diablo45]

 Not to beat a dead horse, but this will have chrome bores that will need replacing/replating. Factor that in with cost of putting it back on the road.

[moto]

Not to beat a dead horse, but this will have chrome bores that will need replacing/replating. Factor that in with cost of putting it back on the road.

Maybe. The cylinders are lighter-colored than the heads. Could mean Gillardonis have replaced the originals. (Easy to check by looking for the word "Gillardoni" stamped near the base on the outside.)

Moto