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Hey, I have two RD side covers (well, ones the oil tank). They're both different colors and I want to prep and paint them.

They're in good condition, don't need to bog them or anything. Just remove paint and/or prime and repaint.

Anyone got any tips for the best way to do this? I've never dealt with plastic before.

Thanks.

Is there anything special about the R5 pipes?

I know exhausts with chambers and pea shooter pipes are all designed very specifically, but is there anything about the R5's exhaust design that makes it particularly suitable for this bike? It really seems like just a coupla straight pipes.

If you made a custom exhaust, and kept the lengths, ID etc pretty close and used the same/similar baffle, would it matter that much outside of having to adjust your carbs to suit?

Sorry for the question but (might be showing my age here) my experience with exhausts is pretty much limited to downloading the correct engine mapping and loading it onto the bike via bluetooth haha.

Thanks for any info.

(1970 R5)

Back on my project, long story short but I need to figure out the easiest way to actually get the ignition set up and running. I've got a pretty good basic knowledge but have never started from scratch.

Being that my bike has basically zero electrics right now and anything on there is damaged, I was figuring buying the vape system was a good start point.

Anyone got any tips for a really basic wiring set up incorporating the vape ignition, a kill switch, key switch, a battery, fuse, and where to ground to etc?

Hi fellow smokers.

I'd always wanted a street two-stroke bike. I grew up with a Suzuki TS90 back home (Australia), and always loved the two stroke vibe. Anyway, I'm an adult and live in Oregon now. I've been playing with old Hondas and Harleys mostly but came across an old R5 in the mud of a junkyard in Olympia. Definitely not close to running, mostly just a frame and motor.

So with the little bit of know how I have, I've got some carbs and rebuilt them and ordered seals and gaskets for the motor. Everything in there spins freely, so fingers crossed there's not a tonne to do. I dropped the oil out of it and it's surprisingly clean. Inside the cylinders looks to be in decent condition too. I don't have a way to get a number on compression but it's definitely able to suck and blow.

Anyway ... so I know I've done this arse about, but I was given a set of Triumph Thruxton wheels for very cheap. I don't think they're anything special, and I'd have to rotate the rear wheel (Sprockets on the riders right) but they've got my favourite feature .. "cheap".

MY QUESTION IS, can anyone recommend a swing arm and forks that will take the slightly wider Thruxton set up? I am a machinist / welder my trade so all manner of modifications are possible. I'd just like to not hack the frame at this point, would rather hack at an eBay swingarm and forks off another more modern 'dime a dozen' bike. I figured if I can get the swingarm and forks sorted for <$300 I'll be happy. I can easily fab up a bracket for a calliper too.

So yeah .. starting point - making my new wheels fit. Suggestions welcome.