What can you post 84 users tell me about 85 to 95 Bikes?

[srankin]

I am relatively ignorant of post 84 airhead bikes. With the wreck of my 78RS, I am itching to replace it and am looking at various airheads. I realize there is a difference between a 78 RS and a 85 to 95 RS, What can you owners of the 85 to 95 tell me about your bikes? What should I look for, avoid? Likes, dislikes? Thanks, St.

[Darryl.Richman]

The single sided swingarm bikes are stiffer and handle nicer. The fork legs are beefier. The cast wheels are lighter than the older spoke or snowflake styles.

OTOH, the highest HP is from the mid 70s bikes and then, as more clean air equipment was added, the HP numbers declined a bit.

In the early 90s, BMW put the K bike style paddle turn signal switches onto the boxers.

I still miss my 1985 R80. I had it set up like an R90S with short bars and the bikini fairing, and it was great for touring. I put 84k miles on it before moving to an oilhead...

[schrader7032]

Discussed elsewhere, the '85-94 bikes had the circlip issue. Not a huge issue, but they left the factory without the circlip on the output shaft of the transmission. It can be added if it appears that the bearing begins to walk off the shaft.

http://largiader.com/articles/circlip/

[cwf]

I did a lot of miles on pre- and post-84 twins but riding in central London and the twisty roads of the UK might be different from the US.
The post-84 bikes, with smaller front wheel, lighter flywheel and swinging arm not swinging fork were definitely better. They had more nimble handling, the gear change was lighter and sweeter, taking the rear wheel out was easier and fixing punctures in tubeless tyres was a 10 minute job instead of 25 minute.
Now that they are all ancient, like me, I prefer the more deliberate gear change and handling of the older bikes. No need for speed, just enjoy the quality and old-school feel.

Charlie.