1986 R80RT, big enough for two up touring?

[oldenslow]

How would it do for some light touring, two up?  Maybe at most a 500 mile weekend.  Found  a real nice one at a good price, with bags and small trunk.  I weigh 200, my wife 130.  I know it's rated at 50hp,  and I would get it strictly for myself, but she says only if it's for both of us.  So how would it be two up, comfort, acceleration, packing, etc...?    Thanks.

[1KPerDay]

Perfectly fine. Great bikes. Nice ergos. Plenty of legroom for passenger.

They do require regular maintenance but it's pretty straightforward. The R80 was IMO the best of the airhead engines.


Acceleration? Adequate. Not mindblowing.  

[oldenslow]

Thanks for the info.  I'll see if the seller will be open to letting me take the wife along for a test ride.

[cbsnbiker]

Many people travel two-up on them on a regular basis.

Do recognize that it's a quarter century old. Don't expect to do one-finger stoppies. It's not very fast. But it is comfortable.

Parts and farkling are readily available, both OEM and aftermarket.

Maintenance isn't hard to do. Valve adjustments are easy.

[cruisin]

Should be fine, one of my older borthers borrowed my R75/6 in 1979 for a "little trip" with his wife.  They were gone 6 days and went from Panhandle Tx. to Yellowstone and back; 2200-mile round trip.  

[oldenslow]

Late getting back to this.  I really liked it solo, less grunt then an r100, but nice.  The owner was nice enough to let me take the missus for a spin, but she was less than impressed.  Basically she said why would she want to double up on this, when the FJ is so fast and comfy?  So unfortunately I had to pass.......and she wouldn't let me buy it just for myself.

[ripdaddy]

    My significant other had the same reaction when I went from an '83 Honda 1100F to an '83 R100RS.  She was so appalled by the lack of power, especially when merging with traffic, she refused to get on it after the second ride.  

[cbsnbiker]

    My significant other had the same reaction when I went from an '83 Honda 1100F to an '83 R100RS.  She was so appalled by the lack of power, especially when merging with traffic, she refused to get on it after the second ride.  

Unless we're talking about a small scooter or motorcycle, I'm always puzzled by a comment like that of your SO.

Considering that the R100RS's engine has significantly more HP than the car in which I learned how to drive, and that it's capable of 0-60 MPH acceleration in six seconds (thus able to outdrag many muscle cars), it's not exactly a slug.

The R80 is down about ten HP from the R100, but is said to be a significantly smoother engine.

[1KPerDay]

    My significant other had the same reaction when I went from an '83 Honda 1100F to an '83 R100RS.  She was so appalled by the lack of power, especially when merging with traffic, she refused to get on it after the second ride.  

She enjoys getting her head snapped back by sudden acceleration?