hi everyone
i'm new to the forum, although i have been visiting several times over the years.
i hope someone may be able to help me with some information.

i have a 1984 registered tr1 [possibly 83  model ? ].
it has the solenoid on the starter which apparently is better than the earlier ones, but also has the cylinders with the cut outs for the head gasket and chain tunnel o ring and also it has the cut out section between them.

i recently did some engine work and had the heads off, i'd orderd an athena gasket set which was ok until i came to the head gaskets,i read on your forum that they aren't the best and don't always fit v well, sometimes leaving a gap when torqued down and over torqueing could cause damage as they are to thick.
as your aware the oem gaskets are v difficult to source these days so i thought i would risk using the originals [ not ideal i know ].
the bike ticks over and runs but smokes a little when revved a lightly, probably 2/2500 rpm, tacho not working   [ not clouds of smoke but any is not good ].
it's had new rings and the bores lightly cross hatched to bed the rings in.
i've also done a single carb conversion with a vtc manifold and a s&s super e carb as the clearance on the tr1 tank is v tight.
i sripped and cleaned original hitachi carbs several times and fitted new jet kits but couldn't get them to run right plus there v awkward to work on.  

i'm wandering if i should swap the cylinders out for a later model with the flat heads as they much easier to get head gaskets for, as i understand it reading on this forum it is possible.
but i would like to know which ones would be the best fit ?.
later xv1000 cylinders or xv1100 cylinders or would either work, also would my original pistons and heads be fine on either and would i loose compression as i assume the heads will be slightly higher by the thickness of the new head gaskets ?.
or do you think the smoking is due to the rebuild and will get better over time ?.

although the bike runs it's not been ridden for over 20yrs and has some other problems, i need to sort out as well.
any thoughts would be appreciated.
thanks for looking.
best Mike.

hi Bruno
thanks for the reply, that puts my mind at ease a little.
i'll see how it goes.
first thing i need to do is get a new battery, any recommendations ?.
i hear AGM batteries are a good choice, a bit more expensive than traditional lead acid but maintenance free and longer lasting.
thanks again.
best Mike.