so, I brought home (another) airhead

[GPzPop]

1986 (?) bmw r100

dmv wildly out of date, last tagged in 2001, Check
been sitting dormant all these years, Check
crash damage, Check
obligatory wasp nest remains, under the seat, Check
scorn and disapproval from wife, Check

suprisingly complete, lovely paint, good bones, let the adventure of restoration commence

lesson 1 : the extremely unpleasantly fragrant smell, that old gasoline can permeate the entire house. Wife not amused

 

[bikewanker]

Like the color and especially the custom caliper mounts.
It’s the journey.

 

[SFMCjohn]

+1 on the white over blue paint ... so cool! :thumbup

looks like it also came with at least one piece of factory luggage ... :ride

 

[295566]

Does it say "Powered by California BMW" on the tank? Cool!!

 

[GPzPop]

"paint by califonia bmw"

 

[GPzPop]

vin reveals it is actually a 1985 r80rt, minus the fairings

fresh motor oil, no rust under the fork gaiters, looking good so far. I will investigate further this weekend.

 

[MtnRider]

I think it looks rather good and very complete. Nice project Simon!

 

[budman]

I am another fan of the white/blue.

Hope it brings you smiles and then many miles!

 

[auntiebling]

umm. updates? hurry up already

 

[GPzPop]

waiting on some parts. My biggest hurdle is hacked off wires to the ignition switch

latest update is (pics to follow at some point)

Unbent the headlight bucket from its crash damage,

using Light_Guy_3's free jeep wrangler headlights, I fab'ed up a bezel from two 99cent thrift store pan lids

I have noticed, that when compared to similar vintage Japanese bikes,
airhead used bike parts are super expensive, like (japanese) $20-50 range = bmw $200-300 parts, ugh

the bmw headlight with bezel is, used ebay at the cheapest, $170.00

$1.89 in thrift store parts is way more my speed

trying to go the cheap route as possible, ha ha

Oh, and finally got the gas cap to open, wire brushed the rust from the cap anf filler neck

tank has a little flap like car gas tanks!

inside is a little rusty but not unusable

 

[Pushrod]

A R-100-RS that had been left out in Florida weather for three years landed in my garage. Did the restoration to a safe, ridable condition. Coulda' just bought a used, ridable air head for less than my parts cost when I finally totaled up the reciepts.

May you have a better wallet experience than I did.

 

[MG6]

plan to rebuild the engine? must see photo once post.

 

[ThumperX]

Wolfgang over at Dubbelju knows a lot about that thing
Also, Michael at Michaels BMW in santa Rosa has many parts for that thing.

Piece of unsolicited advice. If it doesn't have a warranty or add any value to the bike throw the receipt out. Ignorance is bliss :laughing

 

[Dogfeathers]

You have not mentioned if you are a member of the Airheads club, a national organization that caters only to the Airhead model of BMW motorcycles. (www.Airheads.org) We have a pretty active SF Bay Area group, 3-5 tech sessions a year locally to show newbies how to service their bike, sometimes taking on pretty big projects that are completed that day so the owner can ride home,..... all while we are eating, drinking beer and tire kicking.
The monthly national newsletter has numerous vendors that specialize in parts, new and used, and services just for Airheads. For the most part, BMW dealers no longer want to deal with the older bikes. ...and you really get butt reamed on parts...if they stock them at all.
In the east bay we have monthly "Barley Therapy's" where we straighten out the problems of the world over beer and burgers. We have 5-8 rides/campouts all over the state yearly. We are devoted because the bikes really are well built and for the most part are dead simple to work on and keep running. (Think Briggs and Stratton!) Most of our bikes have well over 100K miles on the clock, some 200-400K! Get plugged into the Airheads and the local Airhead community and things will get cheaper for you. Your 800cc model is likely the best of the best models for longevity, almost un-killable! Cut out the gas tank flapper/neck and gain another quart or more of fuel capacity.

Oh and just for the record, the most expensive bike(s) you can buy are the ones you got for cheap and old BMW's are certainly no exception. If you need a lot of parts, you will certainly need a lot of money. Better to spend more and get more bike to start with. BUT the bikes that have far and away have cost me the --least-- to own have also been BMW's. I have had three Airhead GS's. I buy a barely used one for $3-4K, ride it for 5 or 25 years and put 100K+ on the clock, do all my own service on it and then sell it for more than what I paid for it. That is a cheap bike!

 

[bobl]

"Piece of unsolicited advice. If it doesn't have a warranty or add any value to the bike throw the receipt out. Ignorance is bliss."
__________________
AMA

District 36
Ha ha! Thanks for affirmation. I've been doing that with my beaters for long time. Buying parts for beater bikes is therapy, not an investment. If you buy an new tire for 200 dollars, burn it up, you get nothing in return but the joy of cooking it. That's motorcycling! :laughing:laughing

 

[ThumperX]

Piece of unsolicited advice. If it doesn't have a warranty or add any value to the bike throw the receipt out. Ignorance is bliss
__________________
AMA

District 36
Ha ha! Thanks for affirmation. I've been doing that with my beaters for long time. Buying parts for beater bikes is therapy, not an investment. If you buy an new tire for 200 dollars, burn it up, you get nothing in return but the joy of cooking it. That's motorcycling! :laughing:laughing

:thumbup
It's helped me justify airplanes, boats, stupid cars, and motorcycles for decades :laughing

 

[GPzPop]

You have not mentioned if you are a member of the Airheads club, a national organization that caters only to the Airhead model of BMW motorcycles. (www.Airheads.org) We have a pretty active SF Bay Area group, 3-5 tech sessions a year locally to show newbies how to service their bike, sometimes taking on pretty big projects that are completed that day so the owner can ride home,..... all while we are eating, drinking beer and tire kicking.
The monthly national newsletter has numerous vendors that specialize in parts, new and used, and services just for Airheads. For the most part, BMW dealers no longer want to deal with the older bikes. ...and you really get butt reamed on parts...if they stock them at all.
In the east bay we have monthly "Barley Therapy's" where we straighten out the problems of the world over beer and burgers. We have 5-8 rides/campouts all over the state yearly. We are devoted because the bikes really are well built and for the most part are dead simple to work on and keep running. (Think Briggs and Stratton!) Most of our bikes have well over 100K miles on the clock, some 200-400K! Get plugged into the Airheads and the local Airhead community and things will get cheaper for you. Your 800cc model is likely the best of the best models for longevity, almost un-killable! Cut out the gas tank flapper/neck and gain another quart or more of fuel capacity.

Oh and just for the record, the most expensive bike(s) you can buy are the ones you got for cheap and old BMW's are certainly no exception. If you need a lot of parts, you will certainly need a lot of money. Better to spend more and get more bike to start with. BUT the bikes that have far and away have cost me the --least-- to own have also been BMW's. I have had three Airhead GS's. I buy a barely used one for $3-4K, ride it for 5 or 25 years and put 100K+ on the clock, do all my own service on it and then sell it for more than what I paid for it. That is a cheap bike!

thanks for the kind words and invite.

this is my second airhead, I put approximately 100k "bmw distance units" (not accurate to call them miles) on a pearl white 83 r100rs commuter

Since I regretted selling it, and this opportunity showed itself, I had no choice but to jump in it

"the most expensive bike(s) you can buy are the ones you got for cheap"
so true!!!

i am making progress, though

 

[GPzPop]

update :
new brake m/c reservoir, clutch perch, handlebar, jeep headlight, thrift store pot lid bezel, r/r headlight bucket

cleaned, inspected, mounted, filled, (hopefully) bled front brakes

mocked up, headlight wiring still in progress, pending batt on order

next, fuel tank, carbs, motor

here is a pic

 

[GPzPop]

iTS ALiVE !!!!!

mostly complete, motor runs , idles, but not fully sorted yet

next steps : DMV shenanigans and new tires

oops pic is sideways

 

[1962siia]

Nice! Good luck with DMV. I hear there is some loop hole for "collectors" of vintage vehicles to get out of back fees. Haven't tried it myself but have seen people on the interwebz who have.