My 1975 BMW R75/6 - getting a little love

Tim

Administrator
Staff member
So, this bike is the one I've owned the longest at this point. About 6-7 years. Bought it a little bit before I launched DTT if I recall.

Anyhow, it's gotten minor upgrades over the years, mostly over the last few years while it sat unused, as I was riding my then-completed XS650 cafe.

Before I bought it, the bike sat idle in a dealership (McBride's Cycle in Toronto) for around 18 years. All original - never had any major work done. It was traded in or something in the early 1980's and was registered to Percy McBride for the 80's and 90's. Then it was picked up by a collector who hardly rode it - showed it mostly. Then on to me. McBride Cycle was in business for 97 years, most of which was spent in an awesome multistory late 1800's building just around the corner from my house. Sadly the sons of the family screwed it all up and the business closed.

The bits I've upgraded over the last few years:

Woody's Wheel Works sealed wheel bearing conversion
Buchanan SS spokes
Thunderchild diode board / regulator
Boyer ignition
Mikuni VM32 carbs
Polly Heater heated bar inserts
Steibel Nautilus horn
Progressive front fork springs
Deep oil pan/pickup off 80's R80 (I think)

I've had it out on a few 'long' rides. The most recent was from Toronto to the Red River Gorge in Kentucy via Pittsburgh, for the first annual Rust Revival Spring Thaw. 1500 mile round trip. Nothing major, but a good test of the bike. Troy, Doug and I rode through torrential rains on the Thursday. Like nothing I've ever seen before. If anything electronic was going to fail, it would have. I'm proud to say all three of our bikes ran flawlessly the entire trip (I'm particularly jealous of Doug's GS750 which starts on one kick from cold and idles like me on a Sunday morning).

I've just recently decided to make it more of a dedicated touring bike. I picked up a Rickman 3/4 fairing to try on for size, but didn't like it and wasn't keen on all the changes it would require to wiring etc.

Kop then posted up a few pics of old airheads with Heinrich leg shields etc. on them and I was hooked. So today, I closed an eBay buy on a set of original Heinrich leg shields. I'll be sourcing an 'S' fairing and Heinrich replica hand shields most likely from Glass From The Past.

I like these bits as they don't take away from the airhead's character and can be easily removed (esp the leg shields) when I don't need or want them on the bike.

As she is now:

2013-05-17125100_zps2f5fa2a3.jpg


What she'll be with the various fairings:

1975r906white_zps33834c91.jpg


MySlash6_zps50ef0144.jpg


The Heinrich leg shields I bought today on eBay Germany. Sold as specific to the /6 so here's hoping the tank cutout profile matches my 6 gallon unit, as on the white /6 shown above.

KGrHqZHJE0FD8CPKWTBRC4-VPn60_121_zpsf8fbec86.jpg


I found a few sources for the S fairings. Original BMW units are too dear for my taste and there are plenty of replicas out there. So far the best option looks like the kit I found at Motorworks BMW in the UK

http://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=15&M=20&Ct=UA&SbCt=BA_15_20_UA_20

Comes complete with the mounting hardware, dash, and an optional clear windscreen with a kick-up lip for better air handling.

Glass From the Past sells the fairings as well, but they're more expensive (even when adding the shipping), don't come with the hardware, the dash is extra and don't have the optional taller screen. However, GFTP does have replica Heinrich hand screens for $50 a pair.

So likely my S fairing will come from the UK, the hand shields from GFTP. Leg shields are coming from Germany.

Oh, and I lost my right battery cover before I left for Kentucky. So a pair of aftermarket ones is on their way to Alabama for some Kiley's Garage black paint love.
 
Consider me signed up....

Are you sure there's a bike underneath all those bags? :)
 
I travel in comfort :) Make sure nothing is left behind. The hard cases were laden with 40 pounds of spare parts, oil and tools. The bag on top was clothes and a sleeping bag, and the tank bag had the immediate necessities like extra gloves, few small tools, money etc.

Next time I'll see if I can manage with just the hard cases. If it's not snowing in October, I'm kind of hoping to ride it to Alabama. But it will be a real test coming back north.
 
...but I'm NOT turning it into this (which is awesome in its own special way)

r60.JPG
 
Tim said:
I travel in comfort :) Make sure nothing is left behind. The hard cases were laden with 40 pounds of spare parts, oil and tools. The bag on top was clothes and a sleeping bag, and the tank bag had the immediate necessities like extra gloves, few small tools, money etc.

Next time I'll see if I can manage with just the hard cases. If it's not snowing in October, I'm kind of hoping to ride it to Alabama. But it will be a real test coming back north.
http://youtu.be/nMhaehb5AnE but Texas wants you any way...we ride in the winter!
 
Of course these would be a nice cherry on the sundae, but totally frivolous and would be expensive. Adds 2 extra gallons. Just another period-correct accessory for the BMW touring crowd.

$T2eC16FHJG!FFm1BTuudBRp!,d46kQ~~60_57.JPG


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-TOKYO-LUFTMISTER-SADDLE-TANKS-R60-5-R75-6-R90S-R100-7-R100RT-R100RS-74to84-/251281973471
 
I suppose I could ride down and fly home - anyone want to host my BMW for the winter? :D
 
Pretty cool Tim. Those fairings/guards will definitely protect you from the elements. I'm pretty sure I could winter the beemer, just don't mark the mileage. Lol.
 
Alrighty - many parts ordered :)

Repro battery covers and decals (lost my right side cover) (eBay.com)
Heinrich original leg shields are on their way from Germany (eBay.de)
R90S fairing, windscreen, dash and mounting brackets on their way from the UK (Motorworks.co.uk)
Heinrich style R90S hand guards on their way from the USA (Glass From The Past)

All heading to Moody AL for Kiley to hit with some nice black paint and perhaps some white striping.

Everything I need to make my bike look like this, but of course in black.

1975r906white_zps33834c91.jpg
 
Tim said:
McBride Cycle was in business for 97 years, most of which was spent in an awesome multistory late 1800's building just around the corner from my house. Sadly the sons of the family screwed it all up and the business closed.

I thought the problem was that Honda shut down all motorcycles dealers to start selling bikes through "stores" in car dealerships"?
I LOVED McBride. The floor was polished with my saliva for years.
 
I really dig those saddle-bag tanks! And the Heinrich leg-shields too.

Gotta wonder what the range could be like, on a modern more efficient engine but using those saddle-bag tanks WITH a 10-gallon aftermarket tank - which one was it? Churchgate, Habermann, Heingericke, Heinrich? Maybe dig up some of those ROKON hollow wheels that hold liquid as well?

The Wixom lower fairing is just too awesome for words. Sorta like a Dust-Bin fairing but not. Reminiscent of kitschy "Bat-Wing" fairings, but definitely not that either.

But the saddle-bag tanks are the most interesting IMHO. I had thought that the Honda CT110 "postie" was the only bike which offered this type of equipment. Now THAT would be some serious range. Honda Cub engine with the extra tanks onboard. Plus that add-on tank for the manly "boy bicycle" conversion of the Underbone frame. That type of thing could cross continents!

-Sigh.
 
Today all my old threads are being dug up! Bike as it sits today.
 

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