BMW R90/6.. TAT G/S Tribute
- Thread starter Hurco550
- Start date
Sderbyshire
Into Sailing, classic Triumph cars and motorbikes.
Nice project, can’t wait to see it sitting on the new shocks 
Thanks! Look again, I just didn't have the pics loaded yet. This is all still just on a mockup frame. Once everything gets final fab, it should be a quick job of swapping it all over to the complete bikeNice project, can’t wait to see it sitting on the new shocks
Good Question. Probably still low pipes. Possibly the stockers, or maybe something like these.
I'd like to run scrambler style high pipes, but that's more than I want to bite off at this point.
Id love to buy these:
https://www.analogmotorcycles.com/shop/bmw-airhead-exhaust-cone-quiet-core-mufflers/
but they are out of the budget at the moment.
Got a few parts flowing in for this project. I have (at least for now) decided to ditch the DR forks and 21" front wheel in favor of keeping the stock forks, with a knobby 19" on the stock hoop. The dr650 forks would need re-sprung anyways, so ill just re spring the stockers. This will also allow me to fit the front brake upgrade kit that I already have.
To that end, I just purchased a pair of 330mm rotors from a Ducati 1198. I got the pair for $100, and should be able to sell the other rotor to someone else doing the kit pretty easily for almost that price (they often sell for north of $200 for the pair). Next big chunk o change will be finding a left side brembo caliper off of a BMW s1000rr..
As far as the exhaust, I decided to just stick with stock. My bike runs good as is, and call me what you want, but I don't want it to be louder, and I don't wanna mess with the carbs.
I also don't want to tear up the mufflers that are on it. While they aren't show quality, they're too nice to beat up. I happened upon these on eBay, and was the only bidder. Yes, that's right, I bought them for $7.50.... plus shipping.. so still only $30 to my door. They have some dings, but for that money I truly don't care. Ill fit them up and use them for the trip and add to their "patina"
I've also been running a "tractor supply special" wet cell battery for a couple years, and this last winter turned it dead flat. Knowing that this trip would put it to the test and jar it around a bit, I turned to the interwebs and the sage advice of @Kanticoy and went with an Odyssey PC680. It was pricey at $140, but they are supposed to be the go-to for dependability and longevity. That's important on a somewhat off the grid trip like this one.
To that end, I just purchased a pair of 330mm rotors from a Ducati 1198. I got the pair for $100, and should be able to sell the other rotor to someone else doing the kit pretty easily for almost that price (they often sell for north of $200 for the pair). Next big chunk o change will be finding a left side brembo caliper off of a BMW s1000rr..
As far as the exhaust, I decided to just stick with stock. My bike runs good as is, and call me what you want, but I don't want it to be louder, and I don't wanna mess with the carbs.
I also don't want to tear up the mufflers that are on it. While they aren't show quality, they're too nice to beat up. I happened upon these on eBay, and was the only bidder. Yes, that's right, I bought them for $7.50.... plus shipping.. so still only $30 to my door. They have some dings, but for that money I truly don't care. Ill fit them up and use them for the trip and add to their "patina"
I've also been running a "tractor supply special" wet cell battery for a couple years, and this last winter turned it dead flat. Knowing that this trip would put it to the test and jar it around a bit, I turned to the interwebs and the sage advice of @Kanticoy and went with an Odyssey PC680. It was pricey at $140, but they are supposed to be the go-to for dependability and longevity. That's important on a somewhat off the grid trip like this one.
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Yes please!!!! They are a bit on the pricey side on Ebay.
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Yeah man, so cheap. They already showed up this afternoon too. Crazy fast shipping.
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Nothing there right now but I put up a Wanted ad for a caliper so we'll see what happens.
I've still been plugging away on this little by little. There aren't a bunch of updates, but a few small ones.
I pulled the trigger on a pair of 4 piston calipers from a s1000rr. I now have a complete spare right side caliper and rotor set that I should be able to sell for enough to offset a big chunk of this cost.
I also ordered a custom brake line from Speigler in Dayton. It should be in my hands by Wednesday. Along with a fresh cable in my possession, this will finalize the parts needed for this upgrade.
I also decided to go with a set of shinko 705 tires. They aren't the most aggressive off-road tread, but I've had good experiences with them on mild off-road on the dr650, and the price is right at just north of $120 for the spare shipped to my door. I'm running a 110/80-19 on the front and a 120/80-18 on the back. It clears the front fender mount, but literally by a hair. I will be fabricating a front brace that mounts outside of the fender on a future post.
I've begun to work out mounting the Tusk Panniers that were traded for between @Kanticoy and I. The Wixom's have proven very handy, and in my opinion are a great looking set of hard bags, but in the event of a tip over (which is "when" scenario, not "if" when riding on dirt) the fiberglass Wixom's would be destroyed. I purchased a set of "factory used" pannier racks from rocky mountain atv. They are built for a Husqvarna 701, but will be cut up and modified to fit the airhead. These are nice because they have the correct gate pin to attach the Tusk Brackets that came with the boxes from Kiley.
Along with luggage work, I fabricated up this rear rack that will mount right behind the solo seat, as I never ride with a passenger anyhow. I still have to finish up the mounts, but I will wait until I finish the pannier racks.
I also fit up the ZRX shocks, and while they fit, I'm afraid that it lifts the rear end a bit to much and may cause pre mature universal joint wear. I may try them out, but will likely be throwing the stock konis back on. If I save up enough, I may eventually spring for some custom built shocks to match the riding style, my weight etc.
I pulled the trigger on a pair of 4 piston calipers from a s1000rr. I now have a complete spare right side caliper and rotor set that I should be able to sell for enough to offset a big chunk of this cost.
I also ordered a custom brake line from Speigler in Dayton. It should be in my hands by Wednesday. Along with a fresh cable in my possession, this will finalize the parts needed for this upgrade.
I also decided to go with a set of shinko 705 tires. They aren't the most aggressive off-road tread, but I've had good experiences with them on mild off-road on the dr650, and the price is right at just north of $120 for the spare shipped to my door. I'm running a 110/80-19 on the front and a 120/80-18 on the back. It clears the front fender mount, but literally by a hair. I will be fabricating a front brace that mounts outside of the fender on a future post.
I've begun to work out mounting the Tusk Panniers that were traded for between @Kanticoy and I. The Wixom's have proven very handy, and in my opinion are a great looking set of hard bags, but in the event of a tip over (which is "when" scenario, not "if" when riding on dirt) the fiberglass Wixom's would be destroyed. I purchased a set of "factory used" pannier racks from rocky mountain atv. They are built for a Husqvarna 701, but will be cut up and modified to fit the airhead. These are nice because they have the correct gate pin to attach the Tusk Brackets that came with the boxes from Kiley.
Along with luggage work, I fabricated up this rear rack that will mount right behind the solo seat, as I never ride with a passenger anyhow. I still have to finish up the mounts, but I will wait until I finish the pannier racks.
I also fit up the ZRX shocks, and while they fit, I'm afraid that it lifts the rear end a bit to much and may cause pre mature universal joint wear. I may try them out, but will likely be throwing the stock konis back on. If I save up enough, I may eventually spring for some custom built shocks to match the riding style, my weight etc.
There are a few engine raising kits on the market that racers use to gain cornering clearance, and some people use to raise the engine on lowered bikes to gain oil pan clearance. One is made by Race-Line. The Race-Line kit raises the engine 3 cm and tilts the engine back to sort out the angle of the drive shaft. It's a pricey kit at $350, but with your skills it's something you could easily copy for pennies on the dollar. I am doing the same thing on mine to accommodate the lift.
Those are really neat, and I had looked into that, and even thought about just welding new mounts into my spare frame etc. My biggest hold up on that is the whole "where to draw the line" on this thing. I am pretty stuck on not disassembling a complete running and riding bike to that level. Many people can, but I know myself well enough to know that it will end up in piles and back burnered when I lose ambition. Those mounts will in turn cause a need for exhaust modification etc.
Maybe I end up doing a second more full on custom with it later on, I just cant bring myself to it right now. Reading this article multiple times has really brought my thoughts of "what I need" back into reality. This guy and his wife lightly modded a couple R90/6's and rode baja on them. I will likely not encounter anything that gnarly on the the treks that I plan to take it down. I kind of want to take it down hurricane creek road someday, but I think if the river is low enough, that's not to much to ask. Last time we were there, we met a newer Triumph Scrambler headed the other way. I think if its fairly dry this will be able to do it.
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/airhead-adventure-exploring-baja-on-45-year-old-bmws
Maybe I end up doing a second more full on custom with it later on, I just cant bring myself to it right now. Reading this article multiple times has really brought my thoughts of "what I need" back into reality. This guy and his wife lightly modded a couple R90/6's and rode baja on them. I will likely not encounter anything that gnarly on the the treks that I plan to take it down. I kind of want to take it down hurricane creek road someday, but I think if the river is low enough, that's not to much to ask. Last time we were there, we met a newer Triumph Scrambler headed the other way. I think if its fairly dry this will be able to do it.
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/airhead-adventure-exploring-baja-on-45-year-old-bmws
Not sure how adding two brackets is changing anything. Remove the brackets when you want to go back to stock, if that’s what you’re holding on to. It’s a $20 mod with your resources, assuming you actually have to buy your own aluminum and not take some out of a scrap bin. You don’t need to pull the engine to do it. Block and jack only. It’s also getting your oil pan out of harms way. You’re putting more effort into the shocks and a skid plate.
It's not just the brackets alone slowing me down, it's more that it adds more projects than just that in and of itself. The factory exhaust no longer works, and I've also read (granted some conflicting info) that with that kit, you now have to drop the engine back down to get the oil filter out as it puts it right in line with the frame. Also, there is some concern with the fact that pulling the engine forward will end up with less forward spline engagement resulting in excessive spline wear.
I'm not completely against it, and its something that I may still mull out in my mind, but I'm just not sure that it'll make enough difference in the end. Either way I would still make a skid plate more for rock deflection than anything.
Actually, what all this talk is making me want to do is just buy another Airhead to really cut into lol I need that like a hole in the head...
I'm not completely against it, and its something that I may still mull out in my mind, but I'm just not sure that it'll make enough difference in the end. Either way I would still make a skid plate more for rock deflection than anything.
Actually, what all this talk is making me want to do is just buy another Airhead to really cut into lol I need that like a hole in the head...
