BMW R90/6.. TAT G/S Tribute
- Thread starter Hurco550
- Start date
pidjones
Over 1,000 Posts
Sounds like a worth-while trip. Sorry I missed you. Was feeling less than my best (almost decided not to make the trip) but perked up a little while there. Not only lower flow of people, but less to see. I'd also have really appreciated a printed full fan guide and race program. Digital on the phone just didn't cut it, and I had to search quite a bit to find a friend's race info. Lower swap meet seemed thin, also. Did you check out the auction bikes? Nothing that made me wish that I'd brough a trailer. Didn't stay for the sale but feared they would sell for stupid money.
Pid, I completely understand. I am bummed I missed ya but more so that you were feeling ill during one of the best events in the country. It did seem like everything was a bit on the light side. I only made one loop through the lower and didn't feel a need to do a second. I did not check out the auction, as no version of my current reality would've netted me the ability to come home with one of the bikes. (I also purposefully didn't bring a trailer, and my truck has a cap on it, saving me the ability to haul big bikes).
I did demo ride a new Yamaha Tenere' T7, which may have been a mistake financially...
We'll catch up on the next one. I'm sure our paths are destined to cross eventually.
I did demo ride a new Yamaha Tenere' T7, which may have been a mistake financially...
We'll catch up on the next one. I'm sure our paths are destined to cross eventually.
DANG!!!! I spent last Saturday night at a motel at the Rocky Top exit!
pidjones
Over 1,000 Posts
Ewwwh. Not many there that I would care to stay at. Rocky Top (rename your town Rocky Top and we'll build a big water/amusement park there - suckers!) does have a pretty good BBQ place - Coal Creek. Norris exit has better quality lodging by far.
I just went through this thread again to gain some "education on all things Airhead" and came across the strangely prophetic comment from way back on Page 1 of this thread. Now that the Rockster is gone I've just gotta have something to do and another project. IF you and I check the thing out and it's good and IF I can get the guy to an agreeable price I am starting to excitedly visualize starting with this:
And going to a single seat along with a similar rack like yours:
Along w/ the S style fairing and panniers that come with it and I think I'd have a pretty good old steed to wheel around.
Back to tinkering with the old girl again. For years, this thing has always been my "put fresh gas in it and jump the battery" and go bike every spring. It hadn't gotten nearly the miles put on it the last few seasons since getting the bobber going and having the f800gs in the stable though. Life changes brought me back to it though, as the f800gs got sold. The old airhead is headed back into the main daily rider spot in the stable, and it needs a bit of love again. The carbs got pulled for a once over, as on the last ride a month or so ago it was coughing and barely made it back home (a first in the last 7 or so years of ownership, logging 20k miles or so). Upon inspection, I found some very hard rubber insulators and when ahead and ordered all new intake connections and elbows to make sure everything seals up again.
I also went ahead and made up a couple of enricher pulls to get rid of the stock setup. I didn't want to spend the money for the kits, about $65, so a few minutes on the lathe and a couple scraps of s.s. tig filler wire, and we've got a simpler setup and two less cables running to the carbs.
Along with the intake order, I went ahead and picked up the "updated" reed type crank breather to get rid of the old disc "cluck". There was a good amount of oil making its way to the carb from the old one and I'm hoping this will help alleviate some of that.
Also, realized I never posted the picture of rolling the old girl over 100k miles last year. To me, it speaks volumes of the quality of the build of these machines.
I also went ahead and made up a couple of enricher pulls to get rid of the stock setup. I didn't want to spend the money for the kits, about $65, so a few minutes on the lathe and a couple scraps of s.s. tig filler wire, and we've got a simpler setup and two less cables running to the carbs.
Along with the intake order, I went ahead and picked up the "updated" reed type crank breather to get rid of the old disc "cluck". There was a good amount of oil making its way to the carb from the old one and I'm hoping this will help alleviate some of that.
Also, realized I never posted the picture of rolling the old girl over 100k miles last year. To me, it speaks volumes of the quality of the build of these machines.
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slick solution on the choke, i thought about going with something similar on the guzzi. love this bike.
Rider52
Over 1,000 Posts
Many, many years ago I met an old man in Daytona who was a member of the BMW Owners Million Mile Club. All of the miles on the same motorcycle. The engine/trans/rear drive had been rebuilt several times but never replaced. https://www.bmwmoa.org/page/mileageawards
It is funny, to some 100k miles is impressive and to others of the BMW crowd, that is but the 1st "baby step" in the high mileage club. I'll take it though. Not alot of bikes from the mid 70's would be likely to have this much life left in them at 100k. Heck pleny of cars from the mid 70's would be clapped out as well.
Funny enough this thing is still on stock bores and has ample compression, as well as O.G. internals from what I can tell. The maintenance was all well recorded with a stack of receipts from RePsycle in Lithopolis with records up to the time that I got it. No major engine work was recorded, but only regular maintenance.
Back to tinkering on the airhead. Whittled a factory r90/6 bottom triple into a top triple. Mounted a set of euro bend /2 bars to them with modified factory bar mounts. This should stiffen up the front end a good bit over the factory stamped steel top, as well as looking way better. This will run in conjunction with a Telefix fork brace and a fresh set of progressive springs.
During my last ride at the end of the fall, the wiring harness turned british and let all the magic smoke out. Im guessing it was either a short that sent all the starter juice through the small charge wire, or a bad regulator.
Either way, this kit from Euro MotoElectrics is on its way..
Its pretty much a complete charging and ignition upgrade, with a 450 watt lithium battery safe alternator, electronic ignition, r/r that replaces factory diode board and upgraded starter and coils. My order will be a bit different, as im using dual lead coils which will work with these dual plugged and ported r90s heads that I picked up recently.
The heads are at the machine shop as we speak getting fresh valves, valve guides and seats re ground.
The long game will be to turn this into a custom at some point. I am using a spare r90/6 frame to mock that stuff up while i keep upgrading and riding this one. It may be some years before it runs and rides in this form.
Kinda a random ADHD attempt at an update, but will make some more detailed posts as the progress continues.
During my last ride at the end of the fall, the wiring harness turned british and let all the magic smoke out. Im guessing it was either a short that sent all the starter juice through the small charge wire, or a bad regulator.
Either way, this kit from Euro MotoElectrics is on its way..
Its pretty much a complete charging and ignition upgrade, with a 450 watt lithium battery safe alternator, electronic ignition, r/r that replaces factory diode board and upgraded starter and coils. My order will be a bit different, as im using dual lead coils which will work with these dual plugged and ported r90s heads that I picked up recently.
The heads are at the machine shop as we speak getting fresh valves, valve guides and seats re ground.
The long game will be to turn this into a custom at some point. I am using a spare r90/6 frame to mock that stuff up while i keep upgrading and riding this one. It may be some years before it runs and rides in this form.
Kinda a random ADHD attempt at an update, but will make some more detailed posts as the progress continues.
Heck yeah.
Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
Depends on the bike I have over 200K miles on my 79 GL1000 and adding more every season. Nice work Levi.
This whole bottom triple turned top has proven to be a bit more of a project than I had originally thought it would be. Just lots of fiddly stuff to make them work with the top of the forks etc. The first set of bars that i picked up were very pretty, but too narrow and low for comfort.
I found what I believe to be a set of "sidecar bend magura" or another copy of them in 22mm. I think they may have come from @ridesolo possibly? Either way, they may not look as svelt as the /2 bars, but I think they will be much more real world comfy and usable. Pictured in the middle here are the bars I'm using, top are the ones I removed and bottom are the /2 euro bars that didnt work out.
To fit these bars and keep the ability to service fork oil without disassembling half of the front end, I had to modify the stock risers. I epoxied 2 pieces of aluminum to the bottom of the stockers, then sanded, shaped and finished them. Someone looking close could tell they are multiple pieces, but im happy with them for a rider. I forgot to take more pics of the process, but you get the idea lol
Mockup with the bars: (excuse the messy shop)
I also scored a set of "opened so used" but brand new cone engineering reverse cone mufflers. I ordered a length of tubing from amazon to make a few "mid pipes" to link them to the factor headers. This should prove to shed some real lbs, along with getting a bit more rumble. I have always felt like the bike is going faster with loud pipes after all
It turns out that they are the same muffler that i put on my bobber. Funny enough the ones on my bobber.... came off of an r90/6 that was owned by @Kanticoy.
This is also a case of "credit where credit is due". Half the reason I keep coming back to this bike is due to the time that @irk miller let me ride his r100/7 thorugh an afternoon of south eastern ohio twisties. This thing is an absolute riot. I cannot count how many bikes ive ridden, but this one is easily top 3. I've been nagging him about specs of his build for the last month, but Its piecing mine together into hopefully just as fun of a machine. Heres his video of why I wanted the same pipes. Mine will just be in closer to factory position.
I found what I believe to be a set of "sidecar bend magura" or another copy of them in 22mm. I think they may have come from @ridesolo possibly? Either way, they may not look as svelt as the /2 bars, but I think they will be much more real world comfy and usable. Pictured in the middle here are the bars I'm using, top are the ones I removed and bottom are the /2 euro bars that didnt work out.
To fit these bars and keep the ability to service fork oil without disassembling half of the front end, I had to modify the stock risers. I epoxied 2 pieces of aluminum to the bottom of the stockers, then sanded, shaped and finished them. Someone looking close could tell they are multiple pieces, but im happy with them for a rider. I forgot to take more pics of the process, but you get the idea lol
Mockup with the bars: (excuse the messy shop)
I also scored a set of "opened so used" but brand new cone engineering reverse cone mufflers. I ordered a length of tubing from amazon to make a few "mid pipes" to link them to the factor headers. This should prove to shed some real lbs, along with getting a bit more rumble. I have always felt like the bike is going faster with loud pipes after all
It turns out that they are the same muffler that i put on my bobber. Funny enough the ones on my bobber.... came off of an r90/6 that was owned by @Kanticoy.This is also a case of "credit where credit is due". Half the reason I keep coming back to this bike is due to the time that @irk miller let me ride his r100/7 thorugh an afternoon of south eastern ohio twisties. This thing is an absolute riot. I cannot count how many bikes ive ridden, but this one is easily top 3. I've been nagging him about specs of his build for the last month, but Its piecing mine together into hopefully just as fun of a machine. Heres his video of why I wanted the same pipes. Mine will just be in closer to factory position.
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Great work as always, doing the old airhead proud. Ready for the next 100k
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