Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dirk_S on March 27, 2023, 07:27:18 AM
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Funny—my first two motorcycles were late 70s blue bikes. Now I’m back to it with this’n. Bought it cheap enough, but this pup will need a thorough barn find-style deep clean & makeover.
(https://i.ibb.co/vBBHxKX/01-E327-C5-3847-4-A4-D-9454-9-A6956426-E2-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vBBHxKX)
(https://i.ibb.co/tK1TKhw/C1-AAABA5-37-F1-4-C1-D-8666-6774-CCB96-BB0.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tK1TKhw)
Hmm. While the initial idea obviously was to replace the Goose as my only/everyday bike, I found that doofy idea creeping back—do I really need a car? I went through a full winter driving my car maybe 3 times. And only once did I “need” to, when a friend and I went snowshoeing in the Whites. Hmm, indeed. I’ll refrain from word-vomiting that indecisive internal monologue this time around.
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I’ve had a half dozen airheads, and while not the most exciting mounts, they can be fun mile munchers. They are also relatively easy and simple to wrench on.
That one looks to be in pretty good, restorable condition. Would this have the cable operated, front brake master cylinder, under the tank?
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Would this have the cable operated, front brake master cylinder, under the tank?
Correct. Once I hopefully get the brakes working, I’ll have to see how well that ATE works with my Sputnik sidecar. From what I read about them, I might be considering a Brembo conversion.
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I HATED that cable operated MC.... otherwise, cool ride.
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You're starting to like wrenching, huh.
It can be really satisfying.
You will enjoy the BMW
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Nice find! :grin:
-Stretch
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Pretty much anything you want to know about BMW Airheads is here:
https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm
Sometimes a bit verbose but worth the effort.
Vech is gone for parts but Max BMW has pretty much filled the gap.
(https://i.ibb.co/whz4VRY/IMG-1143.jpg) (https://ibb.co/whz4VRY)
...was mine until I discovered Moto Guzzi.
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I had a riding buddy many years ago who had the exact same model. Nothing exciting but an excellent workhorse.
kk
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We had a couple...
My first was a baby poop colored R80/7 - not this exact one, but its exact twin. I have very few photos and they're all old school meaning prints in a box somewhere. I saw this one at a monthly gathering many years back and thought I'd stumbled upon my old bike:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AMWts8A3t7mWyCj_7d5DfUPeInuEsqRowEgaV9gwb8XU_7xPCUDHtT8z4HTyR3ZoxVEoxoHmnInO9TEkyn5f2GX_zumWTaBgFcKaPZu49V34zk8R-ksNWBCjO47ctgb55rci5LpHX9GRMYCjbKJ4Rpu9Cj3v8w=w868-h631-s-no?authuser=0)
Jenn's first bike was a former one owner R65 that was a pretty fun:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AMWts8Bg57jYUhIDeKPWlafKGzu2wvP80GtI3Q_bUHNLW9SCxbA9B98y_LnmFa1IHC25ybI-JFBcdAz0BeybR397F1y0l4t2xG2jpQInWISKekgHQAWJ1HY-bPr0DoD4D4c_hhm3dQ4fdhLw9VYBgO4pG9F9RQ=w1024-h768-s-no?authuser=0)
I sometimes miss both, but I don't miss having a genuinely old bike.
The irony of course in looking at what you're doing goes back to my original reason that I started riding Guzzi smallblocks. I passed on the one opportunity to buy a NEW Airhead in my life, and the Guzzi smallblock represents what I think the Airhead COULD have become if BMW had just stayed with it and modernized it instead of abandoning the platform for the Oilhead. But the Guzzi has the added benefit of a more interesting motor.
So a little over a decade ago I ordered the first new 2013 Stone from FBF and waited patiently for it to arrive. I remain quite happy with it today. So I'll stick with my smallblocks.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AMWts8Dx99pleTFRdsJ6lFSINJcwzXbRyqIIDTPENakDHGsknzN_uJUKsvlbe73w3OGT-PeeiOVhPTvVGp13gM0qbyxHXQYYg2WSffGQ3OJtKT1mXZfedlAdXMDQ7C2_c6P3S3jbHSz9mDXuVBImjsPKJmwNDg=w1178-h903-s-no?authuser=0)
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I HATED that cable operated MC.... otherwise, cool ride.
Yeah, but Kev, that was a highly sophisticated piece of Teutonic engineering...until it wasn’t. :grin:
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Yup, let's add cable actuation to an hydraulic braking system. What could go wrong there?
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Yeah, but Kev, that was a highly sophisticated piece of Teutonic engineering...until it wasn’t. :grin:
:laugh: :thumb:
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Dirk_S - Good for you and CONGRATS! :thumb: Yes, it obviously needs a little TLC, but than can be accomplished easily... :wink:
Having owned and ridden five (5) airhead Beemers in my time, my experience has been they are good touring / road bikes overall, and for all the reasons you mentioned.
Good luck with the revival... :bow: :smiley:
(https://i.ibb.co/3zzNtBg/Screen-Shot-2023-03-27-at-9-17-40-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/3zzNtBg)
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Nice part of the deal is you can pull the transmission without crabbing the frame.
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Nice part of the deal is you can pull the transmission without crabbing the frame.
One of the top 5 reasons I got it ;)
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One of the top 5 reasons I got it ;)
Is that something you plan on doing often?!? :weiner:
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If I expect it, then it won’t come to me as a surprise, I guess.
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(https://i.ibb.co/CVKfKkc/IMG-4009.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CVKfKkc)
Cycle Works will sell you the tool for the finned header nuts in a portable format.
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My R69 was my favorite ride since 1978. I bought the r75/5 hoping it would have enough charm so I wouldn't put as many miles on the R69.
It was the V7iii that actually filled the void, enough to consider selling the R69, but still cannot part with it.
Yes removing the tranny on those early bmw is easy. Replaced the r75 tranny when it locked up in 2nd gear. The R69 popped the rivets on the clutch plate and it was a pleasure to tilt the engine/transmission and slide the tranny out of the frame. You can center the shaft just by leaving the tranny bolts loose and run the engine.
And use a ton of never seize on header nuts.
don
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I had a r100rt and a R75/6. The rt was a neat touring bike that sucked the gas down but would run 80 with ease down the Texas highways. I never really bonded with it. The r75 was a fun bike that I miss at times but the guzzi was really what I was looking for. It combined everything in seemed to like in both bikes with a little Italian flair. The r75 was my fav out of the two. So m sure you’ll get along with the r80 well, nice find.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Wgnxm7t/0/L/i-Wgnxm7t-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Hdsx4WJ/0/L/i-Hdsx4WJ-L.jpg)
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RT100 was a nice spring/fall touring bike. Could never get it cool enough behind the fairing in the summer.
But it was a bit cooler on the legs than the K100RS in traffic with the radiator fan running.
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Is that something you plan on doing often?!? :weiner:
:grin: :grin:
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Nice score Dirk. Everyone should have at least one airhead in the garage. I have a ‘71 75/5 that keeps getting pushed down the maintenance list by the Italians.
(https://i.ibb.co/vHXDbL5/C3-AF0-C5-C-E854-42-D2-9-F3-C-F49131019-D75.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vHXDbL5)
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As an aside; If you buy the header wrench and find that a reasonable amount of force does not loosen the header nut then cut it off. Slit the nut between the fins with a Dremel and spread it to remove it from the head spigot. OFTEN trying too hard tears the threads off the aluminum spigot. The spigot can be welded and re-threaded but it is far cheaper to buy new nuts than have to replace the nuts and repair the spigots.
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Nice score Dirk. Everyone should have at least one airhead in the garage. I have a ‘71 75/5 that keeps getting pushed down the maintenance list by the Italians.
(https://i.ibb.co/vHXDbL5/C3-AF0-C5-C-E854-42-D2-9-F3-C-F49131019-D75.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vHXDbL5)
I had one of the very first 1970 R75/5's, the very first one in Denver. It looked exactly like that one. It was a very good bike, I had it until just under 100,000 miles. Beta testing failures were carbs at new with slides sticking, replaced with new carbs. Stator went out fairly early, later ones were epoxied. Transmission input bearing failed around 50,000 miles. The specified oil was too heavy for very cold temps in the winter which is what I believed caused the failure. The cage holding the balls in place broke in Ohio. I was still able to make it to Denver.
kk
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Really appreciate all the tips and suggestions so far. I’m aware of at least some of them, but the repeated thoughts will help engrain this stuff in my head as I work to get this 45 year-old bike back into shape.
Hoping to get all the fluids replaced and battery installed this weekend.
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Really appreciate all the tips and suggestions so far. I’m aware of at least some of them, but it the repeated thoughts will help engrain the stuff in my head as I work to get this 45 year-old bike back into shape.
Hoping to get all the fluids replaced and battery installed this weekend.
Do a compression check.
Check rocker clearance.
Watch for exhaust valve recession.
Check for crud in the tank as the CV carbs are sensitive to dirt.
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Do a compression check.
Check rocker clearance.
Watch for exhaust valve recession.
Check for crud in the tank as the CV carbs are sensitive to dirt.
I will add, rebuild the carbs. All parts are reasonable, and they are dead simple. Even if you get confused, there are several online tutorial videos.
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Ron, your rite on cutting the header nuts off— I found the r80 to be the smoothest of the airheads but I’ll take a sp2 anytime..
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Ron, your rite on cutting the header nuts off— I found the r80 to be the smoothest of the airheads but I’ll take a sp2 anytime..
BMW satisfied my mind. Moto Guzzi sang to my heart.
That's why I had no problems sending perfectly reliable BMWs to other homes.
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Nice part of the deal is you can pull the transmission without crabbing the frame.
Cribbing is using stacked dunnage to support a structure. Crabbing is a form of fishing.
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Cribbing is using stacked dunnage to support a structure. Crabbing is a form of fishing.
Never cribbed (sp?) or crabbed. I support the engine in a copy of the MG engine stand and lift the bike off the top with two hoists over the machine. I can precision lower the bike on the engine at reassembly.
I tried crabbing and did not feel confident in the procedure or the shaky result.
I probably did it wrong.
I'd probably try it if I had an on the road failure.
But not in my shop.
I think everyone here calls it "crabbing" the frame?
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From wordreference.com:
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
crab /kræb/ n
...
a mechanical lifting device, esp the travelling hoist of a gantry crane
This seems to be the meaning for "crabbing the frame." By contrast, the engine, left on the floor, supported by something, is cribbed.
Proper usage is everything on WildGuzzi.
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Close but "No Cigar".
(https://i.ibb.co/H2fP8Ch/1456418706341533922015.jpg) (https://ibb.co/H2fP8Ch)
This is "cribbing". I do not do that when I lift the bike off the engine.
(https://i.ibb.co/fnWKYH7/18912450.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fnWKYH7)
This is "cradling". It is how I support the engine when I lift the bike off the engine.
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This weekend I installed the new battery. I heard those stock batteries require a heaping amount of snot and force to get them out, but jeez. I was yanking and pulling and trying to find any which angle I could. Finally got her out after removing the subframe bolts. I wonder if that battery might’ve actually been slightly off from the stock size.
Also changed the fluid—driveshaft was nearly dry. Final drive was dark. Transmission was darker, and the engine oil was…water, for about half a liter. Pulled the spark plugs and peered inside with a flashlight—saw *some* spots of surface rust; didn’t look terrible, but I’m not sure what actually amounts to “terrible”. Squirted some WD40 into the holes and closed them back up.
Removed the airbox to reveal what we all might have expected, but nonetheless, it was a first for any of my previously owned 70s bikes:
(https://i.ibb.co/vXRcz0g/B7352026-46-B9-47-BF-80-D0-418959-DE2-D56.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vXRcz0g)
(https://i.ibb.co/y41Fy72/894-D137-A-297-D-4512-B249-219-FB165700-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/y41Fy72)
Little stinkers had nearly the whole intake packed with insulation, cotton, and acorns. I imagine this is quite common on forgotten airheads. Thankfully the filter hadn’t been chewed through, so it didn’t appear that anything got down into the carbs. Good thing the seller gave me the wrong key, because I might’ve tried to start the bike up with all that junk stashed inside.
Next on the to-do list: drain that gas and drop those bowls. So far, it feels fun going back to an old, carbureted bike after 8 years of fuel injection. Any wagers how long that fun lasts?
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I think most every older bike I’ve gotten has had some level of nesting, but that one takes the cake. Those fabric covered lines will probably leak badly and should be replaced. Green scotch-brite pads and WD-40, or better yet AC-50, will quickly bring the aluminum cases into nice shape. Usually, if you remove the 10mm bolts on the back sides. of the battery box, it will pivot to the rear and you can barely slide the battery out the top.
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Mouse nests in airhead air filters are quite common.
Legend has it that for airheads - particularly /5 airheads - a
battery was suspended in mid-air and the motorbike was built around it.
If you get a battery of SLIGHTLY different dimensions to the original Mareg,
it can be an absolute pig to install/remove. Battery maintenance with lead acid batteries
on these bikes is sometimes neglected as a result........
It really doesn't sound too awfully bad so far, Dirk. Of course, it's early days yet and you
haven't fired it up. But still - things look encouraging! :grin: :thumb:
-Stretch