Winter bike project time is coming up !

[nhmaf]

It's that time of year again, it seems.   Snowflakes coming down on the lawn this morning, the end of another riding season is more or less here.  It was a good one for me, though.  Got the R65LS back on the road and running fairly well, and rode out to West Bend, WI (on my Kawasaki) with my cousin for the BMWMOA rally and met lots of fun and interesting folks - a couple highlights of the year.   So, now it is time to get some work done in the garage - the key thing is to NOT have ALL motorcycles taken apart/unavailable at the same time in case we get a rare warm day to take a ride.

I was planning to get an 80's vintage R100 and start work on a sidecar project, but business expenses have risen significantly and I feel that I need to keep a little extra $$ on hand, 'just in case'.   Just last week my insurance company changed the payment terms on my business policy for no reason at all, so that I now had to pay for a full year up front for my liability coverage - that was an unexpected extra $2500 for the month, ouch.    So, I'll have to be content with smaller projects on the bikes, like maintenance: valves, fluids, carb cleaning, coolant flush, etc.  I'm also taking this opportunity to replace the OEM coil on the R65 (which hasn't cracked yet, but...) with a new Dyna Brown coil from Motorrad Elektrik, and treating both bikes to their own Battery Tender Jrs.  No more fighting over whose battery goes dead first !

So, what winter-time projects are you all planning to do to while away the cold, dark winter days fast approaching ??

(Our friends down south are probably just getting into the best part of their riding season.  Grumble grumble...)

[Bob_Roller]

When I moved to Phoenix 14 years ago, it felt odd to be riding at Christmas and New years, when the bike should have been put away !

If you have a garage or work shop attached to the house, it makes it a lot more comfortable to perform your work.

When I lived in Chicago, I had a detached garage, so if the component you were working on couldn't be brought into the basement to work on, it wasn't what you would call a good working environment for most of the winter.

It's kind of the opposite here in Phoenix, you forget about working on the bike in the summer, until the end of October, and the temps finally drop out of the 100's .

Looks like today is going to be the first time in a few weeks, that the temperature isn't going to get into the 90's.

The best part of the riding season is just starting here in the northern Sonoran desert, but you have to watch  where you ride, as the temps can drop dramatically with elevation increase.

[Ed Miller]

I figure to rebuild the Triumph's front forks.  I also seem to be hearing a knocking sound on it; at first I was afraid it was the connecting rods, but it sounds more like it's coming from the rocker boxes.  I need to figure out what can wear out up there in 90,000 miles.

I just ride the R65 all winter, unless we get snow or excessive ice.  

[Justin B.]

My favorite time of year.  61 degrees this morning for the ride into work and around 80 when I left for home...  Optimal RT weather! :-)

I don't plan on doing anything to my daily riders this winter but I really need to get 'round to putting the new clutch in the "garage ornament" and maybe re-ring the LS...

[MrRiden]

It's prime ride time here in the desert southwest! Also finally cool 'nuff to putter in the garage. I'll be finishing up an old Triumph motor, if I ever figure the cam timing out. Then scouring the desert for some type of BMW project. I've been infected with a desire to build a cafe custom after seeing the fine bikes that some have completed and shown here this past year.

[guitardad]

My R65 was intended to be the winter project.  Little did I know it would also be an excuse for collecting tools!  The frame has just enough rust to make this decision time - either get it blasted and fixed, or accept that the bike has a limited number of years left.

Right now all that's left in the frame is the engine case and transmission.  I should get the frame to the powder-coater in another couple of weeks.  The holdup will be getting the driveshaft out of the swingarm.  Do I order the tool from Ed Korn, or take it down to Bob's and just let them do it?

[Bob_Roller]

The quickest would be to take it to Bob's, it's only about 10 minutes of work to get the driveshaft disassembled.

Compress the drive shaft, remove the circlip, and then let the tension off of the drive shaft, and you're done.

[mikeyd3]

Hey Guitardad, Im in MD too. Ive had to bring my R65 to Bobs twice. Mixed feelings. Do what ya gotta do though. Im employing my Haynes manual alot more now. Mike

[Ritter1066]

Guitardad, I would be sorely tempted to let Bob's do it...though a lot of shops are less than pleased to take on an older bike.  they just take longer to fix.  I have been putting off replacing a leaking oil seal because I know that the exhaust system will crumble at the first touch of a wrench.  Bob's beckons, but I hate to have the bike towed in from Bethesda...decisions, decisions!
Ed out.