newbie

[Boycie1150]

Point take. The fins will remain unshined. In fact, what you can see polished is about as far as I can go anyway. The rocker box covers will be brightened up, but that will be about it.

[RSMike]

Boycie,
Lovely job you are doing on your bike, gives me a target to aspire to,  .

I just collected my 80 R65 this weekend, so similar vinatge, though I have the flat top bings, so mine is probably slightly older, I checked my frame no.  at "http://bmbikes.co.uk/chassispages/enginechassis650.htm" to confirm her manufacture date as 02/80.

Can I ask about your rear tyre, mine is looking rather sad, and your new one looks the biz, What did you go for?, did your bike have tubed tires and were you able to go tubeless?

Cheers

Mike

[Boycie1150]

Can I ask about your rear tyre, mine is looking rather sad, and your new one looks the biz, What did you go for?, did your bike have tubed tires and were you able to go tubeless?

Mike, believe it or not, the rear tyre is actually the second tyre ever fitted to the bike. It was fitted probably around 1982 or thereabouts!!! The front tyre is the original, and therefore 31 years old! They are both in better condition that some tyres I have seen that are only one or two years old.

Both tyres are Metzeler ME 99 or thereabouts. I will be changing them shortly, though. Although there is plenty of tread on them, I aint about to trust them, given their age. I will probably be getting new ones from Motorworks in Huddersfield as t hey seem to be the best price and have reasonable choice. The problem that we have is that the wheel sizes are also 31 years old, and the tyre choice is a bit limited.

Going onpast experience, the bike is likely to be quite sensitive to tyre choice. I have owned two R80 airheads, a R1150 GS and a K100RTS in the past, all of which were tyre sensitive. With the airhead, I generally stuck with Metzelers and Continentals.

As far as tubed or tubeless is concerned, the rims were designed to be tubed, as far as I am aware, so I will continue to fit them. From reading this forum, I do believe there are peeps who have gone tubeless with little or no problems. I, however, am quite happy to continue with tubes.


Thanks for the compliment on the rebuild. It isn't going to be concours, it is not that clean. However, it is fundamentally in great nick, and I intend to use it every day for commuting. BMWs are designed to be ridden and that it was I will do. That said, I do like a clean bike, and I enjoy cleaning up the bits that you can't usually see, with a toothbrush, just to I know they are clean!!! As alluded to in an earlier post, I am partial to a bit of OCD when it comes to clean bikes.   I remember a very dear girlfriend of many, many years ago, cleaning up the chrome silencers on my old Suzuki 550 with a rag and Solvol. Now THAT was love!!!!

[RSMike]

Mike, believe it or not, the rear tyre is actually the second tyre ever fitted to the bike. It was fitted probably around 1982 or thereabouts!!! The front tyre is the original, and therefore 31 years old! They are both in better condition that some tyres I have seen that are only one or two years old.  

Wow that is hard to believe, they do look like new rubber, I might order from Motorworks myself, I find them pretty good also.

No chance getting my wife to clean any part of my bikes, she's been complaining since the R arrived, that she's become a "motorcycle widow",  

Mike

[Boycie1150]

Well, after a small drama, about the brakes, detailed in the technical section, I have got the engine filled up with fresh oil and filter this evening and for the first time in a lot of years, got it turning over, albeit on the starter motor. Oil pressure is good, so thats a relief.

I did want to actually get it running, but need some more fuel. So, Saturday is the day when I try to get it at least running. Once that has happened, I can start to tune it properly.

I got the tank and seat on, and it is really starting to come together.

Nearly there!!

[Boycie1150]

    ;

It's ALIVE, I tell you, Alive!!!!!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Sorry, must compose myself

The Beemer started today for the first time in several years. It needs a small bit of tuning, as th cables have been disturbed, but the carb settings are very close to spot on. It idles smoothly and well, and sounds excellent.

I inivited my wife, mother-in-law, and olderst daughter to witness it, and my wife had a tear in her eye!! My mother-in-law loves it, as it reminds her of years gone past when her late husband used to have all sorts of british bikes. She said it sounds like a motorbike should.

I am so pleased.

[RSMike]

Congratulations Boycie, great when a plan comes together, your patient and methodical work has a lot to do with it, as well as the tough durability of these bikes.
 8-)

[msbuck]

Congrats, boycie!!  Feels so good, doesn't it?  

[Boycie1150]

 Feels so good, doesn't it?

Certainly does, chap.

I am just in the process of sorting out some more funding, then the job can be (hopefully) finished in the next month or so. I will post up some more photos when it is back together.

Cheers peeps

[Boycie1150]

We're nearly there!!! today, I got a new brake light switch which I need to fit before I could rebuild the headlight carrier and fit the fairing. I have dry fitted the fairing which is a Rickman Polaris. It needs some small adjustment, but not a problem.

The best bit is that I got to ride it!!!! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]
 
Well, for about twenty yards and back again, 'cos the pavement ran out!!! Got it into second gear though!! First time it has been ridden since 1985. A momentous moment, methinks.  I now have to sort out some new bolts for the fairing fitment, and paint the other pannier, get the new tyres fitted, get the MOT test booked and passed, and we are rocking and rolling!!

I will get some photos done over the weekend of it in its finished glory. I am sooooo pleased with it, and its gonna be great to ride this.

Cheers peeps

[Boycie1150]

Tada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Its finished, people!!! [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]

After about two months of sweat, polish and skinned knuckles, I have done it!!! And I am soooooo pleased with the result. It has turned out just as I wanted. Bearing in mind, I intend to use this for commuting and general having motorcycling fun, I have not gone for an absolutely showroom finish.

The panniers were made by my Dad and I have simply resprayed them, as they were quite yellowed, and I think they look good, (in a 1980's retro way!)

The fairing was a bit of a bugger to re-fit, as it needed realigning to prevent the clocks rubbing, but we got there in the end. I need to get some different allen head bolts for the fairing lowers, but, it will do for the time being.

What do you think everyone?

Phil

[wilcom]

Compliments to your Dad.......those are fine looking cases!!!!

[Boycie1150]

Thanks you very much! Dad used to be a teacher of what was called technical studies over here, and he built a lot of fibreglass stuff. Canoes, panniers, he also ran a schools kart race team and the kids used to build the karts, incluyding welding the chassis together and various othyer stuff.

Eventually, I intent to replace the panniers with something a little larger, but for now, they will do well and I am quite happy with them.

The air horns that can been seen on one of the photos are bleeding loud!!! I made the mistake of testing them without thinking and thyey damn near made me ears bleed!!

[Bob_Roller]

You can't have a horn that's too loud in my opinion .

The more you sound like a train locomotive, the less likely you'll get run over !!!!

[nhmaf]

Good job, all around!

I bet it sounds as impressive as it looks!
 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]