My Sunday with Monte

[Bengt_Phorqs]

It was hot today but the beer was cold and the company was good.  I brought my R90/6 to Denton, aka Planet Parkside, for some skilled labor by Monte to install an S type fairing on my '75 R90/6.

[montmil]

Hey, Phorqs... Your instrument bezels are wanky crooked. No, really. Fixed that, too.

Mike is a bit of a task master. Gently encouraged me remake a couple brackets. But they did turn out to be a better idea. Got to have the R90 looking sweet for his run to the MOA Rally in Missouri.

All I have to do is finish...

[nhmaf]

I like how this opens with ".. for some skilled labor.." and the opening pic is of Monte with a hammer prepar ing to wack something in a vise!  

[aarm]

I like that you have a portland beer coaster in your collection.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I like how this opens with ".. for some skilled labor.." and the opening pic is of Monte with a hammer prepar ing to wack something in a vise!

Good eye Mike!  I wondered if someone would notice that.  Also, did you see the multiple stacks of Miller Genuine Training Beer in the background of the second photo?

[nhmaf]

Yes!

[montmil]

I like how this opens with ".. for some skilled labor.." and the opening pic is of Monte with a hammer prepar ing to wack something in a vise!

Good eye Mike! Also, did you see the multiple stacks of Miller Genuine Training Beer in the background of the second photo?

Hey, now. It's a junior-grade Dooms Day prepper kinda thing. What if the beer truck gets a flat tire? Just like the BSA motto, "Be Prepared". And what about the iced cooler full of designer beer I had for you on Sunday, Bengt?

Jeez. You'd squawk if we hung you with a new rope.  

[montmil]

OK, so here it is Wednesday already and I'm still fitting the screen to the fairing.

Beautiful fairing made by one outfit. Snazzy windscreen made by another lash-up. Both vendors will swear their product is perfect. Well...
There's been a lot of swearing going on but it's mostly been by me. [smiley=furious3.gif]

The screen has pre-drilled holes for the attach hardware. Some, but not all, are actually round holes. The fairing has small dimples indicating where to punch through the attach flange. You would think they might line up. Not really...

The trick for a good fit has been to "adjust" the bottom edge of the 0.0125" plexiglas screen to match up with the fairing's molded-in-place attach flange. A worn, 120-grit belt on the vertical sander has allowed me to sneak up on a perfect fit while closing up gaps. Sneaking up involves removing and re-attaching each of four different hardware components at all twelve screen mounting points.

Almost there. Phorqs is getting antsy. Wants to help. Bless his gimpy knee, he does provide good Shiner beer. Now that's my idea of "helping".

Will post up some snaps when Mike gives me a day off.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

That's all true enough, but honestly, the vendors both told me that everything would be copacetic!  At this point I think that the best way to help you is to keep you supplied in cold beer and that wonderful Texas delight known as the Whataburger Chophouse Cheddar Burger. 8-)

[montmil]

Here it is Saturday afternoon, one week since Bengt and his R90 showed on Planet Parksideup for the initial S-fairing trial fit...  I have been tinkering with this project everyday and have now logged about 23+ hours, so far. Unless something jumps up and bites me, I believe we're about ready to begin the prep work leading to painting and pinstriping.

The challenges generated with this project have centered around working with the lower fairing not mating properly mating with the wind screen -or vice versa, as both pieces required alterations. Each component is produced by two different manufacturers who state their product is exactly right. Well... that's not proven to be exactly right. I have begun referring to the needed rework as "manufacturing tolerances". Sounds much better than yelling 'WTF'.

Although frustrating at times, having adequate tools, materials and the experiences of working with glass fiber has simply added to the knowledge base. I shared with Mike that he will not have to apologize for nor explain the odd thing when admirers view his R90. It'll be right, Mate. The very cool Corbin cafe seat also adds a lot to the visual impact of Mike's sporting Beemer.



Attachment to the R90 is simplicity. As on the original R90S, the lower portion of the fairing is captured by the turn signal stalks while the upper portion utilizes custom steel brackets epoxy-floxed and glassed to the interior. Short OEM struts tie the fairing to the bike, as seen in Mike's earlier photos.

 

Right side of the fairing-to-screen flange was less the right and required some rework to correct the 'rolled over' edge. Left side was fine. See "manufacturing tolerances" above.



Photobucket link to all photos: http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa1/montmil/BMW%20R90%20S-fairing%20install/

[montmil]

Mike and I will meet at the Blue Hangar Cafe onboard Northwest Regional Airport for breakfast -Mike's buying- plus the regular Saturday morning bike show, then we will continue north to Planet Parkside for the final install of his completed R90S fairing.

Finally completed. But the results justify the effort and time extended. I'll be sad when Mike gets the first stone peck. Touch up paint goes home with Bengt. Hope it's not ever needed.

[Lucky_Lou]

Nice job Monte, have you given it a coat of clear lacquer.. that will help with stone chips and kamikaze critters.
Lou

[montmil]

No clear coat. Initially, Mike wanted me to work the new paint down to where it matched the patina on his '78 R90. Matching cuffs n' collars so to speak. Unsure if Bengt is still twisted in that direction or not.

[montmil]

He done rode away and nuttin' fell off. [smiley=clap.gif]

For July in Texas, it was a remarkably cool-ish morning when Mike and I met up at the Blue Hangar Cafe for a hearty breakfast. Motorcycles and airplanes all about. Afterwards, just twelve miles north brought us into the Garage Mahal of Overhaul on Planet Parkside.

With all our earlier fits n' fiddles, the final install went smoothly. Outside of popping a fuse -or three- while refitting the turn signals, no problems. Eh, Mike?



Careful, Bengt. Mind the new paint.



Careful!  Nervous? Me? Uh, maybe just a little.



Mongo does MotoGP.



First ride and he's away. A happy camper... I hope.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Yeehaw!  Made it home with nary a stone or flying insect.  Too bad the upside down H-D about a mile from my house couldn't say that.  (Looked like a brand spanking new FlipFlop Glide that didn't make the corner out of the H-D dealer.)  But Monte's craftsmanship is impecable and the paint is about a foot deep in shine.  And, Mongo being the prankster that he is, couldn't resist re-labeling the bike from a R90/6 to an R90/5.  He was going for R90S but didn't quite get there.

Thanks again Monte, great job and I'm sure I'll be shouting you beers for some time to come with pleasure! [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]