Motorcycle - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PC Dave · #31 10-25-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

Yes. It rides on the seat, and steers the bike.

Mike

That's the windbag; different part number.

t walgamuth · #32 10-25-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

I always liked the aircooled BMW's of the 70's.
But I did wonder about the heat on the shins after a couple of hours in the saddle.

I don't think an old Sporty is what I'd recommend as a bike to be driven regularly. A late model Evo Sporty, maybe, depending ... Newer rubber mounted , yes. That's a nice bike.

But if it's to be part of a "collection" and rarely driven, heck anything that will go up in value will fit the bill.

I have a 1975 Kwasaki Z1B I'm looking to sell and expect to turn a profit on it for the 3 years I've owned it.

The OP never mentioned experience or intended use, so further input would help.

the only time i remember any problem with the heat off the cylinders was when i rested my feet on them once and burned my boots on the exhaust pipes.

i always liked the purity of the design with the cylinders out there in the cool air with the pipes coming off the front and curling down. solid disc clutch and beefy tranny and rear end.

tom w

engatwork · #33 10-25-2006, 07:33 PM

I purchased a BMW R100RT brand new in 1988 when I lived in Savannah, Ga. By far one of the best motorcycles I have ever owned. I wish I had kept it. Anyway, I like the Harley Road King ALOT now.

I have attached a similar link from about a year ago.

motorcycle link

The thread has a pic of me on my first Harley, a 1979 Low Rider. It was the first thing I purchased after I got out of college. The 01 Road King is a big improvement over the Low Rider but neither of them are as comfortable as the BMW was.

t walgamuth · #34 10-25-2006, 09:09 PM

i saw a new boxer the other day. i think he said it was 1300cc. it was beautiful. it has this flowing body work faired in with integrated saddle bags. very similar to a set i designed back in 78 but never built. (for my bike) i went as far as buying a 1/8 scale model and building a plywood replica and constructing my design on one side in clay.

my old bike weighed 376 pounds. the new 1300 weighed less than 500. lightness costs a lot of $$.

lovely bike.

i am tempted every so often to buy a bike but then i think of how long it would take to heal at my age and start thinking of interesting cars again.

tom w

Jim B. · #35 10-25-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbannister

Is it true the new Goldwings are coming with an airbag option

I think I read that somewhere.

I heard that the 'Wing comes with airconditioning, stereo and cruise control as well, if that's your thing.

In Robert Pirsig's 1976 book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
he remarks that the BMW bike of that time are among the most reliable of the machines then around. Perfect for the non DIY types who enjoy riding but don't dare want to work on their own machine

There was a goodriff where he describes fashioning a shim for loose handlebars from a beer canm, but doesn't dare tell the BMW riders about it, because they'd be horrified it wasn't original BMW parts. "Tell them it's especially from Baron von Krupp's personal shim stock, the best original Bavarian stuff, the real thing!"

t walgamuth · #36 10-25-2006, 10:57 PM

when my beemer slid out from under me on some solvent that was on the asphalt and was slippery but not shiny, i broke the key thingie on the headlight pod. the parts were very very expensive so i wired up a big toggle switch under the edge of the seat to take the place of the key. and to avoid buying a new fender i fiberglassed it on the backside to mend the crack.

oh my no, i would never put any non beemer parts on mine!

if i had one now it would get the factory parts probably.

but back then i had no money.

tom w

vwbuge · #37 10-27-2006, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

BMW= Bring My Wallet

Parts are dealer only items, and are very expensive. The low resale value of post 1974 models doesn't help much. They require special tools to work on also. My dad had to buy a new $400.00 caliper because BMW does not supply a rebuild kit.

OTOH, a Harley Sportster will keep it's value much better, and you can buy a nice used one for around 4k. Parts are inexpensive and you don't need very many special tools. I can still buy caliper pistons for my 1986 Sporster, from the dealer for around thirty dollars. A simple chain drives the rear wheel, the engine is bullet proof. No fickle carbs to synchronize, no radiator to service.

So you have a Sporty with fuel injection and chain drive?

catmandoo62 · #38 10-27-2006, 08:38 AM

he said carb(s) as harleys only have the one.

kbannister · #39 10-27-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWJ

Oh, the bike would be for fun around town riding. No long trips. I don't want a speed demon or an overly loud huge engine. It doesn't need to be a show piece but I'd like it to be clean. Fun and interesting are the optimal words.

Any opinions of the CJ750?

Its a chinese/russian reproduction of BMW's WWII era motorcycle. It can come with a side car.

You really want to stick to British, Jap, or USA. It will be a nightmare finding parts for the other ones. There are a couple of other USA makes to look at. Excelsior Henderson (now out of business) made a great bike. Victory is another one, made by Polaris, and of course Indian. All lot less money than the Harleys out there. If you REALLY want to get into a project, and I did this, there are two or three companies that make the "bike in a box" kits. A lot of fun building them, customize them anyway you want. I can give you the names of the companies if you want.

For me, although my wife totally disagrees, she says its the MB or nothing,

there is nothing better than hopping on the bike on a nice warm evening and cruise around.

vwbuge · #40 10-27-2006, 10:24 AM

This is funny.....

dynalow · #41 10-27-2006, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

This is funny.....

Must have taken it on a Sunday when no one was working.

That's the Juneau Avenue World Headquarters Headquarters in Milwaukee.

Just another jealous sorehead!

Probably a visitor too. Milwaukee folks are very friendly IMO

t walgamuth · #42 10-27-2006, 03:09 PM

i think i have read that the rusky bmw clones lack quality.

tom w

#43 10-28-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

So you have a Sporty with fuel injection and chain drive?

I have a '86 Sporty with a single S&S Super E carb, that once jetted right, is bulletproof. It also has chain drive, so I can do a roadside repair, unlike belt drives that require removal of many more parts to service.

Beemers, with dual Bing carbs, need a deft touch and much love in order to keep running right. I should know, I also have a mid '60s R50/2. Right now I am thinking about doing a oil slinger service. Which is really a lower end rebuild. That's what happens when BMW makes a bike without a oil filter.

The Sporty always starts, and runs great, more than I can say for the Beemer, that only has 21 thousand documented miles.

#44 10-28-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

i think i have read that the rusky bmw clones lack quality.

tom w

They sure do, I had a model year 2000 Ural Patrol with sidecar. The welds on the frame were downright scary, not to mention the general quality of the metal and other parts used. The sidecar made for a white knuckle ride, and I sold it to a fellow who planned on going cross-country in it with his dog. At least he will have company on the side of the road.

Matt L · #45 10-28-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

I have a '86 Sporty with a single S&S Super E carb, that once jetted right, is bulletproof. It also has chain drive, so I can do a roadside repair, unlike belt drives that require removal of many more parts to service.

The belts don't need adjustment, so that's a plus. But the servicability is bad, as you say.

I had a '74 Shovel until July of last year with a Super B. Much more primitive than the E model carburator, but again, with proper jetting it was quite good.

You did have to know the procedure to start the machine though, since the B has an enricher rather than a choke, and I didn't have an electric starter. Here it is, just in case you run into one of these: Turn the idle jet out 1/4 turn. Two kicks with the throttle and enricher closed and ignition off. Two kicks with the enricher on and ignition off. One more kick with the ignition on would light it up. Then turn the enricher off, let it idle for about ten seconds and turn the idle jet back down 1/4 turn. If it failed to light up, you had to shut the ignition off and kick it through a number of times to clear the cylinders... not fun.

I also had a foot clutch on that machine. That alone prevented anyone from asking me if they could ride it.