• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

Complete Restoration of BMW R75/5 into Cafe Racer

Sweet

I sent them a message asking for a quote on a shock for my 85 R80

He is a really nice guy, a one man shop, jack of all trades this Tom fellow, I can help by letting you know that I paid $525 with delivery for my set of shocks if that gives you any indication. By the way, I just love the name of his shop, Rubber Chicken Racing Garage, what's not to like about that! I mean really, having a Rubber Chicken for your mascot, it is genius.

Thanks,
Shane
 
I got a quote from another racer shock builder but it gave me heart palpitations:laugh

I am looking for more comfort than high speed handling.
Crikey if i wanted to go fast it certainly would not be on this old nail . LOL
 
Problems in Restorationville

Well we have our first major issue with the build. Josh had a feeling that the silver color of the Liquid Coating did not appear the same as the Metal Swatch that I signed off on. We are trying to match the K45-286 Silver of the Porsche as closely as possible and have the durability of this coating. Well he had a hunch and I think him being a photographer and working with shades and colors every day helped him identify the issue. So I sent the swatch that I was provided some months ago that I accepted and he has matched it up to the bike and it is not even close. So back to the Liquid Coaters all the parts will go tomorrow. It is his feeling that they did not put the clear coat on the bike as they were suppose to and we will find out if that is the issue. Below is a picture of the swatch up next to the newing coated frame and as you see, it is not going to do. Bound to happen with any restoration, issues like this, but the guys who did the coating said if it does not match the original swatch they would take care of it, all it means in some delays.

Thanks,
Shane
 

Attachments

  • IMAG0671.jpg
    IMAG0671.jpg
    41.1 KB · Views: 149
Shane,
Don't take this wrong, but I find it totally humorous that you're throwing this kind of money at a motorcycle. At the same time, I totally get it. In regards to the swatch, the damn thing looks kinda beige in your photo. It just seems a damn shame to send the bits back but hey, it's your prerogative. Yeah, I said "prerogative"...
 
Yeah

Shane,
Don't take this wrong, but I find it totally humorous that you're throwing this kind of money at a motorcycle. At the same time, I totally get it. In regards to the swatch, the damn thing looks kinda beige in your photo. It just seems a damn shame to send the bits back but hey, it's your prerogative. Yeah, I said "prerogative"...

Yeah it is just the picture, the swatch is the same or very very similar to the silver of my car, which will be the paint for the tank and fenders on the bike, Josh feels that they just did not clear coat the pieces, it is way too reflective right now, almost like when you buy spray paint that is trying to be SILVER Metal, that kind of reflective, not really going to work. We will get it figured out.

As far as throwing money at a motorcycle, my brother bought a new Harley for over $20K, I will be well under that price when it is all said and done and I will have a sister bike to my car and it is will vintage, it will be German and it will be exactly how I want it. Small price to pay if you ask me, but money really is not the object, because like the Porsche, I never expect to part with it unless I need to sell them to feed my family or something, so they will be mine for decades to come and I do not even think twice about resale value when it comes to these two projects. I can think of a million worse ways of spending a little expendable income, but then I am a romantic when it comes to these restorations, thinking about saving two vehicles and putting them back on the road is just very powerful for me and to know they will be passed down to my kids makes me smile even more. They may inherit them with dents, scratches and rock chips, but at least they will know who put the dents, scratches and rock chips there.

Thanks,
Shane
 
To get the product you want it will be worth the wait and extra time. At least it sounds like the folks doing the finishes understand what you want and are trying to deliver.

As for cost, well i know plenty of folks who have spent a lot of money on things I don't really understand , but it makes them happy and they are certainly not missing any meals over the expense.
I say you should be commended for taking on this project and keeping your goals clear as problems arise.

I think it was Jay Leno who said something to the effect;
all 100 point restorations should be used /driven or ridden all the way back to zero and then brought back again.

I'm not a fan of trailer /garage queens.
If I can't ride it , drive it , or sail it I don't want it.
 
...this kind of money...Geoff

And what else are you going to spend your money on?

As any developer will tell you, it's difficult to get men into malls....:D
 
Last edited:
Thanks

To get the product you want it will be worth the wait and extra time. At least it sounds like the folks doing the finishes understand what you want and are trying to deliver.

As for cost, well i know plenty of folks who have spent a lot of money on things I don't really understand , but it makes them happy and they are certainly not missing any meals over the expense.
I say you should be commended for taking on this project and keeping your goals clear as problems arise.

I think it was Jay Leno who said something to the effect;
all 100 point restorations should be used /driven or ridden all the way back to zero and then brought back again.

I'm not a fan of trailer /garage queens.
If I can't ride it , drive it , or sail it I don't want it.

Good morning, I had never heard that Jay Leno quote before, that is pretty spectacular. I know he has a small team of guys on staff working every day on his car projects and keeping them running and on the road. He even has a Steam Engine specialist that does nothing more than maintain and restore his steam engine cars. But Jay Leno's money is a little bit different than the rest of the worlds. As you stated if my family was going without or we were struggling, these projects would be the last thing from my mind, but we are fortunate enough right now that we are not and we only go around once. Maybe it was my Oncology Experience as a Nurse that reminds me how the game can change at a moments notice and how I saw and knew of dreams unfulfilled because fate played its terrible role sometimes. Again, I get too philosphical at times, I do understand that they are just metal, leather and rubber. Thanks for all the support,

Shane
 
Powder Coated Wheel Hubs

The wheel hubs are done in the white as requested, I really think they are going to pop!

Thanks,
Shane
 

Attachments

  • 05-17-12_1 White Powder Coat Wheel Hubs.jpg
    05-17-12_1 White Powder Coat Wheel Hubs.jpg
    59.5 KB · Views: 382
No such thing. . .

as "too philosophical," Shane. Of course, it helps that you actually have something insightful to share. You and Josh have lots of (deserved) FANS on this site, and the "numbers don't lie." You may have noticed that some (happily, only some) posters seem to want to take little digs at those of us engaged in thoughtful sharing and those having F-U-N while the lights are still on. I guess "axe grinders" are always with us, eh?

Just returned from a 2500-mile trip on my '78 Motosport, and every mile was pure joy. Somehow, there's always that little baseline frisson when riding an old machine, perhaps having to do with is this thing taking me all the way home? or will I be tinkering beside the road for a few hours . .?? Gotta love it. The Airheads hold a special place for those fortunate enough to explore the fascinating world of LuftKopfs.

GREAT looking hubs, by the way.

Walking Eagle
 
Thanks

as "too philosophical," Shane. Of course, it helps that you actually have something insightful to share. You and Josh have lots of (deserved) FANS on this site, and the "numbers don't lie." You may have noticed that some (happily, only some) posters seem to want to take little digs at those of us engaged in thoughtful sharing and those having F-U-N while the lights are still on. I guess "axe grinders" are always with us, eh?

Just returned from a 2500-mile trip on my '78 Motosport, and every mile was pure joy. Somehow, there's always that little baseline frisson when riding an old machine, perhaps having to do with is this thing taking me all the way home? or will I be tinkering beside the road for a few hours . .?? Gotta love it. The Airheads hold a special place for those fortunate enough to explore the fascinating world of LuftKopfs.

GREAT looking hubs, by the way.

Walking Eagle

Thanks Walking Eagle for you kind words as always. The experience is so much more enjoyable sharing with everyone, everyone in the know. Remember I am new, "don't know my ass from a hole in the ground" as my mother would say, but I have appreciation for these machines and hopefully everyone who wants to enjoys the process as much as I am.

Thanks,
Shane
 
Shane ; at least you sound like a mench and not some guy with money and an attitude.

Believe me there are enough of those types around and not enough like you . Willing to share your experiences and love of older things.

Class act IMHO.
 
Too Kind

Shane ; at least you sound like a mench and not some guy with money and an attitude.

Believe me there are enough of those types around and not enough like you . Willing to share your experiences and love of older things.

Class act IMHO.

Thanks for your kind words and you taught me a new word, "Mench" which is very much complimentary and I thank you for that. The biggest struggle that I have with the limited success that I have had is other peoples attitude towards me and my money, I am the same poor guy from 20 years ago in my head. I put myself through college eating Ramen Noodles 5 times a week, not because I like them, but because they were only 35 cents a packet and I could not afford anything more. I use to leave the lights on in my apartment because if I turned them off the cockroaches would come out and it would freak me out when I turned them on, I am not complaining, just sharing true experiences. But trust me, I believe others have had it much worse and have risen to much higher than I ever could.

Thanks,
Shane
 
I find it interesting since I have had the honor to work with some great folks who came from humble beginnings and through a combination of hard work, dumb luck and a lot of perspiration became successful in spite of themselves and their ( what seemed like ) best efforts to screw things up.

I have also worked with the other types who got it the old fashioned way and never appreciated what they had or how difficult life was for their predecessor/ benefactor.

I learned a lot from both types but prefer the former :thumb

Keep your head on straight and lead the way young man :thumb
 
Mounting Seat Pan to Tail Section

Josh did a terrific and detailed write-up about how he solved the issue of attaching the seat pan to the tail of the bike. Most people suggested Velcro? We were not too keen on keeping our ass on the bike by some Velcro and surely it would not have been a material used back in the day. I suppose we could use duct tape as well, ha ha, but just did not seem like a professional way of doing it, so this is what he came up with:

http://beemersandbits.com/2012/05/a...paign=Feed:+BeemersAndBits+(Beemers+and+Bits)

Have a great weekend everyone, I am so excited to see the seat attached to the pan. Check out that metal welt on the backend, exactly what we were looking for.

Thanks,
Shane
 

Attachments

  • seatAttachp10204091.jpg
    seatAttachp10204091.jpg
    47.3 KB · Views: 304
Last edited:
Figuring Stuff Out

Innovation on these projects is a major part of the fun, eh?

Duct tape woulda been a lot easier and faster, but might not have looked quite as good. Besides, when you take her out in the sun, the tape gets sticky goo all over your leather seat.

Once again, you and Josh made the right call, I'd say.

Walking Eagle
 
+1 on the seat - nice job Josh! How soon will that bike be all together? I am anxious to see it as I'm sure you are really excited about it.:D

Mike H
76 R90/6
93 R100R Legend
 
Shocks Out of the Box

Josh just opened the package that contained the new YSS Performance Shocks and WOW!, they look beautiful and Josh says the quality is amazing. I will leave it up to him to tell me what he thinks of the performance once the bike is together. Josh is responsible for the break-in period for the bike and I would not have it any other way.

Thanks,
Shane
 

Attachments

  • 05-23-12_1 YSS Shocks.jpg
    05-23-12_1 YSS Shocks.jpg
    48.8 KB · Views: 226
Back
Top