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Which Airhead?

I have 5 old airheads. I'm too embarrassed to even show my face any more!

I'm one more bike embarrassed than you, maybe we should start a support group. :buds

To the OP, they're all good. Some years have problems, but can be fixed if the "problem" ever develops. Worry more about what bike will fit your needs, touring, daily rider, etc. Also the condition is more important than what year. Find the bike that fits and has been well cared for.
 
And I've only had one airhead ... for thirty-nine years. Still seems to get the job done, drum brakes and all.

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Hey, think outside the roundel. How about a Ural Solo? Modern alternator and ignition, electric and kick start, 2-year warranty, disc brakes, simple maintenance, spokes, tubes, BMW heritage, all for about $8k and all brand new, no previous owner dubious maintenance to worry about. Not to mention you can add a sidecar. The new ones have addressed many of the problems they had, and mine has been utterly reliable, probably much more than a 30-yr-old beemer. Just a thought.......
 

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And I've only had one airhead ... for thirty-nine years. Still seems to get the job done, drum brakes and all.

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Lew,

Beautiful bike. I am looking for this exact bike. Same year, same color, same condition. Congratulations on such a nice bike...

Regards,

Chris
 
Welcome to CRAZY. . .

The BEST advice is to turn away and run before you get addicted. OK, so it may be too late for you.

Some of us embarrassed people like the look of the pre-80 "all metal" engine, with the beloved clamshell covering the air filter. Adds a huge fun-factor when you replace the filter and try to get it to fit back together. Post-81 filter cover was made from a modern material known as "plastic," and some say it doesn't look as fine as the metal clamshell.

Some of us love to work on these things; that is EASY to do, both from a technical standpoint, and from a parts availability perspective. LOTS of parts interchange model-to-model, and year-to-year -- in fact, BMW may be the BEST marque in the world for this. Old Hondas are pretty EZ for parts, too, but not as easy as old BMW's.

There were a LOT of R-80's built over the years, making them relatively inexpensive to buy, and these engines are often described as "understressed," so they generally last a long time. Not as powerful nor as fast as the early R100's, but only you can judge how important a factor this is.

There is a "great divide" between iron-sleeved cylinders for bikes pre-80 vs. Nicasil (sometimes "Nikasil) or Galnikal cylinders '81 and post -- the latter tend to last forever; iron may need a hone every now and then.

Plenty of experts across the country work on these old crocks, and the work is not "that expensive" when it's a love affair. Valve seat recession? Probably under $700 for a more-or-less permanent fix . . . and that price contemplates replacing valve guides, valves, springs, etc. An owner can repair, replace, upgrade almost everything on an old Boxer. . .and this will make it your own.

One more word: When one drives a side-car rig, there is a phenomenon known as "the Ural factor" (exact brand doesn't matter) which refers to a trip taking a lot longer, due to people engaging you at gas stops, rest stops, etc. to talk about your strange machine and your (perhaps) even stranger habits. Airhead? Same thing. Personally, I enjoy asking people how old they think my '78 R100RS (MS) is. . .and watching them nearly faint when they hear it's 34 years old, and counting. . . and I'm 1,000 miles from home, and counting. . .

Love my Oily, love my Airhead -- the perfect duo for doing whatever you care to do on two wheels, and both are dead-easy to work on. Clymer, Haynes, Forum will all serve you well.

Airheads: If you have to ask. . .I could never explain it to you.

Walking Eagle (embarrassed AND ashamed as well as potentially mortified to use my "real" name)

p.s. pay no attention to crazydrummerdude. He's -ah- crazy.
 
If you are looking at an airhead, I would suggest you checkout the Airhead.org site and look for some members or an Air Marshall in your area. They will help you in your quest for an airhead.

There are usually a lot of these old bikes for sale but not all are worth what people want for them. It will take a minimum of approx $ 1500 to get a bike that has set for a few years but has nothing really mechanically wrong with it, back on the road.

As to which bike, once you know what you want it to do, then you can narrow your choices. I wouln't be to hung up on what other folks prefer, it's what fits you that matters.

Good luck.
 
One more word: When one drives a side-car rig, there is a phenomenon known as "the Ural factor" (exact brand doesn't matter) which refers to a trip taking a lot longer, due to people engaging you at gas stops, rest stops, etc. to talk about your strange machine and your (perhaps) even stranger habits. Airhead? Same thing. Personally, I enjoy asking people how old they think my '78 R100RS (MS) is. . .and watching them nearly faint when they hear it's 34 years old, and counting.

We actually call it "UDF" (Ural Delay Factor) and it is a very real phenomenon. Adds to the fun factor. Occasionally when someone asks me how old my 2012 rig is I'll say it's from 1953 with some updates. They nod their head knowingly and say "I thought so":laugh:bolt
 
As new an R100RT or R100RS or R100GS as you can find.

Not for sure anything older than 1981, as time has moved on and these bikes are firmly in the "quaint" and "difficult" category these days. No longer representative of the 21st century BMW and mostly becoming embarassments.

....mmmm I would get more compliments and attention with my 1977 R100 than my 1998 K1200RS (taxi cab). It has been one of the most reliable bikes I have ever owned. Besides the ABS module on the '77 R100 has never failed me! :D
 
Sweet. Love the color too, must take very good care of it.

Thanks for the compliments gentlemen.

I have owned the bike since it came out of the crate, but I have painted it a few times over the last 3.9 decades. It was originally silber with blue stripes. Then it turned Colorado Beige (Mercedes Benz color) and it was a Kriegsmarine Gray until March 2011. Living within a mile of the Pacific Ocean has returned it's shiny bits to a slightly rusted pall since the re-paint. Wear and tear kinda comes with riding it...

It had a Windjammer on it for a few year since I was expected to run one as a Vetter employee, and it had a bikini on it for a while, but I think I like the way it is now best.
 
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We actually call it "UDF" (Ural Delay Factor) and it is a very real phenomenon. Adds to the fun factor. Occasionally when someone asks me how old my 2012 rig is I'll say it's from 1953 with some updates. They nod their head knowingly and say "I thought so":laugh:bolt

Yakked mit a Uralist at the gas station today. He provided the delay factor, telling about his first great adventure getting it stuck in sand last weekend. He was glad for the shovel!

On topic--favoring the /6 here:

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Stop!

You guys really MUST stop posting all this great Moto-Porn!

Geez! I'm trying to get a '78 R100RS (MS) back together in the garage, and these pictures are VERY distracting!

(Seriously, BEAUTIFUL bikes, guys, and Bravo Zulu!)

Walking Eagle
 
Good luck, it's all love man!

Once bitten by the airhead bug, you might as well call a shrink...or use the money to support your new found addiction. Personally, if your here on this site asking for advice well...hehe good luck.... it's like asking a hooker for marital advice, (wait, putting on my flack jacket) ..just saying.
Look at me, I've got two R60/6s, one I'm contemplating doing major surgery on, upping it too a 75/6. Problem is I'm getting laid off this Friday the 28th, yet my mind is not on looking for a job but looking for jugs, heads, camshaft and carbs....so let me ask you? Are you ready to join us?
Thanks fellow airheads!:wave
O by the way....Any one knows a person/place looking for a pilot with 6000+hrs ATP a couple of types, in the Houston area?
Thanks, now back to my bikes.
 
Once bitten by the airhead bug, you might as well call a shrink...or use the money to support your new found addiction. Personally, if your here on this site asking for advice well...hehe good luck.... it's like asking a hooker for marital advice, (wait, putting on my flack jacket) ..just saying.
Look at me, I've got two R60/6s, one I'm contemplating doing major surgery on, upping it too a 75/6. Problem is I'm getting laid off this Friday the 28th, yet my mind is not on looking for a job but looking for jugs, heads, camshaft and carbs....so let me ask you? Are you ready to join us?
Thanks fellow airheads!:wave
O by the way....Any one knows a person/place looking for a pilot with 6000+hrs ATP a couple of types, in the Houston area?
Thanks, now back to my bikes.

Glen,

Sounds like you are taking it pretty well, but wanted to say that I am sorry to hear you are getting laid off. That sucks...
 
Glen,

Sounds like you are taking it pretty well, but wanted to say that I am sorry to hear you are getting laid off. That sucks...

Thank you, in reality it hurts, got some leads so hopefully soon, I've got a few weeks before the $$$ gets critical. Thank you for the kind words. So in reality my addiction (bikes) are helping me in a way by distraction of the mind....and of course the wife and two kids.
 
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