1977 'garage find' R100s

I wrote about this last year, that is my intent to buy my cousins 1977 R100s, well I pulled the trigger a few months ago (we agreed on $4k and I sent him a check) and I finally arranged the shipping from Michigan to Calif., the truck arrived early this morning.

First of all I also shipped out my old bicycle I had as a kid - got it for my birthday when I was 10(?). As you can see, my old bicycle 'Silver King' is in rough shape. I figured I would ship it out as well along with the bike when I found out mu brother actually had the bicycle, I thought it was long gone. I found out it is evidently a unique and collectable bicycle. It has an aluminum frame and the rest of it WAS chrome. As you can see it is missing the rear fender (I have the seat) and I am thinking of doing (or having it done) a complete restoration. There are a few currently on Ebay ( http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...1&_nkw=silver+king+bicycle&_sacat=0&_from=R40 ) priced from $3,200 to $9,500 - can you believe that?

Now for the BMW - can you believe it? Check out the pictures, it looks ALMOST like it should be sitting on the showroom floor and it is a 1977 BMW R100s with ONLY 11,600 miles on it. My cousin bought it in 1982, rode it sparingly for a few years, then put it in storage in his garage for the next 25 years. I have wanted one of these old 'airheads' for some time and have particularly wanted this one as I know my cousin has always been meticulous with his machines.

I am anticipating the 'restoration' will be quick and painless (Lord, I AM NOT challenging you on that one) you guys know a lot better than I what I may be in store for, I will keep you posted. Over the last few months I have collected most of the basics, shop manual, plugs, filters, fluids, BING carb rebuild kits (with 'How to" DVD), tires, battery, and some other odds and ends. Unbelievable addition to the herd - I'm excited. Will report on my progress. Did I do good?

Regards,

Mike

Yes, VERY good.

Hope god doesn't have a sense of humor.

Great buy

If the mechanical condition matches the way it looks, I'd say you paid fair money. I "restored" my 77 r100rs last year which had 17k miles on it. Did the same thing you are planning, though I sent the carbs to Bing for rebuilding (I know my limitations!). I have owned the bike since '82, it's been in the family since '79. Great bikes, simple to work on. Just do what you have planned, I would probably do the push rod tube seals if there is any sign of oil weeping, because these seals degrade with time. But beware if you have the internal circlip on the piston for the connecting rod. These are easy to get off, but a b---ch to get back on. Buy a couple extras in case you bend one, etc. reconnecting. A great walk-through is provided at http://www.pbase.com/dqmohan/prtseals. When I got done with everything, I did take it to my local airhead mechanic for final fine tuning. Runs like new.

That sure is a beautiful bike. I wish I could get my hands on a classic boxer in that condition.

Best of luck with the restore.

Scot

WOW!!! That is a beautiful classic, a find for sure! Good for you! You have a great start and some good ideas, on your way to a classic keeper/rider. How could your cousin NOT ride such a beauty? But all the better for you.

I still have my 76 R100RS that I bought on a whim/find in lower Michigan while on a business trip. Hauled it home in the cab of the fire truck I was test driving/driving home.

You could have done better. If you park it in front of the house we'll pick it up for you and take it over to Goodwill for you... ...

How 'bout a few shots of the bicycle in the back ground. What is it?

Yes, you did good. Beautiful bike, enjoy it.

She's a real beauty - in addition to the carbs & maybe pushrod seals make sure to replace the fuel line!

You did good!

That's a beauty; you're very lucky.

Make a list

Here is my $1.25 (inflation) regarding your new bike and what you my consider doing.
1. Carefully remove the fuel tank and place it gently in a spot away from your work area.
2. Inspect the front brake master cylinder for any and I mean any sign of a leaks.
3. If the brakes have not been serviced in the last five years or so do the following to the front brakes. (A) remove all fluid. (B) remove master cylinder and rubber brake lines. (C) replace or rebuild master cylinder. (D) Instal new rubber or stainless steel flexible brake lines. (E) If the brakes have not been used or serviced in the last five years rebuild or replace the front calipers and replace the pads. (F) Bleed brakes and properly adjust front calipers.
4. Remove starter cover and air filter housing and check for loose wires and rodent damage, correct as required and reinstall the covers.
5. Replace fuel lines and install in-line filters, clean, rebuild and adjust carbs as needed.
6. Inspect and clean (as needed) the inside of the fuel tank.
7. Reinstall the fuel tank, connect all the fuel lines, add fuel and ensure fuel supply is good and not leaking.
8. Check all oil levels and renew or adjust as required.
9. Get a good fire extinguisher, install a good battery, move the bike out of the garage and fire it up.
10. Look for leaks and listen for bad noises, if none are observed take it around the block.
11. Bring it home, park it and shut it down.
12. Bring a chair out and have a seat for 10 or 20 minutes while the bike cools off and does what they do after 25 years of sitting.
13. Check all the oil levels and look for leaks or any other signs of problems with the bike.

If the test ride goes well and you don't find any significant problems with the bike throw a set of new tires and tubes on it and put a couple hundred gentle miles on it while paying close attention to all weird noises and issues. Carry a cell phone and have a plan in case you have to stop.

After 500 miles and no real issues give it a good going over, rebuild the carbs, replace the push rod seals and base gaskets, lube the splines and rebuild the front forks.

Its an absolutely gorgeous bike and it looks to be in showroom condition, you paid a high but very fair price for it. It doesn't need a restoration and it may need nothing more than a couple hundred in parts and a day or two of skinned knuckle, well thought out and limited labor.

*Don't over do it* instead enjoy it, fix whats urgent, make sure the ride is safe and most of all develop a feel for the bike so you know when something is wrong before your 60 miles from home and you have no signal on your cell phone.

Most of all enjoy the bike and the adventure in bringing it back to life and having it do what it was meant to do. Put a smile on some lucky persons face!!!

If you managed to stay awake I have revised my $1.25 worth, lets just say I over did it

Safe to say...

that you got a good deal and I am jealous! Enjoy.

69ZEFF65 said:

After 500 miles and no real issues give it a good going over, rebuild the carbs, replace the push rod seals and base gaskets, lube the splines and rebuild the front forks.

you paid a high but very fair price for it.

Click to expand...

And after the 500 miles, you may find out that oil will seep out of the final drive vent becasue the input shaft seal is deteriorated and allows oil to migrate from the driveline into the final drive, making it flow over.

$4,000.- is not a high price for a R100S in that cosmetic condition. It is on the low end of the price range.
I bought exactly the same bike (year, color, model) for $2,150.- after it had sat from 1996 to 2010. I put approx $2,000.- worth of parts, incl. a new exhaust, tires and a paint touch-up into it, and I have been offered $5,500.-

lmo1131 said:

You could have done better. If you park it in front of the house we'll pick it up for you and take it over to Goodwill for you... ...

How 'bout a few shots of the bicycle in the back ground. What is it?

Click to expand...

It is a Monark Silver King - I got it for my 10th(?) birthday. I thought it was long gone (I moved to Calif in 75) but as the old man was about to throw it away my brother salvaged it and put it in his garage with the idea of restoring it and sending it out to me. Well he never got around to restoring it obviously, but he had it. About a year ago I thought about the bike (bicycle) and did a little research on line and found out some info about it. In part I found out that they appear to be somewhat collectable and valuable - if you go by Ebay prices. It is unique with a hex tube aluminum frame.I talked to my brother at that time and was telling him the story and he said "You know Mike, I have the Silver King in my garage". So, I arranged to have it shipped out with the BMW. Silver King will be restoration project #2.

Call Mike Wolfe of Antique Archeology (American Pickers). He could probably help.

(563) 265-3939

I had a '77 R100S in that same color scheme, only mine had an RS faring on it painted to match. I sold it last fall when I bought my R11RS. The gentleman I sold it to has done a frame up resto on it including new Nikasil cylinders, Del Orto carbs, real "S" fairing and has repainted it white with red stripes in a Motosport theme.

You paid a fairly premium price for a premium machine. You did fine in that aspect.

Keep the forum up to date on your efforts in getting her back on the street. This is good stuff.

Mike:

I would suggest that the first order of business on your new bike is to service the clutch splines, because if these are dry, a lot of damage can result.

RINTY said:

Mike:

I would suggest that the first order of business on your new bike is to service the clutch splines, because if these are dry, a lot of damage can result.

Click to expand...

Yes, it is on the list.

UPDDATE - 1977 R100s

Well, the project has begun - below is a list of what I have done the past couple of weeks and what I still want to do. Any suggestions of additional items or thoughts are welcomed. Keep in mind, this bike has been in storage for some 25 years, but was stored in a (relatively) moisture free environment (in a garage, covered in Michigan). Cosmetically, the bike looks nearly new, no rust and it is CLEAN!

Accomplished so far -

1. New tires installed - Michelin Pilot Activ's. Tried to do the job myself with tires irons. although the old tires looked almost new, the rubber was so hard and non pliable I was worried that I was going to bend or tweak the rims trying to get them off. So to the shop and had them done on a No Mar. Wheel bearings look good.
2. Front Brakes - my cousin put a block in the front brake lever prior to shipping, he was afraid that the calipers might lock up if actuated immobilizing the bike. I removed the tank, grabbed a handful of brake lever, and after a couple of tries it broke free. Fluid was of course, dirty (but no visual debris) master cylinder wasn't leaking, but calipers/pucks were dragging, not releasing completely. I removed the wheel and brake pads, and manually pushed the pucks as far back into the calipers as possible. The thought being to break loose any debris that might be preventing them from releasing. Then I flushed the system (I didn't really notice any debris coming out of the system) and now good brake lever feel and pressure, and the wheel only has a 'slight' drag. It will do about 1/2 to one revolution before stopping when I spin it. I am hoping it will free up more when I get it on the street ride it and use the brakes. If that situation doesn't improve, I plan on rebuilding the calipers. I have ordered and will install new Gaffer SS brake lines. I will keep me eyes open for leaks and although the master cylinder isn't leaking I am thinking I will rebuild the master cylinder just to be on the safe side - a rebuild kit is around $70.
3. Rebuilt fuel petcocks. Actually I ended up replacing them with new ones as I screwed up the body (threads) of one of the petcocks trying to re-install the fuel position lever - damn those springs. Again, not too bad price wise, the petcocks were $40 per side. Also, replaced the fuel lines with new braided lines. Also, installed in-line gas filters per Snowbum's and others suggestions. A plus is the new style petcock has a much better/larger filter screen that inserts into the gas tank, unlike my originals which had a very small filter screen on the outflow nipple of the petcock.
4. Rebuilt the both Bing Carbs. Bought the 'how to' video from Bing along with the rebuild kits. The Video was great and made the job easy. The rebuild kits (#6's - complete kits) were outrageously priced from Bing ($210 - if I remember correctly). I hear they may be a little cheaper through the dealer although I haven't checked with Irv Seaver's - my 'go to' dealership. At any rate, carb rebuild went smoothly and hopefully the bike will start OK. I know tweaking and carb balancing will be in order, but hopefully the recommended set up will get her started OK.
5. Removed exhaust nuts/flanges, came off with no problem. Applied copper anti-seize and tightened them back up.

What I need to do:
1. This weekend I plan on pulling the trans to lube the clutch/shaft splines.
2. Change fork oil.
3. Change all fluids trans, oil & filter, driveshaft and rear end. My cousin put fresh oil in her when he stored her, but again that was 25 yrs. ago.
4. Check points and timing.
5. Adjust valves.

So that's about it. What am I forgetting? Any additional suggestions? Maybe this weekend (hopefully by next weekend for sure) I will bring the beast to life after her long sleep.


<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/user/MikeYork5/media/RestorationJune201310_zps2dadf3b9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/MikeYork5/RestorationJune201310_zps2dadf3b9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo RestorationJune201310_zps2dadf3b9.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/user/MikeYork5/media/RestorationJune20138_zpsf796f57e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/MikeYork5/RestorationJune20138_zpsf796f57e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo RestorationJune20138_zpsf796f57e.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/user/MikeYork5/media/011_zps38886617.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/MikeYork5/011_zps38886617.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 011_zps38886617.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/user/MikeYork5/media/IMG_0451_zps8e87baf9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/MikeYork5/IMG_0451_zps8e87baf9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0451_zps8e87baf9.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/user/MikeYork5/media/246641_542855505758328_596831298_n_zpsb2c27b00.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/MikeYork5/246641_542855505758328_596831298_n_zpsb2c27b00.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 246641_542855505758328_596831298_n_zpsb2c27b00.jpg"/></a>

Be SURE to get new wheel seals, and get those bearings out, thoroughly cleaned and new grease.

Grease the rear wheel spline at the same time.

Change all fluids thoroughly, including front forks, brake fluid, obviously engine, transmission, driveshaft, and final drive.

You have a GREAT looking bike, both of the ones in the thread.

The only problem with Mike Simon's bike is the ugly nut connected to the handlebars!

His wife is the one trying to get the bike sold off, and then he is next.

Beautiful bike. I have a feeling once it's up and running you won't be disappointed.

In May picked up a 1994 R100R Mystic that sat in storage for 7 years. After going through many of the steps you are, the bike is a blast to ride. I can't stop smiling every time I throw a leg over it. I've now added about 1200 miles to the odometer without an issue. The carbs were my biggest problem due to a poor shade tree mechanic in the past. (Enrichers in upside down, one butterfly mis-aligned and not closing completely and a few other issues.)

Take your time an pay attention to detail - you are on the right track. The results will be your reward.

Best of luck.