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Well, actually... in my experience it doesn't take that much more dedication to ride a /2, or even a /3. The maintenance comes at you a bit more frequently (3,000 mile service intervals instead of 5,000 on the Airheads), but it's pretty much the same thing -- oil, valves, points, rear wheel splines. No oil filter to change, and the carbs are simpler to play with.woodnsteel said:Both of my airheads are 30+ years old, but I consider them to be very good used motorcycles. It takes a great deal of dedication to ride and maintain a pre-1970 bike. I can understand why most people don't want any part of it.
Michael Friedle said:General concensus is that after 25 years it enters the "vintage" category, something my motorcycles rider achieved long ago.
Friedle
Darryl, this is exactly the idea I was thinking of. You have a much more intimate experience than I do, but my thoughts are that as vintage motorcycle owners, we have the privelege of being care-takers of special machines, that are now in our possession. We MUST keep them in good condition to pass along to the next generation of enthusiasts who will keep them for the next generation of enthusiasts, etc. This harkens back to an earlier thread regarding what price to sell your bike. When I'm dead, I'm sure it will be "highest bidder". Before then, it's "buyer most worthy".DarrylRi said:What is usually the hang up is finding a bike that old that hasn't been buggered up by one or more DPOs (darling previous owner). That, and there are a few longer term service items that are different (magneto coil, slinger cleaning).
Think so, do you?woodnsteel said:Darryl, this is exactly the idea I was thinking of. You have a much more intimate experience than I do,
Well, I'm not quite so misty eyed as that, but it is great fun to be able to ride these bikes, to get a sense of what our roots are here.woodnsteel said:but my thoughts are that as vintage motorcycle owners, we have the privelege of being care-takers of special machines, that are now in our possession. We MUST keep them in good condition to pass along to the next generation of enthusiasts who will keep them for the next generation of enthusiasts, etc.
I certainly agree with you here!woodnsteel said:This harkens back to an earlier thread regarding what price to sell your bike. When I'm dead, I'm sure it will be "highest bidder". Before then, it's "buyer most worthy".
I really don't like that second word. I'm not running a museum here. I don't buy and work on a bike if I don't think it's going to be a runner, first. I did "restore" my /2, but only after running it around for a year as a rat bike to fix whatever mechanically needed fixing.woodnsteel said:I don't think that I am "misty eyed" so much as on a mission. We both know that when we, you particularly, bring a bike to a refined level of function, it is unlikely to backslide. Therefore, we ARE preservationists, or curators perhaps.
Well, that's me. I've got a 2002 R1150RS that is my main ride. It gets all the routine services at the dealer, even though it's out of warranty. The R90S goes to a local independent with 25 years' experience. I'd take the older bikes to a shop for work if I could, because I'm not really that great a mechanic and I get more pleasure out of riding than wrenching. However, nobody around here has any real experience with them, and because I'm interested, I can take the time to learn about it (and fix my mistakes). It's fortunate for me that the older bikes can take somewhat more abuse from me, generally speaking.woodnsteel said:Many of our fellow MOA members are willing to put significant $ into owning a new bike.
Not enough dollar signs there, I'm afraid. While there are now more parts sources for older beemers, things are not cheap. (Well, I suppose this is still cheaper than a boat or an airplane.) The R12 above, for example, needs a new driveshaft and coupling gear, and a new drive flange, besides hunting up replacements for the leather seals and two new big bearings. It will be hundreds in parts and shipping, and all must come from Europe.woodnsteel said:Few are willing to put meaningful $ into historic and/or rare bikes.
Everyone's gotta have a hobby. Anyway, with just a taste of what the R12 will be like, now that I've rebuilt the fork internals and got the motor running enough to ride it to the gas station, I'm hooked. This bike is going to be really wonderful to ride!woodnsteel said:I must agree that the pleasure of ownership is it's own reward.
Yes sir!woodnsteel said:Carry on!
If I were going looking for such a bike, a good, relatively inexpensive bike would probably an '85 or later, non-GS airhead boxer. '85 is when the "monolever" rear end began to be used (single sided swingarm monoshock), so it is easily recognizable. The GS bikes command a lot more money, and have issues with the paralever driveshaft. '85 and later bikes have better metallurgy in the valve seats, and the nikasil plated cylinders that came in '81, so the motor is quite robust. There are still a few issues: the transmission on nearly all of these is missing the famous circlip, so if 5th gear makes a whine, you'll probably have to fix that (and add the circlip while you're at it). And the infamous diode board.jakfrost said:I have never owned an 'older' Beemer although I am a 'older' rider, (58). My friend/neighbor is always after me to come along for a Sunday romp with his 'Vintage Group' buddies and I would like to try pick up a bike that would be fun to ride and not too much of a challenge to maintain...I have average mechanical skills and have owned bikes for 42 years...too broad a question??
Any suggestions?
jakfrost said:I have never owned an 'older' Beemer although I am a 'older' rider, (58). My friend/neighbor is always after me to come along for a Sunday romp with his 'Vintage Group' buddies and I would like to try pick up a bike that would be fun to ride and not too much of a challenge to maintain...I have average mechanical skills and have owned bikes for 42 years...too broad a question??
Any suggestions?
Jim W.