Oilhead Podcast

[bremoit]

All-

Work is beginning to produce a 5 episode pilot series for Oilhead BMWs.

The style and format will be similar to the Airhead 247 Podcast (see link below) in that the program will feature interviews with independent mechanics, product developers and aficionados of the Oilhead BMW motorcycle (1994-2005) and a few other models beyond that year range.

Airhead 247 Podcast

Leisure Podcast · Updated Biweekly · NEW EPISODES EVERY TWO WEEKS! Email us directly airheads247@hotmail.com In this series, we’ll be talking with independent mechanics, product developers and aficionados of the classic airhead BMW…

podcasts.apple.com

This is an open thread for owners of these bikes to contribute suggestions and ideas for guests, topics and regular contributors for tech segments.

If you would like to contact the producers off forum/privately....please drop a line to:

airheads247@hotmail.com
use the subject line:
Oilhead Podcast

 

[jnrugg]

Even though I don't have an airhead I listen. I was hoping for something like this as I do have an oilhead. Thanks!!!

 

[fbt80]

Explore why do properly setup telelever bikes have strange wear patterns on the left side of the front tire. I'll supply at least one industry expert to interview...if you dare

 

[tibork]

Explore why do properly setup telelever bikes have strange wear patterns on the left side of the front tire. I'll supply at least one industry expert to interview...if you dare

Wait, I just discovered that strange wear pattern on my front tire and was going to ask about it. Where can I hear the answer and solution for this problem?

Thank you!

 

[GTRider]

The one-sided tire wear issue long predates the telelever; it was evidenced on early brick-K bikes in the 80s. The question of “why” came up more than once in Q/A sessions with BMW reps at rallies, and all the typical reasons were given—underinflation, crown of the road, propensity of riders in countries that drive on the RH side of the road to corner harder on LH turns than RH turns, rider braking technique, etc etc. Except, it was happening on the same side (L) of the tire regardless of country and road crown.

If you want to have fun, do an old-school string alignment test on your shaftie BMW and see what the offset is between front and rear wheels, then ponder how much heavier the shaft side is than the other, and that you can ride most modern BMWs one-handed in a straight line on a flat and level road.

But as for actual cupping, I’m in the too-low tire pressure camp. I once had a Michelin engineer tell me that the max pressure on the sidewall was just a starting point for the PRs on my brick-K and wedge-K. And while he said that, his hand was waving this gesture upward () while stating that he really couldn’t recommend an exact pressure for those tires on my bike. I’m a big guy who loads kinda heavy for travel and run 44R/42F on the wedge-K for trips—the tires last, grip well, and don’t cup or center wear…
YMMV, as always.

Best,
DeVern

 

[fbt80]

Tire pressure/ alignment/road crown issues aside, a prominent BMW suspension owner/technician, was in the past a BMW service manager. Dealerships had ongoing issues with all Telelever bikes as early as 1993, so much so that they recommended only one brand/model of tire that was at least resistant to this problem. The Bridgestone BT54. Then replaced that (once discontinued) with the BT023 that wore badly. It's a design flaw. Most likely BMW will never come clean on it, but would be fun to listen to a discussion around it.

 

[fbt80]

Love to hear from a past Cup racer on wear patterns using slicks.

 

[tibork]

Here is mine, the tire is Pirelli Angel. Just regular road use but looks like off of a racing bike going around and around to the left.

 

[tibork]

Forgot to add that none of the above explanation works for this because I rode a Yamaha bike for 8 years - including daily commuting - prior to owning the BMW and this irregular wear pattern never occurred on that bike.

 

[m_stock10506]

I rode a Yamaha bike for 8 years - including daily commuting - prior to owning the BMW and this irregular wear pattern never occurred on that bike.

That front left side wear pattern is an Oilhead thing. Several things you can do to reduce it significantly. I own an 1100RT (Oilhead) and two Airheads. They get the same treatment (by me), on the same roads, and the Airheads do not have that kind of tire wear, never did.

 

[tibork]

"Several things you can do to reduce it significantly."

So what are those mysterious things I can do to reduce this? It is still very strange to me that this is happening on these bikes, I thought it was just me somehow but again I was confused how I never had this on my Yamaha.

Thank you!

 

[m_stock10506]

So what are those mysterious things I can do to reduce this

Easy, no-cost things. Add extra weight to the left saddle bag, or shift weight out of the right. Run higher pressure in the tires. Don’t know what you are running now, but the factory PSI recommended is too low. Try running near 40 psi in both.

If you still have the original Showa shocks, especially the front shock, consider upgrading to a higher performance shock.

Try different tires. I run the Pirelli Angel GT rear. I tried the Pirelli on the front once. It wore much faster than other tires I have tried. Not the excessive left side wear, it just wore out too fast. Tires that have worked best, for me, on the front, Dunlop RS4, Michelin PR4 GT.

Good luck.

 

[fbt80]

Hmmm, wish there was some way to weigh half a bike down the centerline. Sooooo, you could unmount the tires, put a scale under each half of the rims, repeat for each side and measure the difference. I think that would work. It would answer the uneven weight distribution theory.

 

[PGlaves]

Hmmm, wish there was some way to weigh half a bike down the centerline. Sooooo, you could unmount the tires, put a scale under each half of the rims, repeat for each side and measure the difference. I think that would work. It would answer the uneven weight distribution theory.

Look at the drivetrain. The majority of the swing arm, the driveshaft, and the final drive and rear brake assembly are all clearly to one side of the centerline. What components might be located to the other side to offset these components?

 

[fbt80]

Look at the drivetrain. The majority of the swing arm, the driveshaft, and the final drive and rear brake assembly are all clearly to one side of the centerline. What components might be located to the other side to offset these components?

If I was a clever German, perhaps allow more fuel on the left side of the tank and more transmission on the left...but I'm neither

 

[fbt80]

...but the tank on the R1100s is bridged by a balance line, so impossible to have more fuel on one side than the other. You could make the left cylinder head heavier. You have a starter and a kickstand on that side.

 

[m_stock10506]

...but the tank on the R1100s is bridged by a balance line, so impossible to have more fuel on one side than the other.

But that's not true.... With the radio/glove box on the left, and the cut away for the air snorkel, there is less gas tank on the left. So even the RT gas tank is skewed to the right. That's why one of the online suggestions is to put about 10-12 lb of lead shot in the bottom of the glove box. I just keep most of my "stuff" in the left pannier and the right almost empty.

 

[omega man]

Would a good, old fashioned double sided swing arm help?













OM

 

[PGlaves]

Would a good, old fashioned double sided swing arm help?


OM

A little but not by a lot. The bulk of the offset weight is the driveshaft and its surrounding swingarm, and of course the final drive.

 

[fbt80]

But that's not true.... With the radio/glove box on the left, and the cut away for the air snorkel, there is less gas tank on the left. So even the RT gas tank is skewed to the right. That's why one of the online suggestions is to put about 10-12 lb of lead shot in the bottom of the glove box. I just keep most of my "stuff" in the left pannier and the right almost empty.

R1100s does not.