I had to jump (with my fingers) the starter relay but after a few checks and some fiddling the Rat Ride fired up and settled into a nice idle. It helps that this bike has been in Airhead hands most of its adult life. It had a fresh oil change and carbs were drained before is long sleep, I also checked to make sure the exhaust nuts were properly serviced. I was able to pop them loose with a little tug with the wrench. I think I'll take it for a quick ride up and down my street, its close to home in case I have to push. It is a non matching numbers bike, the frame & title is 1970 serial number and the engine block is a later one. Does anyone keep a list of orphan 1970 and later engines and frames?
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Its alive!!!
- Thread starter 69zeff65
- Start date
It might be the slice and dice table for this one!
A part of me is sad and another part is a little relieved at this point. There is still a chance that this early Airhead has a heart (engine block) that goes with the frame so I can get carried away and obsess about correctness and what is OEM and correct, I have all the parts to do it. I will give it a little more time & thought and some attention in finding the matching numbers but after that elapses I am going to town on something I have had some nightmares and trepidation about doing. I think rusty, crusty with a little Mad Max is really overdue.
A part of me is sad and another part is a little relieved at this point. There is still a chance that this early Airhead has a heart (engine block) that goes with the frame so I can get carried away and obsess about correctness and what is OEM and correct, I have all the parts to do it. I will give it a little more time & thought and some attention in finding the matching numbers but after that elapses I am going to town on something I have had some nightmares and trepidation about doing. I think rusty, crusty with a little Mad Max is really overdue.
1074
Active member
I might add that you have a long road to travel if you want to bring this bike back to correctly original. Exhaust, gas tank, headlight, handlebars, turn signals, and the list goes on.
But I doubt that anyone will fault you for whatever you do as long as you have a runner and don't part it out.
But I doubt that anyone will fault you for whatever you do as long as you have a runner and don't part it out.
b25bsaboy
New member
Congratulations on your find. Yes, its not easy bring back to life but when you do, all the hours spent will be worth it.
I bought a 1973 BMW R75/5 two years ago from a chap who had it stored in his garage up against the wall and totally covered with vasoline to keep the rust down. Trailered it home and started the process. First I wanted to do a ground up restoration and once I started cleaning, came to the conclusion to do a mechanical restoration. The only thing i didn't tear down was the transmission, but everything else came apart and replaced when and where necessary.
When I started it the first time after two turns and it settled down to a nice idle with the choke on, the joy of seeing her become alive.
I would up load some before and after photos, but never been successful!
I bought a 1973 BMW R75/5 two years ago from a chap who had it stored in his garage up against the wall and totally covered with vasoline to keep the rust down. Trailered it home and started the process. First I wanted to do a ground up restoration and once I started cleaning, came to the conclusion to do a mechanical restoration. The only thing i didn't tear down was the transmission, but everything else came apart and replaced when and where necessary.
When I started it the first time after two turns and it settled down to a nice idle with the choke on, the joy of seeing her become alive.
I would up load some before and after photos, but never been successful!
I have a habit of going overboard
I tend to get obsessed with correctness, one off stuff and rare trinkets after I rescue one. For example the Barn Bike, when I found it and some of the progress I've made. It took a year for me to decide what color and that was three years ago. Lots of trinkets for that one. I do have a more modest plan for the R 75/5 though and I hope its a little less expensive and labor intensive than the other pre-'70 bikes I've pulled back from the brink. It will be a mix of patina, chop & shave, performance, old school and touch of steampunk.
I tend to get obsessed with correctness, one off stuff and rare trinkets after I rescue one. For example the Barn Bike, when I found it and some of the progress I've made. It took a year for me to decide what color and that was three years ago. Lots of trinkets for that one. I do have a more modest plan for the R 75/5 though and I hope its a little less expensive and labor intensive than the other pre-'70 bikes I've pulled back from the brink. It will be a mix of patina, chop & shave, performance, old school and touch of steampunk.
Attachments
ebeeby
Member
Rinty
New member
Image management is tough. I had my I T guy come in a couple of times to walk me through it, and then we prepared a click by click checklist which I keep on my desk. He also set up a right click function on my mouse for re-sizing images from my own computer database. Over the years I have at least learned how to find them in my database. My other IT expert, who is a graphics design grad from Ryerson, says that that is the toughest part.
Sorry for the diversion zeff, and nice work. You're a brave man to do that striping.
I will update on the Vintage Forum
As I make progress on the "Barn Bike" I'll post pictures and commentary on the Vintage forum so stay tuned. Back to the AirHead forum, I hope to get going on the "Rat Ride" very soon and I'm hoping to come up with a different and simple Airhead Custom with stuff not yet enjoyed. I have to say it is tempting to go original all the way with this survivor, I have the spares somewhere out in my shop if can just find them without all those distractions toward correctness. A Fed Ex box just arrived with the things I need to steer my project.
Thank You
Bruce
As I make progress on the "Barn Bike" I'll post pictures and commentary on the Vintage forum so stay tuned. Back to the AirHead forum, I hope to get going on the "Rat Ride" very soon and I'm hoping to come up with a different and simple Airhead Custom with stuff not yet enjoyed. I have to say it is tempting to go original all the way with this survivor, I have the spares somewhere out in my shop if can just find them without all those distractions toward correctness. A Fed Ex box just arrived with the things I need to steer my project.
Thank You
Bruce
