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View Full Version : My first wrenching on an Oilhead


DaveSlash5
08-27-2009, 08:31 PM
The week before the MOA Rally I bought my first oilhead, a 2003 R1150R and proceeded to put 1830 miles on it in the first two weeks. It is a smooth ride, and both rallies were a good "getting to know you" time with the bike.
This past Sunday a plastic fuel quick diconnect let go, so I got to do some wrenching on the 1150. I decided to combine it with my 24K service and wondered how tough the oilhead wold be to work on compared to my airhead. Now I have metal QDs and a tuned up machine.
I was suprised at the family resemblance between the 2003 and my 1972 model. A lot of the old R knowhow stuff transfered over to the new R stuff. A bit more of tracing the tubes type of work, along with many more bits and parts (read complexity), but still a lot of the same type mechanicing.
The big difference will be if, or rather when, I get into the electronic stuff; the '72 has electrics instead. At least it should still go after the Great Solar EMP Blast. :whistle But for you Airheads that might worry about working on the newfangeled oilhead stuff- IT AIN'T THAT BAD!

PETDOC
08-28-2009, 08:48 AM
Dave,
I had a similar experience having owned in succession an R90/6, R80/7 and currently an '04 R1150 GS. Big difference was servicing the iABS servo brakes, and of course the electronics. I purchased the S. African made code reader, but after 44,000 miles have yet to really need it. Great resource for how to do specific repairs/maintenance on your bike is Hall of Wisdom on Advrider.com.