Rapid_Roy
03-18-2010, 11:37 PM
Well, here we sat. After having Shingles for the past week or so, and watching bikes drive by my house, I had created my own personal mini Hell. The weekend was beautiful, and I went back to work for the first time yesterday. Yesterday, it was 67 degrees when I came home, and for Wisconsin, that is really iffy this time of year. So I told my wife, in no uncertain terms, "May I please go for a ride tomorrow when I come home from work?"
She said yes. She asked me what bike I would choose. I said "Whichever one starts." I got home from work around 5:15 pm, and changed into boots, and grabbed my sunglasses, jacket, and helmet. I went down to the garage, and decided I would roll the venerable 1955 R50 out and beat her mercilessly. Who wouldn't, with 23 roaring horsepower, and the modern set up of dual drum brakes?
I was lax with the battery tender, and she had a half a tank of gas from last year in her yet. Obviously, I had carefully stored her for the winter months.
I checked the tires, filled the rear a bit, and then the general condition of Ol' paint. She was good to go.
Old BMW lesson #1
Older BMW motorcycles, have a unique set up on the carburetor. They have a long rod that goes through the float, and it has a needle tip, that is actually floats to the top as the chamber fills with gas, to stop gas flow. This sucks, and must have been developed by subcontractors.
I had since replaced them with the "fix," a dull rod that floats up and hits a needle valve at the top, a vast improvement. Although, I still get "gas foot" once in a while.
To start the bike, there is a little black button on the carb top called a "tickler."
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180040.jpg
A German tickler, is completely different then a French Tickler. The button depresses the float, and you do so until you see gas leaking out, then stop.
Repeat for the other side. We are now ready to start.
Ok, real bikes start here:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180009.jpg
Not up here:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180010.jpg
That is for controls and stuff. Besides, that was the Hi/Low beam and horn button.
She started with one kick, last years gas, and no battery help whatsoever since November.
Crappy BMW's. And we are off!
She said yes. She asked me what bike I would choose. I said "Whichever one starts." I got home from work around 5:15 pm, and changed into boots, and grabbed my sunglasses, jacket, and helmet. I went down to the garage, and decided I would roll the venerable 1955 R50 out and beat her mercilessly. Who wouldn't, with 23 roaring horsepower, and the modern set up of dual drum brakes?
I was lax with the battery tender, and she had a half a tank of gas from last year in her yet. Obviously, I had carefully stored her for the winter months.
I checked the tires, filled the rear a bit, and then the general condition of Ol' paint. She was good to go.
Old BMW lesson #1
Older BMW motorcycles, have a unique set up on the carburetor. They have a long rod that goes through the float, and it has a needle tip, that is actually floats to the top as the chamber fills with gas, to stop gas flow. This sucks, and must have been developed by subcontractors.
I had since replaced them with the "fix," a dull rod that floats up and hits a needle valve at the top, a vast improvement. Although, I still get "gas foot" once in a while.
To start the bike, there is a little black button on the carb top called a "tickler."
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180040.jpg
A German tickler, is completely different then a French Tickler. The button depresses the float, and you do so until you see gas leaking out, then stop.
Repeat for the other side. We are now ready to start.
Ok, real bikes start here:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180009.jpg
Not up here:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/2010%20First%20ride%20of%20Spring/P3180010.jpg
That is for controls and stuff. Besides, that was the Hi/Low beam and horn button.
She started with one kick, last years gas, and no battery help whatsoever since November.
Crappy BMW's. And we are off!