Complete Restoration of BMW R75/5 into Cafe Racer

[balkowitsch]

While Josh is waiting for the motor, he is starting to assemble some of the small bits.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Turn Signals before assembly

[balkowitsch]

Finally got the bearings put into the wheels, I think the white hubs are going to look spectacular, what you will so of them at least. They are going to get laced this weekend.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Josh did a little update on Beemers and Bits for those interested,

http://beemersandbits.com/2012/07/bu...rs+and+Bits%29

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Josh dropped off my wheels to be laced,

http://www.yelp.com/biz/johnson-and-...orth-hollywood

Spokes were $100 for the set and they are charging $50 per wheel to lace, pretty reasonable I thought.

I will get you pictures when available, hopefully they will look spectacular!

Thanks,
Shane

[40427]

That sounds like a real good price to lace wheels.

Friends of mine have used both Buchanan and Woody's Wheel Works, don't remember what they spent but all were satisfied with the end product.

Finding a good wheel smith today is getting harder every year, I think it's going to become more of a lost art in the future.

I actually contemplated starting a spoke wheel rebuilding service as a retirement business. Could not find anyone who would teach me the skill properly, and the business plan could not show a profit in a reasonable amount of time so i dropped the idea.
There is a lot more to it than meets the eye at first look.

[balkowitsch]

That sounds like a real good price to lace wheels.

Friends of mine have used both Buchanan and Woody's Wheel Works, don't remember what they spent but all were satisfied with the end product.

Finding a good wheel smith today is getting harder every year, I think it's going to become more of a lost art in the future.

I actually contemplated starting a spoke wheel rebuilding service as a retirement business. Could not find anyone who would teach me the skill properly, and the business plan could not show a profit in a reasonable amount of time so i dropped the idea.
There is a lot more to it than meets the eye at first look.

Josh confirmed that the price Buchanan was about twice as high to lace them up.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Josh just sent me a picture of the restored U Joint,

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Josh has done a very imformative tech write-up with the issues he encountered having the wheels laced, hope this helps others out there maybe doing the same thing,

http://beemersandbits.com/2012/07/bm...rs+and+Bits%29

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Josh is hard at it trying to share as much of the restoration as possible and did another tech update,

http://beemersandbits.com/2012/07/sw...rs+and+Bits%29

Really gives me a chance to feel like I am 2000 miles closer to him during the restoration.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Well the rims are laced and ready for tires! Yeee ha! Here are a couple of pictures.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Another one of the rims laced.

[balkowitsch]

Josh is starting to put the bike back together to check clearances and fitament. Everything is very loose but it gives us an idea. He is developing a smaller fender for the rear that will work with the seat pan. You can see that in some of the pictures. Here are some pictures. If you see old nuts and bolts used, these are test wheels and tires obviously, everything is on order, the bike will have new everything, Josh just wanted to get some kind of rolling chassis to make sure everything is layed out, this is the time to make changes before final paint.

Thanks for letting me share, hope you enjoy the progress.

Thanks,
Shane

[balkowitsch]

Another

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Another