R100 Cafe Racer Build Thread R100CCR

[jgrooms]

As mentioned in Shane’s R75 build thread http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...=51716&page=14 I’m going to start work on a ratty R100RT, minus the fairing, that I recently acquired. It’s an 88 model monoshock, incorrectly listed as an 85, that I saw listed in the Owners News classified section.

The concept idea is to take the shorter wheelbase R100 platform, and the somewhat unique feature of the single sided swing arm and turn the bike back in time to the look of the SWB /5. Now I’m not planning on building the badest, trickest cafe custom. Instead a tidy machine, with some solid restoration skills involved, and just maybe a few novel approaches to a few things along the way. And of course, back at the Clymer offices, we have some ideas on doing an interesting ride or two when complete. So no trailer queen, instead it has to be well sorted, reliable and ready to cover some distance, actually a lot of distance!
http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/ge...nt.cfm?DocID=1

We’re talking with some suppliers about ideas – kits – etc. So we’ll have a product review feature along the way from time to time. Of course, we’ll be looking for feedback also, as there are plenty out there who’ve been down this road before. To kick that off, I’m looking for a pair of spoked hubs off a 91-95 R100R or R100R Mystic. Seems with some machine work on the rear hub, I can adapt the paralever hub to the mono hub, thus allowing me to use a pair of alloy rims. My bud, Jim Lepisto at Cyclops in Merriam Ks is not looking forward to this wheel build :-0 Last time I left Jim, with my offset to swing arm drawings, he was delivering a turn of the century Pierce rear wheel and boxing up a pair of wheels for a WWI bi plane!

The plan is to post a lot of pics and use the YouTube channel to host video along the way. Hopefully it’ll evolve into a series of videos? I’ll dump additional pics into a PhotoBucket folder here: http://bit.ly/ClymerFlatRacerPhotoAlbum

A shout out to Tim Kelly at Curve’s Ahead Transport out of Topeka, KS (1 800 869 4140 or http://www.curvesaheadtransport.com/ ). Tim just happened to be in Hershey PA for the Antique Automobile Club of America’s Eastern Fall Meet ( http://www.aaca.org/ ) when I sent out my ‘distress call’. He scooted over to VA in a flash to pick it up. Tim’s an old BMW aficionado also, and his judgment was invaluable. It was an interesting side trip that we really shouldn’t go into. Suffice with THANKS TIM!

So here's my story and the R100 in the wee hours of the morning as Tim made the last hop from St. Louis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igjt0cm6trE

[balkowitsch]

As mentioned in ShaneÔÇÖs R75 build thread http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...=51716&page=14 IÔÇÖm going to start work on a ratty R100RT, minus the fairing, that I recently acquired. ItÔÇÖs an 88 model monoshock, incorrectly listed as an 85, that I saw listed in the Owners News classified section.

The concept idea is to take the shorter wheelbase R100 platform, and the somewhat unique feature of the single sided swing arm and turn the bike back in time to the look of the SWB /5. Now IÔÇÖm not planning on building the badest, trickest cafe custom. Instead a tidy machine, with some solid restoration skills involved, and just maybe a few novel approaches to a few things along the way. And of course, back at the Clymer offices, we have some ideas on doing an interesting ride or two when complete. So no trailer queen, instead it has to be well sorted, reliable and ready to cover some distance, actually a lot of distance!
http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/ge...nt.cfm?DocID=1

WeÔÇÖre talking with some suppliers about ideas ÔÇô kits ÔÇô etc. So weÔÇÖll have a product review feature along the way from time to time. Of course, weÔÇÖll be looking for feedback also, as there are plenty out there whoÔÇÖve been down this road before. To kick that off, IÔÇÖm looking for a pair of spoked hubs off a 91-95 R100R or R100R Mystic. Seems with some machine work on the rear hub, I can adapt the paralever hub to the mono hub, thus allowing me to use a pair of alloy rims. My bud, Jim Lepisto at Cyclops in Merriam Ks is not looking forward to this wheel build :-0 Last time I left Jim, with my offset to swing arm drawings, he was delivering a turn of the century Pierce rear wheel and boxing up a pair of wheels for a WWI bi plane!

The plan is to post a lot of pics and use the YouTube channel to host video along the way. Hopefully itÔÇÖll evolve into a series of videos? IÔÇÖll dump additional pics into a MySpace folder here: http://www.myspace.com/my/photos/alb.../album/1259327

A shout out to Tim Kelly at CurveÔÇÖs Ahead Transport out of Topeka, KS (1 800 869 4140 or http://www.curvesaheadtransport.com/ ). Tim just happened to be in Hershey PA for the Antique Automobile Club of AmericaÔÇÖs Eastern Fall Meet ( http://www.aaca.org/ ) when I sent out my ÔÇÿdistress callÔÇÖ. He scooted over to VA in a flash to pick it up. TimÔÇÖs an old BMW aficionado also, and his judgment was invaluable. It was an interesting side trip that we really shouldnÔÇÖt go into. Suffice with THANKS TIM!

So here's my story and the R100 in the wee hours of the morning as Tim made the last hop from St. Louis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igjt0cm6trE

Very cool, I cannot to watch this bike evolve.

Thanks,
Shane

[mika]

[lmo1131]

James, re-posting a question I asked on Shane's build thread.

Lew

Thread Jack: ON

James!

I can not, for the life of me, get my /5 to idle as comfortably as yours does in the video. What kind of arm twisting would it take to get you to do a step-by-step video of that procedure?

And please guys ... . don't post any links to Bum's, Duanes', or any other sites. I've read through them, and I'm sure others have as well.

Some of us learn by seeing and looking (visual), some by hearing and listening (auditory) and some by touching and doing (kinesthetic) ... in my case it would be auditory; the hardest part to understand in any of the "explanations" offered online being what the engine actually sounds like before/after adjustment.

For me, eye-balling is easy, ear-balling, not so much.


Thread Jack: OFF

[jgrooms]

Sorry, missed that from Shane's post.

Well we would be a ways off for the R100 carbs to see any air and fuel going through them :-( And I'm leaning towards slide valves there. Just depends on how far I go into the engine I guess.

Thanks on the /5! It does run well. My RT on the other hand does not idle worth a darn. I've got a pair of kits on the bench, so maybe that'd be a good video carb balance? I think the R80 will show up in this thread a bit. For example, I've got a pair of RaceTech springs and emulators for it.

Carb balance-That's one of those step by step things that could certainly be better visualized.

Got to make sure they are clean first, and one tip we use in the shop with pretty good results is Yamaha Carb Cleaner
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Carbure.../dp/B002GU4SPA

On machines where carb removal is a pain, unlike our Airheads , I've added it to the bowls through the lines. Let is sit for a few hours, then drain the bowls. It works well to clean up partially clogged pilot jets. Certainly not the same as a full dip, but pretty good at getting medium buildup out of there. And you don't have to separate multi carb setups.

[Walking Eagle]

I recognize that cropped no-knee-pads tank picture of an R75/5 from the '08 fourth printing of the Third Edition Clymer. . .Hey, a LOT of books don't make it to the 3rd edition, fourth printing. . .Well done!

Man, are you going to have some FUN, or what?

Can't wait to see the progress.

Give me a big enough wrench and a Clymer's, and I'll move the earth. . .something like that.

Regards,

Walking Eagle

[jgrooms]

I recognize that cropped no-knee-pads tank picture of an R75/5 from the '08 fourth printing of the Third Edition Clymer. . .Hey, a LOT of books don't make it to the 3rd edition, fourth printing. . .Well done!

Man, are you going to have some FUN, or what?

Can't wait to see the progress.

Give me a big enough wrench and a Clymer's, and I'll move the earth. . .something like that.

Regards,

Walking Eagle

Thanks WE, Yes I did put my machine on the cover! A perk of the job!

It's a solid book. Of course it has its flaws and many have been pointed out here and on other user forums. I can't take any credit for its original form, as it is now a 20 year old publication. And it's foundation was the older small format title going back another generation. Both predating my tenure.

However, I have 'tweaked' some things and try to make improvements every time it comes up for reprint. I'd love to write an all new manual with the format standards we now use. See the K12 manual for example, but the Publisher is not going to go for that

Nevertheless, this is my third Airhead, and will be the most involved project by far of the three. Part of the build thread is going to be looking at each and every procedure that applies to the bike and updating tools and such.

I'm really looking forward to it!

[jgrooms]

Can I get that with butter

[jstrube]

Is there a way to check out your pics without doing a full signup at Myspace? I tried the link several times...

[lmo1131]

Is there a way to check out your pics without doing a full signup at Myspace?

Fk Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.. . .

[Walking Eagle]

What Lew wrote. . .

Luddites RULE!

Walking Eagle

[jgrooms]

Is there a way to check out your pics without doing a full signup at Myspace? I tried the link several times...

John,

Sorry about that. I thought it would work.

Thanks for the heads up.

James

I'll use photobucket here, although not much to see....yet.

http://bit.ly/ClymerFlatRacerPhotoAlbum

[les_garten]

John,

Sorry about that. I thought it would work.

Thanks for the heads up.

James

I'll use photobucket here, although not much to see....yet.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1137407...11441294938994

Can I make a small suggestion?

I have no idea why people use photobucket? The photos are so small, they are like postage stamps. So I get nothing out of them. Unless there is something I don't understand about making them larger. I looked at yours and gave up after 1 pic.

How about Picasa or Flikr?

They are full size and I've never had anyone pix that were presented badly at these two sites.

Here's my Boxer motor I'm getting ready for my RT to S conversion for example:

https://picasaweb.google.com/les.gar...70616009098098

[lmo1131]

I'll use photobucket here,

Thanks James!

I closed my FB account a month after I opened it. I know these "networking" sites are popular but I just don't need the SPAMular frustration ... let alone a constant stream of e-mails requesting replies to "Cindy"...

[jgrooms]

Can I make a small suggestion?

I have no idea why people use photobucket? The photos are so small, they are like postage stamps. So I get nothing out of them. Unless there is something I don't understand about making them larger. I looked at yours and gave up after 1 pic.

How about Picasa or Flikr?

They are full size and I've never had anyone pix that were presented badly at these two sites.

Here's my Boxer motor I'm getting ready for my RT to S conversion for example:

https://picasaweb.google.com/les.gar...70616009098098

Link not working for me.

I'm not too up on the photo sharing sites, but I thought the PB would let you click and view larger. I'll look into it.

Update-I checked PhotoBucket on two other terminals, and it works full screen view.

James