Dec 10th inaugural two up ride for Mexican food

It lives

The bike starts and runs really well.  So the 15 day project is over and the BMW sounds great.  It is still on the lift but has a license plate and is ready to take a spin tomorrow!

Dec 4th...tank is on and hooked up

Big day here, last bit of bike going back together.   The tank is polished, attached and fuel petcocks installed.

I
















And the seat is reinstalled.

Saturday-front end done and more

By the end of yesterday, the front end was completely done, brakes done and tire on.  Saturday saw an adjustment to one of the brake calipers so the disk brake pucks closed properly.   Then the saddlebags were cleaned up and installed!   Of course the attaching locks hadn’t been opened/closed in years so that took a bit of lubricant and finesse.   All is well now.

Post Thanksgiving...Home stretch on the front end

Burning off turkey calories...brake caliper installation.  Note the wheel is on!

Pre- Thanksgiving Turkey work

Before Turkey, work continued on the installation of the new front tire, brake rotors and brake calipers.

Nov 27, fork oil and some brake work

The tsunami of parts continues.   Final brake rotor arrived midday today.   Stu cleaned and refilled the forks this morning.  Also straightened out some front end alignment issues by lessening fork brace bolts and assorted other pieces, then retightening correctly.   Axle now fits smoothly as it slides from one side into the other.   Front brake system has been flushed and will be refilled with new brake fluid.  All parts look good.   Wheel is removed waiting for new tire and brake rotors.

Vacula brake bleeding apparatus:

Front forks....all clean

Miscellaneous brake pieces, all cleaned up

BMW logos r us

Stu reminded me we have BMW tire valve caps. ;). At least we don’t have clothing with their logo!

Oil pan, oil filter, oil...oh my

A Saturday to remember, nice weather, clear skies, garage doors wide open and big progress on the bike.   The rejuvenation work is going from the back of the bike to the front ;).  The rear is done...now comes the middle part. So today the oil drain pan, oil filter and oil were done.  Clutch was adjusted.  Right side crash bar reattached.  Instrument cluster reinstalled.   And as usual, I close with a photo of the cutest dog in the world.

Rear brake shoes and tire

A banner day here in Scottsdale....rear brake shoes arrived and installed.  Rear tire on!

The bath of the oil pan

Every 29 years, whether it needs it or not ;).  Actually the pan looked fine with just an accumulation of black silt on the bottom.

Nov 21-rear seals and oil filters

Progress continues...parts are dribbling in.   Today was bevel drive seal installation day (rear wheel area) and the start of the removal of oil pan and related oil systems.   Lots of excitement removing the oil filter cover...involving heat guns, chemicals, hammers and chisels and brute strength ;).

Nov 2019 and a new family member arrives

This month, a 1991 BMW R100R joined our motorcycle family.    Stu bought this bike new, and in 1998, sold it to our neighbor.   And it sat in the neighbor’s garage until this month.  In the 21 years the neighbor owned it, he put on 4000 miles.  He recently passed away, Stu offered to help his wife sell it...and after looking at it, he decided we needed to bring it back to life again.  So we are up to six bikes again ;)

Alas, the passing years have caused age related degradation, along with some other issues, so Stu is in the middle of a stem to stern renovation.   Right now the rear tires, brakes, seals, oils etc are in process.

Long lost photos of us and various motorcycles

Stu found these on his computer and I wanted to post them, since they are motorcycle trip related.  Time frame estimate 2005-2008 maybe?

Bike update Thursday Sept 19...update 10/7

The plot thickened after we got home.   Not only was there a missing saddlebag and a speedometer and tachometer that sang a loud harmonious song...but Stu noticed his left foot peg rubber was missing.

Where and how the foot peg rubber disappeared is as big a mystery as where the saddlebag went....

The foot peg rubber is a cylindrical piece of rubber that pushes onto a shaft.  It is press fit so it takes a bit of effort to put it on or take it off.  And on the bottom, there is a metal bracket and two screws that hold everything in place.   How in the world did two screws fall out and the rubber slide off the shaft, all the while stu’s foot was on the foot peg.   A mystery indeed.

So today the new foot peg rubber, screws and mounting bracket arrived and were installed.   

Initially, the tachometer was clearly haywire, but after checking, it turns out the speedometer was also howling away.  Stu bought a used speedometer and tachometer set off eBay and they are cleaned up and waiting for some additional assembly parts.   Should be done by the end of the weekend.

No decision on the saddlebag.  Might just move the tail trunk bag to the right side and put a backrest on....or keep checking eBay for a high quality used bag.   

Update Saturday.  Instruments cleaned, assembled and about to be tested before installation.

October 7th update....Of course, within a few weeks, these “new to us” gauges started misbehaving....so out came the original gauges and a pot pourri of chemicals for Stu to use to clean out the interior mechanism.   For the moment, they appear to be working so they are back installed on the bike.   However, Stu has little hope the “fix” will last so he is searching the internet for information on gauge disassembly and repair ;)