Mel, try this method and report back.
viewtopic.php?p=137112#p137112
Woo Hoo! A Big Project!
Re: Woo Hoo! A Big Project!
Mechanic from Hell
"I remember every raging second of it...
My bike was on fire, the road was on fire, and I was on fire.
It was the best ride ever!"
"I remember every raging second of it...
My bike was on fire, the road was on fire, and I was on fire.
It was the best ride ever!"
Re: Woo Hoo! A Big Project!
Yes, that was part of the process. Sharpie stuff was to check the work. Passed!gspd wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 9:32 amMel, try this method and report back.
viewtopic.php?p=137112#p137112
Call me Mel. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me at home, I thought I would ride about a little and see the other parts of the world.
Re: Woo Hoo! A Big Project!
Well, it was time to DO SOMETHING! And here we are, with Something Done:
Yes, that's Ernst off the plinth for the first time in 3 years! I maneuvered him to face the open door to keep that first start stank out of the shop:
Yes, there's a wee puff of smoke. Ernst fired right up. A quick check of timing looked about right. And the alternator was making 14V at idle!
So the next steps were to mount the seat, install the headlight, and get into some gear to bed-in that new front brake.
The ride was great--Ernst feels so much more of-a-piece than Edgar. Nice to feel the wind again and to be leaning into it with the low bars. The brake is awesome! One forgets just how sweet a 750 Airhead runs. All the way home:
A few issues:
1. No horn. I can hear the relay clicking and I even added a ground wire to the horn rather than rely on the chassis. It's probably something stupid.
2. The dip relay isn't dipping, so it's all high beam, all the time. NBD for daytime riding. Again, it's probably something stupid.
3. The longer shocks mean both wheels are on the ground when the centerstand is deployed. It's very easy to get the bike on that stand! This was a bit of an issue before and I'll probably weld up the top ends of the stand to hold it higher when I get a stack of stuff that will need gloss black powdercoating.
4. Similarly, the bike leans a LOT on the sidestand. I may or may not do anything. It does make it easier to park at the post office in town--the parking lane has a high crown.
So there's a bit of fettling to go, but there's a lot of riding to get done also!
Many thanks to all who helped me with this over the years, including @gspd, @Blitz and everyone here. Vendors like Max BMW, Euro Moto Electrics, BMW Hucky, and Hansen's.
Yes, that's Ernst off the plinth for the first time in 3 years! I maneuvered him to face the open door to keep that first start stank out of the shop:
Yes, there's a wee puff of smoke. Ernst fired right up. A quick check of timing looked about right. And the alternator was making 14V at idle!
So the next steps were to mount the seat, install the headlight, and get into some gear to bed-in that new front brake.
The ride was great--Ernst feels so much more of-a-piece than Edgar. Nice to feel the wind again and to be leaning into it with the low bars. The brake is awesome! One forgets just how sweet a 750 Airhead runs. All the way home:
A few issues:
1. No horn. I can hear the relay clicking and I even added a ground wire to the horn rather than rely on the chassis. It's probably something stupid.
2. The dip relay isn't dipping, so it's all high beam, all the time. NBD for daytime riding. Again, it's probably something stupid.
3. The longer shocks mean both wheels are on the ground when the centerstand is deployed. It's very easy to get the bike on that stand! This was a bit of an issue before and I'll probably weld up the top ends of the stand to hold it higher when I get a stack of stuff that will need gloss black powdercoating.
4. Similarly, the bike leans a LOT on the sidestand. I may or may not do anything. It does make it easier to park at the post office in town--the parking lane has a high crown.
So there's a bit of fettling to go, but there's a lot of riding to get done also!
Many thanks to all who helped me with this over the years, including @gspd, @Blitz and everyone here. Vendors like Max BMW, Euro Moto Electrics, BMW Hucky, and Hansen's.
Call me Mel. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me at home, I thought I would ride about a little and see the other parts of the world.
Re: Woo Hoo! A Big Project!
Not sure exactly what it is about these damned relics, but 'sweet' sounds just right.
Not sure if it's just me. but I often feel like I'm piloting a Fokker triplane without wings.
Sweeet.
I'm a bit skeptical about how the longer shocks will pan out in the long run...
Driveshaft angle, overall bike angle, sag with and without your next victim, err, pillion audition, all have to be factored in.
Was there a specific reason for going to longer shocks?
Mechanic from Hell
"I remember every raging second of it...
My bike was on fire, the road was on fire, and I was on fire.
It was the best ride ever!"
"I remember every raging second of it...
My bike was on fire, the road was on fire, and I was on fire.
It was the best ride ever!"