motorcycles

I find late 70s era BMW motorcycles in stock form to be reliable, very rideable machines. They are durable, new and used parts are widely available, and through each project I have come to understand them better. As I have gotten to know these machines I have identified a few upgrades that improve these machines and make me happy!

Dual Disc Front Brakes

The only Airhead model from this era to come from the factory with dual disc front brakes was, I believe, the RS. When an RS comes up for sale it usually sells for more than I want to spend for a 50 year old motorcycle. So, rather than paying top-dollar I have gone to the resale market to find the bits necessary to add a second front brake to one of my single-brke models. By buying parts bikes, searching eBay, and working my network I have been able to acquire all the bits necessary to add a second caliper to the R75 /7 and the R80 /7. The R100 /7 has a different dual disc setup because it sports a leading link front end as it is currenty tasked with sidecar duty.

Crash Bars

I like having crash bars installed primarily because they not only protect the motor in case I lay down the machine but also because they provide a good mount poing for one of my other other upgrades - LED driving lights. Opinions are mixed regarding crash bars and they can make routine maintenance a bit more challenging, but it is my persona prefence to run with crash bars.

LED Light Upgrades

Headlight Replacement

Once upon a time I got caught after dark on a road with no overhead lights. To make matters worse, the road had been chip sealed and the lane lines had not yet been reapplied. Because of the stock H4 headlight bulb, that was one of the slowest, most nerve-wracking rides of my life. When I arrived at my destination I bought and installed a Cyclops LED headlight.

LED Driving Lights

Because I like being able to see where I'm going I have also made a set of Hella 500 driving lights standard-issue on my motorcycles. These come from Hella with halogen bulbs but as part of the installation I swap out the halogens for LED bulbs. To mount these lights on the crash bars a clamp mount was required. I use these on my machines but they appear to be no longer available. When it came time to mount lights on the sidecar's front bumper I used these. They're not as "clean" looking as the orginal clamps but they do appear to be available! To clean up the installation a bit I also opt for a switch that clamps on to the handlebars.

KAT DASH

The stock incandescent bulbs in the instrument cluster aren't great and the instrument cluster of every Airhead I've encountered has been opened up and the plastic circuit board has been molested in some way. To remedy this, each of my Airheads has a KATDASH kit installed. Installation is straight-forward and eash to accomplish at the workbench. Don't forget to include an LED Parking light with your order. It's only $4!

LED Turn Signals

Another upgrade I like is converting the incandescent turn signals to LED. This requires a replacement turn signal relay because the stock relay requires the resistance from the stock incandescent bulbs. KATDASH can provide the relay along with the bulbs required to complete the conversion.

LED Brake Light

This is another visibility upgrade I feel is essential. Replacing the stock incandescent bulb with this light kit makes me more visible to the vehicle behind me when I'm stopping.

Polished Aluminum Turn Signal Assembly

Adding these to my machines makes me happy! I have been told that installing these on a /7 is incorrect but it they are my motorcycles, I'm spemding my money, they are shiny, and shiny makes me happy! You can find reproductions here, you can ask my favorite used parts reseller if he has a set available, or you can search for them on eBay. They are a bit pricey but again, they make me smile!

Where To Find This Stuff

I try to make purchases as close to the manufacturer as possible but when I cannot buy direct I buy from a short list of online merchants.

• Bob's Motorcycles has been a long-time source for parts, expertise, and outstanding customer service. I can order parts from their website using the BMW parts microfiche, they can help round up a "parts kit" for a big project (front fork rebuild, clutch replacement, routine maintenance, etc.), and they have provided consistently great customer service since the day I made my first order with them decades ago. Bob's Motorcycles is the gold standard!
• Euro Motoelectrics is also a reliable supplier of parts and accessories. For routine maintenance and replacement parts I will typically comparison shop and often find them to be competitive. EME is also filling an important niche for us Airhead lovers by making electronic ignition and charging kits available as well as some previously discontinued parts. Their parts catalog is large, customer service is solid, and shipping is timely.
• Martindale Motorcycle Works is a great resource for complex service and repairs as well as used parts. As I've been bringing my R80 back to life I have been sending money to MMW for parts to replace those not properly maintained by the previous owner(s). The proprietor is a good guy and knows his way around these machines!

I'll somewhat reluctantly order up many of the "associated" parts - additional lightbulbs, switches, and motor oil with approprite levels of Zink, and so on - from Amazon. Love 'em or hate 'em they do make most of the bits & pieces I need available. As an FYI, because I plan ahead I have no need to pay for a Prime subscription. Waiting a few days for free shipping is perfectly acceptable and keeps a few more dollars in my pocket!