Dogbytes' R80 ST project
- Thread starter Dogbytes
- Start date
solidstate100
Registered user
A fascinating thread. I'd love to know what BM built into airheads that is so addictive
Looking Good. When is your engine coming back?
Thanks Rob. I think I last spoke to Richie two weeks ago and he said two to three weeks - so this week... Theoretically! I know he's very busy and it's not something I want him to rush so I haven't been hassling him. There are a few big bits (exhaust, foot controls, seat subframe) to make/finish and dozens of details to attend to. Then paint, powder coat and electrics. I still think it can be rolling sometime in June. An engine and transmission would be a big psychological boost!
A fascinating thread. I'd love to know what BM built into airheads that is so addictive
Thanks, glad you like it.
I've had a lot of time to think about this and I can, at least partly. answer it.
Simplicity. They built simplicity into them - okay, apparent simplicity. Their 'look' is of something built from a small number of large bits and they aren't intimidating at first glance, so people are inclined to believe that they could have a go. That's reinforced by sites like this - there is a lot of knowledge and experience - and moral support available.
Flexibility. Based on a high end roadster, these bikes, in their day, won everything from Superbike road races to Paris-Dakar rallies. That's quite something. It also means that whatever a person fancies building, from gentlemans' tourer to café racer to rally raid replica, there is some kind of historical precedent - and validity.
Quality. They've always been associated with quality. You don't feel that you're wasting your time and money on something that isn't going to be around long.
Because of their popularity there us a thriving market high end aftermarket parts and services.
Me? Well, for those of us of a certain age, BMWs (they were all airheads then!) were the highest quality tourers and sports bikes out there, they were always something to aspire to. Three years after I started riding, I bought a 7 month old Moto Guzzi Le Mans mk.1 and kept it for 11 years (so I like shaft drive twins!). It coincided with a period of my life which combined a lot of riding, a reasonable amount of skill, complete idiocy and some great roads (the moors of northern England) - the golden days of my motorcycling career. My reading was full of the likes of Butler & Smith and SJ roller cam BMW boxers, Mead & Tomkinson's Laverda-engined 'Nessie' endurance racer (a guy near me had a retired one on the road) and the exquisite 'Mantlepiece' Honda four, built for Howard Blau, in the U.S. The bike I'm building here harks back to that, it's what I'd have had back then if I could have (what I should have had, then or now, is a different matter).
Others just want something they can ride to work and fix themselves. And there it is, we've all grown up with them around us and they're capable of being, pretty much, all things to all people.
Long may it remain so!
solidstate100
Registered user
Thanks, glad you like it.
I've had a lot of time to think about this and I can, at least partly. answer it.
Simplicity. They built simplicity into them - okay, apparent simplicity. Their 'look' is of something built from a small number of large bits and they aren't intimidating at first glance, so people are inclined to believe that they could have a go. That's reinforced by sites like this - there is a lot of knowledge and experience - and moral support available.
Flexibility. Based on a high end roadster, these bikes, in their day, won everything from Superbike road races to Paris-Dakar rallies. That's quite something. It also means that whatever a person fancies building, from gentlemans' tourer to café racer to rally raid replica, there is some kind of historical precedent - and validity.
Quality. They've always been associated with quality. You don't feel that you're wasting your time and money on something that isn't going to be around long.
Because of their popularity there us a thriving market high end aftermarket parts and services.
Me? Well, for those of us of a certain age, BMWs (they were all airheads then!) were the highest quality tourers and sports bikes out there, they were always something to aspire to. Three years after I started riding, I bought a 7 month old Moto Guzzi Le Mans mk.1 and kept it for 11 years (so I like shaft drive twins!). It coincided with a period of my life which combined a lot of riding, a reasonable amount of skill, complete idiocy and some great roads (the moors of northern England) - the golden days of my motorcycling career. My reading was full of the likes of Butler & Smith and SJ roller cam BMW boxers, Mead & Tomkinson's Laverda-engined 'Nessie' endurance racer (a guy near me had a retired one on the road) and the exquisite 'Mantlepiece' Honda four, built for Howard Blau, in the U.S. The bike I'm building here harks back to that, it's what I'd have had back then if I could have (what I should have had, then or now, is a different matter).
Others just want something they can ride to work and fix themselves. And there it is, we've all grown up with them around us and they're capable of being, pretty much, all things to all people.
Long may it remain so!
All of that - and importantly, character.
Thanks Rob. I think I last spoke to Richie two weeks ago and he said two to three weeks - so this week... Theoretically! I know he's very busy and it's not something I want him to rush so I haven't been hassling him. There are a few big bits (exhaust, foot controls, seat subframe) to make/finish and dozens of details to attend to. Then paint, powder coat and electrics. I still think it can be rolling sometime in June. An engine and transmission would be a big psychological boost!
Richie called into mine yesterday to pick up a bevel box. He said he was really busy. I'm sure he'll do it as soon as he can.
in the meantime please keep the pictures coming it's nice to have a project to follow
solidstate100
Registered user
Progress is being made slowly but steadily.
Richie reckons the motor will be there or thereabouts by the end of next week.
Paint is booked for the last week in June.
Anyone got a knackered three-bolt monolever bevel box? I'm after the bit the wheel bolts to - to mount my wheel into my wheel jig.
Richie reckons the motor will be there or thereabouts by the end of next week.
Paint is booked for the last week in June.
Anyone got a knackered three-bolt monolever bevel box? I'm after the bit the wheel bolts to - to mount my wheel into my wheel jig.
This may help.
Look on here somewhere. I wrote up a thread about wheel building. I just made up a large 'cup' to fit over the inside (r/h face) spigot of the hub, with a small through diameter for the conical wedge to fit into. The wheel was then held in place by the spindle cone on both the l/h side and the r/h side.
Turned out that the spigot, although a cast finish and not machined actually ran very true. Certainly good enough to build the wheel on.
Look on here somewhere. I wrote up a thread about wheel building. I just made up a large 'cup' to fit over the inside (r/h face) spigot of the hub, with a small through diameter for the conical wedge to fit into. The wheel was then held in place by the spindle cone on both the l/h side and the r/h side.
Turned out that the spigot, although a cast finish and not machined actually ran very true. Certainly good enough to build the wheel on.
Cheers. I'll have a look for that.
Exhausting
Before and after. I think the original headers are going to work, even though the engine has been moved, so I decided to clean them up a bit. I'll have to sort out a collector or Y-piece and tie it in to the silencer somehow.
In the meantime, the headers are tidy but not tidy enough. New ones? Ceramic coating? Exhaust wrap? Other suggestions?
Before and after. I think the original headers are going to work, even though the engine has been moved, so I decided to clean them up a bit. I'll have to sort out a collector or Y-piece and tie it in to the silencer somehow.
In the meantime, the headers are tidy but not tidy enough. New ones? Ceramic coating? Exhaust wrap? Other suggestions?
Attachments
Northern Monkey
Registered user
I'm curious on your options too! Was watching some stainless headers on eBay but went for £160+, so I'm thinking of the re chroming route - if you decide on new ones bear me in mind for your shoddy and downright crappy old ones 
Sent by magic
Sent by magic
