Have I done the right thing R100S

[ZED 1000]

Having zero knowledge of BMW Air-Head boxers I viewed one this weekend and agreed to buy it, have I made a mistake.
I first heard about the bike a couple of years ago through a guy at work, he knew I was into 70’s Zeds and showed me a couple of photos of a partly disassembled 1977 BMW, his partner had agreed 17 years ago to store the bike in their shed for her farther who was retiring from riding but did not want to part with the bike he’d owned since 1978, I mentioned to him that if ever the bike came up for sale I could be interested, he doubted that would ever happen as his partner looked upon it as an heirloom.

10 days ago I received a message saying that the bike would shortly be offered for sale.

The bike has full MOT history and documented service history confirming is 27000 miles, 1 owner for its first 18months or so, its current owner has had the bike for 38 years, The bikes been stored off the road since 2000 its not in fully standard condition having at some point had the engine and forks painted black, before putting it up for sale it has undergone some recommissioning including replacing the , battery, both silencers and the tyres, also had the wheels re-laced with new spokes and all of the body work re-painted (although I think the side panels should have been black) also MOTed on Saturday morning ready for me to view it on Saturday afternoon.

I liked two things about this bike, its ownership history, and it just seems to be an honest (if that’s the right word) little bike, I say little cos when I sat on it it felt more like a 250 or 400 than a 1000, Oh and what’s with the sideways lurch when I blipped the throttle ?, my 70s jap UJM Zed’s never did that.

As previously stated I know nothing at all about these older BMW’s so will probably be on here after advice, my plan is to run the bike as is for a couple of years, by then I should have finished my ongoing (5 or6 years and counting) restoration of my 76 Z1000,after a couple of summers I will know if I like owning and riding the BM, then set about restoring it as best I can to keep.

 

[ZED 1000]

The Photo (I hope)

Here's the Photo

 

[Packer]

Looks like a tidy usable classic. If the price was right for you I don't see it being a mistake as long as there aren't any expensive mechanical faults. The sideways lurch when you blip the throttle is standard, it has a longitudinal crank whereas your UJM's are all transverse.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I like that

 

[timeandtide]

Very nice!

 

[Posh Pete]

Wire wheels instead of cast snowflakes! (A classic look - more desirable and lighter) A set of Krauser panniers. A lip on the screen to help with the airflow and take the wind off you. What's not to like? You'll never lose money on it and you can have lots of fun in the meantime!

The sideways lurch is the trademark of a boxer engine, especiallly the earlier (pre 1979/80) heavier flywheel model. You'll find that the rear end rises when you engage first gear and drive away on a hill also. Character!

Check the mechanicals for obvious signs of distress and if nothing there ... Get it bought!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Looks great.

I know you haven't got it yet but a bar mounted master cylinder conversion will help take the terror out of the front brakes.

 

[Kenny]

As Rob says above, brakes can be cronic on this system. Brake conversion ( or at very least a new cable from lever to master cylinder ).

 

[ZED 1000]

Looks great.

I know you haven't got it yet but a bar mounted master cylinder conversion will help take the terror out of the front brakes.

This is the sort of info I need, F/brake seemed very weak to me on Saturday even though it had satisfied the MOT requirements only a few hours before, I will have a read up on here for tips to improve this as my first job.

Thanks for all the positive comments, with luck I will be collecting it this comming weekend.

I also now need to find a 4 bike Air-Chamber or maybe 5 as I have my eye on a Z900 but that might well be "a bridge to far" so soon after buying the BM.

 

[Deleted account 210604001]

No, you have done exactly the wrong thing, its an abomination.

Luckily, I will take this monstrosity off your hands for the amount you paid and remove this burden from you.

Sound OK ?

RBW.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Motobins sell a kit. It isn't cheap but saves a lot of hassle with tracking down parts. A lot of the master cylinders that appear on ebay are scrap so unless you know who's selling it its worth paying for a new one.

This was the same conversion on my 78 RS

same on my 78 100/7 (this has the later forks as well)

 

[ZED 1000]

No, you have done exactly the wrong thing, its an abomination.

Luckily, I will take this monstrosity off your hands for the amount you paid and remove this burden from you.

Sound OK ?

RBW.

Well you seem like an honest gentleman willing to help me out of this mess I find myself in, its a deal then, when will you be round to collect it ?

 

[ZED 1000]

Rob

Thank you for the pointer, looks like you need a larger storage facility for your bikes, or to stop buying them, no that's wrong more bikes is better.

 

[jackassdave]

hang on i think you have made a terrible mistake and you should sell it to me cheaply as at least get some of your money back

 

[Rob Farmer]

Rob

Thank you for the pointer, looks like you need a larger storage facility for your bikes, or to stop buying them, no that's wrong more bikes is better.

I'll be selling a couple of airheads in the near future to free up some space. I've far too many bikes and parts laying about.

 

[Beemerboff]

Dont panic on the front brakes, the bike has been standing a fair while and everything is going to be aged and little stiff.
There are also better linings around these days too, Ferodo have their Platinum series and Lucas/TRW have something which is reputed to work well too.
You havent mentioned the brake fluid either, or the condition of the hoses.


All the obvious pivot points on the lever, cable and master cylinder will probably need lubing , and the cable will too. The pin which the caliper pivots on will need attention too, both to let the pads swivel on it, and to let it pivot in the fork legs, as it is this pivoting which enables the pads to line up with the disk - when it is free enough you should be able to line the pads up with a good hard squeeze of the brake lever.
When it is all working properly a change to a handlebar MC is actually a step backwards unless you use a sleeved down master cylinder , 11mm works best but 12 mm is still OK and is easier to source.
You will still need to give the lever a decent sort of squeeze for full braking power , but you will get used to it.

 

[Edward]

The brakes are not that bad. A change of master cylinder to the handlebar will make a bit of a difference and is certainly more convenient. The problem of poor braking on models like yours is usually with mal adjustment of the swinging ATE calipers. Ferodo pads as suggested will be good. Sort the caliper adjustment before you spend money on a new master cylinder. I have a few airheads with these brakes and once set up they are OK, as good as a 70s Zeds but obviously not a match for monoblock Brembos.
You definitely have not made a mistake, yours looks a lovely bike which you can enjoy and be better than money in the bank in my view.
Please bear in mind I know sweet FA.

 

[Posh Pete]

Replace the brake lines. They look original. Otherwise, as above. If you change to Brembo, keep the parts of course so you can return it to original spec for any future purist owner!

 

[ZED 1000]

Thanks all for the reassurance and input, already I am gaining valuable knowledge.
Collection of the bike set for Sunday hope for a dry day when I get home, unload it out the van and off up the road for a full tryout.

 

[ZED 1000]

First proper ride today

Nervously fed in the clutch and off we went!
First application of the front brake brought back memories of the brief test ride omfg how can they be that bad, 4 miles in I am more relaxed pleased with how willing this bike is to swap lines through the bends, it's way more comfortable swithching line than a Zed of the same era but lacks the grunt of the Zed out of the bend, we pull up at a T junction and it's running at 3k popping back and surging, think the floats are flooding the carbs, onto the main road we pull willingly to 70 cruising speed for 8 or 9 miles slow to stop again at a mates house still running at 3k with throttle off I hit the kill switch pop pop loud bang it stops then proceeds to piss petrol out of the right carb at a fair rate switch off the petrol and already have a 20inch dia pool of petrol under the bike. Please tell me what's the fix ?
The return run home has the bike still running at 3k with the clutch in between gear changes but much more brake effect the more I use the front brace the better it pulls up and I am enjoying the ride through the lanes, as I open it up a bit more it holds back every now and then like fuel starvation, I must have carb problems.