Hier is a verry tidy bicke to go for
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...e/1045349849&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13901307356038
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...e/1045349849&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13901307356038
I think I want to buy an Airhead - Which one?
- Thread starter markjackson
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markjackson
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I just don't get this more power thing
I like them all and accept each one as it is....It's called character
If I sold the HP2, and were to use the airhead in the company of fairly quick riding friends on KTM950/GS1200 etc, i'm not sure what sort of slow would be too slow though…
My Bonnie (40 odd bhp) is definitely too slow in such company if on faster roads (say Tongue to Ullapool for example), but fine larking about locally.
A Guzzi Le Mans 850 I rode recently is perhaps quick enough on such roads, but would look daft on TKC80s and didn't fit me at all. It did get me thinking a standard R100GS would have similar feeling engine tho…
Definitely agree on the character thing
Hier is a verry tidy bicke to go for
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...e/1045349849&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13901307356038
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...e/1045349849&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13901307356038
markjackson
Registered user
Yes, I'd thought about that, but it's too expensive for me if I don't sell the HP2 and yet If I did sell it I could get something more expensive.
So I guess an ideal one for me would either be REALLY cheap (to go alongside the HP2 and be paid for by the sale of its 3 Supermoto wheels and some random garage clutter) or quite a high spec/expensive variant to wholly replace the HP2.
Although I suppose the 3rd option would be a mid priced airhead plus a high milage cheap DOHC GSA to replace the HP2?
Too many choices!
I've just got back from collecting a bottom end from Richie. Balanced crank, flywheel and clutch, vapour blasted crankcase and new mains. With the re lined barrels, moorespeed pistons, ported and flowed heads, one piece over size valves, fast road cam and new dellorto carbs I won't even be looking at half that price for the engine by the time it's done. If your standard parts are worn it's actually more often cheaper to buy Moorespeed parts than genuine BMW parts.
The problem with the airhead gs bikes is the chassis. It doesn't take much more power than standard to take it to the limit. My lightly modded gs will pull an indicated 120 on the clock but it doesn't feel safe at anything above 100 and to be honest I don't want to be riding at those speeds, however midrange it's superb, is smoother, faster and pulls harder than my standard gs and sits happily at 90. Well worth the modest outlay to tweak it.
markjackson
Registered user
That sounds a little more positive.
While limited in ability inside engines I'm pretty happy messing around with chassis components to get an olde bus bouncing and braking to my preference, and don't often ride at any prolonged high speed, but do love to accelerate 'enthusiastically' out of slower corners and some of the earlier comments ("Brisk walking pace"
) suggested I may be barking up the wrong tree (although they are also probably absolutely right
).I guess if I'm thinking of TKC80s, Karoos or Scorpions the tyre will be pretty limiting anyhow.
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Tell you what, I dont normally offer much in the way of practical help. I will bring my 100 GS to you and we can do a swap. It will save you all that hassle of travling and fafing around with ££. PM me your address and I will bring it up tuesday
You'd never find Yorkshire, you couldn't even find flippin' Devon a few years back !
That sounds a little more positive.
While limited in ability inside engines I'm pretty happy messing around with chassis components to get an olde bus bouncing and braking to my preference, and don't often ride at any prolonged high speed, but do love to accelerate 'enthusiastically' out of slower corners and some of the earlier comments ("Brisk walking pace"
I guess if I'm thinking of TKC80s, Karoos or Scorpions the tyre will be pretty limiting anyhow.
The airheads come into their own when it comes to getting the spanners out. They are very well made and in a different league to Brit bikes in terms of reliability and build quality, however many have suffered badly from neglect and poor or no maintainance over the years so you usually need to spend time and money sorting them out. There's also a huge amount of replacement parts on the market that actually knock a hole in the already meagre power outputs.
if you want to try a few out I have several you can ride if you don't mind travelling to the midlands. I do a lot of work in York. It takes around 1 3/4 hours to get here.
I'm also in the process of building this moorespeed tuned engine if you want to see how simple they are inside
Dahoum
Registered user
well its no good tacking a air head aut with them then you will just be frashing the balls aut of it if thier quik riders thats what I found aut when I went aut with my mate hu rides a Gachiva Raptur so i just use the air head when I ride allone or with uther air head riders !!!!
If I sold the HP2, and were to use the airhead in the company of fairly quick riding friends on KTM950/GS1200 etc, i'm not sure what sort of slow would be too slow though…
My Bonnie (40 odd bhp) is definitely too slow in such company if on faster roads (say Tongue to Ullapool for example), but fine larking about locally.
A Guzzi Le Mans 850 I rode recently is perhaps quick enough on such roads, but would look daft on TKC80s and didn't fit me at all. It did get me thinking a standard R100GS would have similar feeling engine tho…
Definitely agree on the character thing
markjackson
Registered user
I have several you can ride if you don't mind travelling to the midlands. I do a lot of work in York. It takes around 1 3/4 hours to get here.
I'm also in the process of building this moorespeed tuned engine if you want to see how simple they are inside
Wow, thanks for the offer Rob, I'm actually very happy to travel (as long as I have heated seats
), and spend most of my days on the road with work (Derbyshire tomorrow), so now you've unwisely offered…
So it sounds like what I need is a nice R80 GS Basic, with a good back shock and Moorespeed tweaks to give over 80bhp, then it'll be just about quick enough, wonderful looking and….
Oh, probably costing far beyond what I could get for the HP2
markjackson
Registered user
One of the friends I often ride with had a sorted Cagiva Raptor, running track day tyres and uprated suspension, but he's faster these days on a 950 KTM adventure on Pirelli Scorpions. It just seems to suit him better
In fact the 950ktm is another nice bike I could have alongside a cheaper airhead if I sold the HP2… too many options!
Wow, thanks for the offer Rob, I'm actually very happy to travel (as long as I have heated seats
So it sounds like what I need is a nice R80 GS Basic, with a good back shock and Moorespeed tweaks to give over 80bhp, then it'll be just about quick enough, wonderful looking and….
Oh, probably costing far beyond what I could get for the HP2
It was a serious offer.
Just buy a standard r100gs and a basic subframe from bamw http://www.bamw.co.uk/parts/subframe-conversion.html and then a pair of moorespeed pistons. If you want to push the. Boat out get the heads ported and overhauled by moorespeed and that should about do you.
jaber
Registered user
fayeslane
Registered user
I'd add a 320mm front disc couple with a twin pot caliper just to help keep your pants clean
All this talk of power, yet my 80 was a much nicer engine than the 100 even after I had the 100 totally rebuilt. The 80 was so much smoother and a little bit faster to rev up. Would cruise at the same speed as the 100, probably a few miles an hour slower flat out.
Airhead chassis is the problem if you ride with quick mates on KTM 950's ect you will destroy the thing in next to no time
On my modified airhead the engine is stock and it's still pleanty fast enough off road...
Infact it's super tractable and far easyer to ride over tricky stuff than the HP2 and in the real world offroad just as quick most the time
I like my old airhead tough as old boots....and still has enough power to dig a ditch
HP2 is a lot more fragile....
Sold the HP2 but not the airhead
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Smoothest airhead engine I ever owned was a R80GS para I bought from the Rt. Hon. BHT ( quick
) and it went like stink ! I know the R100GS is 10 bhp more but as stated above, seems to be how they are set up etc 
steviefd
Registered user
I have the 1979 r65 same type that did the Dakar, and same colour. I love it, the sheer size of the engine is very Wallace and gromit. It's twice the size of a similar age Brit/jap motorbike engine 
