OK I'm a Newbie to BMW Airheads

[Terryb]

I have just acquired a 1979 R80/7 Café Racer. My skill base is Classic UK bikes and I have two BSA's an A7 & A10, both restored by myself and finished, so hence the purchase of the R80. I'm familiar with BMW's, they were our family transport when I grew up. Dad was a great motorcyclist and was still riding in sixties, ending up with an R69S with a Steib sidecar.

So my question is, my Café Racer has a plank style dual seat and as I'm nearly 80, my rump is a bit skinny and ride is extremely uncomfortable. The bike is naked (no fairing or mudguards) so can someone recommend some rear shocks, which may soften the rear end please? My budget is £250 max, which may restrict choice.

 

[casbar]

I have just acquired a 1979 R80/7 Café Racer. My skill base is Classic UK bikes and I have two BSA's an A7 & A10, both restored by myself and finished, so hence the purchase of the R80. I'm familiar with BMW's, they were our family transport when I grew up. Dad was a great motorcyclist and was still riding in sixties, ending up with an R69S with a Steib sidecar.

So my question is, my Café Racer has a plank style dual seat and as I'm nearly 80, my rump is a bit skinny and ride is extremely uncomfortable. The bike is naked (no fairing or mudguards) so can someone recommend some rear shocks, which may soften the rear end please? My budget is £250 max, which may restrict choice.

If your on facebook you might want to join the "airhead association" facebook group, loads of members mainly UK and loads of experience. There are also plenty of airhead gurus on here though

 

[Stirlingmoz]

Hi and welcome.

What shocks do you have fitted at the moment ?

Koni dial a rides were once considered the aftermarket shock of choice.

Hagons are likely in your price range.

Go mad and treat yourself to Maxtons.

Plenty still to choose from.

 

[Bubb]

Change the seat ?
Comfy seat first, then see if you need new shocks.
Many “cafe racer” airheads are built to look a certain way, rather than be rideable…imho.
Try a standard airhead, which come with a proper seat as designed by bmw to be suitable for decent mileage rides.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Welcome!

Binfield? Come the spring, let’s get some gsers like yourself together at the Wednesday lunchtime Blackbushe Airfield gatherings.

In the meantime, change your seat, change your shocks or find something to bite on.

See you when the sun shines. P

 

[Mad Hatter]

Welcome. We need a photo....

 

[scooter paul]

My /7 set up; single, police spec seat. Hagon shocks. I’ve done thousands of touring miles and find it as comfortable as any, more so than some! For some reason the Hagons were supplied slightly longer than stock which suits me. I’m tall and I also like a quick steering bike so the longer shocks help.

 

[Terryb]

Hi Guy's thanks for the advice, I am going to try a Comfy seat before changing the Shocks. Not sure of the make of my Shocks I will try to upload a photo and yes I do go to the Bush Café with the fallout from Jack's Fish & Chip café at Bagshot, Happy Days Anyway I will post the results from the Comfy seat. Cheers

 

[Gelandestrasse]

See if a cheap bit of foam (2" thick?) shoved between you and the current seat helps. Then go from there. Some go for sheep skin.

 

[TYKEBBS]

Welcome Terryb...lots of help and banter on here

I agree with the Hagon suggestion, if you ring them they will offer good help/guidance

 

[Stirlingmoz]

Hi Guy's thanks for the advice, I am going to try a Comfy seat before changing the Shocks. Not sure of the make of my Shocks I will try to upload a photo and yes I do go to the Bush Café with the fallout from Jack's Fish & Chip café at Bagshot, Happy Days Anyway I will post the results from the Comfy seat. Cheers

I’m not far from you in Lightwater and occasionally visited Jacks in Bagshot.

Where is the Bush Cafe you mention ?
Not familiar with that one.

 

[mikeyboy]

Can’t say I’m a massive fan of hagon shocks,always seemed a bit under damped and hard on the spring rate ,but heyho each to their own.
( that said,their customer service is good)
I’d always go with ikon dialarides if the budget allows.
(I don’t know if the customer service is any good as I’ve never needed it)

 

[Kenny]

I put YSS shocks on mine. Biggest comfort change was digging out the old leather jeans ! Not a Hagon fan myself either.

 

[Wierpig]

Yep, YSS on mine as well. Great shocks for the price.

 

[barny]

Worth looking on here - https://shock-factory.co.uk/

They are highly rated even by some on here.

 

[Terryb]

I’m not far from you in Lightwater and occasionally visited Jacks in Bagshot.

Where is the Bush Cafe you mention ?
Not familiar with that one.

Blackbush Aerodrome it's called the Pathfinders Cafe

 

[scooter paul]

Blackbush Aerodrome it's called the Pathfinders Cafe

Is this meet seasonal or year round? Sorry if I’ve missed this info. I used to like the Bagshot meet.

 

[Terryb]

Is this meet seasonal or year round? Sorry if I’ve missed this info. I used to like the Bagshot meet.

It’s every Wednesday from about 11.00 most of the original lads from Jacks go there.

 

[ScruffyDroid]

I’m not far from you in Lightwater and occasionally visited Jacks in Bagshot.

Where is the Bush Cafe you mention ?
Not familiar with that one.

I'm in Heatherside, off The Maultway... Just a mortar away.

Sent from my Lenovo TB-J616F using Tapatalk

 

[Stirlingmoz]

I'm in Heatherside, off The Maultway... Just a mortar away.

Sent from my Lenovo TB-J616F using Tapatalk

I’m down the hill at the other end of Red Road.

Small world