[72cb500]

i've had a thing for old bmws ever since meeting a guy with a. old r65/5. well i just happened upon someone who knows someone with an early 70's r100 and it sounds like a good base for a project bike. just wondering if anyone's had any experience with them and if they're good bikes or not. i've not heard anything bad about them... also i was thinking a cafe racer styled bmw would be really cool... has anyone done it?

1972 honda cb 500

 

[jbranson]

Closest I can come is a 88 R100RT.

Seemed like an OK bike. Certainly not the smooth, silky machine some make them out to be. Did everything in an acceptable manner but was sorely lacking in personality. Handling was OK if you like shaft drive. Had no real mechanical issues. Always started. And although I can't say it was one of my favorite bikes....I did probably ride it more than any bike I ever owned...which is exactly what they were designed for.
JohnnyB

 

[texmawby]

you should check out the team incomplete website. www.teamincomplete.com

look under, "boxter project."

tex

 

[joe c]

i know tom always complains about his 1000 not starting in the cold. the starter wont crank the motor. mike o's got one now and i took it for a spin and its typical beemer riding. straight up and down, out there, and all day comfort. any bmw would be ok with me though. i know someone looking for an early 80's r90, if anyone knows anyone. and i know a guy whos going to be getting rid of and r69.


me

 

[paced_haste]

it has definitely been done before. i actually started a BMW cafe racer project a couple of years ago. i never made it past mounting the seat, but it was gonna be a real winner! dual-plug 1080cc, a K-bike front end with two brembo discs...neat bike. cursed teenage laziness.
i've grown up with the BMWs, my daddio has done lots of stuff with them and if you're a fan of the marque they'll pretty much do it all. have any of you CRA guys seen Dave Katz's cafe BMW? it's a pretty cool bike. i might be able to get my hands on a picture of it if you want CB.
i say you go forward with this R100 cafe project. and see if you can make it to any vintage races, because if there are any BMWs in the field you'll surely pick up some ideas on how to shed weight or rout exhaust...whatever. anyway man, i think it's a sweet idea.

Z

 

[joe c]

oh yeah, i forgot dave has one. ricky randall has a couple too. turnbull has 4 bikes he rides i think and chris m has his /2 and a 750. theres also a guy around the corner from me who has an r90 and an newer gs. then theres another guy who lives on the same block who has an r80. my friend patric has a 1000 too. and of course bucky has a couple. most off the bmw guys in town all know eah other. its pretty cool. im the only one without one. im such a loser.

jc

 

[jbranson]

Personally I can't live without a modern sport bike.

Old bikes are fun...new bikes are awe inspiring rocket ships.
JohnnyB

 

[joe c]

modern bikes are too fast for me. i always end up going waaayyy over the speed limit by accident. what can i say, i have no self control.

jc

 

[72cb500]

a pic would be great, paced haste. i'm waiting on my friend to get back to me about it, he told me about it last week. the nice thing about them is that mechanicall they have a lot in common with early volkswagens, and i have a lot of experience with those so working on it shouldn't be that hard.

1972 honda cb 500

 

[texmawby]

http://www.teamincomplete.com/Boxer/boxerhome.html

sorry i don't do pictures.

tex

 

[imslow]

BTW, who is "george" that has all those race bikes for sale on the classifieds on the uscra web site?

s

 

[jbranson]

Probably George Gramlich...cool guy...kinda intense though.

He used to be real active but bought a Beefalo ranch a few years ago and that has been keeping him busy. He lives about 45 minutes from here.
JohnnyB

 

[paced_haste]

i'll work on pics for you, i sent an e-mail to my friend with the bike. that team incomplete site has a LOT of pictures and even more information, so definitely check that out if you haven't already. not sure what you've got in mind, but as far as cafe Beemers go, that one looks about right to me.

Z

 

[joe c]

zach, i have pics of your dads /2 hack with the 1600 in it somewhere around here. unless kirsten gave it away with our old computer. ug. thats a cool ride. and hes got some big balls to ride that thing cross country.

how about one like this??

jc

 

[mikeo]

Early 70's???????? I didn't think they made r100's untill 76 or something like that. Good solid bikes though. Not a good handling as an /5 or maybe an r80. They do have a weak ignition system in that if the battery isn't fully charged it won't start very easily. You can get a kick start transmission for them but they're a little hard to find. The one I have now has the electronic ignition that still uses the points instead of the ususal magnetic pickup for triggering. I works very well and I've started it in 30's degree weather and after having sat for a month. Its a good mod. The frame is a little spongy at 85+mph but is managable. I would get (and have on mine) a later model front end (the one with Brembo calipers is best - 1985 or 6 I think). I rode mine back from California and put in a couple of 600+ mile days and survived to tell the tale ( I would do it again too). Get it.

Mike O.

 

[72cb500]

the guy that told me about it said early 70's, he wasn't really sure what year it was. he still hasn't gotten in touch with him either, grrr.

1972 honda cb 500

 

[joe c]

mikes right, they werent until late 70's, but i dont know exaclty which dates. mikes is nice. i liked riding it around. the brembo braked front ends are around too. i know some serious beemer heads if you seriously get into it. you could talk to bucky at bobs bmw. he is the man when it comes to beemer parts etc...even showed some the of the guys in munich a thing or 2 when he was there for the annual service meetings.

jc

 

[mikeo]

1977 was the first listed model year, I looked it up. Buy it.