First ride on the 1976 BMW R75/6
 

So last Friday I hooked the trailer up to the 4Runner and drove 542 miles from Jefferson City, MO to Roberts, WI to purchase the bike. The bike was every bit as nice as it looked in the pictures. Not a museum piece, but a nice, clean bike. Loaded it up and drove straight back home arriving 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Tired, but happy.

I did a few things to it Sunday, adjusted the clutch, replaced a burned out headlight (well actually just the low beam was burned out), checked all the fluids and took it for a shake down ride. This was my first airhead and when I first took off it felt strange to feel the gyroscopic forces come into play and feel the driveshaft driven rear end kind of lift up. Bike rode great. Took it for about 50 miles on the back roads and had a blast. Didn't hit the curves too fast as the tires are old and do not inspire confidence.

I can see this bike being with me a long time. While old, it has enough horsepower and stopping power to keep up with modern traffic. It also has character and is a bit quirky. It drew attention everywhere I stopped. People like to talk about it.

The airhead BMW's were produced in significant numbers and there are a lot of them out there in very good condition selling between $2500 and $4000. They have a large following and parts are cheap and easy to get. There are several forums dedicated to the airhead BMW's.

On the trailer going home:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288624485.jpg

The first ride:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1288624607.jpg

Very nice bike Kurt - Did it come with the Krauser bags, I see the mounts.

Very nice. Glad to hear you had a great experience and are happy with the purchase. Seems like the seller must have been a good guy and took great care of the bike. I keep vasilating back and forth between something very similar to what you bought and a mildy cafe'd mid 70's CB750 as a second bike. I think the BMW will probably win out. Of course if I'm like Bob I won't stop at 2 anyway. I'm getting the cool leathers to go with in a week from another Pelican. This place is amazing. Cars, bikes, relationship advice.

Sure did. They are in good shape and the seller even had a key for the locks!

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_1458.jpg

Very nice looking! You are correct that you will have this for a long time.

One thing, you know that the fairing is not stock? Its off of a R90/R100S model BMW and did not come on the R75/6. That said, I did the same thing and love the "S" model fairing.

One upgrade you might want to look at is the dual disk front end off of a R100S/RS. Bolt on and doubles your front braking. Also might look at a front fork brace to keep them rigid.

Good to see you on an old BMW! They are a lot of fun to ride! If you ever need to remove the exhaust, let me know, will loan you the required wrench.

Joe A

Thanks for the good words Joe. Yes I knew about the fairing, but I definitely like it on there. I have read about the brake upgrade, but will wait on that and see if I really need it.

As for the wrench, I think I might have one in the tool kit. If not, I now know who to ask!

Kurt,

The one in the tool kit is to be used after the nuts have been removed in the recent past, lubed up with never-sieze and are fresh. You will not get the nuts off with the wrench in the tool kit if the bike has been ridden for a while, you need the extra leverage. This one is almost 2 foot long, so a lot easier.

Play with the bike and you probably do not need the upgrade, but they can be found for a reasonable price and it just makes the front end look better having dual disks up front. They were an option on most of the bikes of that era, but shipped stock with the single disk for a year or two until BMW decided to make them stock across the line.

Will PM you with something.

Very nice....and inspirational. Thinking along similar lines. Riding time is much rarer these days and as such, have a guy interested in buying my K12S. If he comes through, I'd welcome an older BMW with a bit of patina and character for Sunay morning stress-relief rides. Nice job. Get some new rubber installed. Will transform the riding experience...and confidence.

I've always wanted one myself, nice pickup.

Very nice! I've owned a few older BMW boxers, both /5s and /6s. That is a particularly handsome bike w/ the small S fairing and the bags, also it has the early style seat. The funny thing about those bikes is that they are real strange to ride when jumping on it from any other bike, (this was equally true when they were new), but as soon as you acclimate to it, it's like a perfect horse that you've been riding in a previous life or two. The Germans are funny like that...making weird schit that you just can't get enough of.

That is a very pretty, solid, classy bike. You should be proud of it, as was the PO.

Replace those tires.... NOW!

Nothing is more important.

You don't want to loose a front tire at speed, neither the bike nor you will look the same.


Beautiful (the bike), don't know about you.

MOST tasty! I miss my old R80RT.

You don't have to tell me twice. Metzler Lasertecs ordered and should be in and on the bike tomorrow! SmileWavy

Beautiful machine.

This, and ALL your rubber brake and fuel lines

that bike is a nice find!!

I have only ever ridden an old airhead. What do you mean gyroscopic effect? What does a normal bike ride like?

Anything with a crankshaft that runs fore/aft will rock to one side as you increase the engine speed. These bikes do it, Moto Guzzis do it...

Should we be typing this in greeN?

JR

On the BMW's they all have a shaft drive. When you give it gas and move out, the rear end raises with power. Its something that only a shaft drive bike does.