Your introduction to Airheads?

[ghostdncr]

Not so much where were you the first time you saw one, but when did it really click? What made you think you weren't gonna be able to sleep until you had one of your very own? I'm sure a lot of you fell into them because that's what the local shop was selling back in the day. I didn't even know Kentucky had a BMW dealer until about ten years ago.

Where I live, the streets are littered with Harleys and sport bikes. No, seriously, that makes up easily 99% of the bikes around here. I may have seen a half dozen Airheads hereabouts and three of those had out of state plates. When I go to other cities like Chicago or San Francisco, Airheads are quite commonplace and I spend a disproportionate amount of time walking around, checking these bikes out, and annoying the owners with questions.

So what's your story?

[I GS 1]

This is where it all started for me I think

[IMG][/IMG]

[gsd4me]

What`s the story behind that pic? obviously not from NZ.

[Bill Harris]

Originally Posted by GSD4ME

What`s the story behind that pic? obviously not from NZ.

Obviously Teutonic precision. Look at the bike/unit numbers on the front fender-- TG1, TG2, TG3... and so on. And notice the right pannier-- a state-of-the-art cell phone.

A truly unique photo.



+1 Rucksta.

[RecycledRS]

It was back in the seventies when a small motorcycle shop was opened in Kamloops by two young fellows just starting out. Peter and Martin had both been schooled in BMWs at Phillip Funnel's shop in Vancouver and had pooled their resources to open their own business.

Selling BMW, Hodaka and later Maico and Kawasaki in an old barn type building, they created a place that was the classic old motorcycle shop. I spent most of my free time and money there and made two very good friends. At the time, I was obsessed with racing motocross bikes and had little interest for the bigger, sedate BMWs. Despite my 2 stroke obsession, both Peter and Martin tried to get me to appreciate the elegance of German precision and reliability. While I had test ridden the mark, I just could not afford to both race and own the expensive BMW. Unfortunately, like many motorcycle shops of this period, their shop succumbed to the tough times in the early eighties.

Flash forward 40 years of family and business life and I find myself looking to relive a bit of my youth. In choosing what bike to buy, I was drawn back to that small shop and Peter and Martin's love of BMWs, and now I have to say that I should have listened to them then.

[Bill Harris]

Flash forward 40 years of family and business life and I find myself looking

The Germans have a saying for that:

Irgendwann kriegen wir Euch Alle! (eventually we get you all)

[caponerd]

I answered this question here a couple of weeks ago, but you did ask it in a slightly different way.

My answer, taking your wording into consideration, is that before I bought a BMW, I'd NEVER lusted after an airhead.
Like ricochetrider, I mostly rode British bikes, but purchased a Japanese bike in 1975 to give me something a bit more reliable to ride for commuting and trips.
I didn't particularly like BMW's, and just bought a basked case R69S because I thought I could part it out and make some money on it.

I ended up restoring it after much nagging and harrassment by two BMW enthusiast friends. Two years after I'd finished it, I finally realized what a great motorcycle it was.
Then I started lusting after a more modern airhead to increase the range and speed with which I could travel comfortably on a BMW.

[I GS 1]

Originally Posted by GSD4ME

What`s the story behind that pic? obviously not from NZ.

[IMG][/IMG]

They were the traffic cops from Germiston, South Africa. It is an ex gold mining town/city very close to Johannesburg. Although mean when it came to issuing tickets, they were known for their smartness and professionalism. Overall, I would say they were very well respected and the locals were very proud of them. You would see their bikes all over the city, always immaculate and never missing a beat. The impression was easily gained that they would run forever. When the city fathers started trying to save money and switched to running Japanese bikes all this fell apart and they soon became just another bunch of traffic cops. The BMW mystique became more entrenched and I know I was hooked. Bought my R90S then (1975) and still have it now

[IMG][/IMG]

[gsd4me]

Originally Posted by I GS 1

They were the traffic cops from Germiston, South Africa, they were known for their smartness and professionalism.

Seems like motorcycle cops from the past were the glamour boys of policing. I remember traffic cops from Wellington, NZ years ago (middle to late 1960`s); although strictly speaking, they weren`t police as they were run by the city council. They were always smartly dressed in tunics and jodhpurs, their 650 Triumph Thunderbirds clean and polished.

[ricochetrider]

I spent many years riding old Brit bikes. It may effectively be argued that yes, you can go anywhere on say, a 1950s BSA, or a more "modern" late 70s T-140E. However, I've always dreamed of longer distance riding in greater comfort (and going faster) than my old Brits will allow. Looking around, I still like the feel and looks of something less.... new? Less...modern? More retro, more vintage is more my style. Let's face it. Nobody gets any style points for showing up on anything modern or new! So... Airhead BMWs were a natural choice. It took me a minute, tho- as my first Beemer was an 88 K100! (still a "K" fan, recently bought an 02 K1200RS- I like the newer bikes, too!)
I've had two airheads- an 88 R100RT, and a 1993 R100RS, which I still own, and plan to keep. I've heard arguments against airheads, from my Brit bike buddies- who say they''re too agricultural- like a tractor. My response: They're not agricultural, they're ANALOG! Analog right to the very end of the run, too- my 1988 K100 is [far] more "modern" than my 93 R100!

I love the way you can almost feel the big pistons moving back and forth, that special whine you get as you wind em out. Airheads handle like nothing I've ever ridden. I am definitely, and will remain, a fan.

[Rucksta]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=799999

All the way down on page 4.
Some interesting responses that may or may not not repost so soon.

[ghostdncr]

I ran into one of these at a Horizons Unlimited get-together:



The one I encountered had seen far more use than the one above and was showing somewhere around 180,000 on the odometer. Naturally, it had an IBA license plate surround. The half seat was in place along with the rear rack and the aluminum panniers were natty from many miles and covered with stickers in varying states of decay. The rider was an affable fellow who answered all my questions and even let me try the seat to see how it fit. That bike haunts me to this day.

[bmwloco]

1978 or 79 R100RS Motorsport, sitting in our garage. We were storing it for a guy. Sat there for 6 months. I looked at it every day.

It made an impression. I have owned three since then. Still own two.

[lmyamen]

My dad had a R90s when they first came out, he introduced me to them!

[oldhippie1]

Back in 1967 I worked at Kennedy Space Center and used to deliver to the MSOB Building. (maned spacecraft operations building) and there was always three /2's parked together in the parking lot. A couple had the old Avon full fairings. My buddy Harold Earls and I loved them and wished we had the money to buy one. I met one of the owners and they were all from California. Later I started rideing with the Brevard M/C club on my 1968 Norton P11 Ranger. Art Faull and Barney Self both rode /2's. Oh the good old days. Art was a BMW & Yamaha dealer in Eau Gallie, Fla . He owned Cyclesport. Anyone remember him??? Harold later bought a 441 BSA Victor. It vibrated so bad it stripped out the head bolts. I wonder where Harold is today. He used to live East of Orlando on HWY 520.