Basic Basil"s corner

[Kokopelli]

Since every man and his bike seems to have they're own thread, I've decided to start one as well. I've been polluting other people's threads with my little problems for long enough, so this can be my little worry corner on the web.

The bike is a 1996 R80GS Basic. I am the third owner, but Basil used to hire out his services to tourists in his younger years, before I got hold of him. He is stuffed now, of course. Instead of going sight seeing, he usually wears a pair of knobbies and get's thrashed around hard-to-get-to places. Having a clumsy rider as an owner doesn't really help. But the pain I've inflicted on poor Basil as a clumsy mechanic is probably worse.

Here he is, before I got hold of him, about 6 or 7 years ago.





I had visions of turning him into this:



but that's not going to happen.

Basil in the SI with his previous owner.



There is now way, that he'll ever need to worry about this white stuff again, not with me, anyway.



Here he is meeting his stable mate.



We went for a few rides over the years.







Then I started to work on him myself.

He got a new 24 litre tank, that made him look quite smart.





Basil had clunky universals and also needed a new clutch.



I got to do this job twice :-). He also had the carbs overhauled, as his fuel consumption had deteriorated beyond what I could stand.

We went for some more rides.







There might be the odd photo of him having a rest, but I've had plenty of practice picking him up quickly :-).

Here he is trying on a PD tank. It was tempting to keep it.

Basil went from Napier to Waimauku on one tank, with a bit left over.



unfortunately, he got distracted around a right-hander and needed to lay down. The valve covers didn't appreciate it.



The PD tank looks great and gives you a huge range, but I found it restricted my leg room and increased the risk of denting it. Even worse, some poor G/S would have been without the PD part.

Since the PD had left on a tour of NZ, I've been able to give Basil a bit more attention.

He got some Nissin brakes and SS brake lines.



and just recently I have fitted HH-Racetech cartridges. You probably know about this, since by now I've just about told every one.





Currently I am working towards achieving this look.



It's slowy getting there, the bits are expensive.



Well, that's pretty much it.

While Basil is not as famous as Schmidty or Gus, he is still pure bred and not a mongrel, like the other two

But I am doing my best.

So, this will be the place where I can ask stupid questions and where you can admire my mechanical skills and I can't hear you laughing.

Welcome to Basil's corner!

[Padmei]

Nice work. I like white.



Boring question but what are you getting mileagewise? I have just been looking at mine & I get around 16 - 17km/L.

It will be interesting riding it at the DB & comparing the forks

[Kokopelli]

Originally Posted by Padmei

Nice work. I like white.



Boring question but what are you getting mileagewise? I have just been looking at mine & I get around 16 - 17km/L.

It will be interesting riding it at the DB & comparing the forks

6 litres to 100km, so pretty much the same. I think that's as good as it gets with knobbies and a bit of wheel spin :-). You can ride Basil if you like, but if you think that the forks are shite, I don't want to hear about it.

[Voltaire]

good post.....One day I'll get to have a ride on one of those new fangled mono shock BMW's.....

[Renner]

I like the blau mit weiss theme

[Mark_S]

another bloody airhead thread....




except that its a basic

basics are the coolest airheads

so rock on

[Padmei]

Originally Posted by Mark_S

another bloody airhead thread....




except that its a basic

basics are the coolest airheads

so rock on

Piss off jap rider - we don't like your kind around here.
So they came with a ST tank? And you changed it to one like Schmidts? I really like the original ST tanks on them.

[Box'a'bits]

Good to see your starting a thread Koko.

Originally Posted by Padmei

Piss off jap rider - we don't like your kind around here.

Now, now, let's not be rude. I recall someone not too far from here came across to the correct way of thinking with a just little encouragement.

Originally Posted by Padmei

So they came with a ST tank? And you changed it to one like Schmidts? I really like the original ST tanks on them.

The GS tank is far more practical. We are not all fashion victims here...

Originally Posted by trustme

' Don't mention the war ' ' We won by the way '

You sure on that?

[Kokopelli]

Originally Posted by Padmei

Piss off jap rider - we don't like your kind around here.
So they came with a ST tank? And you changed it to one like Schmidts? I really like the original ST tanks on them.

The original tank sits on a shelf in the garage. I like the extra range of the larger tank. It's a pretty simple swap. It also makes the bike look a bit beefier.

I need to modify the rack I have for my single seat. The seat also needs to be upholstered. I have bought a seat pan and a foam blank. The rack interferes with a cross member on the subframe. I need to get the tubing flattened on where it crosses over, so that the seat pan can sit on the subframe properly. Then I need to find an upholsterer who is sympathetic to my needs and doesn't mind using a rivet gun.

I might also cave in and buy one of those wind-shields. On longer trips, it will take a little of the wind pressure and make the ride less tiring. I prefer the look with out a shield.

I also have a side stand sitting here that needs to be modified. I want to get rid of the engine guards. They keep smacking into the valve cover. I still think that a piece of knead-it epoxy will help out in a pinch. I also still have a spare cover sitting at home. The one I recently put on has battle scars already. I am still going to have to have another crack up that drive, now that my knee and right thumb no longer hurt.

[gsd4me]

Black, and white with a blue frame have to be the best colours for a BMW IMHO. Although the bumble bee look is OK too.

[Kokopelli]

You have a great looking bike.

I guess it's very unlikely, but having that side stand where it is would make me nervous about knocking it into the spokes on a rock or a stump.

One day I want to give Basil a good overhaul. Especially the engine and the gearbox. While it would be neat to have the bike look like new again, I'd feel guilty taking it anywhere rough.

[Kokopelli]

We went for a ride to Puhoi today, the Cheese factory not the "Show and Tell" Pub. We took the Kaipara Hill road and the the Old Woodcock road and on via Ahuroa Rd one of the few ways I ride to Puhoi. Basil went like a champ. The new front suspension is showing up the rear suspension really badly now. Front says "what bumps" rear says "bang".

The brakes have started to bed-in a bit more and I can't believe I've put up with the old ones for so long.

There is a bike back there somewhere



and up ahead, behind those trees, are ten cows and calves on the road.



Of course they went and jogged ahead of us for a while, but we managed to ample past. I pulled into the next farm to tell someone, but they weren't home.

Last time we came through here they had dumped a lot of gravel in the corners, coarse and nice and deep. This time it was like a motorway, third to fourth gear in most places.

We took Ahuora Rd out again and finished the gravel on Wech Access road. Maybe 120km, but still fun.

[Kokopelli]

I know I'll just have to learn how. We've got all sorts of welders at work, all I have to do is book myself into a course. I would love to make a rack for the Andy Strapz Expedition panniers. But if one pops up on trade me, I'll just buy it.

[Kokopelli]

Basil, I and Mrs. Kokopelli have been for a ride. First we went to the OFF LIMITS Adventure ride at Waiouru and then to the BMWOR Annual Rally. It was a pretty good adventure and did not end all that well for everybody. Some of us went home with pulled muscles, strained ankles, broken ribs and broken ankles.

Yes, we are clumsy and getting older. But before you get too worried, Basil and I are completely unharmed and I am sure Mrs Kokopelli"s ribs will come right in time.

We had a good ride down and could not resist the Ongarue Back Road and Hikumutu Road which come out in Owhango.

[Kokopelli]

When we finally got to Waiouru a whole lot of people were already there and some of them were riding airheads.







Turns out Basil had head-butted a bird and then picked it up with the front wheels. Proof that you can pick up birds with a beemer, just not the usual way.




Before we knew it we had a briefing and were escorted onto the site. I've been slack with pictures in there, plus we were told to be sensible, so I'll try my best.




Once we had a room and the luggage was stored, we went off for a ride. They had three groups, Gung-ho, Sly-dogs and the Cruisers. So Basil and I went with the Gung-ho group, because I thought we were.


Turns out, that Basil may have been, but I certainly was not. After a short ride on gravel we crossed the ditch, went up a bank and climbed a track up a hill. So far so good, I then realized why all the other bikes where chook chasers. Well, apart from one guy on a KLR, but he was different, he could ride. Anyway, they all went up a stupid steep hill with tight turns. Basil and I just stood there watching it. Clearly, we stopped being Gung-ho round about now . No pictures of the hill.

So back we went, just catching up with the cruisers, so we stayed with them and went sight seeing.