The Punk's Bike

knary · 06-13-2011, 02:09 PM

I've inherited Mike Berlien's old airhead. Mike bought it nearly 20 years ago and it launched his love of long distance riding, pulling him out of a tough place in his life. It hasn't run for something like a decade but he hauled it around from home to home always planning on fixing it up. I hope, with a lot of patience, ingenuity, and undoubtedly a good bit of help, to get it running again. This won't be a restoration project. I won't be worshipping at the teutonic alter. This was a punk's bike.

knary · 06-13-2011, 02:09 PM

This frankenbike began it's life as a 1977 BMW R100s. The five digit odometer currently reads 20594. I assume it's flipped once and the bike has 120,594 miles on it. Some bearings or splines failed and that's what parked it those years ago. The original fairing is gone, the exhaust pipes don't match, oil is leaking from various seams, the valve covers are battered, miscellaneous fasteners are missing, and most everything else is more than showing its age. I can't wait to crack it open.

England-Kev · 06-13-2011, 02:12 PM

A quick wipe over with an oily cloth and it's good to go

enjoy.

Rob Farmer · 06-13-2011, 02:15 PM

Looks to be in the same condition as my 78 100/7. Mine's pushing 220,000 miles now and is still a great bike to ride.

She'll serve you well just as she is. Enjoy the ride.

Rinty · 06-13-2011, 02:38 PM

So you needed a new project, now that the house is done?

e28rusty · 06-13-2011, 02:39 PM

Should be a good project, good on you for getting a bike with history back on the road.

Andy-Gadget · 06-13-2011, 02:47 PM

Swap the rocker covers over, full oil change and carbie kit and it is away, keep the patina as it is, just to piss off the purists.

In reality the gearbox probably need a refresh, at least all the boxers of this era I have spannered on have been found to need it.

Good project, But don't make it another "as it left the factory" bike.

knary · 06-13-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rinty

So you needed a new project, now that the house is done?

You noticed the tar paper siding?

earwig · 06-13-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knary

. . . the exhaust pipes don't match, oil is leaking from various seams, the valve covers are battered, miscellaneous fasteners are missing . . .

I don't see the problem, that's the way my Bonneville left the factory.

knary · 06-13-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwig

I don't see the problem, that's the way my Bonneville left the factory.

DireWolf · 06-13-2011, 04:28 PM

kaput13 · 06-13-2011, 04:43 PM

New footrest rubber and your good to go. Like the color. C'mon a little worship at the Kraut altar is good for the bike. These things run on faith alone.

pbarmy · 06-13-2011, 05:47 PM

I'm lovin it!

fishkens · 06-13-2011, 09:20 PM

This is gonna be neat. I'd say that some bits should never be changed though.

The footpeg rubbers worn-out by Mike's boots, the headlight ear worn by his keys. The rusty roundels. And I like the reversed valve-covers - a nice reflection of the beloved PO.

Looking forward to the thread.

vacantstare · 06-13-2011, 09:29 PM

I like the rusty roundels as well.

06-13-2011, 02:09 PM	#1
knary ^OP sunshine and puppies Joined: Jun 2002 Location: portland, or Oddometer: 28,982	The Punk's Bike I've inherited Mike Berlien's old airhead. Mike bought it nearly 20 years ago and it launched his love of long distance riding, pulling him out of a tough place in his life. It hasn't run for something like a decade but he hauled it around from home to home always planning on fixing it up. I hope, with a lot of patience, ingenuity, and undoubtedly a good bit of help, to get it running again. This won't be a restoration project. I won't be worshipping at the teutonic alter. This was a punk's bike. __________________ Go Jane Go - Analog Jane and her three chamber heart www.scottconary.com \| Oil & Piston : Motorcycle paintings and prints \| The Punk's Bike

06-13-2011, 02:09 PM	#2
knary ^OP sunshine and puppies Joined: Jun 2002 Location: portland, or Oddometer: 28,982	This frankenbike began it's life as a 1977 BMW R100s. The five digit odometer currently reads 20594. I assume it's flipped once and the bike has 120,594 miles on it. Some bearings or splines failed and that's what parked it those years ago. The original fairing is gone, the exhaust pipes don't match, oil is leaking from various seams, the valve covers are battered, miscellaneous fasteners are missing, and most everything else is more than showing its age. I can't wait to crack it open. __________________ Go Jane Go - Analog Jane and her three chamber heart www.scottconary.com \| Oil & Piston : Motorcycle paintings and prints \| The Punk's Bike

06-13-2011, 02:12 PM	#3
England-Kev Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Berkshire, England. Just off the Beaten Track! Oddometer: 2,572	A quick wipe over with an oily cloth and it's good to go enjoy. __________________ http://kevindean.zenfolio.com/ http://motodelcurva.wordpress.com/ http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com

06-13-2011, 02:47 PM	#7
Andy-Gadget Any bike can go anywere Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Hobart, Tasmania Oddometer: 1,252	Swap the rocker covers over, full oil change and carbie kit and it is away, keep the patina as it is, just to piss off the purists. In reality the gearbox probably need a refresh, at least all the boxers of this era I have spannered on have been found to need it. Good project, But don't make it another "as it left the factory" bike. __________________ "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" Benjamin Franklin. '95 Sport 1100 Guzzi,'84 Cali 2 Guzzi, '95 Guzzi mille, '84 R65LS, '84 R100, '82 R100RS, '05 DL650, '72 Bultaco Sherpa T 350, '78 Montessa 348, "00 XR650R

06-13-2011, 04:28 PM	#11
DireWolf Knees in the Breeze Joined: Jun 2006 Location: In the Mustard Booyah. Whooop!! Oddometer: 4,756	__________________ And all you are left with is a vast featureless blancmange de merde. - Bongolia 2003 XR650R (plated) For Sale

06-13-2011, 02:15 PM	#4
Rob Farmer Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire. England Oddometer: 3,734	Looks to be in the same condition as my 78 100/7. Mine's pushing 220,000 miles now and is still a great bike to ride. She'll serve you well just as she is. Enjoy the ride.

06-13-2011, 02:38 PM	#5
Rinty Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Oddometer: 419	So you needed a new project, now that the house is done?

06-13-2011, 02:39 PM	#6
e28rusty Fool Joined: May 2011 Location: Willamette valley, OR Oddometer: 55	Should be a good project, good on you for getting a bike with history back on the road.

06-13-2011, 04:43 PM	#12
kaput13 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: South Florida Oddometer: 218	New footrest rubber and your good to go. Like the color. C'mon a little worship at the Kraut altar is good for the bike. These things run on faith alone.

06-13-2011, 05:47 PM	#13
pbarmy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Great Black Swamp Oddometer: 1,682	I'm lovin it!

06-13-2011, 09:20 PM	#14
fishkens Further... Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 5,146	This is gonna be neat. I'd say that some bits should never be changed though. The footpeg rubbers worn-out by Mike's boots, the headlight ear worn by his keys. The rusty roundels. And I like the reversed valve-covers - a nice reflection of the beloved PO. Looking forward to the thread.

06-13-2011, 09:29 PM	#15
vacantstare Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Around the Sound Oddometer: 284	I like the rusty roundels as well. __________________ 1971ish 'AmbassaRado' (a work in progress) 2008 Moto Guzzi Norge

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