A NEW Airhead from Parts (Pics!)

[SJ BMW]

Last Winter we were upstairs at the San Jose BMW shop, and found that we had enought spare parts to build a new airhead. Thought that some of you might like to see the results...

Like everything at SJBMW, we just had to race it - So off to Bonneville we went. And we got a new 750cc record - Just over 130 mph! Not bad for a 750 at 4600ft of elevation and a 100 degree day.

The bike was built to be very period correct - vintage parts for a vintage machine. This included items such Makuni round slide carbs, Akron high shoulder wheels, drum brakes, and a VERY custom, period correct fuel tank.

So, how about some pics?





Chris @ SJBMW

Visit SJBMW.com for great holiday deals

[Kismet]

THAT is so lovely.

Keep checking the attic, gawd knows what else you'll find up there.

[Uncle Ernie]

What custom period correct tank? That's the only one like it in the world.
So -did Evan Wilcox do it?

[wirewrkr]

Nice bike Chriss,
What other custom one-off stuff is on there?
(wink-wink)
Billy Bob

[Jamie]

Damn nice job! Any pics or videos from Bonneville?

[hogmolly]

Awesome bike. Where's the battery?

[Wirespokes]

Originally Posted by hogmolly

Awesome bike. Where's the battery?

Only place left to put it - behind the seat in the hump.

I remember back in the days when turn signals became mandatory on bikes. I thought they really trashed the lines, liking the simple look much better. That's one of the things I like about this bike. But in Oregon a bike without turn signals can only be ridden on public roads in the daytime.

That's one really pretty bike! How did you get an unfaired 750 to do 130???

[RoughReady]

More complete project info here http://www.sjbmwracing.com/ (click where indicated under the top picture also check out some of the video by clicking the link on the left side for some really cool stuff) and also some more SJBMW racer info here: http://www.sjbmwracing.com/HISTORY.html

Chris is a good guy - he bailed me out big time when the tranny went south on me at the first BMW Rally I attended in Sonora 6 or 7 years ago.

[Speed King]

Oh my god that thing is cool. Congrats! Awesome bike.

[pommie john]

Originally Posted by SJ BMW

The bike was built to be very period correct -

We'll pretend we didn't see the late model timing cover and the ribbing on the gearbox, eh? ;)

[Uncle Ernie]

What timing cover?

[drhach]

You joined in 2007 and this your first post? You could at least have the decency to respond to the questions that are being posted. I assume that you posted so that you could get some free advertising, right? So, get to selling. Tell us about it. Specifically, fill us in on the tank. Someeone else posted this bike in another thread and they linked to your website, but there really wasn't much detail about how you went from a foam mockup-up to what looks like a hand pounded aluminum tank.

[Josephvman]

Originally Posted by drhach

You joined in 2007 and this your first post? You could at least have the decency to respond to the questions that are being posted. I assume that you posted so that you could get some free advertising, right? So, get to selling. Tell us about it. Specifically, fill us in on the tank. Someeone else posted this bike in another thread and they linked to your website, but there really wasn't much detail about how you went from a foam mockup-up to what looks like a hand pounded aluminum tank.

Chill out! He just posted it last night, and I'm sure he'll fill in the blanks for us. Great job on the bike!

[SJ BMW]

Thanks for the complements, here are answers to some of your questions: The tank was pounded by Evan Wilcox to my pattern, styled after early British cafe tanks. 130mph? While the outside is very period the inside is all the hotrod tricks we have learned over the years, if you look at our racing site we have a build log that has some pictures of the insides. Late model timing cover and gearbox? When we mocked it up with "smooth" parts the motor/gearbox looked like a lump, the later pieces broke the lines up a bit and improved the look. Dahach, if you think I went to all the trouble to build this thing for the free advertising you are nuts...

[kixtand]

Originally Posted by SJ BMW

Thanks for the complements, here are answers to some of your questions: The tank was pounded by Evan Wilcox to my pattern, styled after early British cafe tanks. 130mph? While the outside is very period the inside is all the hotrod tricks we have learned over the years, if you look at our racing site we have a build log that has some pictures of the insides. Late model timing cover and gearbox? When we mocked it up with "smooth" parts the motor/gearbox looked like a lump, the later pieces broke the lines up a bit and improved the look. Dahach, if you think I went to all the trouble to build this thing for the free advertising you are nuts...

Please, PLEASE, don't let the likes of drhach offend you!

I saw a write-up on this bike recently in one of the mags I get. I, for one, am very appreciative of the fact that you posted it up here, and will probably have some questions for you as well after I dig that article out and scrutinize your pics some more .

Thanks for taking the time to build a beautiful machine, and thanks even more for taking the time to share it w/ folks like us who definitely appreciate it.

kix

As an aside, what the hell kind of advertising could you be getting out of this anway??