10 days with a 1975 BMW R90/6
(Page 5 of 5)
September/October 2007
By Richard Backus
Why BMWs: “It’s the only vintage bike I could find and restore, and send people out on the road without worrying about them breaking down. I’ve ridden a lot of bikes, and when I stumbled onto BMWs I latched on to them.”
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Problems to look for: “Make sure all the switches are in good shape, because they break and cost about $140 a set. And keep an eye out for the rear drive splines, which can wear badly if not kept lubricated. Another common problem is with the diode board for the charging system, which is prone to failure. If the charging system is bad, the best thing going now is an alternator conversion from Euro Motoelectrics (www.euromotoelectrics.com) that gets rid of the diode board, gives 400 watts and is rock solid.”
Service recommendations: “I’m a real freak for valves and timing. If the timing gets out more than twice in 5,000 miles, it’s probably time for a new timing chain. I do the valves every 3,000-5,000 miles, and I lube the drive spline every time the rear wheel’s off. I also suggest electronic ignition. I’ve been using the Boyer, which I think is a great unit.”
Why you want a BMW: “Because they’re so damn rock solid and dependable, and you can get parts for them. That, and most of the people who have one will help you out.”
Resources
Clubs and information
www.bmwmoa.org
www.airheads.org
www.ibmwr.org
Parts and services
www.boxerworks.com
www.autobahn-craftwerks.com
www.bobsbmw.com
www.bluemooncycle.com
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