Buying advice for guy returning to BMWs - R75/6

[Porge]

Guys and gals,

Sorry to parachute in with a question first up, but I've been looking around to get back onto a BMW for a while, and an interesting bike has popped up. So "Hi" from the Antipodes...but I gots me some questions

I ran an R65LS for a few years back in the late 90s, and loved it. Kids, etc., saw me sell it, and my vintage bike love saw me keep my matchless, and then buy a triumph. I currently have the matchless, a Honda CD125 from '67, and a Yamaha SR500. My 13 and 10 year old boys have loved pillion riding for the past few years, so returning to an airhead has seen me look over a bike recently with a guy I've done a deal with before on some XS650 stuff. He has the R75/6 mentioned.
It's green, has luggage, and some spares. He's after the little Honda, which I'd bought for the wife to ride. She doesn't ride it. I had thought my eldest might ride the Honda, but there's a Honda CT110 in the shed that might be a good stepping stone to the SR, or something else when the fancy hits him.

Anyway, I know enough about bikes for the general look over, but wonder if there's anything I should look at immediately with the bike? I'd plan to rebuild the carbs, as there's diaphragm kits with it, do all the oils, etc. - the standard stuff. But what little tricks that are boxer specific should I do?

Thanks in advance!

[SteveD]

Welcome Porge. Where in Oz are you? Remember, from our perspective, most of these blokes are in the antipodes!

Have a read here...it's a start.http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/articles/bi ... ead-boxers

[Duane Ausherman]

Just about everything that you need to know is already on the Internet someplace. Learn to use Google etc. I posted a lot of this on another thread.

The R75/6 is a good bike if it is after 1974.

[Porge]

Steve - I'm in Launceston, Tasmania. Cheers for the link.

[Airbear]

Welcome aboard, Porge. Do you have any more information on the bike? Like the year, kilometres, general condition and observations. Pictures would help a lot. To post pics on this forum you need to have an account with a photo sharing mob such as Smugmug, Flickr, PictureTrail, etc. Google "Free image hosting", select one and follow instructions for posting the code to forums. Shout if you need help.

The R75/6 is a good bike if it is after 1974.

Duane, I have seen this recommendation before and have always wondered about it. What is the basis for this statement? I have a 1974 R90 and love it to bits. It has now done 240k kms. The only 1974 specific difficulty I have encountered is to do with the kick starter, which was never going to work anyway. The '74 has simpler electrics and the much nicer /5 handlebar controls. Just curious.

[Porge]

cheers airbear,

From memory, an indicated 108k km, but I've only glanced over the bike quickly. The owner has a starter motor amongst the spares as the one fitted has some noise issues,but overalls, the bike looks cared for. at the price/deal we've tentatively discussed, Ill still have some funds aside to do some work to get it up to scratch and be under what people ask for them regularly.

Diane, thanks for the advice. As a history teacher, I find myself constant telling students to not just go to google and type in very specific questions...hard habit to break!

[Major Softie]

The R75/6 is a good bike if it is after 1974.

Duane, I have seen this recommendation before and have always wondered about it. What is the basis for this statement? I have a 1974 R90 and love it to bits. It has now done 240k kms. The only 1974 specific difficulty I have encountered is to do with the kick starter, which was never going to work anyway. The '74 has simpler electrics and the much nicer /5 handlebar controls. Just curious.

14mm front axle.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

14mm front axle.

I was wondering and then, just as I read your answer it hit me: That 14mm front axle!

Of course there are a myriad of other mods that will make a R75/6 a better bike. Dual disks on the front and a handlebar mounted master cylinder are two that come quickly to mind. There's no reasonable place to stop when 'improving' most /6 and /7 bikes. The top of my list would include the later front end with larger axle and dual disks (on the models that didn't have them come that way from the factory).

I was thrilled on my R75/7 with it's newly installed dual front disks when I made a 'panic' grab at the brake lever and actually managed to slide the front tire (before releasing the lever a bit).

Ken

[Airbear]

cheers airbear,

From memory, an indicated 108k km, but I've only glanced over the bike quickly. The owner has a starter motor amongst the spares as the one fitted has some noise issues,but overalls, the bike looks cared for. at the price/deal we've tentatively discussed, Ill still have some funds aside to do some work to get it up to scratch and be under what people ask for them regularly.

Sounds like you have something of a bargain, Porge. There will almost certainly be issues to deal with and money and time to spend as you get to know the bike. That is quite normal, given the age and 'kilometerage'. They are great bikes and well worth the effort. Almost all parts are still available new and you can get good used parts at reasonable prices via eBay and other sources. Internet forums provide an enormous font of knowledge. Check out ADVrider > Old's Cool > Airheads and the BM Bikes forums as well as keeping an eye on this forum.

Diane, thanks for the advice.

An interesting slip there. Duane's sister, Diane, has made her presence felt here. Somebody may post a picture so you can see for yourself. Do check Duane's site (in his post above) for a lot of very useful information.

[Airbear]

14mm front axle.

I haven't had any problems with the 14mm front axle. I hit a cow with sufficient force to bend the forks a few years ago. Axle is still true and slips into the (straightened) forks as it should. Perhaps I need to hit a bigger cow to see the problem.
I have fitted a handlebar mounted master cylinder and love the improvement in braking. The undertank MC was an abomination.