I am new to the airhead ownership but started riding motorcycles in 1972. I was given a 1978 r100/7 that has not run in 15 yrs but was taken care of and just needs some up dating. I have updated the points to cdi and upgraded to high voltage charging system.
I would like to use the newer style snowflake rims to replace the spoke rims that are in bad condition. I have searched the forum and the internet for bmw r/100 spoke rim to snowflake rim conversation but have come up with everything but what I was looking for. Question is can it be done without causing problems? Has anyone on this forum done the conversation? I was hoping it would just slide on some new brake shoes. Any help would be appreciated.
New Member 78 airhead r100/7 owner
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Rob Frankham
- Posts: 1214
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:11 pm
- Location: Scotland UK, 20 miles from civilisation up a dead end road!
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Re: New Member 78 airhead r100/7 owner
As far as I know, there is absolutely no problem with swapping between showflakes and spoked wheels on that year of manufacture. Snowflakes were fittted as stock on the 'R100RS' from 1977. It should just be a matter of taking out one wheelpair of wheels and slotting in the other.
One thing to be aware of if you are acquiring a snowflake front wheel is that the earliest snowflakes were subject to a recall due to worries about spokes cracking. Pre recall wheels should not be used. If you should be offered a pre recall wheel, then you shouldn't buy it.
The post recall wheels can be recognised quite easily. The full story is here https://robfrankham.com/snowflake-wheels.
Rob
One thing to be aware of if you are acquiring a snowflake front wheel is that the earliest snowflakes were subject to a recall due to worries about spokes cracking. Pre recall wheels should not be used. If you should be offered a pre recall wheel, then you shouldn't buy it.
The post recall wheels can be recognised quite easily. The full story is here https://robfrankham.com/snowflake-wheels.
Rob
Re: New Member 78 airhead r100/7 owner
Yes, snowflakes through at least 1980 should work without any difficulty. I've got spoke wheels on a snowflake bike right now (see my Idiot v. Motorbikes thread) and it was just a matter of checking the brake adjustments to make it work.
Call me Mel. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me at home, I thought I would ride about a little and see the other parts of the world.
Re: New Member 78 airhead r100/7 owner
Thank you for the information,
I was worried that I would have to send the spoke rim off for new rim and re-spoke. The price to restore an older motorcycle is almost the same as buying a new mid level bike to putt around on. I have caught the airhead bug now so I am going down that rabbit hole at this point. I look at all the conversions that are on Pinterest so I see that there is interest out there and perhaps it’s money well spent.
I am hoping that I can get it rolling over the next few months, I have rebuilt the bing carbs they were left with gas in them along with the tank. I have knocked out the big rust from the inside of the tank with rocks next I will use ospho rust converter and rinse with gas. I was going to mix aviation fuel 50/50 with non ethanol gas so there should be enough lead for the motor to run correctly. All the oil has been changed except the fork oil, no leaks at this point.
I have pulled the plugs and the motor turns over in high gear buy spinning the rear tire on the center stand by hand and shifts fine so I think I might be good. I will be asking more questions the closer I get to firing it up. I did buy the snowflake’s that are the newer style they are heavy duty. The only draw back they are for tubes but I have never rode a bike that did not have tubes, they say that those configurations with tubes heat the tires up, I don’t plan on riding that fast
The forum is a treasure trove of information thanks again for the information.
I was worried that I would have to send the spoke rim off for new rim and re-spoke. The price to restore an older motorcycle is almost the same as buying a new mid level bike to putt around on. I have caught the airhead bug now so I am going down that rabbit hole at this point. I look at all the conversions that are on Pinterest so I see that there is interest out there and perhaps it’s money well spent.
I am hoping that I can get it rolling over the next few months, I have rebuilt the bing carbs they were left with gas in them along with the tank. I have knocked out the big rust from the inside of the tank with rocks next I will use ospho rust converter and rinse with gas. I was going to mix aviation fuel 50/50 with non ethanol gas so there should be enough lead for the motor to run correctly. All the oil has been changed except the fork oil, no leaks at this point.
I have pulled the plugs and the motor turns over in high gear buy spinning the rear tire on the center stand by hand and shifts fine so I think I might be good. I will be asking more questions the closer I get to firing it up. I did buy the snowflake’s that are the newer style they are heavy duty. The only draw back they are for tubes but I have never rode a bike that did not have tubes, they say that those configurations with tubes heat the tires up, I don’t plan on riding that fast
The forum is a treasure trove of information thanks again for the information.