/5's are fun bikes! (with dumb questions)

[Unclviny]

I had both new tires (Avon Roadriders) put on the 1973 R75/5 today and spent some time riding to "nowhere special", I forgot how good "rolling around" on a vintage-bike is!

On to the dumb questions.

The mirrors give me a lovely view of my shoulders, can I run those Headlight mirrors? if so are there any covers avalable to hide the holes left in the switchgear? (I HATE looking at those holes!).

I do not have the fork-lock or the seat-key, are these avaiable?

I think I need a Speedo-cable, are they all Chinese or can I get a "real" one?

Am I going to hurt the bike if I leave it on the centerstand for weeks at a time (this is a regular-deal in my world)? my plan is to run the Carbs dry, put marine Sta-bil in the tank, plug in the battery tender and leave.

These are the first (of many I'm sure) questions.

Vince

[pkboxer]

I can only comment on the one. I have bar end mirrors, I filled the standard mirror holes with chromed hole plugs in (i think 1/4"). Like $1 at the hardware store.

http://www.latus-harley-davidson.com/Ch ... g-Kits.htm

They stayed in place just fine, you could paint them black also.

[Deleted User 62]

Are the mirrors the short ones? Long ones work fine for me. The seat and steering locks are available new, but not as a matching set for the /5. Leaving it for a few weeks should be fine, no need for a battery tender on an Odyssey battery. Cables are available new, check MaxBMW and Huckys, it pays to compare prices. That said, I think Hucky gets aftermarket parts, I had one of his speedo cables fail quick. I would just run the gas in something else for longer rest periods.

[Duane Ausherman]

The short Euro bars require the long mirrors.

The headlight type are for looks only, as they don't show anything.

Yes, white plastic plugs were once available to plug the holes.

[Garnet]

When ever you leave your bike for any length of time roll the engine over to TDC, tht is the OT mark on the flywheel.

And yes the centre stand is the prefered way to leave any BMW.

If you go for bar end mirrors don't waste your money on cheap ones. Spend the bucks and get Napoleons, they are worth it as you can actually see something behind you AND they stay where they are set. There are some good ones from England as well but I don't have a Classic Motorcycle magazine hand.

[pkboxer]

I have these, the ones from england mentioned by Garnet. Nice.

http://classicpartsltd.com/classic-moto ... rrors.html