Great find! I too have fond memories of my R100S, apart from the diabolical rear disk brake...
If you're friend plans to refurbish the rear to match the front it might be the time to consider fitting a drum braked rear wheel. Infinitely better brake, progressive and powerful, and a complete doddle to fit needing just the wheel, shoes, springs and pivot. The brake lever stays, and just connects up to a new rod and arm. Put the remainder on ebay and the job nearly pays for itself.
Where do free Snowflakes come from?
Re: Where do free Snowflakes come from?
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers might not be able to tell the difference." Samuel Clemens
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DucatiPete
- Posts: 257
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:10 am
Re: Where do free Snowflakes come from?
I'll pass this insight on: currently attempting to convince him to join up so he can speak for hisself.
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Ken in Oklahoma
- Posts: 3182
- Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:10 pm
Patina
I found this thread interesting. I noticed no report on horrors inflicted on the bike by the previous owner(s). I find that remarkable on a 30+ year old airhead. Having bought a few airheads I've somewhat observed that the rattier the bike the more horrors and/or "improvements" that will be found. Your's and Glyn's experiences don't seem to align with my casual observation.
I have an interest in antique woodworking tools. (Think pre WWII Stanley planes here.) There's almost a concensus that that there are two classes of planes, collectors and users. User planes usually have some flaw, such as mismatched parts, visible repairs, newness, or bad condition (such as rust pitted parts) that make them suitable only for "using". Collector quality planes are regarded with almost a reverence regarding originality. Originality is almost a synonym for patina. For the most part collector planes will be cleaned with nothing more aggressive than fine steel wool and kerosene. For example loose rust may be removed, but to scrub away the brown rust "stain" on the metal is a no no. And despite the temptation you must not yield to it and polish the brass adjuster wheel or the brass barrel nuts retaining the tote and knob.
My impression is that the hard core collectors don't look down on refurbished collectible planes, they just have no interest in them. And I understand that. A local carpenter who did some work on my cabin had a hammer that he must have owned for nearly forever. It was a quality tool and had dings and wear that could only have been generated by many years of continual use. I found myself unexpectedly admiring that hammer for it's history.
I'm headed to the expected point. Glyn's '78 S bike sounds like a collector bike to me, only a collector bike that is gathering patina on an ongoing basis, rather than being placed on a shelf, with use only adding to the patina.
Even better if Glyn has a patina on himself!
Ken, improving my patina in Oklahoma
I have an interest in antique woodworking tools. (Think pre WWII Stanley planes here.) There's almost a concensus that that there are two classes of planes, collectors and users. User planes usually have some flaw, such as mismatched parts, visible repairs, newness, or bad condition (such as rust pitted parts) that make them suitable only for "using". Collector quality planes are regarded with almost a reverence regarding originality. Originality is almost a synonym for patina. For the most part collector planes will be cleaned with nothing more aggressive than fine steel wool and kerosene. For example loose rust may be removed, but to scrub away the brown rust "stain" on the metal is a no no. And despite the temptation you must not yield to it and polish the brass adjuster wheel or the brass barrel nuts retaining the tote and knob.
My impression is that the hard core collectors don't look down on refurbished collectible planes, they just have no interest in them. And I understand that. A local carpenter who did some work on my cabin had a hammer that he must have owned for nearly forever. It was a quality tool and had dings and wear that could only have been generated by many years of continual use. I found myself unexpectedly admiring that hammer for it's history.
I'm headed to the expected point. Glyn's '78 S bike sounds like a collector bike to me, only a collector bike that is gathering patina on an ongoing basis, rather than being placed on a shelf, with use only adding to the patina.
Even better if Glyn has a patina on himself!
Ken, improving my patina in Oklahoma
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There's no such thing as too many airheads
There's no such thing as too many airheads
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the quinner
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Re: Where do free Snowflakes come from?
A few notes about replacement snowflakes...DucatiPete wrote:I'll pass this insight on: currently attempting to convince him to join up so he can speak for hisself.
The new wheel will include new bearings and seals...already in-place, but NOT ready for service. The dealership will have to pull the seals, grease the bearings and re-install the seals. IOW (:P ) the new bearings will have ZERO grease on them.
In the US, the recall includes: the new wheel, the labor to swap the tire from the old wheel to the new wheel ...AND a NEW tube and balance weights for mounting the tire.
As others have mentioned, the finish is nowhere close to that of the older wheels. The old wheels were painted, the new ones are powdercoated. The powdercoating is very thick and 'hides' the rough cast surface of the wheel. (NOTE** I should say that this applies to the silver wheels...I've personally not seen a replacement gold wheel and they could easily still be old stock.)
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DucatiPete
- Posts: 257
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:10 am
Re: Where do free Snowflakes come from?
Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Ken & quin...
As far as "horrors" go, as yet none have been observed. However, the wheel situation should, I think, be seen as indicative of this bike. For the past ~9 years it was owned by a sculptor who had it serviced by a nearby mechanic. He rode it ~20ks to the uni where he taught and otherwise mostly just around town. Apparently he's also go a Suzuki TL1000R (v-twin Ducati competitor). He now wants to get a new guzzi, but his wife put her foot down saying one bike had to go... He was a reluctant seller - the best kind IMHO. The S's history before this time is unknown. But it looks as though it's been parked/stored under cover for the better part of his long life. To me it's much like a lot of old beemers in that it's been used for it's intended purpose and maintained to the level required to sustain that service. Cosmetics are of a secondary concern. My 750/5 is another example of this phenomenon.
Now, I too love concept of patina and the feelings it engenders - the embodiment of passing time. The Japanese call it wabi-sabi, to quote from wikipedia:
I guess when it comes down to it I'm like that carpenter. I like my tools to do their job well, comfortably, and efficiently and if they continue in that service without breaking down or falling apart then that is all i ask. I find that something that has been with you through long service becomes familial and bonded. Sort of like an old BMW.
(One of my other passions is old cameras. I have a Leica that looks like it's been used as an offensive weapon for a better part of it's life, yet it probably works better now than when it left the factory.)
Better stop waffling on now...
Glyn is due up here on friday. We'll be changing the engine oil and filter and continue looking for any horrors we might have missed. Yeah, I reckon it's a collector's piece - but i think that about most BMs.
pete
As far as "horrors" go, as yet none have been observed. However, the wheel situation should, I think, be seen as indicative of this bike. For the past ~9 years it was owned by a sculptor who had it serviced by a nearby mechanic. He rode it ~20ks to the uni where he taught and otherwise mostly just around town. Apparently he's also go a Suzuki TL1000R (v-twin Ducati competitor). He now wants to get a new guzzi, but his wife put her foot down saying one bike had to go... He was a reluctant seller - the best kind IMHO. The S's history before this time is unknown. But it looks as though it's been parked/stored under cover for the better part of his long life. To me it's much like a lot of old beemers in that it's been used for it's intended purpose and maintained to the level required to sustain that service. Cosmetics are of a secondary concern. My 750/5 is another example of this phenomenon.
Now, I too love concept of patina and the feelings it engenders - the embodiment of passing time. The Japanese call it wabi-sabi, to quote from wikipedia:
- Wabi-sabi (侘寂?) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".[1] It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence (三法印 sanbōin?), specifically impermanence (無常 mujō?), the other two being suffering (dukkha) and emptiness or absence of self-nature (sunyata).
Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.
I guess when it comes down to it I'm like that carpenter. I like my tools to do their job well, comfortably, and efficiently and if they continue in that service without breaking down or falling apart then that is all i ask. I find that something that has been with you through long service becomes familial and bonded. Sort of like an old BMW.
(One of my other passions is old cameras. I have a Leica that looks like it's been used as an offensive weapon for a better part of it's life, yet it probably works better now than when it left the factory.)
Better stop waffling on now...
Glyn is due up here on friday. We'll be changing the engine oil and filter and continue looking for any horrors we might have missed. Yeah, I reckon it's a collector's piece - but i think that about most BMs.
pete
Re: Where do free Snowflakes come from?
That would be Airhead MPH, which would translate to approximatly 85 MPH in the real world - but they will do that all day.Duane Ausherman wrote:
It would do 2 up at 100 mph easily and still have guts left.
1975 R90/6
1979 R65
1979 R65