look at how this guy defines "Airhead"

[jjwithers]

hahahaha.
i had to share it.

https://eatsleepride.com/c/23806/airhea ... 3_bmw_r755

[Major Softie]

"What's an Airhead?

The term 'Airhead' is often referred to unpretentious owners of air-cooled BMW motorcycles. Finding a mechanic who can re-build or service a vintage BMW air- cooled boxer is no easy task. To make a build even reasonably possible financially, owners must learn to do their own tech. As a result, Airheads are a diaspora of do-it-yourselfers otherwise known as obsessive machinists, come artists.

Rebuilding an airhead requires a passion for tinkering, maintenance, a lot of time and equal part luck. But, if you do need help, here's a useful link for finding Airhead capable motorcycle shops in US and Canada."

Okay, is it just me, or does this completely argue with itself by explaining that "Airhead" refers to owners and then immediately using the word to refer to bikes? Or, do I misunderstand and he's really suggesting rebuilding people....?

[melville]

"What's an Airhead?

The term 'Airhead' is often referred to unpretentious owners of air-cooled BMW motorcycles. Finding a mechanic who can re-build or service a vintage BMW air- cooled boxer is no easy task. To make a build even reasonably possible financially, owners must learn to do their own tech. As a result, Airheads are a diaspora of do-it-yourselfers otherwise known as obsessive machinists, come artists.

Rebuilding an airhead requires a passion for tinkering, maintenance, a lot of time and equal part luck. But, if you do need help, here's a useful link for finding Airhead capable motorcycle shops in US and Canada."

Okay, is it just me, or does this completely argue with itself by explaining that "Airhead" refers to owners and then immediately using the word to refer to bikes? Or, do I misunderstand and he's really suggesting rebuilding people....?

Just got back from the dentist--she'll be rebuilding my mouth, in stages. Does that make me an Airhead?

[Bamboo812]

I don't get it...?

[Duane Ausherman]

An airhead is an air cooled BMW motorcycle. I guess the first was the R32. That term wasn't in use back in my day. Never heard it until I found the Internet. However, many seem to limit what models of air cooled BMW motorcycles qualify.

It never seemed to me that the term serves any purpose.

The definition, "The term 'Airhead' is often referred to unpretentious owners of air-cooled BMW motorcycles." is not clear at all. I thought it had nothing to do with the owner, pretentious or not.

Thank goodness I am here in order to be enlightened.

[Rob]

Thank goodness I am here in order to be enlightened.

Hey Duane, there is a new guy with a R50/5 that wishes he had BMW's dual disc brakes. You might want to set him straight.

[audiowize]

Hey Duane, there is a new guy with a R50/5 that wishes he had BMW's dual disc brakes. You might want to set him straight.

You're excluding yourself from that definition of Airhead...

[Rob]

Hey Duane, there is a new guy with a R50/5 that wishes he had BMW's dual disc brakes. You might want to set him straight.

You're excluding yourself from that definition of Airhead...

Are you saying I am being pretentious in my fun?
I didn't mean anything by my remarks. Duane (with good reason) will defend BMW's drum front brake to the last man. It's just a matter of adjustment. http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/brake/

The ATE swinging caliper disc brake was not an improvement at the time, incorporated only to satisfy customer wants.
It was a steep learning curve on adjusting those back in the day, too.

But if you mean I don't own an air-cooled, roundel-badged motorcycle - you would be correct.

[Zombie Master]

The term airhead is useful when discussing Beemers. But I think it is a Harley thing: Knuckle, Pan, Shovel, ....Air.

[Major Softie]

The term airhead is useful when discussing Beemers. But I think it is a Harley thing: Knuckle, Pan, Shovel, ....Air.

I agree. They started it, or at least were into it long before Beemerphiles.

P.S. I just looked up the knucklehead engine on Wikipedia (to see what year it came out) and learned that they didn't start using those terms until the 60's. Apparently the chopper culture started using the terms to distinguish between the different engines that supplanted the flathead. Still, I don't think anyone use the term "Airhead" for BMW's until the Oilhead came out in the 90's.