Airhead Special Tools List

I assembled a document showing the special tools I have acquired to work on my rebuild/restore projects.  So I thought I would let you know about it.

It is organized according to the parts numbering system main categories so it is easier to find the tools you may need based on the work you are thinking of doing. You can contact your ABC air marshal to see if someone in your state has a tool they would loan you so you can use a tool without having to buy it.
That said, this is only a list of tools I have needed, not necessarily all the tools you may need for all work on our airhead bikes. I hope this is helpful.

1983 BMW R80ST Install Crash Bars, Side And Center Stand

The left side crash bar on the R80ST includes a bracket for the side stand. So I start by installing the crash bars, then the side stand. Then I put the bike on the side stand and install the center stand.

Here is how I removed all those parts.

Here is the documentation and short summary video showing the installation.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Crash Bars, Side And Center Stands

1983 BMW R80ST Install Carburetors, Cables and Airbox

When I got the bike, it had no carburetors. I show how I remove the airbox in this write-up.

I found a useable set of used carburetors and I rebuilt the carburetors as shown here.

Here is a link to the documentation and a YouTube video of how I do this work.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Carburetors, Cables, Airbox

1983 BMW R80ST Install Swing Arm, Rear Drive, Monoshock

I had the rear drive rebuilt by a friend of mine, Matt Iles, who owns Iles Motorsports and is a long time BMW mechanic. You can read about how he did this work here.

I replaced the swing arm bearings and you can read about how I do that here.

The R80ST has a monoshock rear suspension instead of the traditional dual shock suspension that was on all the other airhead bikes I have worked on. So the swing arm is a bit different. The procedure for installing the swing arm and rear drive on the 1983 R80ST is the same as for the 1983 R100RS.

Here is the link to the documentation and a summary YouTube video.

VIDEO: 1983 BMW R80ST Install Swing Arm, Rear Drive, Monoshock

Here are some before and after pictures.

Original Rear Shock

Original Rear Shock

Original Rear Drive

Original Rear Drive

Original Swing Arm, Rear Drive & Monoshock

Original Swing Arm, Rear Drive & Monoshock

Here is the R80ST with the swing arm, rear drive and monoshock installed. It’s starting to look like a real motorcycle again. 🙂

All Done

All Done

All Done

All Done