Brook's Airhead Garage

by Brook Reams

1973 BMW R75/5 Rebuild: Grover’s First Ride Around the Block

Posted on July 7, 2014 by breams

The rebuild is finished and I documented the final assembly process in this write-up.

00 BMW R75/5 Final Assembly

On the Fourth of July, “Grover” was ready for his first ride since he was stored away seven years ago in my friends barn.

Grover On His Way to My New Shop 18 Months Ago

Here is a short video of the first 3 mile “around the block” ride on Grover. You can’t see the s&*$ eating grin on my face, but it’s there 🙂

Here are some photos I took before the ride when I took the bike out of the shop for the first time in 18 months.

Side View

Front View

Rear View

19 thoughts on “1973 BMW R75/5 Rebuild: Grover’s First Ride Around the Block”

Devin Reams on July 7, 2014 at 3:59 pm said:

Congrats on another successful project!

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- breams on July 7, 2014 at 4:06 pm said:
  
  Dev,
  
  Thanks. Now, what to work on next?
  
  Best.
  Dad.
  
  Reply ↓
Pete on July 7, 2014 at 5:49 pm said:

The first pic looks like the Phoenix coming out from the depths of hell to be reborn

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- breams on July 7, 2014 at 6:00 pm said:
  
  Pete,
  
  Ah, I don’t think your barn is that cluttered 🙂
  
  Thanks for providing the long term, low cost storage.
  
  Best.
  Brook
  
  Reply ↓
Dale on July 7, 2014 at 6:45 pm said:

YIPPEE !! Go Grover GO! What a feeling of satisfaction you must have felt when the motor roared to life and you rolled down the driveway. Congratulations on a job MORE than well done !

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- breams on July 7, 2014 at 9:36 pm said:
  
  Hi Dale,
  
  Yes, I kept waiting for something to go wrong, but everything seemed to stay where it should and there weren’t any “Oh S^%$” sounds during the shake down ride 🙂
  
  There are a couple tweeks to make, but as my son said “Youe old bikes are always 99% complete.” 🙂 True Dat.
  
  Best.
  Brook
  
  Reply ↓
Danny O' on July 8, 2014 at 7:20 am said:

Well done and Grover still looks sweet even with the brown frosting in 1st pic. Better get started on my 90/6 mongrel…. someday!

Always keep the rubber side down,
Danny O’

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- breams on July 8, 2014 at 8:44 am said:
  
  Hi Danny,
  
  Yeap, that’s an original “barn fresh” coating. 🙂
  
  Best.
  Brook
  
  Reply ↓
Harold Abbott on July 8, 2014 at 7:50 am said:

Well done, both the bike and the little show. However, the narration sucks.
Hal

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- breams on July 8, 2014 at 8:46 am said:
  
  Hi Hal,
  
  Well, Grover’s language skills are a bit stunted. Mostly he just growls a bit and goes “clickety-clack” 🙂
  
  Stay well my friend.
  
  Best.
  Brook.
  
  Reply ↓
Dean Armand on July 8, 2014 at 8:50 am said:

Awesome, looks like the transformations are coming faster these days (or is it that time is moving faster)…. I too am wondering what’s next?

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Rachel on July 8, 2014 at 1:25 pm said:

Congratulations on another successful rebuild!

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Seroj on July 9, 2014 at 10:53 am said:

Sweet! I’m finishing up a ’72 R75/5 toaster rebuild. Should be on the road soon if my painter will get off his ass (me).

Your site has been a great reference during my rebuild. Thanks for the time you put into it!

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- breams on July 9, 2014 at 11:00 am said:
  
  Hi Seroj,
  
  Thanks for your note. I too found it hard to find good help on my project 🙂
  
  I hope you get your Airhead back on the road soon.
  
  Best.
  Brook.
  
  Reply ↓
Dave Palmer on July 9, 2014 at 3:14 pm said:

WOW! Grover looks stunning! Is there a place around here where vintage bike owners gather for a “bike show”? I know the auto/truck crowd is doing that sort of thing all summer — why not show off really cool two-wheeled hardware. “Best In Show” I say! Cheers,
DaveP

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- breams on July 9, 2014 at 3:47 pm said:
  
  Hi Dave,
  
  Thanks for the kind words. I don’t think he is really show quality … he slurs his vowels and tends to sing silly songs 🙂
  
  Best.
  Brook
  
  Reply ↓
Calvin Huang on June 13, 2019 at 11:05 pm said:

Hi Brook

Can you help to see where may caused such valve/rocker arms noise, it came out after reassembled cylinder head and rocker arm even valve clearance adjustment. Just cannot
figure out what’s happened. It is 1969 first batch R75/5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7leOakJxdEM&feature=youtu.be

Thanks in advance.

Calvin

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- breams on June 14, 2019 at 1:49 pm said:
  
  Hi Calvin,
  
  It sounds like you adjusted the valves on the exhaust stroke, not the compression stroke. When you set the flywheel to show the “OT” mark in the timing window, one piston is on compression, and the other is on exhaust. How do you know which piston is at compression?
  
  1. Remove both valve covers.
  2. Rotate the flywheel to show “OT” in the timing window.
  3. On each side, try to rotate the push rod with your fingers. The side that allows you to rotate the push rods is on compression, so that is the side you should adjust the valve clearance: 0.004″ intake, 0.006″ exhaust.
  4. Rotate the engine one more revolution. The other side should now be on compression and you should be able to rotate the push rods with your fingers. Set the valves on that side.
  
  There is also an adjustment for the rocker arm axial play. The blocks at the top and bottom can be too far from the rocker arm, so it will knock against them. Adjust them as follows on the side you are adjusting the valves, BEFORE you adjust the valves.
  1. Loosen the two nuts on only one rocker arm at a time.
  2. Pinch the upper and lower blocks tightly with your fingers squeezing them together. Tighten the rocker arm nuts. Then set the nuts to the correct torque, 26 Ft-Lbs.
  3. Repeat on the other side when you are setting the valves.
  
  I hope that helps.
  
  Best.
  Brook.
  3. Repeat on the other rocker arm
  
  Reply ↓
Calvin Huang on June 18, 2019 at 7:57 pm said:

Thanks for your kind assistance and explanation for this procedure, I will adjust it again to tuning it.

Calvin

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