Colorado Airheads Celebrate “4/20”

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Brook Reams

Colorado is infamous as one of two states to legalize personal possession of marijuana. And, for several years, 4/20 has been a date for “pot heads” to come together and indulge.

So, it was fitting that yesterday, 4/20, I was invited to attend an Airhead Tech Day. Airhead riders congregated and got high, not from the consumption of cannabis, but from working on air-cooled BMW motorcycles, or Airheads in the vernacular.

My wife and I own two Airhead BMWs; I, a 1975 R75/6, and she, a 1973 R75/5. As her’s is in the midst of a rebuild, and she had a guitar lesson, only the”Silver Ghost” and I attended the festivities.

I think it fair to say all those in the driveway and on the street got high on the camaraderie, the eye candy of the many Airhead bikes, and the exchange of knowledge, wrenching and advice that was in abundant supply.It was a most excellent day. If you want to join the Airhead BMW Club, visit their web page:

And, here are some pictures:

The Grey Ghost

Radar’s R100RS … Lust, Lust 🙂

Another R100RS , More Lusting

Sidehack. On the Wish List

1973 BMW R75/5: Replacing Steering Head Bearings

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Brook Reams

I wrote up the procedure I used to replace the steering head bearings in this web page:

31 BMW R75/5 Replace Steering Head Bearings

At this point, the project is turning around from disassembly to reassembly as I installed the steering stem with polished lower triple clamp and new top chrome dust cover in the recently powder coated frame. 🙂

Here are a few of the many pictures you will find in the web page write up.

Steering Head After Forks Removed

Steering Stem Showing Top Bearing

BMW Steering Head Race puller

Old Race-Vertical Bands Indicate Brinelling

Top Race with Vertical Bands Indicating Brinelling

Bottom Bearing Slipped On and Seated on the Steering Stem

Top & Bottom Bearings Packed with Grease

Slotted Nut-Correct Orientation

1973 BMW R75/5 Rebuild: Replace Swing Arm Bearings & Powder Coat

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Brook Reams

In page 02 BMW R75/5 General Tear Down, I show how to remove the swing arm from the transmission and the rear drive from the swing arm. This page covers removal and replacement of the swing arm bearings and races and the powder coating of the swing arm.

Here’s a link to the page I wrote up.

33 BMW R75/5 Swing Arm Bearing Replacement

And a sample of some of the pictures.

Cycle Works Swing Arm Bearing Puller Kit

Removing the Spacer

Puller Positioned to Remove the Dust Seal

Progresso Soup Can “Sock” Over the Universal Joint

Powder Coated Swing Arm

Swing Arm Bearing Parts-Top to Bottom, Inside to Outside, Left is Drive Shaft Side, Right is Shock Side

Shock Side, Bearing Race and Grease Cap Installed

Shock Side Showing Bearing Race and Grease Cover Installed

Swing Arm Bearing Installed

Dust Seal with Sleeve Installed

1973 BMW R75/5: Refinishing Rear Shocks

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Brook Reams

I removed and inspected the Boge rear shocks to see if they could be used. I really wanted to retain the stock chrome shock covers if possible. I decided they are still serviceable, so I refinished them including powder coating the springs and removing the deep scratches in the shock covers. I wrote up a web page on this you can find on the right side of the page, and here is the direct link to it.

33 BMW R75/5 Rear Shock Refinishing

Below are a couple of the pictures included in the web page write up.

Dull, Dirty and Scratched

Hose Clamp Spring Compressor

Shackle and Spring Removed

Polished & Powder Coated Parts

Refinished Shock

1973 BMW R75/5: Refinishing the Transmission and Rear Drive

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Brook Reams

I just posted two web pages about this work with lots of pictures in the column on the right side, and here are the direct links:

I did not rebuild the rear drive or transmission, just refinish them. I did have to work on the transmission kick start and shift lever tapered bolts as they were very hard to remove due to scratches and burrs.

Here are a couple of the before and after pictures from the web pages.