Background I got into all this as a hobby. I am not a professional mechanic, and I am not an expert on motorcycle work. I am an autodidact and love learning new things, working with my hands, and challenging myself in many ways. I think of myself as capable and confident in my ability to... Continue Reading →
One thing I don't want to be short on is power options. I record most of my rides with a camera or two and battery management is a real issue when you do that. My modern bikes have USB A ports for basic charging capabilities and when I am using my phone for navigation, the... Continue Reading →
Midwest winters are good for one thing at least. The give you plenty of time to dream up things to buy for your bikes. I have begun the "make it mine" part of owning the R18. This is a great bike, but I can only handle so much chrome. Today, I swapped the coil covers... Continue Reading →
In the midst of working on Project Blue, welcoming a new R18 Classic to the garage, and all my work over the summer, one thing kept bugging me - the final drive... I wrapped up Project Red at the end of last summer. It was a full rebuild with the vast majority of the work... Continue Reading →
It's been a couple years since I took a 6-day trip in the southwest on a rented R18 Classic. At the time, I was essentially test riding the bike to see if I wanted to buy one. After almost a week and around 2,400 miles, I decided it wasn't quite for me. The summer following... Continue Reading →
I'll admit it. I severely underestimated what it was going to take to do a "simple update" to this bike. My original plan (once I knew this was more than a good parts bike) was to give the bike a run through and make some limited improvements, have it painted, and get it back on... Continue Reading →
When you work on projects like this as a hobby and still have a full time job, you have to be willing to accept the fits and starts. In August, I was certain that I would have a couple months of solid hobby time to make progress, and I did. That's when other factors come... Continue Reading →
No, I haver not been slacking. Not exactly. July and August are always rough for me with a few heavy lifts at the office. This throws off my progress. Still, I do get in a shop session here and there. Race Tech Cartridge Emulators Project Red used a set of progressive springs in the Forks.... Continue Reading →
An experiment with silicone oil pan gaskets from a supplier, intending for their reusability. Installation was difficult due to their thinness, and incorrect torque values led to potential loosening. After 900 miles, the gaskets failed to perform and showed signs of movement, leading to a switch back to standard gaskets.
Of course, I can't simply rebuild a bike "as is". I am not one of the many folks who seem to take on the role of voluntary BMW docent, and I don't think "original" or "as built" holds much appeal on its own. Don't get me wrong, sometimes an all original survivor or restoration is... Continue Reading →
