Going back to my roots....

Message

HisNibbs · #1 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:16 pm

Just bought this......http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0501204345

Last few weeks I've been taking the piss a little with the Falco. Maybe it's getting used to the dry roads, the Oz and Ohlins combination etc. I thought I realy do need to slow down a bit, at least for the every day trips to work or taking the misses or one of the kids out.

Been ridding the BMW today and I'm very pleased with it. It is very capable, smooth and actualy not as slow as I was expecting. It has been tweaked and has a nice dyno chart showing healthy gains over a standard model. Stil even so that's half of what I'm now used to.

Front wheel seems to have a bit of a mind of its own over the bumps but apart from that very good. I've loosened , pumped the forks and retightened the front weel but have yet to see if that has helped.

Falco is staying by the way. It's now done 50,000 miles and I'd like to give it a little TLC this winter.

DavShill · #2 Post by **DavShill** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:01 pm

Looks very well cared for Keith. Hope it hits the mark for you. Glad to hear the falco is staying.

See ya soon

MartDude · #3 Post by **MartDude** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:10 pm

Had one of those ('81 model) before the Futura. Enjoyed riding it, (except for the diving when braking hard) - very easy to ride, could give some modern bikes a run for their money on twisties. Those old BMW panniers are fantastic - water-tight & very capacious. Benefitted from fitting Hagon rear shocks. had to go 'cos it was getting in need of more TLC than I could give it - had done nearly 70 K miles.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did mine.

HisNibbs · #4 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:07 pm

Well so far so good. Definitely moderates my pace. I've ridden about 70 miles today and haven't been over the ton once!

It is a bit strange to be back on a BMW boxer. I've pobably done 150,000 road miles + on them in my early years; plus I raced my bitsa BOT R90's for a couple of seasons so I know they can hustle along, if you don't use the brakes too much.

D-Rider · #5 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:23 pm

Looks good Keith - but just be careful with that full 60bhp at the rear wheel ....

HisNibbs · #6 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:10 pm

The chart shows 65 BHPif you don't mind. It does make a fair bit less power than the Falco until it gets to about 7k then................you have to change gear. However it was wafting along quite nicely though. My daughter commented that it was ok, but riding pilion on it calm not scary and for wimps. (She's the one that has started trying to get her knee down lately on the back of the Falco)

It was realy nice to fire it up outside my friendly bike shop and have every one carry on talking rather than spin round with a "what the fk" look on their faces.

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:27 pm

Ah sorry - was just going off the ebay advert:

ebay wrote:Original dynometer graphs available showing 60 bhp at rear wheel

Anyway, should be good - a choice of styles of riding now.

HisNibbs · #8 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:33 pm

No need for the appology, tounge was in cheek.

MartDude · #9 Post by **MartDude** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:02 pm

IIRC, a fork brace improves things at the front end; the forks are, perhaps, a bit on the flexible side without. Think mine was a Telefix?

PS Do you have the obligatory beard, pipe & Sam Browne?

D-Rider · #10 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:05 pm

MartDude wrote:IIRC, a fork brace improves things at the front end; the forks are, perhaps, a bit on the flexible side without. Think mine was a Telefix?

PS Do you have the obligatory beard, pipe & Sam Browne?

.... plus collar and tie beneath your top-quality goretex suit .....

HisNibbs · #11 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:20 am

Ordering my dayglow vest and stripes tomorrow.

Willopotomas · #12 Post by **Willopotomas** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:01 pm

Nice.. Got an R100T in the garage.. It's been a good few years since that was on the road though.

. Belongs to me dad.. He's planning on restoring it when he retires with a little help from moi.. Which would be nice.

Smoooooooooth.. but yer right about the dive when braking.. Takes a little getting used to.. lol

HisNibbs · #13 Post by **HisNibbs** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:17 pm

I think the front end is a lot better now. The problem isn't that it's too soft, in fact if anything it's the reverse, it has uprated anti dive springs and dives a lot less than the Falco.

The front tyre was out of balance and when checked in more detail also not round. Possibly the result of a pothole incident or the like.

Any way a new balanced front tyre means it no longer wants to shake itself to bits as I get upto crusing speads. At spead it still sort of yaws back to front a bit which may be a front to back setup miss match.

I'll think about that for a bit.

In the mean time it's fun and I'm getting more used to it. Tips in and changes direction very quickly. the brakes are improving with use and has enough oomph to cope with most things.
Riding it realy highlights the Falco's fantastic capabilities which is also positive but when it's drizzling or worse, or you want to look at the scenery, or take the misses out on a day trip, or ride with other people; then it's the likely choice. So it is going to see some action over the comming months.

D-Rider · #14 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:47 pm

Sounds good Keith ..... how is the rider transformation going? Are you well on the way to this?