Topic: Let's see your non-SOHC4 on the road

[ofreen]

Great pics, as always 

yep

[Magpie]

At Mile 0 of Highway 101, Lund, BC.

[Terry in Australia]

That's a nice looking pair of cruisers Cliff! Cheers, Terry.

[Stev-o]

Went for a nice ride yesterday on the H1, it is running real good and so fun to ride.
There is a good road in a local preserve, the sign made me think this was a little ironic though.
I didnt buy an H1 to ride with caution!

[jas67]

Went for a nice ride yesterday on the H1, it is running real good and so fun to ride.
There is a good road in a local preserve, the sign made me think this was a little ironic though.
I didnt buy an H1 to ride with caution!

Nice H1!

As for the sign, it says, "DRIVE with caution" -- that's only for the cars and trucks, not motorcycles 

[Magpie]

Thanks Terry! The bikes are nice too. 

[Stev-o]

Went for a nice ride yesterday on the H1, it is running real good and so fun to ride.
There is a good road in a local preserve, the sign made me think this was a little ironic though.
I didnt buy an H1 to ride with caution!

Nice H1!

As for the sign, it says, "DRIVE with caution" -- that's only for the cars and trucks, not motorcycles 

Thx and good point!

[jas67]

1966 Ducati 250 Monza


I took the little Duc out for a shakedown today, hoping to gain some trust for a 60 mile round trip to the Ephrata motorcycle breakfast tomorrow.    These old Italians aren't reliable, like our old Hondas (or my old BMW's).     

I'd like to send special thinks to SOHC4 member, igotalotofrice, for his assistance yesterday.    It seems I can't get fuel out of the fuel tank when it get's down to reserve.

On top of that the charging system doesn't seem to be working, as after 25 miles, the battery was down to 5.4 V (6V system; should be 6.3V with a full charge).

[MoMo]

1966 Ducati 250 Monza


I took the little Duc out for a shakedown today, hoping to gain some trust for a 60 mile round trip to the Ephrata motorcycle breakfast tomorrow.    These old Italians aren't reliable, like our old Hondas (or my old BMW's).     

I'd like to send special thinks to SOHC4 member, igotalotofrice, for his assistance yesterday.    It seems I can't get fuel out of the fuel tank when it get's down to reserve.

On top of that the charging system doesn't seem to be working, as after 25 miles, the battery was down to 5.4 V (6V system; should be 6.3V with a full charge).

IF you go I'll look you up, I'll be on a blue Tequila Sunrise 750 along with a friend on a K0. should arrive about 9...Larry

[jas67]

1966 Ducati 250 Monza

IF you go I'll look you up, I'll be on a blue Tequila Sunrise 750 along with a friend on a K0. should arrive about 9...Larry

Definitely look me up.   I just got back from another shakedown run.    I'm going to take the little Duc.

The fuel issue is a venting problem.    The fuel cap on this bike is real easy to open and re-close while riding, so, I'll just do that every couple of miles, LOL.

As for the charging problem, I'm going to use a portable LED bicycle headlight that is actually brighter than the 6V headlamp on the bike.    I did 25 miles with very little battery drop by not running the lights.

I'll likely be parked with the Ducatis at the entrance to the parking lot, or maybe near the Europa Macchina (Moto Guzzi dealer) tent, as I'm friends with them as well (I also ride Moto Guzzis).

I'll PM my number.

[Wobbly]

The day (Thursday) started out with bad front-wheel bearing which I fixed that morning. The bike just came from service, which included new tires. The day ended with the third and final engine failure in two years. Both cams failed me in 2013. I believe the cam failed me again and dropped a valve. It's a total loss now because BMW has no repair for that but replaces the engine--which costs more than the bike is worth. I bought her new in 2010. I bought my Honda K7 new in 77, and in 38 years, I broke down only once with the Honda--flat tire. Is this progress?
According to BMW, it doesn't look so bad? Really?


Stranded on the German Autobahn, I got towed to the next gas station. after three hours, another van pulled me to the dealership.

[MoMo]

my sympathies Wobbly..Larry

[ofreen]

Sorry to hear about Wobbly's troubles with his BMW.  He is not alone in his issues with the newer Beemers, the kind of problems that shouldn't happen with such expensive machines.  Which is why I stick with my old airhead.  Took another ride over Lemhi Pass between Idaho and Montana last weekend.

The Idaho side -



On top of the Continental Divide looking into Montana -



Montana -

[andy750]

Some nice roads there Greg.

[jas67]

The day (Thursday) started out with bad front-wheel bearing which I fixed that morning. The bike just came from service, which included new tires. The day ended with the third and final engine failure in two years. Both cams failed me in 2013. I believe the cam failed me again and dropped a valve. It's a total loss now because BMW has no repair for that but replaces the engine--which costs more than the bike is worth. I bought her new in 2010. I bought my Honda K7 new in 77, and in 38 years, I broke down only once with the Honda--flat tire. Is this progress?
According to BMW, it doesn't look so bad? Really?
...
Stranded on the German Autobahn, I got towed to the next gas station. after three hours, another van pulled me to the dealership.
...

Hmmmm, this makes me re-think my thoughts to sell my 2001 VFR800 to buy my buddy's 2013 BMW F800GT.

[Terry in Australia]

Geez, my only reason for keeping my old BMW K100RS SE is because I can't afford a new BMW S1000RR. Hey Wobbly, wanna swap yet? (mine still goes, but it's only done 60,000 miles in 26 years, so it's not broken in yet)

[ofreen]

Some nice roads there Greg.

So many roads, so little time.

[Stev-o]

1966 Puch......

[scottly]

The day (Thursday) started out with bad front-wheel bearing which I fixed that morning. The bike just came from service, which included new tires. The day ended with the third and final engine failure in two years. Both cams failed me in 2013. I believe the cam failed me again and dropped a valve. It's a total loss now because BMW has no repair for that but replaces the engine--which costs more than the bike is worth. I bought her new in 2010. I bought my Honda K7 new in 77, and in 38 years, I broke down only once with the Honda--flat tire. Is this progress?
According to BMW, it doesn't look so bad? Really?


Stranded on the German Autobahn, I got towed to the next gas station. after three hours, another van pulled me to the dealership.

I never would have believed that one day Harleys would be more reliable than BMWs.

[Terry in Australia]

1966 Puch......

Wow. That thing fell out of the ugly tree, and hit every branch on the way down.............

[Wobbly]

I never would have believed that one day Harleys would be more reliable than BMWs.

They are. On the previous trip with the BMW in June, I was riding with a friend who is the president of the local Harley chapter. When we were sitting by the side of the road, everyone expected that the Harley broke down. But it was the BMW that needed to be hauled away. I returned home the same way I returned home this time: German  Automobile Club. First though, I was rescued by the nice people who run the motorcycle hotel--the same ones that replaced the front-wheel bearing on my BMW last Thursday morning. That's customer service. My dealership, where I bought the bike new, has nothing left but disgust for me when I show up. There was another BMW hauled away from the hotel that day by the Austrian Automobile Club (broken circlip crankshaft).




The trips to the Alps in May and July with my 38-year old Honda, were uneventful however.



I can buy any BMW new at an incredible discount. But this was my first and last BMW. When the insurance claims are worked out and I either get some money or a new engine--in which case I sell immediately--I will get me a Honda CB1100. Stationed in Germany, I get the European model rather than the U.S. version. It's much faster and has spoke-wire wheels. And since I have no intentions to ever go back to the States even when my orders are up, I lose nothing.

[Wobbly]

One more thing so: There is a nice side to all of this. The friendly people from the German or Austrian Automobile Club always wave to me when I drive by. They smile at me and shout: "See you later." And indeed, they always do--see me later.

[Tugboat]

Cool bike tow truck!!

[jas67]

Cool bike tow truck!!

I'm sure that's not what Wobbly was thinking as his bike was being loaded up, AGAIN.

[simon#42]

bmw have lost the boring old mans bike tag and are now fast and trendy , alas they also lost the reliability .

i helped a british superstock team in 2012 , we destroyed 11 engines in 10 meetings ,  wobbly at least your gearbox didnt explode [ which locks the back wheel ] we had 5 of them
i even managed to drop a valve while running one in .  the zx10 s have proved much better !
like most other european manufacturers bmw have engines made in china , i dont know why but that always makes me worry .