Bmw bobber late life crisis

greywolfhound

greywolfhound

Member
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Well as the title states I’m having a late life crisis midlife crisis came over 20 years ago ..today I bought a bmw r80 bobber it’s being delivered next Saturday I bought it without seeing it but it was built by MSR a reputable BMW specialist in London the guy had it commissioned but I sense hes run low on funds so I’ve bought it for 2/3 of what it cost.. I wanted to do one for a long time this is finished engine rebuilt completely gone over one or two things I’m going to change the exhaust pipes for one the seat for another on the exhaust I like the look of
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porkpie stainless where they cut them in sections and make the compound curves and the seat more like an old Indian seat..more comfy for an old ass? very exiting Xmas has come early dry sunny days only as any puddle would throw it right up my back ...but because the bike is 42 years old no mot or road tax what a bonus ..
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Special edition said:
The old cafe racer styling with with the bullet proof R80 engine... i can see the appeal ?
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I like both styles but the cafe racer has the extended seat and bars are not always as raked back but both styles are retro .. I was thinking in my madness if they are going to hit petrol and diesel vehicles maybe 40 plus Year old vehicles will be exempt Now there’s a thought ..I wanted the 80 over the 100 they run much smoother down on power yes but you want these for cruising not blasting around ,.?
 
It needs mudguards, for safety, to be legal, and the first time you ride on a damp road you will have a face full of dirt and have a dirty wet line up your back. .....but if you like it...enjoy!
 
Beautiful looking bike sir. I have a 1977 BMW RS100 waiting in the wings for a restoration that one day I hope will get too. In the mean time thanks for the eye candy.
John
 
GrahamH said:
It needs mudguards, for safety, to be legal, and the first time you ride on a damp road you will have a face full of dirt and have a dirty wet line up your back. .....but if you like it...enjoy!
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I might if I enjoy it that much put small alloy guards on her but it’s the purity of it I like ..I have ridden bikes for over 50 years graham..and done solo trips for weeks on end all over Europe .. i know it’s a dry day bike ..guards not necessary as it’s mot exempt...as was no lights for daytime mot ..not sure if that still the case ..
Example below should I wish to fit ..again in British racing green ..
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thejohn said:
Beautiful looking bike sir. I have a 1977 BMW RS100 waiting in the wings for a restoration that one day I hope will get too. In the mean time thanks for the eye candy.
John
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Hi john I nearly went down that route there’s is a mint low mile r100 for sale not far from me .. When I looked at the cost and the fact that this bike I looked at was totally mint and original I couldn’t bear the thought of breaking it down and destroying its originality ..a true survivor.. When I look at the projects I’ve done over the years both cars and bikes you never get back what you put into them it’s a passion.. So with my sensible head I looked at this as someone that spent an awful lot of money and has gone right through it yes there’s a couple of things I’d like to alter but basically I love the bike I like the British racing green tank spoked wheels etc engine and box stripped and gone through ..saved me bucket loads of work and money .. As we get older time is precious and I’m realising it now five of my six close friends are no longer with us ...?old age doesn’t come on its own ..but smaller personal projects like this I get more enjoyment out of..good luck I hope you Finnish yours my friend ..? they start similar to this and end up like mine ..
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The hourglass that is my life is fuller at the bottom than the top. And the Bike has been waiting for me to start since I parked her in 2012. Even if I don't get there wanting to get there will sustain me. Mine has snowflake wheels and the later rocker covers unlike yours so not original but I don't want a concourse bike but a good ridable classic. Enjoy yours whenever you can. I have always said that the perfect motorcycling days amount to 5-10 days a year it's either to hot, cold, windy,
wet, frosty, or snowy. And that's coming from an all year rider on my BMW R850R.
John
 
greywolfhound said:
View attachment 73347Well as the title states I’m having a late life crisis midlife crisis came over 20 years ago ..today I bought a bmw r80 bobber it’s being delivered next Saturday I bought it without seeing it but it was built by MSR a reputable BMW specialist in London the guy had it commissioned but I sense hes run low on funds so I’ve bought it for 2/3 of what it cost.. I wanted to do one for a long time this is finished engine rebuilt completely gone over one or two things I’m going to change the exhaust pipes for one the seat for another on the exhaust I like the look ofView attachment 73346 porkpie stainless where they cut them in sections and make the compound curves and the seat more like an old Indian seat..more comfy for an old ass? very exiting Xmas has come early dry sunny days only as any puddle would throw it right up my back ...but because the bike is 42 years old no mot or road tax what a bonus ..View attachment 73343View attachment 73344View attachment 73345
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That brings back a lot of memories - I had an R45 and put nearly 100k miles on it, when I was young. It never let me down, but there were a couple of times when I had to make my way home in 2nd gear after the pawl spring in the gearbox broke (pig of a job to replace!) and it used to dump fuel on my boots when it got muck in the carb float valves. Still love the finned exhaust nuts.
 
Still get tempted to get back on two wheels but as I have fallen off nearly everything I used to ride and I do not bounce as well as I used to so I have resisted so far.My last big one was a Moto Guzzi 850 T3 but next to the V twins I always preferred the two strokes,best of them were the Kawasaki S3 triple and my old Yam 350lc followed closely by a very modded Suzuki GT380 triple and a 250RD Yamaha.Had a Morini three and a half Sport for a while but really did not get on well with small four strokes.Worst of the lot was a 1000cc Harley Sportster a two wheeled tractor that handled like a pig.
Very tempted by the Triumph Street Triple.
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Shortly after trashing my RD250,broken leg,gravel rash and lesson learned not to brake hard when at a precarious angle.
 
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Pie cut or lobster cuts are great and look amazing
My welder uses this style for lots of "little jobs"
My first love for tubing is Ti. Then Incolnel
Neither of which would look right on that R80
 
ijedgar said:
Still get tempted to get back on two wheels but as I have fallen off nearly everything I used to ride and I do not bounce as well as I used to so I have resisted so far.My last big one was a Moto Guzzi 850 T3 but next to the V twins I always preferred the two strokes,best of them were the Kawasaki S3 triple and my old Yam 350lc followed closely by a very modded Suzuki GT380 triple and a 250RD Yamaha.Had a Morini three and a half Sport for a while but really did not get on well with small four strokes.Worst of the lot was a 1000cc Harley Sportster a two wheeled tractor that handled like a pig.
Very tempted by the Triumph Street Triple.
View attachment 73381
Shortly after trashing my RD250,broken leg,gravel rash and lesson learned not to brake hard when at a precarious angle.
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The Street Triple got my vote (and money). I was mulling between a Ducati Monster 821 and the Street Triple, and the feel of the three cylinder engine got me as I pulled away from the kerb on the test ride. Here it is in our new home in Italy. The story of our getting here is here:https://www.a2oc.net/community/index.php?threads/today-i.28729/post-420850.
My only advice would be don't be tempted by all the electrickery offered on the RS like I was. The My Triumph integration is poor and will only connect to a very short list of phones, and having four mediocre TFT dash designs to choose from isn't worth it. I suspect the R version is the best value, although the RS does have lovely brakes and suspension. And that engine.....
 

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Thanks everyone and nice to read some of your stories and thoughts all welcome we all have different tastes and ideas it’s what makes us all human ..And nice to have a distraction on this forum from the cars now and again.. keep them coming ..all us bikers dream of those sunny days ... I must admit I’ve been lucky enough to own some really nice cars in my time but I always had a far more pleasure out of going for a ride on the motorbike? Even if it’s just spudling around ..
 
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Merlin3046 said:
The Street Triple got my vote (and money). I was mulling between a Ducati Monster 821 and the Street Triple, and the feel of the three cylinder engine got me as I pulled away from the kerb on the test ride. Here it is in our new home in Italy. The story of our getting here is here:https://www.a2oc.net/community/index.php?threads/today-i.28729/post-420850.
My only advice would be don't be tempted by all the electrickery offered on the RS like I was. The My Triumph integration is poor and will only connect to a very short list of phones, and having four mediocre TFT dash designs to choose from isn't worth it. I suspect the R version is the best value, although the RS does have lovely brakes and suspension. And that engine.....
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I doubt that I will ever be brave enough or rich enough to take the plunge but thanks for the advice.
Lovely looking machine your triple,I remember the day when Paul Sample used to draw bikes that looked like this in the Ogri cartoons way before they ever became a reality.
 
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