I own a 1976 R75 /6 and recently refurbished the master cylinder, and updated the triple tree with a ToasterTan brace. I am a new Airhead owner and learning quickly, and during this "maintenance journey" I have seen various comments like "well that wasn't the best design" from other owners about both the master cylinder and the top brace. I am not dunking on the Airhead motorcycle, it was (and is) always my dream bike, but I thought it would be fun/interesting/instructive to create a list of other interesting design decisions for the Airhead. I'll start:
1) Master Cylinder is under the gas tank. Upside: It makes the bike look clean and symmetrical.
2) Top brace is a "thin" piece of metal that must hold the fork tube in place to very small tolerances. Upside: Inexpensive to manufacture.
3) The side stand enables oil to get into the left head, and sometimes allows gas to flow from the carburetor bowl standpipe. Upside: Provides for many forum postings.
Rodney, Welcome !!
We need to be careful when pointing out "faults" and remember that we are looking at these old bikes with 2024/25 eyes. Back in 1976 very few bikes had disc brakes... regardless of where the master cylinder was stowed.
If bike design had gone another direction and under-tank m/cyl ended up as the "norm", would we be bashing Honda today for placing the m/cyl way out on the handlebars?
I think, while there are minor short comings, BMW was doing it's best and the best proof of this is that they were sold by the thousands and are still being ridden.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
I would agree that good engineering has resulted in so many airheads still being on the road today many with very high mileage. I would not necessarily say "fault" either, just choices and some of them leave you scratching your head.
I am in the process of a restoration on a 79 RT and I will say I have had a couple of "What were they thinking?" moments. Same with any other BMW bike I have worked on.
Still, I wouldn't and haven't owned anything but airheads. The bike I ride the most has lasted 40 years and over 200K miles, my old dealer had a R90S with over 500K miles, the bike I am restoring has over 200K miles.
I don't see many OM bikes that can boast that claim. My friends and I joke about the design stuff and say "Must have been a two beer lunch day." Enjoy the ride when you are done. St.
Beware! I do not suffer fools gladly! St.
A few of my favorite “endearing” features;
1. Chunks of radiator hose and hose clamps holding the intake tract together (highest quality hose clamps on the planet!).
2. Industrial rubber band holding the battery covers in place.
3. One little bolt that is the transmission vent, retains the speedometer cable, and grounds the battery … that poor bolt!
And we love ‘em!
Now that I think of it using a Phillips screw for the brake switch attachment on the swingarm of my R65 LS. Needless to say mine is a bit rusty and now stripped.
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