An Ideology of a Contemporary Restoration

The word restoration is a well traveled descriptive noun in the title of classic motorcycles and for good reason because the experience of observing a bike can be entirely altered by the fact of the bike being an original or a restore. An original may stir nostalgic memories that strike a little deeper because all reference points of a memory are intact. A restoration can evoke the same memories as an original but deviating from the point of origin will subdue those memories; the further the deviation the less likely the nostalgia. We aren't going to try and write the next "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" but this small theory can give some insight on some of our ideologies and interpretation of the word restoration and how we apply it to every project that comes through our doors. To refinish the cast aluminum on this 1971 BMW R60-5 one could go about cleaning the tarnished and oxidized parts a few ways; sandblast it so it shines like it's never shined before or taking the matter in your own hands with a rag and some elbow grease. By this method we are able to revive the part to a state in which it once was - we feel the essence of restoration- staying true to the original machine is in our signature.

Here are some less philosophical bullet points that went into restoring this 1971 BMW R60-5.

1-Tore the bike down to the bare frame to detail/ thoroughly clean everything from the ground up.

2- The engine/ transmission were broken down to be thoroughly cleaned and brought back to life with new seals/ gaskets and a fine tuning.

3- Broke down the wheels and re-laced with new spokes. Overhauled hubs with new bearings. New tires.

4- A personality trait of these bikes in this condition - from the result of not being equipped with fuses from the factory - is a wiring harness bearing burnt wires so we can almost always count on some work in the electric department.

5- Misc info: New seat, corrected some prior repairs/ accessories that were not original spec, tank and fenders had been repainted but some time prior to coming in.

If you have any questions about this or past projects drop us a line or visit our Instagram.

Harvest Classic

We always look forward to the Harvest Classic every year as its a way to enjoy the winding roads and camping in the Texas hill country and it brings together a heap of like minded passionists to share their personal craft. Departing Austin mid day Friday before the show we weaved through the hills by roads deemed more adventurous and scenic over efficiency of time until we reached our plot for the night at Garner State Park. After a night of some R&R by a fire under the stars we set out for the small journey to Luckenbach, TX. for the center of our travels - The Harvest Classic European and Vintage motorcycle show. (Oct. 19-20 2019) We set up shop for the day of Saturday and dove straight in, the buzz of an event will always smooth over the knuckle dings and bumps while in the shop. If you didn’t make it out don’t fret because like always we brought back a small grab bag of eye candy and hopefully we’ll see you out there next year.

Special thanks to the event organizers for having us as a sponsor and vendor, thank you to all our customers who came by the booth to say hi and thanks to all the builders and attendees who make it such a memorable event.

Webstore Live

We are please to announce that our shop product is now a little easier to get your oil stained hands on. There is a special on the tees since we only have a few left. Look for some new product in the near future and thank you for the continued support.

2019 East Side Classic

For everyone who had plans because of the holiday and couldn’t make it to the Eastside classic don’t worry because we were there to snap a little eye candy for you - though a little late and wasn’t able to catch some snaps of the awesome custom painted helmets before being raffled. Nonetheless enjoy our eyes of the show and catch more media from the show online at Eastsideclassicatx.com or Instagram- @eastsideclassic as the trail heads.

Vintage BMW Airhead Suspension Upgrade

Keep the classic aesthetic while experiencing a smoother ride backed with modern engineering.

Owning a piece of history in the form of a classic motorcycle is mysteriously fulfilling. Something about the foundational engineering and genuine but often replicated aesthetic from past eras feels right about continuing a bikes legacy on the blacktop. The well tuned engines hum will always be music to the ears but it may be time for the 40 plus year old suspension to hang it up. We offer a suspension upgrade that gives you a modern ride retro designed to coincide with the classic look.

For the forks we us the Race Tech combination spring kit - that we custom order to the individual riders weight - with Race Tech gold valve cartridge fork emulators converting the factory non adjustable unit with a new fully manual damping system. We love this combination of springs and dampers because of the diversity in their adjustability allowing us to zero in on a more accurate spring rate for rider weight and style.

Our go to for rear replacing the shocks in the rear are by Ikon for the same reason we choose the Race Tech system, Ikon shock/spring assemblies are designed with many adjustment points. The Ikon system offers 3 positions for adjustment on the spring preload and 4 positions on rebound damping. Your current spring covers can be modified to fit the new assembly, they also have assemblies complete with covers or come with no cover if you like the raw look.

The suspension duo of the Race Tech system up front backed by the Ikon assembly creates almost an infinite parameter of adjustment to optimize your handling and performance, minimizing fatigue and maintaining aesthetic. Give us a call for more information on this upgrade and our many other BMW Motorcycle services. (512) 657-2659