This article was originally published in the paper version of Real Classic Magazine in November 2017(There is a link to their web page on the links sidebar).  The magazine version of this article is much better laid out than I can manage here, but the info is the same.  If you are considering long term ownership of an airhead, then hopefully a) you won't have a 1974 bike, and b) there might be something in here that you find useful.  Since I recently wrote about a starter motor problem I had had with this bike, I thought you all might enjoy the bikes back story.  It's a bit of a love/ hate thing.  Enjoy. _________________________________ There has been a lot written about BMW airheads in the last few years.   So, in the spirit of if you can’t beat them, join them, here are a few thoughts from my own perspective. Firstly, a bit about my own bike; a picture or two of which might even decorate/ desecrate these pages.   I boug...

The first four stories in this series were originally published on the Real Classic web site ( www.real-classic.co.uk ), but can also be found on this site at the links below. Part 1:   https://oldandireland.blogspot.com/2018/11/paddock-days-part-1-getting-mobile-on.html Part 2 :   https://oldandireland.blogspot.com/2018/11/paddock-days-part-2-practical-jokes-and.html Part 3 :   https://oldandireland.blogspot.com/2018/11/paddock-days-part-3-race-day.html Part 4:   https://oldandireland.blogspot.com/2019/01/padock-days-part-4-tales-of-ice-and.html   I promise you, this really did happen. We were an irreligious lot back in the day when as spotty youf’s we hung around Bangor’s biker meeting place;’ The Paddock’.   Yet, back in the 1970’s we existed in a very religious world.   The seafront evangelists were perpetually telling us that we were headed for an eternity of hellfire and damnation (they didn’t like our attitude apparently)....

I came across this while browsing.  I magine, there actually was a Brigid Hitler (she married into this wonderful family in Dub), and even a little William Hitler!!  you couldn't make it up. 1169 And Counting.....: 'HEIL STUART-HOUSTON' AND THE IRISH CONNECTION... Then this link, which was given to me by a work colleague when I showed him the Mrs Hitler link.  This must have been where she took her washing. ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bokb61qZM9M

At last!   Over the last week or so mini frogs have started appearing around the garden.   These guys are seriously small; they would happily sit on your finger tip, so please excuse the quality of the photos which were taken with my phone.   The micro frog in the photos tried to hop out of my way when I was sweeping up after cutting the grass at the weekend, hence its covering of grass and debris.   They are seriously difficult to photograph, since they never seem to sit still for more than a second or so.   I tried to get a pic of another one amongst the newly shortened grass, but got nothing but blurry shots and pictures of where it had been a moment ago.. The attrition rate of the hundreds that leave our pond must be huge, with birds and other predators taking their toll.   Our dog, Tilly seems very interested in that area of the garden too, so I suspect that she probably consumes her share too.

There are advantages to running an old bike that was in production for over 25 years, especially ones as popular as the BMW Airheads.   For example, parts supply is good, and many parts were updated or improved over the years.   Often these can be retro fitted to older models either directly, or with a little ingenuity.   As an early example of the breed, my 1974 R75 thus has scope for improvement in a number of areas. Take starting.   On cold mornings, pressing the starter button would produce only a lazy response from the engine.   The reason for this lies in the technology of the time as well as in the bikes design.   The original starter motor in my bike (made by Bosch), used electro magnets.   This meant that to get the bike to go the starter motors coils had to charge up whilst still leaving enough current in the system to produce a decent spark at the plugs.   The compromise here is that to leave enough juice in the battery for t...