BMW R100CS: Classic Airhead Restoration | Engine Problems & More

[@chuckpryor]

Been fun following along... just picked up an 84CS Last Edition and getting it sorted.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Amazing! Good luck with the sorting 👍

[@markb3180]

Looking forward to seeing the project completed and you riding it with a huge smile on your face.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Mark. Yes I’m looking forward to getting out for a ride!

[@thebingleywheeler]

Really enjoying this series as the bike hails from my first motorcycling days…. You’ve clearly put a stack of work in yourself…top job 👍🏻

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you sir. Yep lots of time going into this project. Enjoying the journey (so far).

[@dave8549]

Well done. A very interesting and detailed restoration. I'm sure this will be a valuable owners reference series for years to come.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Dave. Hopefully it plays a small part in documenting the restoration of these bikes.

[@tonymartin3780]

Great update, your bike is going to look amazing, hats of to you for doing the job 100%

[@davemitchell2401]

Very much enjoying this build, can't wait until you complete it and film a tour or a nice ride.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Dave. Can’t wait to get out and ride it!

[@antonoat]

So happy to have found your channel, this was compelling viewing! I'm considerably older than you so I remember seeing these BM's new, there was a motorcycle dealer in Wallington, Surrey called Hughes motorcycles near where I lived at the time (1980's) , they were a BMW and MZ dealer, it was impossible for me to walk past without having a good look through the showroom window and dreaming about owning one of these, well I never did own anything that old but I've had many BMW bikes since that time, I'm currently without a bike but where we live now we have a huge garage so it's just a matter of time, lol. Looking forward to watching more of your excellent videos, all the best, Tony.

[@walt7518]

Wow, an amazing amount of work done and to be done. It'll be great to have such a beauty on the road again. About the choke, my BMW R100S had a choke lever mounter to the left hand side of the engine casing as I recall, just thought I'd mention it as an option when getting rid of the handlebar choke.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Walt, I’ll look into that option too.

[@Gambo916]

Thanks for the well documented and thoroughly enjoyable update Mr WM. Really looking forward to the upcoming rebuild vids and how it'll finally look when finished. You've chosen some very tasteful and subtle upgrades to this project, but personally I'm not struck on the choice of black for the wheels.......I'd suggest that staying with silver would look more inkeeping with originality and provide a nice contrast to the black paintwork, tyres, and other various black components around the bike. Reckon you've made a bang-tidy decision to keep the crankcases silver for exactly that same reason. All the best, Gareth.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Gareth. I know what you mean about keeping the wheels silver. I’m going to try a gloss black but I can always change it back to silver if it doesn’t work out. Watch this space 👍

[@bobs2440]

Great video. Thanks. Can not imagine the cost of the project. Either money is no object or you plan to never part with it.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Re-building old bikes to this level is expensive. However, i'm enjoying the process, learning lots and at the end of the project i'll have a bike that I can be truly proud of. It all adds up to more enjoyment than simply walking into a showroom and riding out on a new bike (for me anyway).

[@Shinysideup]

This has turned out to be a major project, can’t wait to see it , some loverly attention to the finer details too. I’m sure it’s going to look awesome, no sure about the black wheels though, I’d have gone gold to tie in with the pin strips. It’s so good to see the bike getting some real tlc.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks Ian. How’s that Z1 coming along?

[@Shinysideup]

@@WildlifeMoto put the engine engine back in the frame last week. The cost is what’s slowing build I was totally unrealistic, the budget went out of the window ages ago

[@WildlifeMoto]

@@Shinysideup sounds familiar 😂

[@crumblymal8479]

Very interesting watch it's been 2 years since I started and stopped mine but feeling inspired by watching this one I am getting good tips on places to send stuff for coatings which I will use like Ragged Moto and the chrome place I made a note of too all I have to do is move house set up my new garage when I find it and get going again . I made one cardinal error when getting my frame coated and that was I left the damned info plate on the head stock with the numbers of engine and frame on it so don't know what problems this will cause since I have no log book " yikes " still , great to see things are proceeding so well for you and wow you have had a lot done it must be costing a fortune 😉but like anything when you get that involved it becomes a mission to be completed .😉👌👍

[@WildlifeMoto]

It's time consuming and expensive but I find it quite therapeutic having something other than work to think about. Maybe just start doing the small bits while you get your set up sorted. These things shouldn't be rushed anyway. Thanks for watching.

[@julianv.5848]

Marvellous Top Airhead restauration Brother, and it's your Birth bike two 💯, My father bought a new Benelli sei 750 in 1975 when I was only 7 yares of age, and had it for 1 yare only, swaping it for the BMW R90S still havin the Benelli at home i thaout he was '''Mad'' and it was a second hand R90S he exchange it for, but today i see the real Cult Following and beuty in thise Motorcycles 🎱

[@WildlifeMoto]

They are incredible bikes. I can’t wait to get this one back on the road in all her glory.

[@zahadou]

Fantastic - sounds like building an old Spitfire - or Focke Wulf more like

[@WildlifeMoto]

Next project maybe 🛩😃

[@neilchristie1]

Hi great vids thanks! Who did you use for the engine rebuild?

[@brendancain7961]

Over here in Aust BMW recalled the front wheels in 1985 The replacement wheels gusseting.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@bunshoft]

Great series! I love the attention to detail and commitment to getting this bike back in fighting trim. Curious if you were tempted to do the Siebenrock big bore kit when you ran into trouble with your cylinder lining? Also did you look at a taller 5th gear when you were in the gearbox?

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thank you. Yes I did thing about the BB kit, however it’s just more trouble that it’s worth here in the UK. I’d have to inform the DVLA and risk loosing the bikes “historic” status. It’s also a bit of a nightmare with insurance companies as they often refuse to cover bikes with these types of modifications.

[@stevesanelli90]

Excellent reporting & will look great no doubt ✅ Pleased you didn’t blackout the engine, though I would have clear coated (not thickly applied) the aluminium to stop any corrosion & pitting. Will you be able to get it on the road in time over your summer? Best time to ride it before winter starts 🤔 Good luck & have fun🤙

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Steve. I think it will be late summer / early autum before she's ready to roll (my favourite time to ride). There has been so many issues to fix and everything takes ages to do properly. I'm trying to keep the deadline loose as I don't want to rush it. The pace will certainly start picking up now.

[@DaveLukeBizzcoach]

Can you reveal your source for the "R100CS" badge on the rear seat cowell ?

[@WildlifeMoto]

Motorworks 👍

[@alanbarnes2920]

Thoroughly enjoyable project to follow..well done you! The motorcycle will be stunning on completion but your wallet will be empty! I’ll stay watching until completion, already a subscriber..will you tell us the total cost when finished? Atb, Alan.

[@WildlifeMoto]

Cheers Alan. At some point I’ll add it all up and make a cost video once the project is complete. Hopefully by that time I will have forgotten most of the pain 😂

[@julianv.5848]

I would of tried to find some ''Acront Aluminum ''spoked'' wheel rims'' it wood have been the best opcion for the Airhead BMW, the Mag wheels were a very early inovation on bikes back in the late 70's and early 80'

[@WildlifeMoto]

Yes that would be ideal. I have the mag wheels for now but I’ll keep an eye out for a nice set of spoked rims.

[@paddywuk]

Front wheels were recalled by bmw and replaced,be careful you aren’t buying one of those replaced wheels

[@WildlifeMoto]

Thanks mate. I’ll see if I can do some investigating on that.

[@christianweller4288]

Black wheels….. noooooo. Impossible to keep clean and will not look good. Please go for silver.

[@WildlifeMoto]

I've got black wheels on all my bikes. If it looks awfull on the CS i'll change them back to silver. Lets see.