Potential New Member/Rider

[czkid]

I'm thinking about getting into motorcycle riding. Rode MANY years ago on Brit Bikes on the Canal Zone, and then owned a K175 and a K200 Messerschmidt while in college.... since then total sanity (unless you consider flying USAF helicopters in SEA for 4 years less than sane). Retired 2 years back, nursed the wife through ovarian cancer, and myself through colin removal... now I'm ready to enjoy my retirement.

I'm taking the MSF course at the end of the month to recheck my sanity and capability to ride (I'm only 68) and if all goes well I'm thinking of buying an Air Head since they seem to make the most sense from a reliability/maintainabilty standpoint. I've located an R100RS (1982) close to Detriot that has been in a multi-BMW owner's care for years and he needs to slim down his stable (he's a kid @62).

Am I essentially correct that the Airhead is the way to go? Is the R100RS possibly too much bike? I'm thinking of possibly going with a sidecar at some point for my bride, and I don't want to be underpowered. Are parts, etc becoming a problem?

Lastly... since we're Airstreamers, but we'd like to take the bike with us... what are the options???

Ralph & Basye Shuey
Huntsville, AL

[R90Srider]

Hi Ralph and Basye.

You have come to the right place with one exception. One of our club members is a retired Chinook jockey that goes by the name of Outlaw. He lives near you in Ardmore. Even worse, there are a bunch of "Flyboys" down Ft. Rucker way that are retired Army, now civilian Kiowa instructors. Just kidding, these are all great guys.

Huntsville is a hotbed for BMW Motorcycle riders. They meet every Friday at the West End Grill starting around 1730 hrs. http://www.westendgrillandbar.com/.
After happy hour, they decide where they want to go for dinner. They are a great group of folks.

The Alabama club is very active. We have monthly ride-in campout/meetings normally scheduled for the weekend with the last Sunday in the month. Motels are usually close by. Additonally, we have club rides through out the State. Check out our newsletters that are posted on this website. Click on the menu tab "newsletters". You will find a membership application form in the newsletters.

Getting an air head is a good choice. I have an R90s and a R100GSPDC and really enjoy riding them. There are a few other riders in our group that ride airheads too.

I look forward to meeting you guys soon.

[SteveHebert]

Hey Ralph and welcome,

I am truly one of the kids (43) who rides and airhead on occasion and one of the retired Army guys that Bob hinted about. Airheads are simple and reliable. I am not sure if I would go the route of the R100RS though. The handle bars are very narrow and the ride for me was not all that comfortable. I had 2 of them before careless dirvers tired to kill me and destroyed both RSs. I did quite a few long trips on the bikes and they were not the best fit for me altough I loved the looks. I now have a R75/6 with an S fairing and wider bars. It is very comfortable and I have ridden it 1275 miles in a 25 hour period without any issues. I would opt for the 1000cc engine, but in a different package, maybe an RT. That would be a good sidecar rig with plenty of power.

Just my $.02.

Steve

[beemererik]

Ralph,

I live on Monte Sano and have a 70's airhead as well as a 90's oilhead. Once the weather warms up a bit you are welcome to come by the house to take a look and take a seat on each one to get an idea of what they are about. I know most of the BMW crew that resides around Huntsville and can help you to zero in on a bike that fits your desires.

[jdubeemer]

Steve is right about the 1000cc engine. I have a R100/7 without fairing and it would make a great 2 up bike or it has plenty of torque to haul a sidehack. I would suggest that you have someone who knows what to look for inspect any prospective purchace. There are some great mechanics in the Alabama club that can do that for you. No, I'm not one of them.

[czkid]

I can see I may well garner some good insights from you folks... thanks. The comment on the narrow handlebars has it's pluses and minuses... my wife's comment was that we could possibly run the bike thru the doorway of our Airstream and haul it insude the trailer on our trips!!!! The specs that I have indicate a width of slightly less than 30 inches for the bike, I need to check the trailer.

I'd appreciate any input re. the best machine to buy, especially if it's inexpensive and close... the Detroit trip doesn't thrill me... but it's a nice machine and totally gone thru.

As a former chopper pilot reliability is No. 1 on my list... comfort comes a close second. But being able to take the bike on our frequent trips with the Airstream is right up there on the priority list... and I'm still puzzling that one out. I see a photo of one of the Alabama members sitting outside his Airstream, so I would hope he has some answers for me.

Don't pick on the poor Army chopper jocks.... for many years they got the short end of the stick. We Air Force guys always used to joke with them about our being "professional" pilots... but now I find that the Army is training the USAF pilots.

Thanks All and Keep the Info Coming!!!!

Ralph

[rangerreece]

Hi Ralph and Basye.

You have come to the right place with one exception. One of our club members is a retired Chinook jockey that goes by the name of Outlaw. He lives near you in Ardmore. Even worse, there are a bunch of "Flyboys" down Ft. Rucker way that are retired Army, now civilian Kiowa instructors. Just kidding, these are all great guys.

Outlaw lives in Ardmore? I didn't know that, my parent's and family live up that way, been in and out of Ardmore for the last 23 years, they moved up to the high class town of Dellrose, just up the interstate from Ardmore. Heck, we're probably related.

[Vance]

Originally Posted by rangerreece

[b] Heck, we're probably related.

Wow Reece...that would be something...not sure just what but something indeed!

[R90Srider]

Hi Ralph.

Here is a bike I noticed on IBMWR. The R100R is one of the best of the later airheads. This one is made even better in that it is one of the limited edition 1995 last year "classics".

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/1592399997.html