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Films:
Spirit Lake Motorcycle Creations Are True To The Spirit
Cool bikes and the shop owners have the west coast vibe down perfectly. I bought a 77 BMW R100/7 and swapped on the bullet fairing almost right away. Within a month of getting the keys I was in SoCal (Anaheim). My bike was burnt orange with gold pinstripes and wow did this video ever churn up old memories. My ‘new’ ride is an 01 R1200C. It sports electronic ignition and a four valve head but is considered an Oilhead because of dual oil rads. I love the look of her spokes, echt leder and black paint with white fine lines. Keep those old rides rolling boys.
BrunoC, I respectfully disagree. With very little effort, a Roundcase Ducati can be used with facility equal to any classic Airhead. My R90S is pleasant enough, but its handling and composure on the road in varying conditions is deplorable compared to, say, a Ducati 750GT. The Ducati never puts a foot wrong whereas the BMW can always be counted on to bob and weave, maybe even shake its head a bit on varying quality roads. It never gets out of hand, it just aggravates any long time Ducati pilot. The chassis dynamics of the Ducati are beyond reproach, the BMW is merely the equal of any number of Japanese bikes of the era in that department. Install some proper shocks on the back of the Ducati (something the BMW can benefit from as well), some Emulators up front (both bikes need them, really) and I’ll take the Ducati any day. An imperturbable, dead smooth motorcycle is a hard thing to beat.
I absolutely respect, and am jealous that they make a living out of creating awesome rides for other people. But I didn’t feel completely satisfied with that profile. To me, they seem like two guys that love the aesthetics of a motorcycle and the fashion to go along with it.
What kind of mechanical refurb do they do to their bikes? Or do take runners and visually spruce up the bikes? Just really curious, because I feel like there is way more to the ride than just what it looks like. But to some people, all it is, is visual.
Either way, great video!
They don’t make ’em like that any more. Even the much touted retro R Nine T from BMW is quite ugly compared to its old namesake. Just look at a tiny detail like the respective valve covers. No comparison.
http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/uk/en/fascination/nineT/main.html
I have a comparitively modern 1965 R65, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with its looks until I swapped out the modern, angular valve covers for the old curvy ones.
It’s stuff like this that reminds me why I fell in love with motorcycles and motorcycing some 35 years ago now. Time passed, and I moved away from my early basic machines that I’d rebuilt from near scrap, to ‘sophisticated’ Jap machinery bought brand new or nearly new in the late 80, to some of the most hyper-bikes that the last few years have had to offer, before losing interest and noving on to classic cars. Now, in this Petrolicious feature, I can almost smell again those machines of my youth – and I want to experience it again. Absolutely fantasic. Keep up the great work guys. To Brian and Ken, I think you’ve hit on a rich seam….
Great video, once again! The R90S is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever. This R75/6 is very tastefully modified. Really liked the pair. Also the shop and the Chevrolet pick up are quite evocative.
The BMW boxer is one of the classic motorcycle engines. Visually it is very arresting and unmistakable. Its power delivery lacks character when compared to a Ducati L-twin but, on the other hand, no classic Ducati can match one of these BMW as daily transport!
