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Wisconsin Airheads Winter Tech Day 2008 |
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Written by Jeff T
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Thursday, 14 February 2008 |
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The Wisconsin Airheads had their first ever Winter Tech day on Feb. 9. The premise is to demonstrate a couple of jobs that we all will need to do sometime or other yet are intimidating if you haven't seen it done. The two chosen were spline lubes and pushrod seal replacement. Michael McSherry graciously offered use of his wonderful shop. This shop is a wonderful museum of a lifelong love of motorcycles. You could spend hours looking at photos, posters, signs, and other memorabilia not to mention the bikes and
parts. Attendance was limited to 15 due to the size of the shop and these folks had to swear to not using kids, soccer or weather as an excuse to not show up. They did pretty well in that department. One prominent airhead from south of the Wisconsin border did use work as an excuse at the last minute. That 4 letter word will probably be included in next years attendance requirements. This is a record snowfall year for Southern Wisconsin so was astonished when Milwaukee Airhead Andrew Hargarten showed up on his sidehack. The hack is a oilhead gs1100. At least he showed enough sense to not expose his airhead to the salt and grime. Wis. Airmarshal Jeff Trapp did a spline lube on C. R, Krieger's recent Acquisition, a 1978 motosport rs. After stuggling with rusty battery box mounts and removal of the usual mouse nest and dead mice, that job went smoothly. It seems that one of the perceived difficulties of this job is pulling the swingarm pivots so you can pull the swingarm, tranny and wheel back as a unit to get at the splines. Everyone seemed to appreciate that it isn't a big deal at all and the complete project is easily done in less than 2 hours. For pushrod replacement demo, John Tokarz brought the engine out of his r100r. He made a stand for the bare engine so everything was especially visible. John makes a special effort to show how keeping track of things like rocker arm orientation etc. makes this job relatively easy and doesn't have to take more than a hour or hour and half per side even for the first timer. We've also found the simple green and some green scotchbrite pads make pretty quick work of decoking the heads and piston crowns. Despite the motorcycle mechanic theme, as usual, a highpoint for the day was lunch. Mark Hoesly made a big pot of venison chili. It was wonderful! I've never seen mushrooms in chili before but now think it's a perfect match. There was lots of other god food and drink offerings brought by the rest of the crew so no one left thirsty or hungry. I'm guessing this will become a annual event for Wisconsin. It served nicely to break up the long motocycleless winter and hopefully will encourage airheads to dive into their bikes like never before. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 March 2008 )
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Tuesday, 16 October 2007 |
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It's the same old song, bigger and better than ever. The 2007 Wildcat Mtn campout had super weather, almost too hot, 27 folks attending over the weekend and a beautiful fun ride on Sat. This year saw folks coming from all over Wis. and from Illinois and Minnesota. There was a new route for Sat.'s ride that went north to avoid the gravel from repairs of the Aug. floods in the Gay's Mills and Soldiers Grove regions. It was good fun and if you haven't attended a campout yet you should. The people, the bikes, Wildcat Mtn and the roads make it pretty special. The campout has reached a point where it probably is worth getting a group campsite. We tried it the first year and there weren't enough folks. It would make it easier as far as reservations etc. go. I also will be emphasizing that it is a Wisconsin Airhead club event. Classic BMW airhead motorcycles are the glue that started this event and what we all have in common and I don't think it would be wise to stray too far from that idea. This will probably be the last update I make to this site. I want to move it to a url that allows me to post photos etc. I'll post it here and on the Wis. airheads email list when I get it going again. It likely will be at the old URL I used to use. It's free. Jeff Trapp Wisconsin Airmarshal |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 14 February 2008 )
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Saturday, 04 August 2007 |
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I wondered if anyone was paying attention. I guess a few, I've been negligent in keeping this site updated. The airheads are having some webmaster problems in general and the photo gallery on this site is goofed up and I haven't had any liuck getting the webmaster to respond to my appeals for help. So the heck with him/ We just wrapped up a fun and successful tech day at my home. I'm amazed how airheads I haven't met yet seem to come out of the woods. Half the folks here today were new faces. Good folks and good fun. Once again got a few things accomplished, some valve adjust and carb sycn lessons to folks looking to lean, some fluid changes and tire changes, including one from hell on Peter H's bike. After a couple of punctured tubes, lots of verbal encouragement and a little blood it finally got changed. Thanks for coming all. Also lately wrapped a very successful Airhead Central for the BMWMOA National Rally that was held in West Bend WI. The Wisconsin Airheads did themselves pround. Airhead Central was a very popular gathering spot of the tribe. Even had sightseers stopping by to take photos of our comfortable hangout. Oak liked the chair we reserved for him so much he took it home with him. Thanks to all the people who helped out, bringing gear, finding furniture, helping set up and clean up. Couldn't have happened without you. A couple of fun events are still coming up. Rockerbox is Aug. 11. Always a fun event. Then it's not too early to make a reservation for the Wildcat Mtn Campout, Oct 5-6-7 for Wildcat Mtn STate park if you plan to attend. They let us put 3-4 folks per site so contact me or your buddies to fill up. Catch you later, Jeff T |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 August 2007 )
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Airheads Wildcat Mountain Campout 2006 |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Friday, 17 November 2006 |
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This years event was truely the best ever. Of course in my opinion that happens every year. The weather in early October can be iffy and it didn't look real promising riding up in the rain with John Tokarz on Friday afternoon. We did have some showers and gloom that night but the stars popped out once in awhile and it didn't dampen the campfire or the intelligent discourse around it. Saturday morning though didn't appear much better but I think everyone was just optimistic and took off on a day long ride. Thankfully around 10 the sun came out to stay and it really turned out to be a wonderful day, ride and route. If you haven't ridden in Wisconsin's southwest hills and valleys you truely owe yourself the experience. You'd think it was made for motorcycles, lots of curves, beautiful scenery and all paved thanks to cows and their milk. This year we handed out maps with a que sheet and encouraged folks to ride at their own pace and not in a large group. That worked out well, groups tended to form and people ran into each other more than once during the day. One gathering point was lunch in Lansing Iowa, The Rivers Edge restaurant is right on the river and had just what was needed. Many of us also rode up to Mt. Hosmer Park which has a incredible vista of the Mississippi river. For those who rode the whole route it's 240 miles of good clean fun, for many the highlight may have been the Mindoro Cut north of West Salam. This is a 25 ft. wide and 74 ft. deep literally handhewn rockcut on Hwy 108. It was made in 1907-1908 and features lots of switchbacks on both ends. It really is a unique feature, you'd swear you somehow took a left into West Virginia. Sat. evening I think we had 19 folks camping which lead to more campfire, thanks to Gary Lemasters and his woodpile and more of that discourse mentioned previously. Sunday most folks head out, some for home and some to Leiland for the northwest end of the Slimey Crud. Thanks to everyone who helped and who attended. Those that didn't it's not too early to make camping reservations for next year. It will always be the weekend of the first Sunday in Oct., that's when they have the Slimey Crud. Jeff Trapp NOv. 2006 |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 17 November 2006 )
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Madison Tech Day, August 5, 2006 |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Sunday, 13 August 2006 |
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No complaints on the Aug. 5, Madison tech day. Weather was great, good folks and some things even got accomplished. Sam Garst barely rolled in with his sick running r80 and hack. First suggestion of checking the points proved fruitful as properly adjusted new points and condenser had it running considerably better. Gary Lemasters had a couple of bikes he rotated working on, a newly purchased ultra sano r80rt and his franken /5-/6. Not sure what all he did but he did get his gs tubeless tire mounted with a little help from Ed Korn. Tim, sorry I missed the last name, from Token Creek put new brake shoes on front of his /6. New member Scott Green swapped out a troublesome starter on his r100gs with the help of IL airmarshal Al Sloan. We think we've diagnosed Tony Milanowski's oil leak as a malfunctioning oil breather but the jury is still out on that one. Lunch seemed to be enjoyed and plenty of the usual bike and other nonsense banter was thrown around. The only downside was a neighbor running into Andy from Milwaukee's /7. (Another last name missed or forgotten) He took it remarkably well despite a badly bashed tank and a broken plug found by Kirby from IL. Thanks Kirby. Hope that gets resolved for him. Might need parking signs next year. From here it's on to Rockerbox and the Wildcat Mtn. Campout. Thanks for attending and helping out all. Jeff Trapp |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 August 2006 )
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Written by Randy Boris
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Monday, 08 May 2006 |
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It started out on Saturday, May 6th with sunshine, blue skies, and 32 degrees at 7:15am when I arrived at Anschutz Motorsports to open the shop, clear out the shop area for the day's event, due to start at 8. After going to Kwik Trip to get my first cup of coffee and some donuts, the first bike arrived after 9, my friend and fellow Airhead Jeff Gehler, who has helped me in so many other adventures. Time for more coffee. A short while later we hear an Airhead, this time a non-Airhead, but there is always hope. Brian Flanagan, a guy I know from work, brought his R100T with complaints about his front forks being soft. Previous discussions caused him to bring along some progressive springs and fork seals. We were soon joined by Dave Elliott, who owns an Oilhead, but wants either a /6 or /7, and showed up to learn. Little did he know he was going to get his hands dirty. The old learn-by-doing trick! So we began by helping Brian disassemble his front end, with him doing most of the work. Again, learn-by-doing! Shortly we discovered another non-Airhead Airhead arrive, Jeff Burish, a neighbor of mine, on his R75/6. I'd first met him last summer when I saw him riding down the street, so I followed him to his house to find out who was riding another Airhead. During last summer I showed him how to do a routine tune-up in his driveway(valves, points, timing, carb adjust and balance). Today he wanted to check out the rear drive splines. Jeff Gehler took charge of this aspect, along with a few other inspections and imparting of general Airhead lore on the care and feeding of these beasts. Also dropping in, and I am sorry I didn't get his last name, was a gentleman named Phil on a R100RT, but another non-Airhead. He'd seen the two bikes "out front" and came in to investigate. You know, just check things out. It began to get hungry out, so I fired up the grill and proceeded to carburize some animal protein in tubular form, namely brat's and Italian sausage. It does help if the person doing the cooking pays some attention to that task. So they were a leetle bit crunchy, they still had good flavor. Kinda. Following lunch we did get the two bikes back together. Brian was impressed how well his bike handled, especially since we did add oil to the forks. Did I mention that there was hardly any when we disassembled them? A much nicer ride! We were pretty much finished by 2pm, so called it a day. As a followup to this event, I wandered over to a local cigar shop. The purpose of this was the Kentucky Derby, as the owner has a "thing" for horses. The promotion was buy a cigar, and draw a horse. Seeing as there were only six of us there, and 20 horses, we all ended up with numerous horses. Joe, the owner, also served up mint juleps. The prizes for the day were: WIN - 2 Makers Mark cigars, PLACE - 1 Makers Mark cigar, and SHOW - a small Makers Mark cigar. My horses finished 8, 9, and 10. But what a great way to finish a most excellent day. I would like to thank Mark Anschutz, my "boss" and friend, for allowing us the use of the shop for the day, and graciously providing the food. We offered , and he declined. But he is inclined to do this again next year. Overall I think Jeff and I did a fair job of observing the Canons, and we'll be trying to recruit these riders into the fold. Thanks Randy for your time and effort. I'm sorry I couldn't make it this time but will next time for sure. Jeff Trapp Wis Airmarshal |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Wednesday, 12 October 2005 |
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The 2005 version of the Wisconsin Airheads Wildcat Mtn. campout was easily the best ever. You can blame the perfect weather, the great roads, the great company but it was a good one. It didn't hurt if you were there last year knocking ice off the saddle on Sat. morning. We had 7 folks on Fri.evening and 10 on Sat. On Sat. Gary L took us for a mere 8 hour ride. Dispite a teeny glitch because some poor fellow had to use a tree it was a great jaunt west into Minn, north along the Mississippi, back into Buffalo Cty and lunch in Pepin, then round about back to Wildcat. Both evenings were the usual burning cabinet doors in the campfire, looking at the stars and talking stupid. What's better than that? Sunday saw folks packing up, some heading home many heading down to the Leiland end of the Slimey Crud. This event, no doubt due to the weather was bigger and better than ever. If you weren't able to make it this year do yourself a favor and try harder next year. Same weekend. JT |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 March 2006 )
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Wednesday, 24 August 2005 |
Rockerbox 2005 in Milwaukee was certainly a Airhead type event. Great day,
lots of wonderful old bikes with a minimum of Milwaukee iron, a coffee shop
on one side, a brew pub on the other, and lots of airheads past, present and
potential to converse with. Rockerbox is in it's third year, and was
started by the folks at the Fuel cafe. They block off 3 blocks of Center
street in front of the cafe and it gets doesn't take long for it to be
packed with bikes of all types for the afternoon. The Wisconsin Airheads
had a booth this year, mostly as a place to meet, leave helmets and gear and
get out of the sun. We did have some Airheads on display, Steve Zeamers
nice cafe /5, Kevin Knuths too clean /6, Phil Wilsons r90s, Jeff Speaks rs
and my 86 g/s. We also had some back issues of Airmail to hand out and
hopefully rounded up a few new members. One of the best aspects of
Rockerbox is the bike show with judging by specatators. The bikes run the
gamut from streetfighters, to Vincents and Indians to supermoto bikes.
Though the emphasis seemed on cafe types. Congratulations to Mt Horeb
Airhead Dan Ganch who won best cafe bike with his Triton. This is a
wonderful event that hopefully will get more attention in the future. The
Airheads will be back next year for sure.
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Aug. 2005 Tech Day in Madison |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Wednesday, 10 August 2005 |
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The Madison August Tech day was quite successful. We had at least 25 folks in and out for the day. Quite a bit seemed to get done with the help of IL airmarshal Al Sloan, John Tokarz and Dave Paulus. Some carb work as usual, oil changes, valve adjusts and tire changes. A hint when buying tires for your airhead, get the right size, spec tires for Kawasaki Police bikes won't fit, no matter how good a deal. We had a good lunch if I do say so myself. For those that expressed interest I'll have the baked bean recipe in the stories section of this site shortly. Hope you all enjoyed it and will think about hosting a tech day of your own. Jeff Trapp |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 August 2005 )
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"The Pace" posted on stories page. |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Monday, 27 June 2005 |
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If you're not familier with " The Pace" you should read this article. It's a wonderful ride philosopy. |
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New Wisconsin Airheads Website and URL |
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Written by Jeff Trapp
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Wednesday, 22 June 2005 |
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The Wisconsin Airheads website is being used as a test for a system that will allow all Airmarshals to easily maintain a website for their region. Let me know what you think. Jeff Trapp Wis Airmarshal |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 June 2005 )
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