So, true....

Looks like you have a nice bike!

I think the difference is huge, and I think it’s worth it!

Before I did my rebuild I spend a lot of time thinking, I was not sure at all. My bike was really tired and I had to do some serious work, or I could buy a new one… I was not able to find a new bike which I really liked. The closest mach was HP2 but it required a lot of modifications to be a travel bike that suited my needs.

I have friends who weld and talked a lot with them, one of them has made a lot of strange bikes and he could do the job for me.
When I took a closer look on the bike I found that what was really beaten up where parts from different companies (Jesse, Overland solutions ++), the BMW-stuff was pretty good. I was afraid that this job could end up in the same way – rubbish in a few years.

So I started to look for a company that was as good, or better, then BMW and I only found one..

For me the result is stunning. I have performance not far from the HP2, but on a touring bike with a sturdy frame, long range tank, a fairing and it’s even more reliable then the HP2!
It was also a lot cheaper…
What more could I expect?



A few years before the rebuild:
http://www.actiontouring.com/AliBaba_1.jpg


Edit: I did not spend “$10000+ on frame work”

I think it would be very important to not increase the turning radius of the bike. I am wondering if these fork upgrades will do this. The big forks look badass but I dont know how practical they are for everyday riding.

You are right, most forkupgrades increase the turning radius of the bike but I will not say that it affects my daily riding. Being an old trial-rider this was a bit irritating, now I don’t notice it anymore and the way the suspension works makes it worth it – for me.

For example I would like to be able to move my bike in to a tight hostel courtyard or navigating tight single track paths. Maneuverability it at slow speeds. This is going to take some research.

I would say there are better bikes for courtyards but tight paths are not a problem. In fact it is much easier because the bike handles better.

If you are willing to reduce the tanksize then it gets better, and maybe use something like Marzochhi Magnum and not USD.
The HP2 has solved this in a nice way, see how it's done there (shorter tank, moved backwards).

+1 on the Marzzocci Magnums! They are a very stiff fork (50mm) but in the standard configuration. More room around the tank, less to worry about on the bottom. I just wish they were more available :( Say, does the 50mm fork have a 12mm or 22mm axel?? I think this is important to know.
When i built my bike i maintained the stock BMW geometry, including suspention travell. I find it adequate for off road, loaded and even two-up. I would like to build a 12" suspended bike in the future though :)

As far as I know they are not produced anymore but if you can get one parts are still available. The axel is not standard BMW and you have to make an adapter for the brakes. It comes with a variety of triple clamps which likely have to be modified (or you can get a new one).

A friend of mine got two Magnums a few years ago and installed one on a K75 (pics here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...0-1200-a-29697 )and one on a G/S. I think he shortened both:
http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/vidargs.jpg

For around $10 000.00 You can modify the frame and add a full HPN pannier set, reinforced with gussets at weak points and a new set of crash bars and side stand modified for the longer forks + WP USD 48mm forks to fit the standard GS front wheel, the rear shock, WP as well and the lengthened drive shaft. and it will include the cost of shipping.
HPN is not so expensive: it is rather the vast amount of good modification available that accumulate to spending lots. If you leave your bike standard and only do the frame and suspension it will provide a solid platform for you to change and renew the rest of the bike over time.
And you should not need to spend more than $ 10 000.00 to do this.
Keep in mind that no other touring bike including the KTM Adventurer is supplied with a suspension that provide 285mm of fork travel.
Examples of costs compared to BMW parts is the front brake disc to fit BMW caliper. HPN - cast steel, mounted floating with new set of pads is about Euro220.00 where as the BMW part in slippery stainless steel without pads is about Euro300.00. Not only is the HPN part cheaper it is also greatly improved.
A new standard fuel tank from BMW will cost almost double the amount of the HPN 43L tank.
A Baja front fender from HPN is about one quarter the price of the BMW front fender in black where you will have to spend more money to have it painted as well.
A Behr front rim in heavy duty for off road racing is 88Euro compared to about 200Euro for the weak BMW Akront rim.
Just some examples to make you think.

Well I dont have a nice front wheel or nice brakes. So would it be better to go with the entire front end that goes with those forks(brakes, wheel, and triple clamps)?

Just using KTM stuff, like 4860's makes things easy, plug and play. If you need to build a new clamp, make sure the fork spacing is identical to the KTM clamp. This saves you the need of Adapters and the sort. Contact Woody's Wheelworks: http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/index.shtml about a wheel. I beleive he may be building Tubeless spoke wheels similar to the BMW stuff for KTM hubs.

Here are some picstures and ideas on what I did to my G/S:

www.nohorizons.net

If you have questions, ask.

Kevin

Cool, I like your exhaust guard. You are the first person I have seen install the enduralast. How is it holding up? Is that the stock electric ignition below it. I have never seen that before.

Well, to continue the project, Someone from brooklyn delivered a bmw r80/7 to me in philly for $840. It was delivered in pieces. It came with a perfect seat, perfect exhaust, perfect front end, new mezlers. I have been cleaning it for a few days. It had terrible compression 90psi in one cylinder and 60 in the other. I dont know why I cant upload large photographs. its 2007, bandwidth shouldnt be an issue anymore, but anyways here is a link to the photographs. Picasa Web Albums - Alexander - Building a BM...

This thread got very interesting. I wonder whether anyone used WP front fork which is called Extreme to modify front end of their airhead. It seems to be very similar to Marzocchi Magnum and it's easier to get. I even have a feeling that I saw an airhead with this fork and KTM triple clamps. Alex, good luck with your project.