Built in the 50’s by Louis L Lepoix. Very streamlined cool!
Tag Archives: r12
Exhaust planning
Sorry there hasn’t been too many developments on the bike as of lately. I have been doing some ‘behind the scenes’ work (noodling around and planning). A few months ago we purchased mufflers to an old R12 BMW with hopes of adding them to our /5 project. Of course, they are meant for an entirely different sized engine, and different sized header pipes.
They will take some adapting and experimenting with a /5 engine. Some critics say it won’t work (not enough back pressure). Some say it will. Some say it is a total experiment. Every ‘expert’ i talk to has a different opinion. So we are gonna roll the dice. If they don’t work, we can always switch over to a ‘standard’ set of exhaust. If they do, then we’ll have a very unique, and cool exhaust system.
We got them in bare steel with hopes to have them coated in a way in which they won’t discolor. As they sat in my garage, the basic moisture in the air started to oxidize them and a light surface rust began to appear. So i figured it was time to get cracking on them, and get them coated before they get any worse.
I’m on the hunt for a bare set of header pipes. I’m not sure if EPCO or anybody else will sell them in bare steel… but we need them naked so i can get the headers, and the mufflers coated at the same time. I’ve sent off some e-mails but nobody has gotten back to me. I may have to contact the exhaust companies directly.
I actually want to mount these upside down. The ‘correct’ way is with the longer fin on the bottom. i want the longer fin on the top however there is a slight notch on one of the pipes that you would see if they were mounted upside down. That notch happens to fit directly under the foot peg for the rear brake… so maybe i go for it?
To be determined….
It feels like Christmas. New rims and mufflers.
Not to much build progress has happened on the Cafe bike lately. However, i have gone on a bit of a shopping spree.
In the mail, i got some pleasant packages from across the pond in Europe.
The gentleman i am building the bike for wanted to steer clear of all the traditional exhaust. I couldn’t agree more and wish i could take credit for his idea. Though it will complicate the build process, i am more then willing to take on the task. After some hunting, we discovered some pipes from a R12 BMW motorcycle. The R12’s were made in the 30s and 40s by BMW… and have completely different dimensions of a 70’s BMW pipe size and mounting region… but adapting it is all part of the fun!
But then the mother load came!
Wheels! Wheedo! I ordered a set for my bike too (one rim is back ordered)… and hot damn, they sure look SWEET!
I can’t wait to lace these on some clean, powdercoated hubs. this bike is going to look so tasty. the wide shouldered Morad / Akront wheels are definitely the vintage, bad ass touch…