The Easy Part - Stripping it down

This is a 1987 BMW K100RT which 60,000 miles (very very young for this engines reputation). I just picked it up in upstate NY and drove it home about 4 hours (I live in the NYC area). 

I will be taking this bike completely apart. I'm talking frame-off restoration. (I know, very sexy very exciting.)

This was THE sport touring bike in the 1980's. BMW said "ok, we crushed the airhead, CRUSHED IT, now it's time to move into the future. We see those Japanese bikes and we're coming for em." SO, they took a peugeot design CAR engine, laid it on its side, threw two tires on it, and 30 years later I was convinced and bought one! 

Am I oversimplifying? Yes. Would you read any more if I wasn't? Probably not. Let's go.

This is the easy part. 

I'm starting this blog as I'm halfway through this build so I've gotten to a place where I have a great idea of what it takes to get this part done. So I thought I'd start off by letting you know what tools you're going to need. 

Basic Tools:
Metric T-Hex Set

I picked up this set from Harbor Freight and paid about $6 with a coupon and tax.

THAT'S IT.
I am not kidding when I say that this is all you're going to need to completely take this bike apart (save a few sockets and ratchet). At $6 I was astonished how much I used this set. 
If you want to make your life even easier - pick up one of these suckers:

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Socket Hex MM Set.

Between these and the T-Hex handle - I tore the bike down 99% of the way. You don't necessarily need both, but you'll thank yourself for spending the extra $20 when you get stiff bolt to have the option. 

Here are a few other things that would make sense to have in your toolbox:

Look, we're working on 20-40 year old bikes. You better have some WD-40 an some patience. Make sure when you use WD-40 on a pesky bolt that you let it sit and penetrate for a few minutes. 
Also, pick up some good wrenches and some deep impact sockets. Remember, we're working the Metric system here, so don't skimp out and try to use your SAE tools on this bike. Not worth stripping a bolt!

Let's get cracking!

I also took some prelim measurements - I thought I'd share them here cause I know a lot of times I'll be back at the computer and want to order something (say....a seat?) and think "SHIT, THE BIKE IS SO FAR AND I FORGOT TO MEASURE THE SEAT, IM WORTHLESS, IM A WORTHLESS POS AND I SHOULD DIE." Then I google it, stumble on a page like this, and life is totally worth living again.  

Already looking like something.

Honestly - if you really wanted to - you could get a saw or angle grinder with cutoff wheel, and just chip off that rear part of the frame (from center or rear axle and back), throw on a cheap eBay $30 cafe seat, and call it a day. The bike looks pretty damn good as is.

Unfortunately, I have plans to hemorrhage obscene of money so I cannot bear the burden of saving my money and stopping now. I mean, not obscene, but boy does it add up quick.