Parked next to my 991.....
11-26-2015, 03:11 PM
#16
Rennlist Member
A 'Song and a Dance" was $ 1,800, so not a lot to invest, less than the price of (1) HRE Wheel! When these are fully restored, they can bring about $ 6K or so. This thing has points and a condenser, when was the last time any of you set the dwell on a set of points? I kinda like that - old school for sure. What really amazes me is how small this vintage BMW is next to my 2014 R1200GS. In its day, this was the biggest and most powerful bike BMW made, and its downright puny next to a modern bike. Should be fun to ride to Cars n Coffee, etc, in the summer time. I'll have to get myself a period helmet to go along with it and Bates leather jacket.
11-26-2015, 04:19 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Nevermind points, when was the last time anyone saw drum front brakes!? Riding those things is a hoot! First you squeeze REAL HARD because they just don't bite well. But then you have to back way off because, eventually, they DO bite! But then if you really are braking hard you have to start squeezing hard again because they FADE like the dickens! Like I said, a hoot!
Oh, and then there's the frame wobble, the slippery tires (which if you get newer/better only makes the frame wobble and brake fade that much more noticeable), the dim moonlight will wash it out headlight, on and on.
I'm not putting it down- I'm telling you why you will FALL IN LOVE and never want to sell this beauty!
Oh, and then there's the frame wobble, the slippery tires (which if you get newer/better only makes the frame wobble and brake fade that much more noticeable), the dim moonlight will wash it out headlight, on and on.
I'm not putting it down- I'm telling you why you will FALL IN LOVE and never want to sell this beauty!
11-26-2015, 07:12 PM
#18
Three Wheelin'
I'm big into bikes.....owned a r90s/6 at one point, love the vintage beemers. ...and my nephew did a frame off restorarion of a r75. you got a hecuva deal at $1800. Congrats!
11-26-2015, 08:23 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
I have had few bikes in my past. All Jappanese until 2011. Had KZ-650s (2), a KZ-1000 shaft drive (should of kept it), and then a 2002 HD Soft Tail Duece. Never knew what was so special about HDs until I road one (the one I bought)! But after 3 years of ownership & hardly riding it, and as said above, so many distracted drivers, I sold it too! But love your story and it sounds fun to be able to work on it (unlike our 991s)! Enjoy but please be very careful!
11-26-2015, 08:25 PM
#21
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
Posts: 4,314
Received 4,353 Likes
on
1,526 Posts
Truth be told I've spent the last year hunting a 1973 Kawasaki Z1 in the "Root Beer" first year paint job. AKA as 'the world's first superbike. Some say its the best looking motorcycle ever made. They are a tad pricey though with an A-class restoration going for $ 25K.
Found this on Craigslist in San Fransisco the other day and was going to buy it, but it has two cracks in the frame on close photo inspection, significant battery acid damage and needs a full restoration starting with welding and powdercoating the frame. And its over 2,000 miles away. I was tempted though, but is so hard to tell what you are getting into just from photos.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/5324667007.html
So the BMW will actually require less work, and has no where near the entry cost. I like to tinker in the winter time out in the garage and all the other vehicles in the garage are fully sorted, so its either work on this old Airhead or I'll start hot-rodding my Honda snowblower, and everyone would think I'm nuts if I put a nitro system on it to see if I could get the snow over the top of the trees.
P.S. Any of you guys have a Z1 tucked away and want to sell it one day - ping me first!
Found this on Craigslist in San Fransisco the other day and was going to buy it, but it has two cracks in the frame on close photo inspection, significant battery acid damage and needs a full restoration starting with welding and powdercoating the frame. And its over 2,000 miles away. I was tempted though, but is so hard to tell what you are getting into just from photos.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/5324667007.html
So the BMW will actually require less work, and has no where near the entry cost. I like to tinker in the winter time out in the garage and all the other vehicles in the garage are fully sorted, so its either work on this old Airhead or I'll start hot-rodding my Honda snowblower, and everyone would think I'm nuts if I put a nitro system on it to see if I could get the snow over the top of the trees.
P.S. Any of you guys have a Z1 tucked away and want to sell it one day - ping me first!
11-27-2015, 10:01 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
Great find. I had a 1978 R100S that I dearly loved. With the small bullet fairing I could lean against the air flowing over the top of it at touring speeds. When I returned home after a longer ride my lap would be full of bugs blown there from the supportive airflow. Weird...but a wonderful old bike and riding experience. After three repair-free years of ownership I sold it on for more then I paid.
Enjoy your air-head.
Enjoy your air-head.
11-28-2015, 01:22 AM
#25
Sweet bike- nice find.
I have a patient who restores these older BMW bikes and we would spend at least half his visit time going over his latest project. I told him to save me one good almost finished one and I would buy it for whatever he wanted.
Unfortunately I saw him recently and he was brought in by his wife as he was in a wheelchair due to a massive stroke- poor guy can barely speak let alone ride now. His wife sold all his bikes- what a bummer on both accounts.
Moral of the story: jump on it when you can and enjoy the ride.
I have a patient who restores these older BMW bikes and we would spend at least half his visit time going over his latest project. I told him to save me one good almost finished one and I would buy it for whatever he wanted.
Unfortunately I saw him recently and he was brought in by his wife as he was in a wheelchair due to a massive stroke- poor guy can barely speak let alone ride now. His wife sold all his bikes- what a bummer on both accounts.
Moral of the story: jump on it when you can and enjoy the ride.
11-28-2015, 01:50 AM
#26
I have nostalgia for some of the great bikes I owned and sold over the years (RZ350, FZ750, original VF750, Nighthawk S), but the last bike I owned, one of those new water-cooled GS's you have there, is the bike that brings the biggest tear to my eye. Absolutely brilliant bike. Every time I jump on an old bike, the excitement dies really quick when I realize how ****ing awful they really were.
