Parked next to my 991.....
11-26-2015, 09:42 AM
#1
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Parked next to my 991.....
My buddy Ken owns Motorcycles of Dulles (a Virginia BMW and Triumph dealer) and took a 1973 BMW R75/5 Long Wheelbase in on trade towards a new BMW motorcycle. He has no idea what to do with this and sends me an email on it. 27K original miles, the owner had it fully and professionally restored in 2008, but kept it outside under a cover. His wife died and he never touched it again, or even took the cover off of it. So it sat for the past 7 years and took some weathering in spite of the cover. Then he met someone new, his grief finally gone and decided to get a brand new BMW bike - so he traded it in.
Carbs are seized, battery is deader than dead and fork seals are weepy. Ken says "What should I do with this, stick it on EBAY?" Instead I went over to his shop and bought it for pretty much a song and a dance. Now I have a winter restoration project! Never owned an old BMW Airhead, but they have a bit of a cult following. Now I need a bigger garage....getting tight in there. I can just barely get out of my Porsche which is parked to the right of the two bikes.
Carbs are seized, battery is deader than dead and fork seals are weepy. Ken says "What should I do with this, stick it on EBAY?" Instead I went over to his shop and bought it for pretty much a song and a dance. Now I have a winter restoration project! Never owned an old BMW Airhead, but they have a bit of a cult following. Now I need a bigger garage....getting tight in there. I can just barely get out of my Porsche which is parked to the right of the two bikes.
11-26-2015, 10:07 AM
#2
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That's a great story about the man overcoming his grief and mourning. Good for him.
I don't know much about motorcycles. My dad always said I could buy one, but I'd have to move out of his house first.
What little I know, I've always thought BMW bikes looked cool with the simplistic motor design sitting right there in the frame. And riders look comfortable in the seat from the bike's design and geometry.
Enjoy.
I don't know much about motorcycles. My dad always said I could buy one, but I'd have to move out of his house first.
What little I know, I've always thought BMW bikes looked cool with the simplistic motor design sitting right there in the frame. And riders look comfortable in the seat from the bike's design and geometry. Enjoy.
11-26-2015, 11:01 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
Brings back memories for me. I had a black R75/5 way back when. That was considered one of the big engine bikes back in 1973! Have fun with the repairs. Edit: Faulty memories....just realized I had a BMW R90/6!
Last edited by dflowerz; 11-26-2015 at 02:19 PM.
11-26-2015, 11:05 AM
#6
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Sounds like my kind of fun. If you were in the Bay Area, I'd be bringing the beer and and extra set to of hands!
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
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11-26-2015, 12:27 PM
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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, 01:29 PM
#11
Great story and great find. I would love to have one of those, but I don't think I am as ambitious as you are to do the work. The pride will be on the first ride in March when it gets warm.
PS - your garage looks tall enough for a car lift. Then you can add more toys.
PS - your garage looks tall enough for a car lift. Then you can add more toys.
11-26-2015, 01:34 PM
#12
Love Beamers. Owned two but simply had enough of other drivers trying to kill me while they were talking and texting (and shaving, putting make up on, etc.). Back in the day when there was less traffic and no smartphones, they were a blast. Today in a major city -- not so much. Just memories now.
11-26-2015, 01:43 PM
#13
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Man, now that you bring it up, $6k seems like a deal. Better that I stop thinking about it.
11-26-2015, 02:24 PM
#14
11-26-2015, 03:03 PM
#15
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.
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!
