Older BMW Motorcycles?

jyl · jyl's Garage

Sometime next year, probably late in the year, I hope to be in a position to buy a motorcycle.

(What's the hold up, you ask? Well, I need (in this order) to convince myself that I'm ready for a bike, I need to wear down the wife's resistance, and I need to feel positive enough to spend several $000.)

Anyway, as usual I am starting research early. I'm generally drawn to older BMW motorcycles, the /5 and /6 series, and particularly drawn to the R90S. These were the bikes that I dreamed about as a small boy.

Anyone have experience and views on this vintage of BMW? Are they practical to own, safe to ride, reasonable to buy, reliable to run, parts all available, etc?

Usage would be mostly around town, later some 1 to 4 hour cruises. I'm not a speed demon, the 911 hasn't gotten over 80MPH in, well, years?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I got the bug a little over a year ago, when a Porsche buddy pulled the cover off his concourse-condition '71 R75/5, white with toaster tank. I got my license a week later and had an '04 R1150R two weeks after that. I really wanted an older one too, as the 993 is almost maint. free now and I need stuff to tinker with. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted the modern safety features of a newer Beemer. Then the job situation changed and I had to start commuting to downtown DC again. This made the bike especially practical, since I could use the carpool lanes with it. Now I have the macdaddy of newish Beemers and couldn't be happier. I still drool over the classic airheads. But I don't long for drum brakes, fussy carbs and weak lighting. When things change, I hope to have an older one, but it will be a weekend toy while my GS remains my reliable, commuter, long-trip workhorse.

jyl · jyl's Garage

For me, any bike would basically be just a weekend toy. I could commute on it, but would have five sets of wheels to choose from and only 4 miles each way so hardly a demanding task.

varmint · 12-28-2007, 09:52 AM

go look at the R1100S forum. those bikes are going for 7-8 thousand right now. that's less than parts value. i hope to pick up a second sometime this next year.

the R90S is ridiculously expensive. they were BMW's last real racing glory, and are going for better than 10k in good shape. you'd be better off getting an R100 and slapping a cafe racer kit on it. better bikes, half the price.

Chocaholic · 12-28-2007, 10:01 AM

My story is a lot like Ricks. I went the K-bike route and have no regrets. I too would like an older air-head to tinker with, but the K-bike is smooth, fast, reliable, and a joy to take on day-long rides through the N. GA mountains. Maintenance can be pricey if you don't do much of your own work, but that applies to everything these days.

Remember...ATTGAT. If you buy an older beemer and decide you later want more modern technology, there's a healthy market out there waiting to give you your money back when you're done with it.

ATTGAT.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I've owned several, (/5 and /6), they are great bikes and would do well for your purposes. I also think that Rick has the right bike for serious freeway duty, but that's a different criteria. There was quite a jump between the /5 and /6, more power and a 5-speed versus 4-speed trans plus more modern suspension, etc... Big jump in performance, especially on freeway.

I long for another clean /5 for an around-town cruiser, though. The beauty and craftsmanship of German machines of that time is unmatched, IMO. They are the 356s, (or '50s Mercedes), of MCs. The carbs and mechanicals are not fussy in the least, (the bikes are bullet-proof), but the drum brake criticism is valid. One thing to note is that the further you go back in time w/ BMW bikes, the smoother and more "jewel-like" they are. Especially in smaller displacements. Not as fast, but who cares? You could balance a quarter on the tank of a /5 or /2 in the '60s while it was idling if tune was perfect. It is just sheer bliss to ride one around town on a quiet street.

Joeaksa · 12-28-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

Sometime next year, probably late in the year, I hope to be in a position to buy a motorcycle.

(What's the hold up, you ask? Well, I need (in this order) to convince myself that I'm ready for a bike, I need to wear down the wife's resistance, and I need to feel positive enough to spend several $000.)

Anyway, as usual I am starting research early. I'm generally drawn to older BMW motorcycles, the /5 and /6 series, and particularly drawn to the R90S. These were the bikes that I dreamed about as a small boy.

Anyone have experience and views on this vintage of BMW? Are they practical to own, safe to ride, reasonable to buy, reliable to run, parts all available, etc?

Usage would be mostly around town, later some 1 to 4 hour cruises. I'm not a speed demon, the 911 hasn't gotten over 80MPH in, well, years?

Ya mean like this:

The R90S is a very nice machine but also a cult machine and so will cost you more. I traded in my R1100RS a few years back on my 1972 R75/5 and love it.

Was working with DrDogface on this forum and he now has a /5 as well and loves it.

Joe

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I had a very rough, '53 in Pakistan. I'm still PO'd that I didn't buy it for $300.

john70t · 12-28-2007, 11:46 AM

Had a friend with a R75 and liked it a lot.
Some selling points to the SO would be that: you can take your hands off the handlebars at 80mph and it goes straight, almost vibration-free for endurance, and with its diesel-sized flywheel there will be no red-light racing.

Flatbutt1 · 12-28-2007, 11:57 AM

The older airheads are a dream to work on. Anything prior to '88 / '87 ,especially the R bikes were virtually bulletproof. I rode an '87 R80RT for thousands and thousands of miles(letting it go at 95K) with no trouble. BUT they are very underpowered, weak charging systems and the earlier drum brakes wre no so good. They are very well balanced smooth running machines.

DO NOT go Ural.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Yup, something like that.

If/when I do this, the cost won't be the primary issue, as long as its not a depreciating asset. That might argue for a cult model, I'd rather pay $10K for a clean R90S and get $10K back later, than pay $8K for something else and get $6K back later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Ya mean like this:

The R90S is a very nice machine but also a cult machine and so will cost you more. I traded in my R1100RS a few years back on my 1972 R75/5 and love it.

Was working with DrDogface on this forum and he now has a /5 as well and loves it.

Joe

Hoots · 12-28-2007, 02:28 PM

These not my bikes. I have no interest in them or the web site, nor know anything about either.

1969 R60US for $6500

1974 BMW R90S $7500

SLO-BOB · 12-28-2007, 06:12 PM

I strongly suggest you ride before you buy. BMWs, especially vintage ones, are a little bit different from other bikes. It's for better or worse depending on your preferences. The shaft drive torque on some takes getting used to. Some are a little anemic. That said, I would give my left nut for Joe's bike or that R90.

There are other vintage bikes that are cool too. I collect old Hondas. A little less spendy than the BMWs, unless you can't stop buying them like me. I have 6.

Here's two-

VaSteve · 12-28-2007, 08:14 PM

I wanted an old Airhead and I found a nice R65 that fit the bill and budget. It's my first bike, i bought it in late 2006. It's a nice riding bike, but the R65 is a little slow...find for backroad cruising, but I'm afraid to ride it to work in the carpool lanes like Rick does.

When I got it, the owner has poured in a bunch of cash to fix it up...this bike has been a lot of people's first bike, I think. 1980 model and only 30K miles. When I bought it, one of the valve adjuster nuts was loose and I needed to have some service done. The carbs were also gummed up a bit, so cleaned them really well and the bike came alive!

These photos were taken at the end of a 6 hour ride from my house into WV ultimately ending up at the PCA club race at Summit Point. I was so sore at then end of this ride.

I long for one of the newer bikes, but I don't ride enough to justify it. The $2K I spent on this was perfect. There is an airhead club, but they are much like the guys on the 911 forum that ***** about how things have changed. The magazine is nothing but *****ing....

Joeaksa · 12-28-2007, 10:23 PM

John,

You can find a very nice /5 for $3500 to $4000 max. A R90S will run you $4000-$6000 depending on the condition and market.

And if you really want to be cool... a BMW with a sidecar and your favourite lady!

URY914 · 12-29-2007, 05:07 AM

VaSteve · 12-29-2007, 05:26 AM

Joe, I was originally looking for a /5, but I couldn't find any that were less than $5000. The prices are getting up there. Look at ibmwr.org for sales ads.

Joeaksa · 12-29-2007, 05:51 AM

Steve,

They are around. Let me know when you are looking and can lend a hand.

Joe

SLO-BOB · 12-29-2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

That looks a lot like my buddies old R25. Beautiful bike but pretty small and VERY underpowered. He got sick of Mopeds taunting him and he sold it.

I haven't seen R75s for under 5k, but Joe knows. If a really beautiful one came up for the right price I would sell 3 or 4 Hondas off and buy it.

Chocaholic · 12-29-2007, 07:38 AM

This one is listed for sale in Cobb, CA. Interesting bike. He's asking $4k on the BMWMOA site. If this wasn't the other side of the country, I'd be even more tempted than I already am!...