So a client decided to pay me in trade. New project motorcycle.

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 04:50 PM

I love days like today..

I went out to get a car running for a guy with too many projects. he didnt have much money and asked if I might be interested in an old bike in the back of the shop.

I head over and pull the tarp off a 1974 BMW R90/6.

He said he'd trade that for the work (clutch and F.I. work). I graciously accepted.

She's all there, 40K on the clock. Sat for years and needs the carbs cleaned out. R90/S tank, rear cowl and front fairing He still has to get the tank and original side cases out of the basement.

Crappy cell photo pictures. More coming when i start to put this all together.

Cheesy Happy..

Hydrocket · Hydrocket's Garage

Very cool!

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Now that is pretty cool.

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 05:11 PM

Anybody got the special wrench for the exhaust? I'm also wondering if I should pull the cylinders and throw new rings in it. 40K seems like a lot for a bike. Any other things I should do or check?

jwasbury · 07-22-2014, 05:30 PM

40k is not a lot for an old R bike. Those things are built like tanks. Nice score.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Anybody got the special wrench for the exhaust? I'm also wondering if I should pull the cylinders and throw new rings in it. 40K seems like a lot for a bike. Any other things I should do or check?

You can get the wrench online several places. You do not want to use blunt force to get them loose. If it still has the OG tool kit, you might get lucky and find an exhaust wrench inside. You do not have to remove those finned rings to remove pipes, just loosen them. Soak 'em real well first w/ penetrating oil.

Get a manual for it, $5.00 used on ebay or Amazon. Any of them are fine, (Clymers/Hayne/Chilton). There is a vast online community for DIY repair on airheads. I have 2 airhead BMWs right now and they are almost as big an affliction as air-cooled Porsches, you'll have fun.

Also, depending on why it's parked and apart in the first place, you may want to just rebuild the carbs and get it running to evaluate engine health. No need to tear it down if it's tight inside. If you do have to, they are pretty straight-forward but need to have good hands on them like all good German machinery.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Nice score, Cheese! I'm a little partial myself to R90/6's!

Have fun and keep us posted.

VaSteve · 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwasbury

40k is not a lot for an old R bike. Those things are built like tanks. Nice score.

This! Nice get. Been sitting 20 years per the tags. Wow.

Wrenches are $25 on eBay.

motion · 07-22-2014, 07:00 PM

Score!!! Keep us posted on progress!

speeder · speeder's Garage

I hope it doesn't have back registration owed or he might have shtupped you. On second look, that thing looks like it might need everything but the license plate and an R90/6, while a good bike, is not a high-value airhead.

I owned the identical bike 25 years ago:

You always have to weigh what good ones are going for vs. the time/$$ needed to restore one or even bring it back to life. Why was it parked for 20 years? How much is the dollar value of the work you are performing for him? I'd value the bike @ around $500 in terms of what you could cash it out for, maybe more if parted out.

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Also, depending on why it's parked and apart in the first place, you may want to just rebuild the carbs and get it running to evaluate engine health. No need to tear it down if it's tight inside. If you do have to, they are pretty straight-forward but need to have good hands on them like all good German machinery.

Already ordered the manual. Looks like RealOEM covers bikes too. New cables and rubber bits are already in the works.

Carbs are getting rebuilt for sure. I'll probably send the carb bodies out to be flushed.. 20 years of old gas cant be good.

Any ideas on what oil to run?

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

I hope it doesn't have back registration owed or he might have shtupped you. On second look, that thing looks like it might need everything but the license plate and an R90/6, while a good bike, is not a high-value airhead.

I owned the identical bike 25 years ago:

You always have to weigh what good ones are going for vs. the time/$$ needed to restore one or even bring it back to life. Why was it parked for 20 years? How much is the dollar value of the work you are performing for him? I'd value the bike @ around $500 in terms of what you could cash it out for, maybe more if parted out.

Ok, dad.

Everything is there, just in boxes.

I don't care what its worth. To me, its just a cool motorcycle. Its not like I haven't rebuilt a bike before.

He's an old dude with back problems. I wasn't going to make money on the job regardless. I do charity work from time to time. Karma paid me back today.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Already ordered the manual. Looks like RealOEM covers bikes too. New cables and rubber bits are already in the works.

Carbs are getting rebuilt for sure. I'll probably send the carb bodies out to be flushed.. 20 years of old gas cant be good.

Any ideas on what oil to run?

20w50 dino in the summer. There is no reason that gasoline would have been present anywhere other than the float bowls, how do they look? Just pop the clips and see. The carbs are super easy to rebuild, get the kits from Capital Cycle on ebay w/ the new diaphrams for ~$35.00:

BMW Bing Carburetor Overhaul Kit 32mm 32 mm CV Carb Airhead R100 R90 R80 R75 R60 | eBay

Obviously, get the right size for your carbs. If you're not in a big hurry to dive into it, I may take a road trip up that way soon and will help out.

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Obviously, get the right size for your carbs. If you're not in a big hurry to dive into it, I may take a road trip up that way soon and will help out.

Im in no rush. Id appreciate the help. I'll show you some lesser known stuff up here.

futuresoptions · 07-22-2014, 07:55 PM

Nice score indeed!

speeder · speeder's Garage

I'll keep you posted.

daiberl · daiberl's Garage

Nice score, love my BMW R100 GSPD, they are great motorcycles!

LakeCleElum · 07:03 AM

NC: Just did a set of those carbs for the same yr model.......A buddy of mine owns a shop and got the bike the same way.....Got it from a friend of mine.......He got the bike for putting a rebuilt engine in a Ranger PU.

Bike had sit outside for years.......One carb was full of water........I did his, I'll do yours if you want to ship them up.....From the tabs, looks like the bike has sit 10 yrs?

We were talking about value? Thinking 4-6K in good running condition?.........YMMV.........G'luck...

Nostril Cheese · 07-22-2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

NC: Just did a set of those carbs for the same yr model.......A buddy of mine owns a shop and got the bike the same way.....Got it from a friend of mine.......He got the bike for putting a rebuilt engine in a Ranger PU.

Bike had sit outside for years.......One carb was full of water........I did his, I'll do yours if you want to ship them up.....From the tabs, looks like the bike has sit 10 yrs?

We were talking about value? Thinking 6 to 8K in good running condition.........YMMV.........G'luck...

PM me with your contact info. Thanks!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

We were talking about value? Thinking 6 to 8K in good running condition.........YMMV.........G'luck...

I'd say about half that. But here is one in astonishing condition to watch with a lot of bidding activity:

BMW R Series | eBay

Value doesn't matter much as long as you don't spend $6k restoring the thing.