Airhead advice please...

[Canuck]

So my father and I are thinking of buying this.

Its a Classic R75/5 BMW, in excellent condition, new tires, solo and dual seats, leather saddlebags, chrome (toaster) tank, runs like a charm, with 50 000 kms on the clock... Apparently.

Neither of us have ever owned an airhead and this one will be kept in Canada for my father to ride and something for me to putt along on along the coastal roads when I visit. The chaps asking about £2800 but these things are usually very negotiable in Canada.

Any views and warnings welcome! I'll start seaching on here for things to look out for on these models.

 

[Canuck]

The other bike is this one, and vendor is asking for a few more pounds (£3400).

A little less mileage (44 000km) and of 1988 vintage. Perhaps this would get used more as I'd be happy to ride it through the forest roads and in the woods behind the house... hmmm....

As I have two gs's (oilheads) I'm thinking it may be easier to work on something that I kind of already know... apart from it being an airhead of course. Any thoughts? Or anyone have a monolever gs taking up too much space that runs well they want to part with? I'm shipping a part container to Canada and it would cost a negligible amount to add a bike to.

 

[Posh Pete]

The 75 looks to be a bitza - should have CV carbs I think and the indicators are either after market or retrieved from a 60s BMW R60 or R69. Silencers also look odd. They should be of the peashooter variety. Those look like silencers from the /6 and /7 bikes.

Here's what one should look like ...

The price is way too high IMHO.

 

[Rob Farmer]

The R75 looks as though it has a Mikuni slide conversion to me. It looks a bit messy for what he's asking for it.

 

[Ogmios]

The other bike is this one, and vendor is asking for a few more pounds (£3400).

for a plain R100GS?!
way overpriced.

there are cheaper out there...
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275041

 

[DrFarkoff]

Dude S'not plain it's a "bumblebee"

for a plain R100GS?!
way overpriced.

there are cheaper out there...
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275041

 

[Ogmios]

Dude S'not plain it's a "bumblebee"

.... yeah - and mines a raspberry flavoured cough drop.

 

[Steptoe]

The /5 looks like the short wheelbase model.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Well there's a fruit loop that rides it

.... yeah - and mines a raspberry flavoured cough drop.

 

[Canuck]

Thanks for the tips...

Bikes do seem a fair bit more expensive the other side of the Pond...well at least in Canada. I'm guessing I should buy one over here and ship it back... that would also allow me to ride it for a bit before my dad gets it!

Steptoe... whats this short wheelbase thing all about... well perhaps I'll google it first and try to find something as I'm sure you're busy fixing someones bike.

To Anon.... thanks for the pm! Will ring you probably tomorrow.

Cheers guys!

 

[VAL. H.]

Look at it objectively.


What do you want to do on the bike? If it's just pottering on the coast road then something like the /5 would be nice. But the GS will be better.

If you'd like to ride the trails the GS will do that nicely.

If you need reliability and ease of maintainence then he GS wins again.

There's a pattern emerging here isn't there.

Don't fot get your Father in this. Can he reach the ground on the GS? and manhandle it in and out of the garage easily? (none meant, just thinking practicallity).

GS is probably the better option, as it has electronic ignition which saves a lot of messing around and marginally better brakes too.

The Paralevers from 88 to 94 are generally quite cheap (not including the GSPD, Basic or the Mystic, as there are rare and command a higher price). Look for R100R and the more common Paras. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a nice one for around £1800-£2500.

The Bumble Bee you have picured is way over priced IMO (assuming it's in the UK). Some people think that because it's a GS it's worth Mono Money. There not. If that bike was a 92 in excellent, tip top condition with lots of provable history, then I'd be saying £3400 topps. But it's not, it's an 88 that's been stood up for most of it's life. At this age milage is irellevent. It's more about condition and proven maintainence and with a provable 44000Km (Aprox 27000 miles) on it, it should be in near showroom condition at that price.


Val.

 

[VAL. H.]

Steptoe... whats this short wheelbase thing all about... well perhaps I'll google it first and try to find something as I'm sure you're busy fixing someones bike.

To Anon.... thanks for the pm! Will ring you probably tomorrow.

Cheers guys!

The /5 looks like the short wheelbase model.

It's got the wrong silencers fitted. Too long, makes the bike look shorter than it is.


Val.

 

[Steptoe]

The 75 looks to be a bitza - should have CV carbs I think .

All /5 models had slide carbs.

 

[Posh Pete]

All /5 models had slide carbs.

Hmmmm ... the 50 and 60 yes but I think the 75 had Bing CV carbs. Just did a google search and this seems to be the case apart from a few specials. Happy to be corrected though.

 

[Steptoe]

Hmmmm ... the 50 and 60 yes but I think the 75 had Bing CV carbs. Just did a google search and this seems to be the case apart from a few specials. Happy to be corrected though.

I think you're right. My apologies

.

 

[Canuck]

I've had lots of good advice and living this close to proff it might be dangerous not to find a mono... I'm confident a G/S would be most suitable and as both of us are a few inches over 6 feet height shouldn't be a big factor. Now just have to find one.

In a month of so I'll be back for tuning advice! I've only ever played with carbs on my old honda three-wheeler so there will be a lot to learn.