looking for investment / fun

Please invest in an old British bike, if you choose carefully this will be a much better investment with the added benefit that it will be unpleasant to ride and you will worry so much about it going wrong that it can just sit in your garage appreciating in value costing you nothing.

This will also save another airhead from the dubious fate of becoming another mollycoddled investment and hopefully in the hands of someone who appreciates them for what they are.

Investment and fun from a classic bike is a contradiction in terms.
 
Picking up my R80G/S tomorrow....can't wait. Had one back in '84 for 6 years and looking forward to getting my hands on this one. I for one hope they do not rise too much in value to the point people are scared to ride them. It should be accessible and used so I kind of understand where Fanum is coming from (but without the need to be insulting).

I also hope it doesn't drop in value:D
 
thanks for your sensible reply .After many years on honda i was let down very badly by them and will never use a honda again .i went to bmw i have 2 k1200 s one exploded and was replaced by bmw and i have had an 1150 gs nice condition bike but had a real issue with the engine i know have a trippleblack and really enjoy it .But i have always had a yearning for an old bmw to look after and ride when i want if it keeps its money or ups its value all the better
 
I still think the r90s is a good option and if you want some extra info send me a pm.
Sadly some people in this group are very different and intolerant -- motorbikes can be enjoyed in so many ways thankfully !!!!
Good luck with your search.

thats nice i like that very much
 
Pretty much any bike in original condition, it would appear, will appreciate in value eventually as people (like me) modify them. Clearly, the shorter the production run, the fewer original ones there will be left. Buy something you like, in original condition, and enjoy. Of course, you'll spend a mint on it in the meantime! :) Best of luck with it.
 
For £6000 I'd go for the following BMWs in this order:

1. R90S
2. R1150GS Adv SE
3. R100GS PD

R90S%20Orange%20Gilchrist%20(2).JPG


The first is a real classic - the first BMW that had people queuing out of the door. The R100S is a much better bike, but won't hold its value as well as the R90S.

BMW%20R1150GS%20Asven%20Special%20%201.jpg


The 1150 Adv SE is very sought after, but like the 100GS PD, there's little logic to it - it's literally an 1150 Adv with a different paint job - made a 'Special Edition' to clear old stock in preparation for the launch of the 1200 Adv. If you're looking for an investment, buy a mint 1150GS Adv SE and keep it that way. Make sure it has the standard (crap :D) crashbars and (fragile:D) luggage...

BMW%20R100GS%20PD%2088%20%206.jpg


You should be able to get an R100GS PD for £6k - once again it is overpriced (IMO), but prices have remained high. The red and white one seems to be the colour of choice. It's a parts bin special to sell the last remaining bikes before the 1100 came out, but very popular...
 
For £6000 I'd go for the following BMWs in this order:

1. R90S
2. R1150GS Adv SE
3. R100GS PD

R90S%20Orange%20Gilchrist%20(2).JPG


The first is a real classic - the first BMW that had people queuing out of the door. The R100S is a much better bike, but won't hold its value as well as the R90S.

BMW%20R1150GS%20Asven%20Special%20%201.jpg



The 1150 Adv SE is very sought after, but like the 100GS PD, there's little logic to it - it's literally an 1150 Adv with a different paint job - made a 'Special Edition' to clear old stock in preparation for the launch of the 1200 Adv. If you're looking for an investment, buy a mint 1150GS Adv SE and keep it that way. Make sure it has the standard (crap :D) crashbars and (fragile:D) luggage...

BMW%20R100GS%20PD%2088%20%206.jpg


You should be able to get an R100GS PD for £6k - once again it is overpriced (IMO), but prices have remained high. The red and white one seems to be the colour of choice. It's a parts bin special to sell the last remaining bikes before the 1100 came out, but very popular...

At last some advice for the fella. Obviously it can't be guaranteed that they will increase in value...but I doubt you will lose your shirt either.

.. I'd probably switch 2 and 3 the other way round...but still pretty good ideas...
 
R90S

With respect....I think that you would be very very lucky to buy an R90S like this, today, for £6K...People are asking mega money and getting it....
 

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As an airhead to ride and enjoy I'd suggest the following:

  • R80GS Basic - good luck finding one though, you may need to go to Europe
  • R100R - the best handling and performance of the 2V bikes


As an investment:

  • R80G/S - especially if you can find a Paris Dakar equipped bike:augie
  • R90S - but as above prices do appear to be on the rise
  • R100CS - underrated and currently under valued
  • R100RS - Prices appear to be on the rise but pretty affordable at the moment. Get one with the 3/4 seat if possible:cool:
 
I've an '85 CB650 Nighthawk with added SOHC goodness that hasn't lost any of its value in literally years.

I put this down mainly to the roll of 'mil spec' duct tape holding the seat cover in place.

Proof that careful, period mods can help to maintain the value of these classic machines.
 
I had a lovely white Porsche 964 targa with less than 60.000 miles on it
1000 spent on maintaing it and I reluchtently sold it 2 years ago for
18000 euros thier is one licke mine now in pistonheads for £79.000
But shit happens buy a bicke you licke and just ride it then it doesn't
Mater what the market doese even if the price goeses up ! And you
Love your bicke you wont sell it
 
I had a lovely white Porsche 964 targa with less than 60.000 miles on it
1000 spent on maintaing it and I reluchtently sold it 2 years ago for
18000 euros thier is one licke mine now in pistonheads for £79.000
But shit happens buy a bicke you licke and just ride it then it doesn't
Mater what the market doese even if the price goeses up ! And you
Love your bicke you wont sell it ��

I enjoyed reading that :D
 
thanks for your sensible reply .After many years on honda i was let down very badly by them and will never use a honda again .i went to bmw i have 2 k1200 s one exploded and was replaced by bmw and i have had an 1150 gs nice condition bike but had a real issue with the engine i know have a trippleblack and really enjoy it .But i have always had a yearning for an old bmw to look after and ride when i want if it keeps its money or ups its value all the better

tripleblack - I also have an 13 plate GSA Triple Black and a '92 r100r. I can't tell you which one I prefer riding but the GSA only requires the usual servicing (I had it from new) but the r100r has cost me literally thousands in repairs. I have been usually unlucky but most old bikes will cost more in repairs than the amount they increase in value over the years. This also applies to classic cars. Having said that I shall certainly be keeping my r100r for the next 10 to 15 years whereas the 1200 will not be staying with me for that period, there are too many really expensive items that can and will go wrong.

I love GSs but the weight, the riding position, the simplicity and ruggedness of the airhead are SO appealing and I can't bring myself to sell it now.

So buy a nice airhead, enjoy it for what it is but don't expect much of a return on it (financially)

Thanks for posting and good luck.

Phil
 
It will only be a good investment if you buy a mint one and don't use it, starting with a mint one is always the cheapest in the long run

It won't be a good investment if you buy one cheap thinking you can restore it cheaply, if you buy an average condition one keeping it average is much cheaper than making it mint, and a much better investment,
If you do use it, it will only be a good investment if you can fix it yourself, and restore it yourself, and your lucky that something major doesn't break,


Good luck! :thumb2
 
It won't be a good investment if you buy one cheap thinking you can restore it cheaply, if you buy an average condition one keeping it average is much cheaper than making it mint, and a much better investment,


Good advice there...
 
Good advice there...

I'll second that!

The biggest problem with airheads is that they were abused and neglected for years. they do need constant fettling if you use them. If you can do the work yourself it is still very expensive and time consuming. If you have to pay someone to do the work then it quickly becomes a fools folly.

As a buyer the danger is that you will buy a shiny knacker that quickly turns into a money pit. For example that shiny PD for £7k plus on the earlier thread has a cheap, nasty exhaust collector that knocks a big hole in the midrange power, it also has stainless downpipes with out the balance pipe that screws up the jetting even further. Non standard silencer and poor twin head lamp conversion. You'd be looking at over a £1000 to sort that lot out to get the bike running properly.

The twin Shock road bikes are the best classics. up to 1980 are the best bikes for riding but need loads of fettling, 81 to 84 are the easiest to live with. The later Monos aren't as desirable, are less powerful and were built to a budget but do make the most sense as everyday riding machines.
 


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