New Boy in need of airhead help.

[Captain Black]

Hello Everyone.
This is my first post on gsers so please forgive me if its old hat questions time!
I have owned my one and only BMW since 2002 (new) gs1150 in black/black motor. The bike has become like another limb to me, having carried me around most European Countries, and also Morocco as recently as last month. What a Bike!
I thought I could part with any bike with no feelings, having done so with around twenty or so bikes dating back to my first..the all powerfull Suzuki AP50 circa 1976! Not so this one..I would like to see a 100k on the clock then retire her to the odd Sunday summer run.
This brings me on to my bee in the bonnet problem..I would like to buy another older BMW, and having looked at photos only I rather fancy the R100R classic or the R90S of the early 1980s. I also like the older looking GS models but am in a bit of a spin as to what model to go for, and just as Importantly how to obtain or at least view any bikes. I look on gsers for private sales, however I wondered do we have in the U.K. good "classic dealer networks" to view and select a nice bike from. I am sorry its a bit of an open ended first post, but I would really appreciate any help and advise the Airhead chaps may have to offer.
Thanks all for your kind help..

 

[alimey4u2]

No help to offer I'm afraid but I'm sure one or more of our learned experts will be able to assist......In the meantime, hello & welcome...

 

[brassmonkey001]

No help to offer I'm afraid but I'm sure one or more of our learned experts will be able to assist......In the meantime, Hello & welcome...

Are you the official Meet & Greeter? Can you smell a newbie out in any forum?


Welcome Captain Black. No connection to the Mysterons I trust?
Get yourself along to a UKGSer meet and I'm sure you'll find plenty of folks willing to show you their bikes and offer advice and opinions.
Check out the North West section as well to find local Tossers and meets.
If you subscribe (£12 a year and worth far more, but don't tell BHT!) you'll be able to post and reply in the For Sale and Wanted section and use the Private Messaging service etc. which will almost certainly pay for itself with your first transaction.
Talk to Proff. If your after an Airhead, he's probably got it in his barn.

 

[bustupbiker]

Are you the official Meet & Greeter? Can you smell a newbie out in any forum?


Welcome Captain Black. No connection to the Mysterons I trust?
Get yourself along to a UKGSer meet and I'm sure you'll find plenty of folks willing to show you their bikes and offer advice and opinions.
Check out the North West section as well to find local Tossers and meets.
If you subscribe (£12 a year and worth far more, but don't tell BHT!) you'll be able to post and reply in the For Sale and Wanted section and use the Private Messaging service etc. which will almost certainly pay for itself with your first transaction.
Talk to Proff. If your after an Airhead, he's probably got it in his barn.

Talk to Proff. If your after an Airhead, he's got it in his barn.

fixed it for you..
Welcome that man..

 

[alimey4u2]

Are you the official Meet & Greeter? Can you smell a newbie out in any forum?

Not official, just a nice friendly kinda guy....In a manly way of course...

 

[Steve R]

R100R Classic...

Go to www.bamw.co.uk. You'll find a mint R100R and several mint early GSs. Tell him Steve sent you.

Steve.

 

[45disco]

go for the g/s or gs, fun on the tarmac and surprising in the dirt. if you want the r90s power then change the top end on the g/s!

cheers,

jim

 

[Kenny]

R90s is very expensive..the orange ones were supposedly more sought after although I owned the manly black one..only two colours orange/silver and black/silver...any other colour, walk way !!

Mono g/s more collectable than para gs both both excellant fun..Lord knows I've hade about ten of the buggers

LIke above, if the Mysterons spare your life, feel free to ask away here...were all just sitting by our coal fires and drinking brandy ( except Proff who drinks firewater and is constantly pissed and smells of wee)

R100R is an excellant bike but the GS's are much more versatile...and don't go near any of civils projects for sale

 

[Wanderer]

Answer should be quite simple, I think ...

... which airhead do you like the look of the most?

There you go, spend some time looking at pictures etc, which do you really like?

If you don't buy the one you'd most prefer, you'll just end up wishing you'd gotten that one. In short, amongst the bikes you've mentioned, go with your heart, not with your head.

However, there are a few things to bear in mind. Such as how much do you have to spend? Both the 80g/s and the 90s will likely be pricey, then stepping down for the other models. However, this is incredibly rule of thumb for the models mentioned. It then really comes down to bike by bike.

Also ask, what are you going to do with the bike? Ride, oily rag restoration, full on restoration, etc, etc? It can make a difference. If it's just to ride, then provenance, UK model only, history etc may not be too important, whereas they may be a little more important if you want to end up with a pristine example. Again, though, very simplistic thoughts. Availability of spares is also becoming an issue on the older of your possibilities. For example, the search for the holy grail would be an easier task than trying to find a good condition R90s clock or the much fabled 1974/1975 instrument glass with white rings.

Lastly, align your expectations. If you're after any old example, you'll likely find one quite quickly. However, it it's a low mileage model, etc, you may need to spend a good deal of time finding the right one (and it'll likely be through a friend of a friend of a friend than through a dealer).

Whichever way you choose to go, keep us all informed of progress

 

[bustupbiker]

Answer should be quite simple, I think ...

... which airhead do you like the look of the most?

There you go, spend some time looking at pictures etc, which do you really like?

If you don't buy the one you'd most prefer, you'll just end up wishing you'd gotten that one. In short, amongst the bikes you've mentioned, go with your heart, not with your head.

However, there are a few things to bear in mind. Such as how much do you have to spend? Both the 80g/s and the 90s will likely be pricey, then stepping down for the other models. However, this is incredibly rule of thumb for the models mentioned. It then really comes down to bike by bike.

Also ask, what are you going to do with the bike? Ride, oily rag restoration, full on restoration, etc, etc? It can make a difference. If it's just to ride, then provenance, UK model only, history etc may not be too important, whereas they may be a little more important if you want to end up with a pristine example. Again, though, very simplistic thoughts. Availability of spares is also becoming an issue on the older of your possibilities. For example, the search for the holy grail would be an easier task than trying to find a good condition R90s clock or the much fabled 1974/1975 instrument glass with white rings.

Lastly, align your expectations. If you're after any old example, you'll likely find one quite quickly. However, it it's a low mileage model, etc, you may need to spend a good deal of time finding the right one (and it'll likely be through a friend of a friend of a friend than through a dealer).

Whichever way you choose to go, keep us all informed of progress

**** R90s clock or the much fabled 1974/1975 instrument glass with white rings****

Aint that a fact

 

[brassmonkey001]

This wouldn't be one, would it?

 

[bustupbiker]

This wouldn't be one, would it?

Speedo is now OK just the rev counter and volt meter thats diss both legs..
Err! dead. Moto bins have a volt meter int post ( i hope ) they are looking for a rev counter for me. Also ordered the meter top with the glasses
£90 but i think she is worth it...
My speedo has W-1.2?? but not the same number as yours...
So i think by the weekend it'll be on the road proper like init.....

 

[Wanderer]

This wouldn't be one, would it?

BM: instruments on 90S are white numbers. Must try harder if you're to be Airhead MOD

 

[brassmonkey001]

BM: instruments on 90S are white numbers. Must try harder if you're to be Airhead MOD

Told you I didn't know anything.

 

[STUBBS]

Told you I didn't know anything.

youve over qualified for the job then

 

[Colt]

Hi CaptainB,

I also have an 02r1150gs from new,Often I prefer to ride my super r80g/s

sounds like like you have yet to even decide on which model of bike you want?
so plenty of research is in order.
go to some bike meets ,join the BMW club they meet at hale barns and Cracoe
so you can view a variety of great bikes.
you may even see mine



good luck hunting.