Is there such a thing as a cheap Beemer?

[LAB3]

It's that time of year where used bikes are a dime a dozen and surprisingly I'm seeing no shortage of Beemers for under two grand. What's the deal? Beemers command a premium price much the same as those agricultural bikes do, I'm pretty blown away by this. So what say the crowd? Is a cheap Beemer worth the time, money and effort?

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Depends on the model. I bought a super sweet Oilhead with 15k on the clock for $2500. But when things go wrong, it can be more expensive to get parts than some bikes. If its an old Airhead, I think it's a better bet.

 

[Grimly]

A lot of the trad Beemer crowd are ageing out now.

 

[LAB3]

Most of what I'm seeing is R1100RT although I DID see a R800 airhead for $2200. It just seems odd to me that $3-4k bikes are all of a sudden $1-2k bikes.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

As long as the clutch isn't toast, the main seal is in good order, and it has no final drive issues, the R1100RT is a nice bike.

 

[rphillips]

Remembering back in the 70's when I first started riding street bikes, I heard my local dealer commented if you see somebody riding a BMW, odds are they won't see things like most folks do, nothing wrong with them, just think a little different. I've watched and agree. The few I've known, Not meaning anything neg., but they usually just see and do things kind'f different. A school buddy, who paid his way through college reading elect. meters for the local elect. co. from a Honda XL125 that he rode over 50K mi. and bought a Saburu car back when the rest of us young'uns was buying trucks or muscle cars, it was no surprise when he came in riding a BMW. Just kind'f upheld what that dealer had said... Dang, last time we rode together was over a yr. ago, we haven't see nor talked to one another since, guess I need to call him!!!

 

[alke46]

I have one that I am not crazy about. It's a 2001 R1100RL. I rescued it from a friend after it sat for 6 years.
It's a decent bike but I just can't learn to like it.

That said, I have been trying to sell it but I can't even get a low ball offer on it.
I am asking $4200 and of course I will not give it away. I am willing to negotiate the price, but no give aways as I can ride it but just not appreciate it.

 

[Cipher]

Even if the price is low parts if available are shockingly expensive.
Get a honda

 

[LAB3]

Yeah the parts thing is what my biggest worry would be especially living the way I do.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Airheads are dirt simple and can be kept running with a rock, a hose clamp and a bit of bubble gum. Not so much Oilheads and later, and I have to agree with Alke: The Oilheads, at least, don't have a ton of personality, though they do their job well.

I'd love to get an old R80G/S, but those now change hands among far wealthier riders than any group to which I belong.

 

[LAB3]

Airheads are dirt simple and can be kept running with a rock, a hose clamp and a bit of bubble gum.

That's exactly what I'm most interested in. Besides I hate to be taken as a self absorbed A-hole based sold upon my choice of motorcycle, I prefer people come to that conclusion based upon real world experience.

 

[Nessism]

Even in So. Calif, where everything is expensive, I see lots of cheap BMW motorcycles. Mind you, not sub $2000 cheap, but lots for sub $5000.

Wish I knew more about the history, because there have been various issues over the years which have afflicted various years and family of bikes. Dave bought one, and then had to spend to fix the drivetrain (can't remember all the details). If you find the right bike, that sidestep the pitfalls, most all of them will run up big miles.

 

[oldGSfan]

As for older ones, I've always considered them stodgy, old dude bikes. but being an old dude now, I can see their charm. I had a 1952 R51/2 with a Steib sidecar, and got an R75/5 for free once. They are so simple to work on. I rode the R75/5 after fixing it up a bit, meh, rode like a tractor, better than my '52 but still. Seemed like a science teacher's bike. I always found a way to score parts cheap but many don't have that skill, and the BMW stuff is just crazy expensive and 'rarified air' quality about it, with the accompanying snootiness like a Porsche. Pass.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Porsche, at least before water-cooling, was a car for guys who actually drove their cars to races and back. Snooty? That's BMW car owners.

 

[Rob S.]

Seemed like a science teacher's bike.

Well put!

...................

 

[Eli69]

Mine was sorta cheap..About $2400. But it had something like 115,000 miles on it. Still runs great. I don't baby it.

 

[LAB3]

Seemed like a science teacher's bike.

Too bad this sticker on my saddlebags probably wouldn't pull off in one piece or stick really well on a different bike.

 

[lizzywhite45]

A cheap Beemer usually means high mileage and deferred maintenance. The bike might be cheap, but the parts and repairs won’t be. If you can do the work yourself and know what to check, it might be a great find.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Lots of cheap Beemers have way high mileage but good service histories.

 

[oldGSfan]

Porsche, at least before water-cooling, was a car for guys who actually drove their cars to races and back. Snooty? That's BMW car owners.

My bad. I am in an area where rivet counters (as we call them on the Brit bike forum) abound. I remember now that I had another R75/5 that I had to get the cylinder head off, and man, was it stuck. I told my dad and he said get some cotton clothesline, stuff it down the spark plug hole and bump the bike. Boom, off it came. What really bothers me is that I rebuilt that engine and had it running (for a friend) and can hardly remember working on it. Granted, it was over 30 years ago, but sheesh.

For me the sweet spot is the R100S of the late 70s, but I test rode a very nice one a few years ago, and it just felt so archaic. Looked cool though. I wanted it just for the looks but couldn't stand how sproingy and slow reacting it was.