Is $5k too much money for my first airhead?

heffy · 01-13-2010, 08:46 PM

There's a guy local to me selling a very sweet 1972 R75/5 toaster tank SWB airhead. 29k miles, everything looks to be in good shape aside from the "dings here and there".

He's asking $5k for it. Do you think it's too much money?

Wirespokes · 01-13-2010, 08:58 PM

That certainly sounds like the high end of the range - meaning it better be in awfully nice condition. Like maybe concourse.

To answer your question you'll need to supply us with more data to think with, such as - photos, work history, test ride report, that sort of thing.

wirewrkr · 01-13-2010, 09:00 PM

sounds like a lot for a /5 in these times.
They always need about $2000,00 worth of real work to be right.
If you're hell bent on it, spend the money at a reputable shop and have it picked over. It will be worth the investment.
At my shop we call that a "pre-purchase inspection",
or just good common sense.
Robert

Steve516 · 01-13-2010, 09:27 PM

Yes, $5K is too much money for your first Airhead. By about $2K.

heffy · 01-13-2010, 09:31 PM

in his craigslist post, he says it's been well maintained and was his daily rider

I wish it weren't so expensive... if it were $3k, I would've purchased it already, but I'm willing to guess that someone else would have first. It's the exact bike I've been looking for

Wirespokes · 01-13-2010, 09:37 PM

If it's not very far away, go take a look - and some pix to post for us. And make him an offer - at that price it will be around a while and might just take you up on it.

SlackerSteve · 01-14-2010, 04:28 AM

$5K for a /5?

Only if it is TOO PRETTY to modify!

If your desires are to ride it daily, put on 900cc barrels, dual disc front end, paint it a different color, upgrade the electrics, Mikunis, RT fairing...

there are better (cost effective)alternatives out there.

/5's for me are nice and if I had the desire to own one I would keep it as a "sunny day" bike.

kadesean · 01-14-2010, 04:45 AM

No offense Steve, but is this guy supposed to take advise from someone who would put an RT fairing on a /5?!?

OK, I can see how you might take offense, but still...

Cogswell · 01-14-2010, 07:06 AM

I'll agree with the masses, way too much money for the bike as it's described. Look around for a bit and you'll get a better idea of what they're worth condition wise.

Mike

opposedcyljunkie · 01-14-2010, 07:09 AM

One can get a nice PD for that kind of money.

CurlyMike · 01-14-2010, 07:16 AM

way too much for your first bike. Edit your profile to say where you are at and someone might be able to assist you face to face from this forum. Just to give you an idea, I have a 75/6 for sale for $2250, need paint bad and a 83 fully restored and EVERYTHING new for $3500. Not trying to sell them to you, just giving you some reference...

Yarddog · 01-14-2010, 08:02 AM

It's most definitely a buyer's market right now...the soft economy, being the winter months, just after Christmas, bills are due...and after all, it is a 38 year old machine!

caponerd · 01-14-2010, 08:19 AM

What they all said.

I bought my 1982 RT (rough, but presentable @60,000 miles) back in 2000 for $3000. It needed a new battery before I could ride it, then the diode board failed the day after I bought it.
Later, I took it to a very competent and thorough airhead wrench with instructions to check it out and take care of anything it needed.
My $3000 was nickel-and-dimed up to $5200, for which, I could have gotten an immaculate example, with either very low miles or completely restored.

Even if presented with a service history (as I was, and should have read more carefully to spot the sudden drop-off in records during the PO's stewardship!) any bike bought from an individual seller is an unknown that will probably require work before it's ready for daily service.

The Raven · 01-14-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heffy

There's a guy local to me selling a very sweet 1972 R75/5 toaster tank SWB airhead. 29k miles, everything looks to be in good shape aside from the "dings here and there".

He's asking $5k for it. Do you think it's too much money?

YES!!! check out Internet bmw marketplace for an idea of what you can get

Garbln · 01-14-2010, 08:36 AM

A 72 with 29K, a daily rider? That's really low mileage for a daily rider. With only that many miles it's been sitting a lot.

01-13-2010, 08:46 PM	#1
heffy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Oddometer: 19	Is $5k too much money for my first airhead? There's a guy local to me selling a very sweet 1972 R75/5 toaster tank SWB airhead. 29k miles, everything looks to be in good shape aside from the "dings here and there". He's asking $5k for it. Do you think it's too much money?

01-13-2010, 08:58 PM	#2
Wirespokes Beemerholics Anonymous Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Jackson's Bottom Oregon Oddometer: 7,354	That certainly sounds like the high end of the range - meaning it better be in awfully nice condition. Like maybe concourse. To answer your question you'll need to supply us with more data to think with, such as - photos, work history, test ride report, that sort of thing. __________________ Wanted: Dead, smashed, crashed or trashed gauges BMW GAUGE REPAIRS - TACHSPEEDOCLOCKVOLT METER PODs & LIGHT BOARD*

01-13-2010, 09:00 PM	#3
wirewrkr the thread-killer Joined: May 2008 Location: HIGH desert Oddometer: 4,297	sounds like a lot for a /5 in these times. They always need about $2000,00 worth of real work to be right. If you're hell bent on it, spend the money at a reputable shop and have it picked over. It will be worth the investment. At my shop we call that a "pre-purchase inspection", or just good common sense. Robert __________________ www.wirewerkes.com KILL YOUR TELEVISION !!!! wirewrkr screwed with this post 01-13-2010 at 09:05 PM

01-13-2010, 09:27 PM	#4
Steve516 Guzzis R Us Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Winston Salem, NC Oddometer: 345	Yes, $5K is too much money for your first Airhead. By about $2K. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------- Be kinder than necessary. Everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.

01-13-2010, 09:37 PM	#6
Wirespokes Beemerholics Anonymous Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Jackson's Bottom Oregon Oddometer: 7,354	If it's not very far away, go take a look - and some pix to post for us. And make him an offer - at that price it will be around a while and might just take you up on it. __________________ Wanted: Dead, smashed, crashed or trashed gauges BMW GAUGE REPAIRS - TACHSPEEDOCLOCKVOLT METER PODs & LIGHT BOARD*

01-13-2010, 09:31 PM	#5
heffy ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Oddometer: 19	in his craigslist post, he says it's been well maintained and was his daily rider I wish it weren't so expensive... if it were $3k, I would've purchased it already, but I'm willing to guess that someone else would have first. It's the exact bike I've been looking for

01-14-2010, 04:28 AM	#7
SlackerSteve Homely Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Further... Oddometer: 452	$5K for a /5? Only if it is TOO PRETTY to modify! If your desires are to ride it daily, put on 900cc barrels, dual disc front end, paint it a different color, upgrade the electrics, Mikunis, RT fairing... there are better (cost effective)alternatives out there. /5's for me are nice and if I had the desire to own one I would keep it as a "sunny day" bike. __________________ When you create with your brain, it is work When you create with your heart, it is craft When you create with your soul, it is art

01-14-2010, 04:45 AM	#8
kadesean eyesuck Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Muskegon, Michigan Oddometer: 900	No offense Steve, but is this guy supposed to take advise from someone who would put an RT fairing on a /5?!? OK, I can see how you might take offense, but still... __________________ steve-0 1974 BMW R90/6 1992 BMW R100GS

01-14-2010, 07:06 AM	#9
Cogswell Spudly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Riding with my pal Richard Cranium Oddometer: 3,256	I'll agree with the masses, way too much money for the bike as it's described. Look around for a bit and you'll get a better idea of what they're worth condition wise. Mike __________________ Cogswell Rides To Big Bend See my airhead project here Time Warp Vintage Motorcycle Club The good thing is, your damn motor can't read. If it says oil on the container, it's pretty much OK to dump in there.... ED.

01-14-2010, 07:09 AM	#10
opposedcyljunkie Heavyweight Boxer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: By the Lake Oddometer: 4,758	One can get a nice PD for that kind of money. __________________ OCJ 92 R100GS-PD Euro 01 Vespa PX150E 05 Yamaha Fazer FZS-1000 07 R1200GS

01-14-2010, 07:16 AM	#11
CurlyMike Formerly SaddleSoar Joined: Feb 2008 Location: east of Dallas Oddometer: 945	way too much for your first bike. Edit your profile to say where you are at and someone might be able to assist you face to face from this forum. Just to give you an idea, I have a 75/6 for sale for $2250, need paint bad and a 83 fully restored and EVERYTHING new for $3500. Not trying to sell them to you, just giving you some reference... __________________ Giving the horses and the wife a break from riding...

01-14-2010, 08:02 AM	#12
Yarddog Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Oddometer: 322	It's most definitely a buyer's market right now...the soft economy, being the winter months, just after Christmas, bills are due...and after all, it is a 38 year old machine!

01-14-2010, 08:19 AM	#13
caponerd Kickstart Enthusiast Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Halfway between Munich and Redditch. Oddometer: 1,809	What they all said. I bought my 1982 RT (rough, but presentable @60,000 miles) back in 2000 for $3000. It needed a new battery before I could ride it, then the diode board failed the day after I bought it. Later, I took it to a very competent and thorough airhead wrench with instructions to check it out and take care of anything it needed. My $3000 was nickel-and-dimed up to $5200, for which, I could have gotten an immaculate example, with either very low miles or completely restored. Even if presented with a service history (as I was, and should have read more carefully to spot the sudden drop-off in records during the PO's stewardship!) any bike bought from an individual seller is an unknown that will probably require work before it's ready for daily service.

01-14-2010, 08:36 AM	#15
Garbln Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Mpls, MN Oddometer: 417	A 72 with 29K, a daily rider? That's really low mileage for a daily rider. With only that many miles it's been sitting a lot.

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