Airhead Prices

chukzelda · 04-20-2011, 01:26 AM

Hi,

About a week ago I started a thread about getting back into BMW airheads. A number of years ago I owned an R100RT and enjoyed both the riding and wrenching required to keep it going. Waxing nostalgic, I started a search on picking up a used one.

My comments/opinions are coming from an airhead lover, so be kind.

Current pricing for used airheads across the country must be at an all time high. On the one hand, I'm happy to see a resurgence in interest in the old bikes. The bikes are a sub-hobby in and of themselves. Not only do you ride them (we do that sometimes) but learning the mechanics, finding parts, and getting involved with other airhead lovers is part of the fun.

However, there is no way I'm going to pay any of the prices I 've seen in the past week. Used bikes are approaching new prices on equal cc size and what you actually get is just not worth it.

It's easy to forget or gloss over what used parts will cost you in keeping these bikes running. It's also easy to forget what a BMW mechanic will charge you if you get in over your head ($90 and hour is what I've been told)

So.. is it just me and the time of year or have Airhead prices gotten a bit inflated?

Thanks
Chuk

Martian · 04-20-2011, 03:23 AM

Chuk, all I can tell you is that in my experience you are going to wind up with $5K+ invested in a later model airhead that you can ride anywhere with confidence. Its your choice whether you pay it up front or buy cheap and work up.

Comparing airhead prices to new bike prices is apples-to-oranges. If you want an airhead, who cares what a new bike cost? Its never going to be an airhead! As for labor cost, there are only a few things I'll pay to have done; transmission work, wheel re-lacing, and repairs deep in the engine because they require special tools and/or knowledge. I've yet to run across anything else that can't be handled by a reasonably competent owner with the time to undertake the task, a computer, and advise from the great knowledge base here in Old's Cool.

ozmoses · 04-20-2011, 03:52 AM

I don't know that owning/riding an airhead is a dollars and sense sorta thing...

kadesean · 04-20-2011, 04:32 AM

All used bike prices are up right now. Part of that is time of the year, part could be from people hopeful that the economy may be getting better, part could be from the realization that with interest rates so low you might as well invest in an old bike.

KneeDrachen · 04-20-2011, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martian

Chuk, all I can tell you is that in my experience you are going to wind up with $5K+ invested in a later model airhead that you can ride anywhere with confidence. Its your choice whether you pay it up front or buy cheap and work up.

Comparing airhead prices to new bike prices is apples-to-oranges. If you want an airhead, who cares what a new bike cost? Its never going to be an airhead! As for labor cost, there are only a few things I'll pay to have done; transmission work, wheel re-lacing, and repairs deep in the engine because they require special tools and/or knowledge. I've yet to run across anything else that can't be handled by a reasonably competent owner with the time to undertake the task, a computer, and advise from the great knowledge base here in Old's Cool.

Chuk, not sure how familiar you are with tearing into an Airhead, but listen to this man about making a reliable bike. DAMHIK

bmwloco · 04-20-2011, 05:03 AM

Gotta say, an airhead BMW that starts, runs and stops for under $4k is a good deal.

A decade or two back, I paid half that and rode many, many happy miles and a few epic journeys and did it inexpensively, happily, with a minimum of worry.

tennessee thumper · 04-20-2011, 05:16 AM

+1 on Martian, dead on.

If one is uncomfortable with the price point of a particular brand/model of motorcycle there are two choices:

1) move on to another style or brand
2) do not be detered, keep searching until satisfaction is reached

Specifically to your concerns...there are good bikes at reasonable prices all the time. It just depends on what one feels is a reasonable price.

If we knew a price range you were looking at, how much you are willing to spend and what you have seen this past week as far as out of whack prices....then I could tell you with certainty, your move is either #1 or #2 from above.

Cheers...

jtwind · 04-20-2011, 05:20 AM

Some airheads like the r90s, r80g/s and /5 have seen prices get alittle silly, but in general airheads represent a good deal and even close to an investment. There are folks out there selling bikes that seem to think airheads are all valuable collector bikes just stay away from them, most can't be covinced of reality. There has been a sorry looking r80 on craigslist here for months, the fellow keep asking the same goofy price and doesn't seem to understand that it's too much.

On the other hand, yesterday I went to look at a 93 r100gs for a fellow airhead from Alaska. Nice bike, no issues I could find,36,000 miles, had two seats, both the low and highfront fender, factory bags, a cover, full tool kit, tires at 75%. The price was $4500.00. You can't buy a new and maybe not a used recent KLR for that money, yet you get much more bike and one that will hold it's value much better. If you want back into airheads just keep your eyes and ears open and be patient.

LasseNC · 04-20-2011, 05:39 AM

It's the other way around here in Denmark. Before '09, an airhead would easily cost 9000$, but now prices are down to 5000$ for most of them.

Other classic bikes have held their price quite even.

jtwind · 04-20-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LasseNC

It's the other way around here in Denmark. Before '09, an airhead would easily cost 9000$, but now prices are down to 5000$ for most of them.

Other classic bikes have held their price quite even.

Any idea why that is?

LasseNC · 04-20-2011, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwind

Any idea why that is?

My only guess is that they were over-inflated.

fyr · 04-20-2011, 06:58 AM

I had been looking for 5 yrs or so.
I went and saw many bikes that were either in boxes or should have been boxed.
I just waited and waited.. Then my bike popped up on the radar via internet classifieds. I responded in 4 minutes... Only question was "does it run" yes was the reply. Sold!
They do pop up and you have to move fast. Know your stuff (research) and eventually.
I figure that these bikes will appreciate if in good -original shape.

boxerboy81 · 04-20-2011, 07:19 AM

Here in Melbourne, Oz the local backyard parts bloke says the 75/5, G/S, gs and the R100RS are the airhead bikes that have firm prices, if not rising.

Your market might be very different.

Grider Pirate · 04-20-2011, 07:31 AM

Recently there was a running Airhead with a Windjammer fairing on it here in Las Vegas, NV, that sold for under $2000.00. I've found that if I have the money in hand, something will come along eventually that I'll be happy with. Just don't get in a hurry.
Cheers.

Garthe · 04-20-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwind

The price was $4500.00. You can't buy a new and maybe not a used recent KLR for that money, yet you get much more bike and one that will hold it's value much better. .

I bought this one for $ 4, 500.00. 65, 000 miles.

I'll take this bike over a KLR anyday.

You want to play...you have to pay.

Don't give up...

04-20-2011, 04:32 AM	#4
kadesean eyesuck Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Muskegon, Michigan Oddometer: 899	All used bike prices are up right now. Part of that is time of the year, part could be from people hopeful that the economy may be getting better, part could be from the realization that with interest rates so low you might as well invest in an old bike. __________________ steve-0 1974 BMW R90/6 1992 BMW R100GS

04-20-2011, 05:03 AM	#6
bmwloco Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: AsheVegas NC Oddometer: 973	Gotta say, an airhead BMW that starts, runs and stops for under $4k is a good deal. A decade or two back, I paid half that and rode many, many happy miles and a few epic journeys and did it inexpensively, happily, with a minimum of worry. __________________ Pastor, Church of the Horizontally Opposed Air Cooled Twin '66 BMW R60/2, '83 BMW R100RS, '81 BMW R100RS "Das Beast", '77 Honda XL125 Airhead #371

04-20-2011, 05:16 AM	#7
tennessee thumper now in Mt. View, AR Joined: Nov 2007 Oddometer: 587	+1 on Martian, dead on. If one is uncomfortable with the price point of a particular brand/model of motorcycle there are two choices: 1) move on to another style or brand 2) do not be detered, keep searching until satisfaction is reached Specifically to your concerns...there are good bikes at reasonable prices all the time. It just depends on what one feels is a reasonable price. If we knew a price range you were looking at, how much you are willing to spend and what you have seen this past week as far as out of whack prices....then I could tell you with certainty, your move is either #1 or #2 from above. Cheers... __________________ insert meaningless phrase here....

04-20-2011, 05:20 AM	#8
jtwind Wisconsin Airhead Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Madison WI Oddometer: 3,450	Some airheads like the r90s, r80g/s and /5 have seen prices get alittle silly, but in general airheads represent a good deal and even close to an investment. There are folks out there selling bikes that seem to think airheads are all valuable collector bikes just stay away from them, most can't be covinced of reality. There has been a sorry looking r80 on craigslist here for months, the fellow keep asking the same goofy price and doesn't seem to understand that it's too much. On the other hand, yesterday I went to look at a 93 r100gs for a fellow airhead from Alaska. Nice bike, no issues I could find,36,000 miles, had two seats, both the low and highfront fender, factory bags, a cover, full tool kit, tires at 75%. The price was $4500.00. You can't buy a new and maybe not a used recent KLR for that money, yet you get much more bike and one that will hold it's value much better. If you want back into airheads just keep your eyes and ears open and be patient. __________________ JT www.northwoodsairheads.com www.jefftrappwindsors.com "Between two explanations, choose the clearest; between two forms, the most elementary; between two expressions, the shortest." Between two motorcycles the simplest (DW) Eugeni d' Ors (1881-1954); Spanish writer.

04-20-2011, 06:58 AM	#12
fyr iRoast Coffee Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Bytowne, Canuckistan Oddometer: 1,214	I had been looking for 5 yrs or so. I went and saw many bikes that were either in boxes or should have been boxed. I just waited and waited.. Then my bike popped up on the radar via internet classifieds. I responded in 4 minutes... Only question was "does it run" yes was the reply. Sold! They do pop up and you have to move fast. Know your stuff (research) and eventually. I figure that these bikes will appreciate if in good -original shape. __________________ "Don't threaten me with a dead fish" 07 Bonnie T100 Gonzo- 08 Ural G/U, 77 R100S, 01 Bonnie, 2x KLR's, Wee, Ninja's, CBR's, yadda yadda...

04-20-2011, 01:26 AM	#1
chukzelda ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: NW Illinois Oddometer: 71	Airhead Prices Hi, About a week ago I started a thread about getting back into BMW airheads. A number of years ago I owned an R100RT and enjoyed both the riding and wrenching required to keep it going. Waxing nostalgic, I started a search on picking up a used one. My comments/opinions are coming from an airhead lover, so be kind. Current pricing for used airheads across the country must be at an all time high. On the one hand, I'm happy to see a resurgence in interest in the old bikes. The bikes are a sub-hobby in and of themselves. Not only do you ride them (we do that sometimes) but learning the mechanics, finding parts, and getting involved with other airhead lovers is part of the fun. However, there is no way I'm going to pay any of the prices I 've seen in the past week. Used bikes are approaching new prices on equal cc size and what you actually get is just not worth it. It's easy to forget or gloss over what used parts will cost you in keeping these bikes running. It's also easy to forget what a BMW mechanic will charge you if you get in over your head ($90 and hour is what I've been told) So.. is it just me and the time of year or have Airhead prices gotten a bit inflated? Thanks Chuk

04-20-2011, 03:23 AM	#2
Martian Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Elmdale, Kansas, USA Oddometer: 1,077	Chuk, all I can tell you is that in my experience you are going to wind up with $5K+ invested in a later model airhead that you can ride anywhere with confidence. Its your choice whether you pay it up front or buy cheap and work up. Comparing airhead prices to new bike prices is apples-to-oranges. If you want an airhead, who cares what a new bike cost? Its never going to be an airhead! As for labor cost, there are only a few things I'll pay to have done; transmission work, wheel re-lacing, and repairs deep in the engine because they require special tools and/or knowledge. I've yet to run across anything else that can't be handled by a reasonably competent owner with the time to undertake the task, a computer, and advise from the great knowledge base here in Old's Cool. __________________ Tom '93 R100R '02 F650GS sold) '93 R100GSPD(sold) http://frommars.smugmug.com

04-20-2011, 03:52 AM	#3
ozmoses Ride On Joined: Jul 2009 Location: USA Oddometer: 1,065	I don't know that owning/riding an airhead is a dollars and sense sorta thing...

04-20-2011, 05:39 AM	#9
LasseNC XSessive! Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark, Danimarka, Danmark, Dänemark Oddometer: 946	It's the other way around here in Denmark. Before '09, an airhead would easily cost 9000$, but now prices are down to 5000$ for most of them. Other classic bikes have held their price quite even.

04-20-2011, 07:19 AM	#13
boxerboy81 Stay Horizontal Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oz, Australia Oddometer: 1,602	Here in Melbourne, Oz the local backyard parts bloke says the 75/5, G/S, gs and the R100RS are the airhead bikes that have firm prices, if not rising. Your market might be very different. __________________ R100RS Gallery, over 800 pictures...

04-20-2011, 07:31 AM	#14
Grider Pirate Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: LV, NV Oddometer: 1,669	Recently there was a running Airhead with a Windjammer fairing on it here in Las Vegas, NV, that sold for under $2000.00. I've found that if I have the money in hand, something will come along eventually that I'll be happy with. Just don't get in a hurry. Cheers. __________________ Please don't tell Mom I'm a pilot. She thinks I play piano in a whorehouse. http://griderpirate.smugmug.com/ http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum

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