Next bike?

bosco659

bosco659

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I’ve been looking at many different bikes lately for my next bike project. I think I’ve found one I’m really interested in. We went on a nice ride with the local vintage motorcycle group and one fellow was riding his BMW R75/6. I followed him for quite a while and my interest in the bike increased significantly. It had a lot of things going for it: relatively affordable; easy to work on; high degree of reliability; a strong following; decent parts availability - used and aftermarket.

Anyone here have one or had one in the past? I have all summer to look for one.

Picture for attention - a unique look that has grown on me…

IMG_4514.png
 
Niels B said:
I actually never cared much for the look of BMW bikes, but they kind of grow on you, the riding position and the reliability is top notch though.
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I agree about the looks. Not the cutest bike you can ride but it grows on you and has character. I attended a Motorad Bikes and Coffee meet this morning and started looking at new BMW’s. My takeaway was amazing technology available, but at a price. Many bikes were over $30K.

Just an example of the technology… when you are ready to put the bike on the center stand (not all models), the front and rear suspension automatically extend to make the bike go up on the stand easily. I was told it’s almost effortless. That tech is cool but the gear head side of me says that’s one more thing to break that I can’t fix myself.
 
JJames said:
Hey Bosco. I see you are from Oakville. My family lived there from 1966-71(not draft dodgers lol.) I last visited in 1996. Oakville was unrecognizable. I'm sure it's changed a lot since then too. Cheers, Jim
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Hey Jim, if you’re ever back this way, look me up. I was born in Oakville and have never left. Great town that has grown quite a bit over the years but still has many pockets that haven’t been overcome by new development. I love living here. We are a couple of blocks from Lake Ontario and a harbour. It’s a nice quiet area and will hopefully remain here as long as I’m able to stay in our home.
 
bosco659 said:
Hey Jim, if you’re ever back this way, look me up. I was born in Oakville and have never left. Great town that has grown quite a bit over the years but still has many pockets that haven’t been overcome by new development. I love living here. We are a couple of blocks from Lake Ontario and a harbour. It’s a nice quiet area and will hopefully remain here as long as I’m able to stay in our home.
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We lived on Savoy Crescent. A short walk from the lake. Sure would like to get back up that way.
 
bosco659 said:
I agree about the looks. Not the cutest bike you can ride but it grows on you and has character. I attended a Motorad Bikes and Coffee meet this morning and started looking at new BMW’s. My takeaway was amazing technology available, but at a price. Many bikes were over $30K.

Just an example of the technology… when you are ready to put the bike on the center stand (not all models), the front and rear suspension automatically extend to make the bike go up on the stand easily. I was told it’s almost effortless. That tech is cool but the gear head side of me says that’s one more thing to break that I can’t fix myself.
Click to expand...
Yes they are on top of the technology, so are the price, they keep their value well too, however the new technology require special tools and computer to work on them, I think my 1200 gs is one of the last models you can do almost anything yourself on
 
These were Bought by people going for long runs on the Continent
" Touring Fox "

And the Police
Proverbial
Only B'***es and Cops ride BMW

But the Brand Image has changed after their game Changing Sports Machines
It is no longer the same

Solid reputation shaft drive ,some had views on
Not liked by the Triumph crowd .. Lacking character

Can be expensive I believe. If in fine condition
If you restore it there will be buyers at least here .. Not many questions or haggling
 
Hey! Now you’re talking, I love old airheads! 😍 I had a 1977 BMW R100/7 , it was the first classic bike I owned. It had a terrific motor and I loved the shaft drive. Everything is so easy to access, the carburetors are hanging out in the wind and the two valve heads are simplicity itself. It’ll take you more time to get your tools out than to do the valve adjustment.
It was one of the smoothest road bikes I’ve ever ridden and absolutely dependable. I’ve made the comment before that a couple of years I rode it to a vintage bike show and there would be all these perfectly restored British bikes in the show, but the parking lot had a bunch of old BMW’s that guys had ridden there and were in daily use. Not all was perfect, there were a few odd things, like the way the front master cylinder was located under the gas tank and it was operated by a cable, the whole affair made for a wooden feeling front brake. All fenders and side covers were made of fiberglass and it took me a lot of searching to find a replacement for the cracked front fender the bike had when I bought it. Speaking of the side covers, they are held in place by an elastic band that is stretched through the frame from one side cover to the other. 😄 It works but don’t trust them, most guys have upgraded to a better quality replacement. 20 years ago when I had mine, I had to order parts either through a BMW dealer or EBay for used parts, but the internet wasn’t much back then. I remember paying dearly for carburetor parts.
Anyways good luck on your search! I know I still look all the time. I sure wouldn’t mind having me a /5 model. 😃
IMG_5184.jpegIMG_4096.jpegIMG_5523.jpegIMG_5522.jpegIMG_8374.jpegIMG_8369.jpegIMG_8370.jpeg
 
Mailman said:
Hey! Now you’re talking, I love old airheads! 😍 I had a 1977 BMW R100/7 , it was the first classic bike I owned. It had a terrific motor and I loved the shaft drive. Everything is so easy to access, the carburetors are hanging out in the wind and the two valve heads are simplicity itself. It’ll take you more time to get your tools out than to do the valve adjustment.
It was one of the smoothest road bikes I’ve ever ridden and absolutely dependable. I’ve made the comment before that a couple of years I rode it to a vintage bike show and there would be all these perfectly restored British bikes in the show, but the parking lot had a bunch of old BMW’s that guys had ridden there and were in daily use. Not all was perfect, there were a few odd things, like the way the front master cylinder was located under the gas tank and it was operated by a cable, the whole affair made for a wooden feeling front brake. All fenders and side covers were made of fiberglass and it took me a lot of searching to find a replacement for the cracked front fender the bike had when I bought it. Speaking of the side covers, they are held in place by an elastic band that is stretched through the frame from one side cover to the other. 😄 It works but don’t trust them, most guys have upgraded to a better quality replacement. 20 years ago when I had mine, I had to order parts either through a BMW dealer or EBay for used parts, but the internet wasn’t much back then. I remember paying dearly for carburetor parts.
Anyways good luck on your search! I know I still look all the time. I sure wouldn’t mind having me a /5 model. 😃
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The simplicity of the motor is an attraction for me. A friend in our group has one as his daily rider and speaks highly of them. When I went to the BMW dealership this morning I was thinking R75, but I saw this R12 and thought, should I be going to one bike only? Not being able to make up your mind I’d fun. lol.

IMG_4516.png
 
Got themselves a reputation as an "Old Man's Bike" over here, back in the day.
Probably explains why I'm finding them more attractive than I once did.
Apparently they do everything very well indeed.
But with a character that doesn't seem to excite people.
Maybe a weld on hard tail and a set of straight through pipes would improve things ? ;)
 
Niels B said:
. . . I actually never cared much for the look of BMW bikes, but they kind of grow on you . . .
Click to expand...
I'm a member of the same club. Back in the 70s, didn't like BMWs. Ugly, slow, old man's bike. Then in the 90s, knew a bloke with an R90S and started to appreciate the practical nature of them. As @Mailman says, doing the valves is a cinch. Likewise adjusting the chain LOL. And now the looks of the old slab-sided tank ones have grown on me.

Have thought about finding a nice old one, a 75/5 would fill the bill, might even turn out to the that one do-it-all bike I dream of?

Image borrowed of that internet:

bmw.jpg


But personally, still wouldn't consider a new BMW.
 
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