What are Airheads worth these days?

[mymindsok]

I've been wondering for the last three or four years, whats fueling the rather high resale prices being asked, (And in some cases paid!) for 70s and 80s era Airheads.

I began by riding /2 and /5 bikes and then jumped to an R-90/6 in 1989, paying $500 cash for an R-90 with bags, mounts, B+S tail rack, Wixom Scout fairing, etc, etc. I ended up putting 200K on that old bike and then restored it a couple of years ago.

Heres the R-90/6 in 2006 after I had added 200K to the clock and stripped it down to bare essentials.

On the other hand, over the last four years I've purchased several other Airheads for peanuts.

1) A complete but non-running R-60/6 for $100.00

2) A 78RS with bags for $100.00 plus $150 for the bags. Here it is during tear-down. Rest assured that it was all there when I brought it home!

3) An 81-RT with bags, that I rode home and enjoyed for a while. That one was $1100.00 and the seller paid for a years registration.

4) And the 82-RS that I bought out of barn storage last year for $1600. Heres the 82-RS a few minutes after unloading it from my pick-up and three weeks before I rode it 8000mi coast-to-coast. Nice huh?

Last year, before I bought the RS, I was looking at bikes and found quite a few nice scooters at reasonable prices, including a strong running 82 RS for $2400 and three other decent 80s era RS bikes with accessories, priced from $3100.00 to 3600.00. Two of those bikes are still being offered for sale at around $2500 but they aren't selling. During that search, I also looked at a few Mint/Mint RS bikes that were in the $8000 range and let-me-tell-you, that kinda money will buy you a beautiful bike but those asking prices are substantially above auction prices for similar bikes and as far as I know (And judging from my emails.) those bikes haven't sold either.

So tell me? Whats driving some of the high ($3000ish+) prices that guys are asking and paying for bikes that are in "average for it's age" condition and below? It certainly isn't a scarcity of decent/nice bikes in the market.

I just don't get it....

 

[PGlaves]

Those who pay high prices will say, "they aren't making any more of them."

 

[jstrube]

I was wondering the same thing. I would love to buy an old airhead & build a modern cafe bike out of it. I don't want to mess up a collectable, but would rather start with something mundane. I've been looking for that $800 "deal", but haven't seen it! A couple of years back, they were all over, but not lately...

 

[jstrube]

Those who pay high prices will say, "they aren't making any more of them."

That's what they said about land here in CA, but the same lot that sold for $350K bare 4 years ago is selling for $275K with a house on it now...

 

[JAMESDUNN]

Perhaps it was my reply countering yours in another thread that inspired you to post this one. Good thread. As someone else noted any airhead is only worth what one is willing to pay. I know that when I was looking for a decent, clean airhead in Iowa I couldn't find one for less than the three thousand dollar range. I am sure there are some decent bikes out there for less but I couldn't locate one. Some were obviously overpriced, being cosmetically challenged and otherwise less than excellent for four thousand plus! But all markets are not the same and Iowa may be higher than others; don't know. I can only reflect on my own experiences. Also, it is a buyer's market, but will be less so this spring regardless of economics. I do know this; I would rather be selling or attempting to sell any bike other than a Harley as they are truly a glut upon the market!

 

[godfather]

I too have been looking for "that deal" for a couple of years now, and have not been successful either. I posted on another thread earlier today about all of the overpriced junkers out there.

I have looked at over a dozen airheads since December and 80% of them are not worth 1/2 of the asking price. I just don't get it. Another example of that is a 75' R75/6 that the owner stated it's in great condition with maintenance log for the last 15 years. It turned out to be leaking oil from every possible place, rusted chrome, rusted nuts and bolts throughout, mismatched seat, dents in the tank, and the maintenance log was nothing more than 1/2 of a page hand written on every other line "oil change" with a date or "plugs" with a date. His price was $2500 firm. He said if you were to offer me $2200 I would tell you thanks for looking have a nice drive home. BTW, it and 2 others he is selling are listed on ebay and craigs list again right now.

On a bright note, I think I have narrowed my search to an 84' R80ST or a 71' R75/5. I should make a decision real soon...see post "Confused" I'm leaning heavily to the ST.

 

[mymindsok]

Perhaps it was my reply countering yours in another thread that inspired you to post this one. Good thread.

Yep! Your comments reminded me of discussions that I've had with Airhead friends over the years, concerning bike prices.

Several years ago, I became interested in auctioneering and went to the Missouri Auction School to become certified. Probably the most basic truism that they pounded into our heads was this: "The true value of any item is based on the price that it sells for at a well advertised and attended auction."

Once you start looking at things that way, your whole outlook on spending changes. When a dealer buys used cars, they usually buy and sell them at restricted attendance auto auctions. Then the car gets marked up and sold to the rubes. (Sorry.... the "public!") How do I know that? I had a relative in the used car business, who commonly bought used cars for between $300 and $1000 and tripled his money. Meanwhile, his wife drove a very pretty Jag for several years, that he bought at auction for $2500.

Likewise, if you follow motorcycle auctions, you'll note that very minty RS bikes were bringing between maybe $5000 to $6000 at Vegas auctions a couple of years ago, while "the public" seems to believe that the bikes should be selling for $8,000 to $1200. For the difference in those prices, you could fly to Vegas for the auction, spend three days in a nice hotel, hire some "entertainment" for a night and then ride your new bike home with cash in your pocket!

Two years ago I had some money burning a hole in my pocket and went looking to buy a minty RS bike. I contacted several guys in different states concerning bikes in the $8000 and up range. The bikes were outstanding and I offered what I thought were 'reasonable prices' (in the high $6K to low $7K range) but I kept hearing things like "Well, I know I paid too much for the damn thing and I want to get my money back" or "well, these bikes are going up in price pretty fast, so I'll just hold on till I get what I want for it." (In freshly-minted, inflated dollars!)

Yes, those are extreme examples but gee whizz... Three grand for a cosmetically challenged Airhead needing some mechanical work, tires and a lot of TLC? Am I completely out of sync?

PS:

I have narrowed my search to an 84' R80ST or a 71' R75/5. I should make a decision real soon...see post "Confused" I'm leaning heavily to the ST.

There never were many of those STs and they're really great riders bikes and OTOH, a nice /5 will never, ever, go out of style! I don't see how you could go wrong with either one! Me? I'd want the /5 but thats just me!

 

[James.A]

The fact of the matter is this. It is a function of supply and demand. The supply diminishes every year but the demand increases. Personally, I wouldn't give you a $100 for a K bike. I don't understand them and can't work on them. Lot's of people like 'em and I'm sure that fondness is well founded.

Now then, try to buy a really nice /2 for less that 10K.

Extrapolate this forward. The type 274airhead BMW's are the next big thing. Like Paul said," they're not making them any more."

When a person considers the fact that they are simple, elegant and primitive machines that can still hold up in modern traffic 40 years after they were first introduced, I would suggest that they are the best of the best. I own and ride 2 early airheads.

Who wants to make me an offer on one of 'em?

 

[mikeb921]

Probably the most basic truism that they pounded into our heads was this: "The true value of any item is based on the price that it sells for at a well advertised and attended auction."

I believe this statement is very true. J Woods and Company will be having their annual Bike Week "Antique" auction in Deland Fl one week from today (Sat, 6th). I'd like to go over and check things out. The results are published (along with the condition of the bike) whithin a couple of days of the auction. If anything, some items bring a couple of bucks more due to bidding wars but for the most part, bikes sell for fair market value. They usually have several "airheads" going on the block. Anyone from Orlando area want to ride over?

Ride Safe
Mike

 

[69ZEFF65]

The $$$ paid for my 2 R 90/6s

Over the last year I have picked up 2 R 90/6s, one was a rolling parts machine (challenged plastic,no tank exhaust carbs) for $100. I shared some of the un-neededs (seats, brackets) with people to the tune of about $250 when I was done selling. I just snaged a very nice R 90/6 from the same dealer for $1500, it needed a some stuff done (front seat pivot, was the biggy) but I have ended up with an extremely nice (my first) airhead for $1500 and some cleaning duties. I now have a spare drivetrain, spoked (very straight) wheels, front end frame and all sorts goodies that I might need just in case. The rider has nice original paint and pinstripes and is very complete and clean. I thought about selling the two together for about $4500 but have had second thoughts whenever I go out in the garage and hit the starter button on it and it doesn't even turn over once and its running smoke and sputter free. My knee is tired from kicking the /2s so I'm gonna hang on to this one for a little while unless I get a crazy ofer for the two bikes. I replace the turnsignals and bars with /2 bars and barends and have plans to shorten one front fender and modify the rear for a /2 round tail light, oh yeh I'm going to hinge it too. Don't worry purist both spare fenders have challenges so the can be sacrificial.

 

[robertklee]

Just depends.

As a rule of thumb...When I'm selling a motorcycle, it's quite valuable. When I'm buying one, it's not really worth that much. Airheads have gone up the last few years. I bought several /2's back in the 70's for a couple of hundred dollars (including a R69S). My 60/5 I currently ride, I bought for $700 in 1988. Guess I've gotten my money's worth out of it.

 

[Bud]

I've been wondering for the last three or four years, whats fueling the rather high resale prices being asked, (And in some cases paid!) for 70s and 80s era Airheads.

I began by riding /2 and /5 bikes and then jumped to an R-90/6 in 1989, paying $500 cash for an R-90 with bags, mounts, B+S tail rack, Wixom Scout fairing, etc, etc. I ended up putting 200K on that old bike and then restored it a couple of years ago.

Heres the R-90/6 in 2006 after I had added 200K to the clock and stripped it down to bare essentials.

On the other hand, over the last four years I've purchased several other Airheads for peanuts.

1) A complete but non-running R-60/6 for $100.00

2) A 78RS with bags for $100.00 plus $150 for the bags. Here it is during tear-down. Rest assured that it was all there when I brought it home!

3) An 81-RT with bags, that I rode home and enjoyed for a while. That one was $1100.00 and the seller paid for a years registration.

4) And the 82-RS that I bought out of barn storage last year for $1600. Heres the 82-RS a few minutes after unloading it from my pick-up and three weeks before I rode it 8000mi coast-to-coast. Nice huh?

Last year, before I bought the RS, I was looking at bikes and found quite a few nice scooters at reasonable prices, including a strong running 82 RS for $2400 and three other decent 80s era RS bikes with accessories, priced from $3100.00 to 3600.00. Two of those bikes are still being offered for sale at around $2500 but they aren't selling. During that search, I also looked at a few Mint/Mint RS bikes that were in the $8000 range and let-me-tell-you, that kinda money will buy you a beautiful bike but those asking prices are substantially above auction prices for similar bikes and as far as I know (And judging from my emails.) those bikes haven't sold either.

So tell me? Whats driving some of the high ($3000ish+) prices that guys are asking and paying for bikes that are in "average for it's age" condition and below? It certainly isn't a scarcity of decent/nice bikes in the market.

I just don't get it....

I don't get it either. Would you sell me any of the bikes you bought for what you paid for them? If not, why would you think they are worth more?

You don't have to answer as the question is clearly rhetorical.

 

[mymindsok]

I don't get it either. Would you sell me any of the bikes you bought for what you paid for them? If not, why would you think they are worth more?

You don't have to answer as the question is clearly rhetorical.

Truthfully, thats a good question but I'm not sure that I have a good answer, because I DON"T think that those bikes were worth more than I shelled out.

In my mind, anyone who'd have paid $3000 grand for my running, ride-able, numbers matching, hi-mileage R-90 four years ago, would have been a complete fool, as would anyone who paid a pile for the bike I pulled out from under some guys shade tree. On the other hand, I wanted a nice Airhead. So... without any real cash available, my only choice was to build the bike I wanted, starting with the bike I had.

Therefore, I guess that those bikes were worth more to me than I paid for em!

I bought those donor bikes (and a couple more.) on the open market for $100 each because that was my budget at the time and I needed parts. Of course you have to really look and look for deals like that and it definitely helps to know what you're looking at but still, the deals are out there.

Firstly, I purchased two non-running, /6s and later the 79RS as parts bikes, to help me with what ended up being two projects.

The first one was whats now my R-90 Hot Rod. It's got a beefed-up R-60 frame, the dual brake master cyl, the front sliders and calipers, rear end, accessory gauges and some other bits from the RS, along with the air box, the early style top cover and lots of small parts. The /6 big Tank was bought NOS. The extra clocks, electrical parts, transmissions and lots of other stuff are on my shelves and a raft of other parts were either sold, gifted or traded away to other Airhead lovers.

I was a little flush when I bought the 81 RT. It was also broken up and it's frame is here in my garage. It's been modified in the same manner as the 70s and 80s race frames were (engine up and forward, heavy gusseting, most tabs trimmed off, etc, etc, etc.) and is awaiting reconstruction as a heavily modified cafe bike but the engine is going to be refreshed and will go into the Hot Rod shortly. The Big Tube swing arm is in the R-90, as is the drive shaft and as I said, the front end and the brakes. I sold the fairing parts for peanuts and gave many other parts away.

I was about ready to begin the Cafe bike project when the red RS popped up. It was a 'barn bike' that I found on CraigsList, that also ended up getting repaired using parts from the donor bikes. It sports the wheels and battery box from the RT, the master cyl from the 79RS (I think!), a cheap but nice clutch pack that I bought from a friend, along with a bunch of used small parts, a couple of gauge replacements and wheels. The real magic came from my friend Pat McCrystal from Concord, CA, who worked with me off and on for the two or three weeks that it took to rehab that bike. Without his experience and trained eye, it never would have happened.

Because the RS needed the replacement of so many electronic/electrical parts (The Bean can and ECU came to over $500.) Including tires, SS brake lines and a carb rebuild, tank coating, steering head bearings and races, etc, etc.) I certainly have a bunch more in it than the purchase price but it's still only a $3000 bike on the open market.

Heres one of my work sheets from the RS:

Heres the R-90 almost finished:

The truth is, I screw around with Airheads because: A) I like the bikes and B) They're so cheaply available. You'll notice that neither of my bikes is exactly original. At this point the R-90 is made up from so many years and models of Airheads that it's kinda like that car song that Johnny Cash wrote except "I got a "74", "75", "76", "79", "80", "81", "82", "83", "84" brand new used motorcycle!"

Whats it the R-90 worth? Maybe $3000 to $4000. Not very much compared to the many hours that I enjoyed building it. Guys looking to spend big $$$$ on old BMW's are searching for pristine stock bikes. Not the cobbled-together junkers I screw around with. The R-90s numbers don't match and never will, the frame is modified, the paint ain't even close to stock, the wire wheels are long gone and too many other parts are either drilled out, modified, swapped from other era bikes or polished for the bike to be considered collectible. and thats why I call it a Hot Rod.

As I said: My bike is a personal statement thats actually based on my inability to go out and buy a bike and it's not even remotely for sale. If I sold it, what would I ride? As I said, I literally cannot afford to got out and buy a nice bike, so I built my own.

 

[ultracyclist]

I have airhead envy...

...and I would like nothing more than to ride an R75/6 or an R80. They are so simple, yet so elegant.
But...I neither possess the skills nor the tools required. Nor do I have that kind of time to leave my practice and become a "professional" wrench.
The one common thread that all the airhead owners have is that they are serious DIY'ers. They have the time and the skills.
Therefore, I will own an airhead after I sell my practice, and I have the time.
Hey, "woodnsteel", can I buy one of your bikes?

 

[James.A]

...and I would like nothing more than to ride an R75/6 or an R80. They are so simple, yet so elegant.
But...I neither possess the skills nor the tools required. Nor do I have that kind of time to leave my practice and become a "professional" wrench.
The one common thread that all the airhead owners have is that they are serious DIY'ers. They have the time and the skills.
Therefore, I will own an airhead after I sell my practice, and I have the time.
Hey, "woodnsteel", can I buy one of your bikes?

Howard,.....

Now looky hyere,.... why not just pull the trigger on one? You got me, and ManicMechanic (Randy B.) is just up the road from you.

" you can do this,Noonan"

I would be happy to sell you a bike. My R27 or my white 750 could be had. Or, I'd get hot on finding one for you. Recently, Randy's friend Aldis was trying to find a buyer for an R75/7 and I plugged him into my friend Bruce Faubel. I/we swung that deal for considerably less than $3000. Bruce is the guy that turned me on to Airheads in the early 80's when I was campaigning a BSA Thunderbolt. Bruce bought a new 100th anniversary Sportster in 2007, but has fallen out of love with it. He asked me to help find another Airhead for him.

Then, there is the dastardly tale of intrique where I engineered the deal that allowed my friend Steve Larsh to get the inside angle on RV's R90/6. I have a knack for this sort of thing. If you really want to experience the Airhead vibe, there is no better time than the present. AIRHEAD PRICES CAN ONLY GO UP FROM NOW ON.

Lately I've had an itch for a 600 toaster and I have no more garage space, so something has to go.

 

[Bud]

Wow, that is a lot of work that you obviously enjoy doing. Your attention to detail is amazing. I don't care if they are made up of various parts/years, they still look great and keeping airheads running and on the road is a good thing.

Now the bonus, James A. comes out of hiding and posts!!!!!!!

Good to see you posting again.

My experience has been that airhead guys are some of the most interesting people at a rally. I plan on spending some time in Redmond getting to know more of them.

 

[ultracyclist]

woodnsteel

When the weather breaks, I will ride down to your place.
If nothing else, we can have dinner and solve the problems of the world.
Getting back to airheads, MCN, Antique motorcycle mag, and Bike (British) have all done articles in the last 2 years about airheads-mostly focusing on the R75-R80. They confirm what you have said: A simple farm implement that keeps on running which is bulletproof.

 

[JAMESDUNN]

: A simple farm implement that keeps on running which is bulletproof.

My '78 RS is my farm implement of choice! But, I do live in Iowa so it fits right in with the tractors and such. Gotta love those old farm implements which just keep on runnin'!
JD

 

[97077]

Worth

The answer is obvious. Airheads are worth their weight in gold!!!!Kevin

 

[na cl k9]

Put some numbers in perspective...I keep thinking about this.

Since the factory discontinued the airhead twins, keeping them running has become a cottage industry around the world. We are currently consuming the remaining new parts stocks that were left over from various series production quotaÔÇÖs (type 247 related) and have created an impressive market for used parts and specialty service. In most major metropolitan areas one can find a small closet sized motorcycle shop specializing in airhead BMWÔÇÖs. There are even some manufacturers who are making new hard parts for airheads.

The prices for machines, parts and service are what support this kind of activity and keeps the cottage industry alive and people RIDING airheads. With prices unstable and supplies erratic, a cottage industry canÔÇÖt thrive. If you want a benchmark, the local DMV seems to know exactly what a 77 R100/7 is worth though and charges tax on them accordingly regardless of the fact you may have only paid $200.00 for one. It is unreasonable to assume that prices for machines will remain low over the long run as more mechanics retire, as parts supplies dwindle and as complete and running motorcycles become less so. If that wasn't enough, here is another big reason alluded to earlier... "They aren't making them any more", to which I add "... and they never made that many in the first place".

There are some figures published by BMW in the 1979 BMW Snaab parts catalog. They represent the vin number range for each model BMW made from 1969 to 1979. First consider that the entire production of R50/5, R60/5 and R75/5 for the years 1969 - 1971 appear to number no more than 25,474 units. I believe this number is for world consumption including the US since no breakdown is given as with later production.

By 1977, the factory churned out somewhere in the neighborhood of 36,000 motorcycles for world consumption. Only about 13,000 of those bikes came to the US during that production year and that is an agrigate of all 77 BMW /7 motorcycles R60/7, R75/7, R100/7, R100S, R100RS. The numbers were about the same the year before and the year after. Those are three popular year model BMW's with less than 40,000 total units originally brought into the US and they are all over 30 years old now regardless of mileage.

The bike in the photo is being re-designed a bit from what I started out with 18 years ago. It was built from a collection of unrelated year and model parts making it a kind of Johny Cash Special...Do you suppose what it cost to build today should be an indication of what its worth? I really don't know myself but there is a guy in this area who will charge (and get) 5 - 6 grand to make one like it from the same parts I built this one from for only $1,250.00.