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1972 75/5 Bmw

Picked the bike up yesterday

OscarMayer said:
great deal...

have you tried putting a new battery in and making sure it charges... Doesn't matter at $2200 - an alternator ain't that much. Hope you got it already. ;)

although them funky '70's bar booth nawgahide side panels are gonna have to go, bro!

I have a quote for the complete restoration. Rebuild motor,trans.paint seat,pipes everything 100% original. $3000.00. So I will have $5200.00 total into this bike at 100%. I plan on keeping the bike. The bike will be turnkey operational. I will post pics when it is finished. .
 
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Original owner! GOOD

Boy, these are not around every corner, with original owner still attached. The short wheel base is easily converted to longer one, which makes better handling bike. I had a '72 750/5 and it was probably the smoothest Beemer Twin I've ever ridden! They are smooooooth runners, when right! It will be easy to overspend the bikes worth, but this is what collectors do. Totally restored to original, like new condition, this bike will bring a lot, imo. 3500$ on up! Randy13233
 
quivering with desire

woodnsteel said:
C'mon man, IKchris is right, it's a lousy deal. Go ahead and buy it so you can rape me on the deal,.....please.

You're MUCH too anxious. Mac
 
phil said:
I have a quote from Rob James from Tampa Florida for the complete restoration. Rebuild motor,trans.paint seat,pipes everything 100% original. $3000.00. So I will have $5200.00 total into this bike.

Does it need restoration like that? If so, why not start off with a cheaper bike? I bought a perfectly fine '70 R75/5 for $900 a year or two ago. Needed tranny and carb work (did that myself) but now it's a rider. The engine and tranny work you're planning might not really get you much. If they were needed, then the bike was definitely overpriced IMO.

As far as getting a newer bike though, the /5 is just different. More mechanical, more direct. I love mine. And the SWB models are nicer to ride, as long as the front end is sorted out.
 
phil said:
I have a quote from Rob James from Tampa Florida for the complete restoration. Rebuild motor,trans.paint seat,pipes everything 100% original. $3000.00. So I will have $5200.00 total into this bike. Rob is well known around this area for restoring BMWs. I think $5000.00 is about all its worth at 100%. I plan on keeping the bike. The bike will be turnkey operational. I will post pics when it is finished. Rob is talking about 3 to 4 weeks.

Phil,

It's easy to jump on the restoration bandwagon, but in this case, I think that it will be a huge mistake.
IMHO - a restoration can never match a very nice original example.

The $3000 number including the work noted plus paint is worry some. The numbers just don't add up. Anything less than a museum quality paint job including equal quality pin striping and the bike is just going to be another repainted BMW. This work alone would consume a good portion of your $3000.

Owning a nice original, one owner example of any collectible motorcycle is sort of the Holy Grail. Why take a step backwards?

Motard
 
You are right

Motard said:
Phil,

It's easy to jump on the restoration bandwagon, but in this case, I think that it will be a huge mistake.
IMHO - a restoration can never match a very nice original example.

The $3000 number including the work noted plus paint is worry some. The numbers just don't add up. Anything less than a museum quality paint job including equal quality pin striping and the bike is just going to be another repainted BMW. This work alone would consume a good portion of your $3000.

Owning a nice original, one owner example of any collectible motorcycle is sort of the Holy Grail. Why take a step backwards?

Motard

I have searched high and low for a clean 1972 75/5. I have no idea why I wanted the 4 speed trans and the toaster tank look. I agree with you I am spending more than I should. The paint will be done where I work. The guy here is the best around for paint. Like my wife says we only live once get what you want while you still can. Shoot me your email address Motard and I will send you some pics of some finished bikes that he has done. I think you might be surprised.
 
Phil,

I'll PM my address.. I owned a 75/5 years ago, nice classic. I'm looking at your project only from a collectors point of view. The words, "It's original" are magic. I'm not forgetting that I have not seen the bike, thus your decision will be the correct one.

I own a R50, possibly its greatest value is to sit in the corner of the garage providing a momentary step back in time. It is complete and in good condition, but the frame and engine serial numbers do not match. Years ago, a replacement engine was installed while the bike was on a trip in Spain. The flaws each have a story.
The completion of this project will add that "personal experience value" to the R75.
I'm sure that this will be a bike which you will own for many years. New bikes will come and go but the 75 will be a constant.


Motard
 
Question Please

I am having the speedo rebuilt on the 75/5. Should I reset it back to 0? I plan on keeping the bike. I am doing a total rebuild hand grips to tires.
 
phil said:
I have searched high and low for a clean 1972 75/5. I have no idea why I wanted the 4 speed trans and the toaster tank look. I agree with you I am spending more than I should....Like my wife says we only live once get what you want while you still can.

I think that you have answered your own question about the value of this bike. If it is what you want then it is worth it. I also had a hankering for a R75/5 SWB - not necessarily a toaster, though.

Last year I made an off-hand remark on the Airlist. As a result of that remark I got a private e-mail message with an offer for a 71 R75/5 in really good condition for $2k. At first I thought that the person sending me the e-mail was pulling my leg. He was serious and even trailered the bike a few hundred miles to my house for a small fee.

So I've got another project bike. I have come to enjoy the journey of going through older bikes and learing how they "tick". I disassemble, clean, lubricate, adjust, (replace where necessary), paint, polish, and reassemble. All in my own time, at my own schedule. Eventually the bike is done. Then I ride it.

...and start looking for another project....

Enjoy your "new" bike. You might wish the subscribe to the airlist and join the Airheads club if you are not already a member. See:
http://airheads.org/
 
phil said:
I am having the speedo rebuilt on the 75/5. Should I reset it back to 0?

I had the speedo & tach rebuilt by Palo Alto Speedo on a previous project bike (77R100RS). I specifically requested that the existing mileage be retained.

For an old Triumph project bike I boogered up the speedo such that it was no longer rebuildable. So I had to buy a new speedo and the mileage was at zero. I have the log book with both the old and new mileages so I can keep track of various service items.
 
The 75/5 is finally coming along. Here are some pics.
 

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The orig owner thought that JB Weld would stop the leaking...
 

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I have purchased everything new from pipes to seat,fork gators.complete clutch,bars,tires, new rear rim,handgrips, steering bearings etc.The speedo was rebuilt and new paint on the tank and fenders, battery covers all new seals etc. I will post more pics when its close to finished.
 
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One more thing....The wife thinks I am crazy for putting this much money into an old BMW. I just had to have this old toaster back to orig condition. Go ahead call me crazy..She does.................The heads will be off soon..With new pistons and rings and new valve covers..(not black)
 
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phil said:
One more thing....The wife thinks I am crazy for putting this much money into an old BMW. I just had to have this old toaster back to orig condition. Something about the last year of the speedo in the headlight.. Go ahead call me crazy..She does.................The heads will be off soon..With new pistons and rings and new valve covers..(not black)

:type ... I have a '73 LWB with a speedo in the headlight. As well, I really like it. I'm not really much of an expert in these matter but '73 must have been the last year for that configuration. My wife thought I was crazy also for putting that much effort and limited funds into a quasi-rebuild. However, after the mule took us on a 12,000 mile trip she had nothing but praise for the 'old fella'. Enjoy your project. -Bob

(sorry about the picture.....guess I got one somewhat undersized)
 

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