value of BMW 75/6

[tpeever]

Got an opportunity to buy a 1976 BMW 75/6. Bike runs well but is in need of some TLC and I would probably completely restore it if I buy it. 76K miles. New clutch, main seal, gearbox seals. New battery and tires. Tach doesn't work. Mufflers will need replacing. Factory Krauser? hardbags in good condition and racks go with the bike. Cosmetic condition fair (see below). I know next to nothing about airhead Beemers and am having trouble putting a value on it. NADA lists 4.9K for a really nice specimen down to 1.4K for a fair one but asking prices seem to be a bit higher in the marketplace. Owner wants 3K but I am thinking about 2K is fair for this bike. Any suggestions?

[dl.allen]

That would go for about 2500 to 2700 in my neck of the woods

Looks like its all there

[tpeever]

Yes, bike appears to be complete and owner has been riding it. All electrics and switches work. Tach does not work.

[nunzio]

I don't mean to be a "prick" ,but, I never believe anyone when they talk about work done on a bike that I can't see.

I buy the bike NOT the story.....YMMV

I have had 2 /5s and a /7 Airhead.

I would not pay over $2,000 for it .

New tires,mufflers,"this and that" and tach fixed and you're up to $3,000.00

At 3,000.00 you are in the SP1000,T3 neighborhood ....which I feel is a much,much better bike for longer rides.

It depends on what you plan on doing with it.....Alan

[Lannis]

Yes, bike appears to be complete and owner has been riding it. All electrics and switches work. Tach does not work.

A lot of it depends on your degree of lust for the bike, along with the current owner's "need to sell" and attitude toward cash offers.

That aside, I probably wouldn't "negotiate" any more.   I'd go to the bank, get out 25 Ben Franklins, go over to his house with the trailer, pull out the bills and say "Let's do it!"

Lannis

[unclepete]

Don't know what part of the country you're in , but here in Northern CA that bike would not take long to sell for the 3k being asked . I bought one about 12 years ago for 2k , and by the time I sold it a couple of years later I had 4k into it and sold it for $3500 . Much of the stuff I spent money on , has been done on your bike . Mine was a 90/6 , but I don't think that matters much . I'm gonna guess that NADA does ok with newer vehicles , but on the older ones not so much . 

[nunzio]

I'm not arguing with unclepete I was writing mine when he was posting his!!

Remember it's a R75/6 which are Not near as desirable as the R90.

I am not saying it's right or wrong but they just don't bring the money or interest among airheads that a R90 would.

If I really wanted an airhead I would get a LWB /5 ...it's only a "4 speed" but the final gear ratio is the same.

The gauge cluster on the /5 is "old school".

[Lannis]

Remember it's a R75/6 which are Not near as desirable as the R90.

I am not saying it's right or wrong but they just don't bring the money or interest among airheads that a R90 would.

If I really wanted an airhead I would get a LWB /5 ...it's only a "4 speed" but the final gear ratio is the same.

The gauge cluster on the /5 is "old school".

I agree on the dollar value, but in terms of dollars per mile of riding fun, I'd pick the R75 over an R90 any time .....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

 Can the owner produce receipts for any of the work he claims has been done ? Seriously , having owned and ridden airheads for 24 years (wow , time sure flies) these are stone ax reliable , but this one is 40 years old and will need some TLC . The value is really what it is worth to you , $3K isn't out of line , $2.5K would be even better .

  Dusty

[neverquit]

I've noticed lately that BMW airheads have been going for a little less than they were last year and through the winter.  Last year 3K would have been a good price in this area.  Considering the mileage and the tach and mufflers I would say between 2000 and 2400.  When a lot of work has been done on a bike there is always the chance that an amateur might have done more harm than good.

 You'll probably be doing new rings, gaskets and seals, maybe a valve job.  Maybe new boots, cables, wheel bearings, seals, carb rebuild, etc.  It all ads up.

[RayB]

NADA lists 4.9K for a really nice specimen down to 1.4K for a fair one but asking prices seem to be a bit higher in the marketplace. Owner wants 3K but I am thinking about 2K is fair for this bike. Any suggestions?

Even if you paid $2k, you're about ready for a new top end ( at least $500 for OEM exhaust valves and new seats, add another $200 for rings and other top end stuff) and maybe $600 to $700 for trans rebuild, $200 for EMCO replica mufflers, tires, battery, more than likely some cables somewhere. Rear drive splines probably need re-done if not done already, $250. With no cosmetic work other than elbow gease you'd soon be up to $4k or over. Tank dent needs removal, frame needs painting. Do a full restore like you mention and you'd be well within that nice T3 or SP range. T3 or SP would be a better choice IMHO.

But I agree with Lannis-I'd prefer the R75 of a 90.

Just as a point of reference, I rebuilt and re-shimmed the trans on my R100 myself about 3 years ago. It needed new bearings and two new gears. Parts alone cost me $600

I like /6s but I'd pass on that one, especially with an asking price of $3k

[Thunderbutt]

Wow $3K?  Last year  I bought a 1980 R100T with 64K on the clocks for $2,400, it was not a distress sale and everything worked.  It had good tires, a newer battery, good brakes and clutch.  The exhaust looked very similar to the ones in the photo. Great bikes, very comfortable and easy to just keep tooling down the highway.  I rode the daylights out of mine all summer and after a good clean up and detail, sold it for $2,600.  That was in western NY.

I think the sellers asking price is on the high side for that bike. 

[tpeever]

Thanks for all the great answers guys! Having done complete nut and bolt restorations on 4 Britbikes and 2 Guzzis now, I am well aware of how the costs can add up!! Also, well aware of owners who have claimed to have done this and that and either did nothing or botched the repair. I never take anything for granted with old bikes and always completely disassemble them to inspect and measure everything up. That's what I would do with this bike as well and suspect that some top end work will be in order with 76K miles.

Regarding a T3 or 1000SP as an alternative, this has definitely crossed my mind. I have set up my 1200 Sport as a touring machine and it does really well in that capacity and I love the bike. However, I much prefer carbs and points to FI and ECUs (although I have started playing with GuzziDiag and TunerPro so am warming up to electronics a bit more!!) and have toyed with the idea of ditching modern bikes entirely and using a mid 70's to early 80's Beemer or Guzzi as my main touring mount. I see owning a Beemer like this one as an opportunity to check out this possibility. I restored and rode an 850T for a while so feel like I have a pretty good idea what a T3 or 1000SP can do. As many people have mentioned before, there is a high risk I will find an airhead rather boring compared to a Guzzi!! 

Sounds to me like 2-2.5K is a fair price for this bike so I will see how badly the owner wants to sell!

[tpeever]

With half the replies above telling me to hold out for a 1000SP, does this mean that one of you has one that you are dying to sell to me? 

[oldbike54]

With half the replies above telling me to hold out for a 1000SP, does this mean that one of you has one that you are dying to sell to me? 

 UH OH , Mr T has caught on to the nefarious plot  You doe realize that asking for objective opinions on a subjective question re beemers on a Guzzi forum is akin to posing a query re men on a women's forum 

  Dusty

[Lannis]

With half the replies above telling me to hold out for a 1000SP, does this mean that one of you has one that you are dying to sell to me? 

Just to be expected; many people here who have ridden both an airhead Beemer and a 1000SP can't imagine spending the money on a Beemer when they could have an SP.

But I can understand why you might want to.   Me, if I found a nice R60/6 for sale reasonable, I'd buy it just to ride it for a while, regardless of the fact that a Guzzi of the same vintage would run faster and handle and brake better ....

Lannis

[nunzio]

With half the replies above telling me to hold out for a 1000SP, does this mean that one of you has one that you are dying to sell to me? 

I just bought my SP1000NT in June and mine is definitely NOT for sale...What a great Bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

With the bikes in your signature in mind and the fact that you've had Tonti Guzzis, I think you need the experience of an Airhead BMW. An R75/6 is a good one to start with. If I hadn't found my "one true love" back in '97, I'd likely have a /5 BMW now.

[tpeever]

UH OH , Mr T has caught on to the nefarious plot  You doe realize that asking for objective opinions on a subjective question re beemers on a Guzzi forum is akin to posing a query re men on a women's forum 

  Dusty

Yeah, I felt a bit guilty about asking about "that other brand" but figured there might be some closeted BMW folks out there!!

[tpeever]

With the bikes in your signature in mind and the fact that you've had Tonti Guzzis, I think you need the experience of an Airhead BMW. An R75/6 is a good one to start with. If I hadn't found my "one true love" back in '97, I'd likely have a /5 BMW now.

Agreed Charlie. Kinda the way I am thinking. However there is always the risk that I might like the German bikes better.............

Norton Commando was far and away my favorite bike until I discovered Tonti Guzzi.............t hen things got interesting

[oldbike54]

Yeah, I felt a bit guilty about asking about "that other brand" but figured there might be some closeted BMW folks out there!!

 So... now that you have outed several of us ... Airheads , while a bit wiggly under cornering stresses , are a fun , reliable vintage motorbike . Good parts and service structure . The older , 1972 - 1977 LWB models actually handle a little better than the later 1978 - 1984 models because the weigh a few lbs less . I never had any real trouble keeping up with my Guzzi mounted buds , Rocker , CJ 750 , Mike D , while on my old beater /5 . Of course , being a superior rider to these boys didn't hurt 

  Dusty

[RayB]

TP: Just sayin'....I understand the airhead thing about simplicity...I'm an Airhead member. I just think if you keep looking you can do better....you asked so we answered

[nsmith]

I don't know were this /6 is located but I have one 1975 r75/6 that runs very well. Its kind of a frankin beemer but I would let it go for ALOT less than $2500.00 It is located in Watertown S.D. Runs great, factory bags and rack. Really good tires and a second set of factory mufflers. I would through in an old k100 parts bike to go with it. Trying to sell some bikes off and add to the guns and ammo department.

[jackson]

I have owned a lot of airheads and they're GREAT bikes.  Sold my last one several years ago when I finally bought my first Guzzi.  I'm still a big fan of airheads.  I did all of my own wrenching on every one of them that I owned for over 30 years and IMO, this bike is not worth more than $2000 and that's on the high side.  It's going to need a lot of parts & labor to get it where you can use it as a regular rider.  I personally wouldn't pay over $1500 for this bike but can understand if somebody really wanted an airhead (and if it were close by so you didn't have to ship it) why someone might pay $2000.  Good luck with your decision.

[oldmxdog61u]

Go wild... buy my 85 LMIV LeMans !  Much more room than a /5 /6 /7 even. Plus, its the right color (red).  Smile!