Snowbum's BMW Motorcycle Repair & Information Website

Are you thinking of purchasing a BMW Airhead motorcycle??   ... have little or no or experience with them??  Want some straight talk?

Motorcycles, no matter the age, all have a certain and specific feel to them.  For very modern bikes, a description may include high competence, plastic (lots), & electronic marvels, ...but not always having any special 'character'.

Special knowledge, & often special equipment, are often needed to analyze and repair them. It can cost $$$ for a dealership to do analysis & repairs. Those dealerships may be necessary for you when something 'interesting' happens.  On the plus side, the bike may be more reliable over-all, depending on how you describe 'reliability'.   With a BMW Airhead, you can do most repairs yourself.   Normal, necessary, and scheduled simple maintenance, is probably done more often with an Airhead.  It is likely to be much easier to do ...and there are vast amounts of history & knowledge easily available on the Internet, Mailing Lists & Forums, Club documents, etc.  This is not so with the latest and greatest; nor, even many motorcycles that are a dozen or so years old.

Help is always available for Airheads from numerous informed sources. The Airheads were in production for a very long time (1970-1995); the result of which is that there are less than a dozen problem items.  Except for a few, all problems are fixable by YOU!    The Airheads will require modestly more regular maintenance of certain things, but most often these things take little time nor cost.  More modern machines might require less often maintenance, but the maintenance then required can be quite involved and often very expensive. These are all big generalities; but, yes, there is a lot of truth here.

The Airheads will not give you some things the much more modern bikes will, such as very easy starting in any conditions (due to modern bikes having electronic fuel injection with all the sensors).  An Airhead in decent condition does usually start OK.  Superior brakes are available with some modifications.   Fancy automatic electrically controlled suspension and ride controls, and probably more horsepower than you should have ...are not going to be available.  But, there is no other motorcycle, of any brand nor type, that has the over-all character of a BMW Airhead, and most riders fall in love with them.   The reverence with which some have for these bikes is legendary, and good condition examples of any Airhead model are fetching higher and higher prices.  Speaking of prices, while BMW charges a pretty penny for some items, BMW HAS continued to support the Airheads fairly well ...you should not have much trouble getting most parts for an Airhead from even 1970!  It is amazing how many parts are available for BMW bikes built long before the Airheads.

Much of the rest of SECTION 1 was originally written by Greg Feeler on 07/07/2015, & posted to the Airheads LIST. The original Subject Title was "1971 R75 purchase questions".  I obtained Greg's permission to add-to & edit freely, & I have done so.  Because of the editing and additions, I have not put quotation marks in it.

This was sent to a friend who was looking to buy his very first Airhead (a 1972 R75/5), so it is very general in nature. I wanted him to know that there are a lot of things which might be lurking under the covers of even a "clean, low mileage, well cared for" old motorcycle. Fully informed purchases are best.

Let's start with the fact that you are considering an old machine.

Typically, when someone comes to me wanting an evaluation of the "really clean, low miles" BMW (or similar) they just found, they are not prepared to hear that they may have to put two or several thousand dollars into that bike to get it to proper condition. They think because it has "low miles" they can get by with some new tires, a tune up & a bath, & have a fun cool old bike. That's a romantic dream that is seldom the case.

These were wonderful bikes in their day ---- far & away ahead of anything else on the market in terms of build quality, reliability, & longevity. They held their own in overall performance & handling. The motorcycle is now quite old, as vehicles go, and that age is a long time for rubber, paint, grease, oil, & plastic. To have something that is worth having & truly enjoyable to ride, you need to get the motorcycle into proper condition. By that I mean getting it into near factory specifications so that it might run & ride like it was designed to do; &, be as reliable & trouble free as it is capable of.  It's been my experience that despite what they say in the heat of passion for a "barn queen" bike, in the end no one enjoys owing a bike they have to work on all the time, that doesn't run right, & that is not reliable.  BUT......quite a few of these old bikes are pristinely kept up, some are close to like new, and often, if not mostly, they are available at much less than it will cost you to do it for your just purchased barn-find.  If you must have a certain model that is in high demand, you will likely pay dearly for it, particularly if it is truly in showroom condition THROUGHOUT.

Often, the bike you find has been modified, perhaps with farkles, perhaps mechanically or electrically.  Some of these modifications, done correctly, are quite valuable, such as upgraded brakes and alternator.

BUT.......here's the kind of things a person may run into:
1.  The bike is a disaster, birds have been pooping on it for years, corroding things, not to mention the salt air it is 'stored' in.  The price is way high, any needed labor and parts will astound you.  The engine is frozen, transmission needs total overhaul, wiring is chewed-up by rodents.   This bike should only be purchased very cheaply, unless it is a bona-fide rare model, that will have a lot of value, when you have finished pouring money and labor into it.
2.  Much better is the fairly priced purchase of a running bike ...but some things may need attention:
Fitting correctly working cables (which usually means new ones), new rubber parts such as drive shaft rubber boot, fork gaiters, cable covers, connections for the carbs to the cylinder heads, etc.  You will likely have to remove, clean, & grease the wheel(s) bearings & steering head bearings, and adjust the preloads, which is a proper bearings adjustment on these items. You may need new brake shoes or pads, if not from wear at least from age. You may have to repair the gas tank from internal rust or bulging paint at the bottom, signifying rusting-through.  You may need to remove the transmission, clutch, oil pump cover, etc., & replace parts & seals & lubricate the transmission input splines.  You may run into botched workmanship on the electrical system; or, elsewhere's. There is the possibility of Airheads before 1985 needing valve seat work and 1984 and later Airheads needing a specific transmission repair.  If the paint is in good condition, so much the better...you will be astonished at the cost for a really good professional paint job, and if you plan on painting the bike yourself, you are going to be astonished at the cost of quality paint, and the enormous amount of prep-work.

You will be making a fairly lengthy & pricey parts & supplies list for the above items, as well as a major tune up & service. You may find problems with the alternator, have to rebuild the front forks; may need new rear shocks, new tires (and tubes on earlier models), battery (and often battery cables), hand grips, rebuilding of the speedometer & tachometer (combined unit). You may have some fun chasing-down wiring harness & other electrical problems. Plan on a LOT of cleanup of wheel rims, spokes (rust), frame & body paint. The valve seats, valves & valve guides might need work, perhaps piston rings too, all of which means a total top-end job (possibly the cylinder head will need valve seats that will be OK with unleaded fuel, if the motorcycle is prior to 1985 and not previously fixed). You might need new cylinders.   If the transmission sat with moisture in it, you may well need to overhaul the transmission (often $1000 or more); and 1985 and later transmissions may or may not have a missing part called a circlip, for which machining might be needed.  Rubber seals throughout the bike will be questionable.

Remember that for many years this piece of machinery may have been sitting around, possibly un-used or neglected, exposed to the elements, & generally not cared for.  The bike may LOOK beautifully-cared-for, but be a MESS mechanically and electrically.  As a result, many of the Airheads people find are really nothing more than a starting point for a $$$ restoration, & that requires either that the new owner is or will become a pretty good & patient mechanic, ....or the owner will spend very significant dollars for the services of someone who *really* knows these bikes. There are probably less than a dozen of those gurus in the USA.  There are far too many "mechanics" who will take your money but should never be allowed to put a wrench on a vintage BMW.

3.  Do not overlook the possibility of obtaining a truly nicely kept up bike, with no major problems, available at a price that is fair for what you are getting.  You may save a lot of labor and parts costs; and, many months.  You may be able to go reliably riding MUCH sooner.   Of course, you miss more of the repairs fun.

BEFORE you go look at the motorcycle, read up on that model and perhaps that model's history over the years it was produced.    Snowbum's model article is just a starting place.   https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/models.htm

When you do look at it, go over it very carefully & check and write down the frame and engine serial numbers; and be sure to ask questions about the service history. Is that history documented by actual paperwork & receipts? Were the valve seats upgraded (pre-1985 models)? Have the transmission input splines been lubed? ...when? Last fluids change? Who did the work & when? Transmission ever been opened (1984+ models) for inspection or work?  Circlip?  Does it have the original tool kit & owner's manual?  Forks been serviced?  ...when?  History of damage?

For various reasons the Airheads are growing in popularity & their prices have gone up considerably on some models. It's very easy to put several thousand dollars ...or more ...into an old BMW motorcycle, and that wouldn't be a full frame-up restoration; but, rather, just a decent looking & good running bike. For something "looking like new" or a valid restoration ...it can often cost very considerably more than you may think.   Many frame-up restorations are in museums, and might sometimes be available, if your wallet will take the hit.   It may be worth it to you.

There is the odd situation, where a true bargain becomes available ....even as a gift ...and the bike is very nice and very rideable.  Likely not going to happen, so, back, to reality.....

So, why do people even bother with all this?

Once you have it in good running condition, ...and in the opinion of many experienced riders ...it will give you one of the best pure motorcycle riding experiences you will EVER have. You will have a large smile every time you throw a leg over it & go for a ride.

Snowbum has done more than just editing this article, he has added his own comments, and one, which emphasizes some things, will be added here, because the subject has not yet, IMO, been addressed strongly enough, above:

It is quite possible to purchase a truly good example of a clean, very well-maintained Airhead, in excellent condition.  You may or may not pay a considerable amount of money for this motorcycle.  I am not speaking here of museum-quality restorations, which may fetch (or have asked-for) an enormous sum.   I AM speaking about a motorcycle that may have had a LARGE amount of labor, and parts costs already spent, and that the owner may be willing to sell at a price far below what the owner has actually invested in it, via parts and labor hired-out, etc.    That motorcycle is OFTEN worth its price, and many looky-loos might overlook it, in favor of a much cheaper 'just needs a few things' bike.  If you purchase from a well-known expert or from an owner with skills/ability/workmanship/etc, you will likely be more assured of getting a solid, reliable, good running motorcycle.  It is my belief, that while there are certainly exceptions, many times this better type of motorcycle is very well-worth the cost, and may be the very best buy!   You often save a very large amount of money ....and, especially, time.    Be very careful about what you purchase!  Keep your emotions in check! ...before opening your wallet or 'making a deal'!!   Don't be shy, don't be hesitant, ASK for help from super knowledgeable folks on such as the Airlist or an antique bike Club, etc., to inspect the bike.  More than one such person doing a serious inspection is worth you paying some traveling expenses.  REALLY! 
Please ...No, don't ask me. Even though I have never charged for that sort of thing, I don't travel much anymore...I'm getting very old and have medical problems. Ask on the Airheads List.

END of Section 1.

Link to my article on buying-selling:  https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/buying-selling.htm
Link to my article on models:  https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/models.htm

Section 2.  Why do your own maintenance (or, at least study such as this website)?