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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: Wmdaricthompson on July 10, 2017, 09:11:21 PM
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Hi all, prospective motobrick owner here. I've worked on Japanese twins and fours for many years, but I've always wanted a BMW project. I think I found an opportunity today, but my experience in the past has shown me that knowledge and informed opinions are found in abundance on the forums.
I went and looked at the bike today. It's a 1990 K75RT, with clean title. Asking price is $500. I don't usually buy bikes unless they are destined to be a project, and this one is no different. The ad stated that it was in need of a wiring harness and fuel injectors. The current mileage on the bike is 107,xxx. The bike is all there. All tragkorbs, panels, even the original riders manual are on hand, and it would come with an extra set of soft bags and a helmet too (hey, it's something). The one thing it was missing was the top of the windscreen. I guess the current owner didn't like the height and "trimmed" it down. It looks like a smoothly done job. No cracking and a nice smooth curve that's left/right symmetrical. Being unfamiliar with these bikes, I didn't even notice.
Seems like the current owner just wants their garage space back and to not have to look at it anymore. When I got there, she breached the topic of discussion for why it needed a new wiring harness pretty immediately "It caught on fire". She pointed out the damage and it really doesn't look too bad. It looks to me like an electrical fire destroyed the wiring going to the fuel injectors, as well as the wiring clips on the injectors themselves. I hunted up some EV6 injectors and a wiring harness on eBay without much too difficulty, and without much flinch when I saw the price. Are eBay wiring harnesses typically safe for these bikes?
It looked more like scorching and melted wires than a "fire" to me. nothing around including the fairing was scorched or warped or discolored. The mechanic (husband) in question was away on business, so I couldn't ask specifically what happened.
The current owner stated that they got it a few years ago and were riding it around, until the above incident, and it's sat a few years since then. I think the title says they got it in 2013 (foggy memory, she did show me the title in hand though), so if my math skills are accurate, no more than 4 years sitting. I've never worked on a FI bike before, I know for the carbed bikes I have worked on, 4 years is an awful long time. Is this length of time likely to cause me grief?
The other big concern I have is the mileage. From what I've read on this form, drive shaft damage is frequent and debilitating. She herself didn't have the service records, but I'm going to be calling the only local BMW dealership tomorrow to see if I can obtain them. The bike was owned by someone in a fairly well to do area, so it's not extremely unlikely that the requisite service would have been done, I just don't know for sure.
The current owner stated several times that she just wants the bike gone, so I may be able to come in a bit below asking on it. Is this likely to be more trouble than it's worth? If I decide I'm interested, what are some things I NEED to look at on it before taking the plunge? What things would be absolute deal breakers? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, my current daily is a 1981 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim that I brought back from the brink of the junkyard, so I try to be fearless when taking on projects (funny how close that word is to "foolish", eh?).
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Allow for the purchase of fuel hose ( immersible in tank ) possible fuel pump damper and fuel pump, vacuum "Z" hose, vacuum port caps. Anything made of rubber is suspect and needs checking or replacing. Bricks are virtually bullet proof if maintained and used, they do not like sitting. You will also need to Deoxit all electrical connections and I also use heavy silicone grease around the connectors. Allow for changing all fluids. Petrol tanks can corrode on the lower edge this is caused by ethanol in the fuel mixing with water, it can be fixed but needs checking.
Welcome to the asylum from the land of OZ.
Regards Martin.
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The $500 asking price isn't bad. As Martin said, plan on replacing all the rubber bits. Master cylinders and the fuel tank are other areas where long storage can wreak havoc. Drive shaft and final drive splines are another problem area. With all the parts available on eBay and the experience of the members on this and a couple other sites this should be a successful restoration.
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..., my current daily is a 1981 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim ....
Mine was a 1982, paid $150 for in 1996 and it ran like a top after I cleaned the carbs put with fingernail polish remover (all I had available at 7:00 on a Sunday morning).
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Isn't the fuel rail missing off the top of the injectors? Or does the owner have it stuck aside somewhere?
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The fuel tank cap is on backwards. That's a deal-breaker.
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At the end of the day, you may very well end up spending more on this particular machine then a used good running example with similar mileage. But if you like projects, I would say get it for the best price possible and go for it.
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Isn't the fuel rail missing off the top of the injectors? Or does the owner have it stuck aside somewhere?
Thanks for pointing that out! If I go back for a second look, that's first on my list to ask about. Every other part that was off the bike she produced readily from nearby, but making sure doesn't hurt.
[/size]The $500 asking price isn't bad. As Martin said, plan on replacing all the rubber bits. Master cylinders and the fuel tank are other areas where long storage can wreak havoc. Drive shaft and final drive splines are another problem area. With all the parts available on eBay and the experience of the members on this and a couple other sites this should be a successful restoration.
If the typical rebuild parts are available, going over rubber bits isn't too bad. How accessible is checking the drive shaft given it's in a stranger's garage? Is it as simple as unblocking the housing and looking? Or will I be taking wheel... Shock... Brakes, etc off to check it out?
At the end of the day, you may very well end up spending more on this particular machine then a used good running example with similar mileage. But if you like projects, I would say get it for the best price possible and go for it.
I'm tempted to offer up an insulting offer. It's been on the market for a month+ and she wants the garage space back to get her TR6 back on the road.
Anyone have experience with requesting maintenance records? I called the local BMW motorcycle (authorized) dealer, and they said the only way it could be looked up was with previous owner name, not by VIN. I thought service records were tied to VIN.
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Checking splines is almost impossible to do before purchase. Low mileage and service records should give you some confidence that they're good. Otherwise, it's a matter of how lucky you feel. If you get the bike cheap enough and everything else is good you can get a final drive and a good used shaft to make it run, or part out the bike for a decent profit.
I am pretty sure that all you need is a VIN. I had the Warranty service history of my K100RS looked up by the member of another forum with just the last seven digits of the VIN. BMW replaced three exhaust systems and the speedo on that bike in the first three years. No previous owner information was needed. I guess that maybe just the warranty info is saved by VIN, and service is saved by owner, but why have two separate data banks?
Is this bike something left in a divorce? Kind of sounds that way to me with her wanting to get the space for her TR6. If so, a ridiculous low ball offer may just be accepted.
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Checking splines is almost impossible to do before purchase. Low mileage and service records should give you some confidence that they're good. Otherwise, it's a matter of how lucky you feel. If you get the bike cheap enough and everything else is good you can get a final drive and a good used shaft to make it run, or part out the bike for a decent profit.
I am pretty sure that all you need is a VIN. I had the Warranty service history of my K100RS looked up by the member of another forum with just the last seven digits of the VIN. BMW replaced three exhaust systems and the speedo on that bike in the first three years. No previous owner information was needed. I guess that maybe just the warranty info is saved by VIN, and service is saved by owner, but why have two separate data banks?
Is this bike something left in a divorce? Kind of sounds that way to me with her wanting to get the space for her TR6. If so, a ridiculous low ball offer may just be accepted.
I feel pretty lucky, so I'm tempted to pull the trigger even if I can't get records. It would definitely be a ridiculous offer though. "why so low?" "because you told me the bike caught on fire."
I don't think it was left in a divorce, but she definitely doesn't like it. I think she probably told him to not buy it and he ignored her.
I'm going to see if I can get previous owner's name, and if I can't, I'll try a few different dealerships.
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Sounds like you really want the bike, in which case I would just show up with cash and a trailer and make the deal. :riding:
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Sounds like you really want the bike, in which case I would just show up with cash and a trailer and make the deal. :riding:
+1 With no wide angle pictures I am imagining a partially stripped bike surrounded by a pile of parts.
Show up ready to haul it ALL away and very politely offer to do it for FREE if she will sign over the title. Tell her it's been in a fire and who knows what parts have been removed and lost. Point out the fact that it's almost 30 years old. Just to be safe I would load everything in the garage she would let me take.
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Well the local BMW dealer has nothing based on either the VIN or the previous owner. Only record is an emissions inspection from 1996. I'll probably make an offer, but it's not going to be a very good one.
Sounds like you really want the bike, in which case I would just show up with cash and a trailer and make the deal. :riding:
I've been watching for a BMW project for a few years now, so in that sense, yeah, I do. But I'm very patient and have a garage full of bikes already, so I have to get this to "You'd be an idiot not to" terms. There's always more motorcycles out there.
+1 With no wide angle pictures I am imagining a partially stripped bike surrounded by a pile of parts.
Show up ready to haul it ALL away and very politely offer to do it for FREE if she will sign over the title. Tell her it's been in a fire and who knows what parts have been removed and lost. Point out the fact that it's almost 30 years old. Just to be safe I would load everything in the garage she would let me take.
It's in better shape and more together than that, I think (but I'm much less familiar with European FI bikes, so you are probably closer to the mark than I am).
I'll let ya'll know how it goes and post of some pictures if it comes home with me.
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Is this bike something left in a divorce?
It's probably something that caused a divorce and probably the only thing of value left after the joint account was drained trying to start it.
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You don't get very much in the way of Brick parts for $500.00. You can't loose even if you part it out or keep it as a parts bike. If I found one at that price locally I'd snap it up.
Regards Martin.
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it is a parts bike. $200 max. Go find a better one with fewer miles and you'll have a project with parts.
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For comparison's sake, I bought my 1985 K100RS for $500- not running for ten years, bad fuel pump, bad battery, cracked front tire, fairing damage from a tip-over, and all of the usual issues from sitting. Included side cases and all Corbin seat. Just under 45K miles.
Andy
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It's probably something that caused a divorce and probably the only thing of value left after the joint account was drained trying to start it.
:hehehe
It is definitely a project! If the price is low enough you won't go wrong. The FI on these bikes scared me initially. My bike had sat for 10+ yrs, but the issues were readily overcome (my fairings are perfect and I gave an obscene amount because I wanted an SE). I would look in the gas tank and want NO varnish. If there is, I would offer 100 and walk away.
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You don't get very much in the way of Brick parts for $500.00. You can't loose even if you part it out or keep it as a parts bike. If I found one at that price locally I'd snap it up.
Regards Martin.
I agree with Martin on this one.
I , like you have very little experience with "Bricks". Most of my experience is with old "Airheads" and Japanese bikes. Bought my 1990 K75rt last fall. I've had to chase down a few electrical Gremlins, but with the help from people on this Forum, I believe I've gotten it to the point where it will be a reliable motorcycle.
I believe the seller would take almost anything you would offer to get rid of a bike that is not running. She has no idea how to fix the bike, I'm sure she knows it will take hundreds if not thousands of dollars to take it someplace to have it fixed. Presently it's sitting in the garage taking up space with no chance of becoming operative.
If you get it for something less then $500 and later loose interest. Parting out the bike, ( even though it is a hassle), will get your money back then some.
The project will be challenging to be sure.
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I made a pretty gutsy offer. She didn't turn it down. Said she needed to talk to her husband about it. I'm betting she wants to take it but needs him to be on board. He's out town till tomorrow. So hopefully tomorrow I'll hear an answer.
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Is she the titled owner, or it his name on the title, or both? Also check that the title is "clean", not "salvage."
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Just from the pictures and the parts i see missing, I would offer to haul it away - no charge. Unless you want a project because you like projects I would walk away and buy a cheap 'runner' that needs TLC.
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What parts do you see missing Snowman?
Just from the pictures and the parts i see missing, I would offer to haul it away - no charge. Unless you want a project because you like projects I would walk away and buy a cheap 'runner' that needs TLC.
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Missing the fuel rail and plug wires. Can you readily see where the fire occurred? There may be more damage than the pics show.
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Weeeeellll we couldn't come together on a price. I've seen both sides here, thinking it's parts only, and I've seen plenty who think it's worth $500. I patient enough to wait to find one more to my liking at a price that's advantageous. But if anyone wants a mostly complete bike (yes, they do have the fuel rail too), for $475, and they are willing to come to Western PA to get it. I'll put you in touch.
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Maybe if it sits in her garage for another month, perhaps she won't feel so "proud" of the cycle and will lower her price, then you could still get it and have your project bike.
Did you think to ask why the fuel rail was not on the cycle but located somewhere else? My assumption is someone started tearing it down until they found more damage than they were comfortable with handling and stopped there. Another possibility is there is serious damage that cannot be seen in a quick walk-around.
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If the bike is still sitting, I would be interested. Send a PM please if you would.