Classic bikes - a worthwhile investment?

[Eric the chicken]

They are desirable bikes (I'd love one). A classic you could ride/tour on reliably every day - robust and pleasant to ride.

Beware the trend for Hipsters buying old 2-valve Beemers though to "Bob" or "Steampunk" them, to sell on to other London Hipsters for ridiculous money - some bearded Herbert in Tweed with his Tache waxed to look like Terry Thomas might end up riding your bike after it's been butchered.
(I've seen some very tasty "Bobbed" Beemers BTW - but a decent original GS should be kept that way IMO).

For the OP - the trick is if you have the eye to spot and buy the next "Classic" and buy before. Ironically, I've guessed right on maybe half-a-dozen or more bikes over the years.... but never really had the spare cash to buy any of them.

As a matter of interest I bought the 'bike in '92 with just over 5000 miles on it. It now has 145,000 but I've not ridden it for over 20 years. As you can imagine the R80 is very 'tired' and needs a rebuild. I have two other GS's an 1100 (145,000 again) and an 1150(84,000 ish)) so I've done a lot of miles (I've had two K's as well)

 

[stuvy]

I look after a k75 racing sidecar

The engine is well over 100k and raced flat out in every gear, the things on its way out but still beats the faster boys on track

Very good engineering in those heavy engines

 

[GRW]

As a matter of interest I bought the 'bike in '92 with just over 5000 miles on it. It now has 145,000 but I've not ridden it for over 20 years. As you can imagine the R80 is very 'tired' and needs a rebuild. I have two other GS's an 1100 (145,000 again) and an 1150(84,000 ish)) so I've done a lot of miles (I've had two K's as well)

I have a pretty rare (in UK at least) BMW R1150R Rockster - a 2004 with just under 40K on it (38k by me - I bought it in 2007 in literally as-new nick with 2k miles.
Again, I've not really ridden it at all really in the last 3-4 years. It needs a good clean and brush up, a service (dead simple) and an MoT.
Like you - seriously thinking about selling (tho the idea of packing in bikes after a lifetime love affair doesn't sit well) as its going to waste.
Mind you, given what a rare and quirky-looking beast it is - idea actually think its a candidate for future classic status. Although fuel injected, its such a simple bike in essence - WAY easier than later 12's with CANBUS and unnecessary twaddle on them, that that can only aid its appeal further as it ages.
(Sods Law also assures that if I sell it soon, that its guaranteed to skyrocket shortly afterwards)

 

[Screwdriver]

Mind you, given what a rare and quirky-looking beast it is

Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Great candidate for cafe racer, couldn't possibly make it any worse...

 

[tom2207]

Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Great candidate for cafe racer, couldn't possibly make it any worse...

and landed face first on a stone ,,,

 

[GRW]

Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Great candidate for cafe racer, couldn't possibly make it any worse...

For sure it's a marmite bike . I bought it just for something different after a daft Horsey woman in a Landy totalled my XJR1300.
I liked it's oddball look and weird colours/graphics (mines the Diseased Wasp colour one too) - and the wacky design (no frame, funny front end and single-sided shaft back end. Really it's built just like a 2-wheel David Brown Tractor with suspension .
Mines also got GS 'bars and Handguards, and an MRA adjustable screen (the flat bar riding position is a bit un-ergonomic IMO, but great since - a bit like riding a big trailie but with decent tyres and better steering).
Also - the Rockster is a Boxer Bee-Em, so too oddball and not cool enough or revvy enough for mainstream riders - and WAY too out there for old school Beemer aficionados - so in relative terms it was great value - about 2k less than a 3-years-older GS with 30k+miles - so it was a no-brainer.

 

[tom2207]

I liked them ,, just an R with a sporty front headlight and a single seat ,,, then again I like the ST too and no one else seems to ,,, then again I also have a R1200s in the garage ,, the thinking mans Ducati ,, [ almost].

Actually an R1200S may fall into the odd enough to be interesting bracket ,,, just ,

 

[GRW]

I liked them ,, just an R with a sporty front headlight and a single seat ,,, then again I like the ST too and no one else seems to ,,, then again I also have a R1200s in the garage ,, the thinking mans Ducati ,, [ almost].

Actually the Rockster is more than that - it's a real parts-bin special.
- GS lights (in a new binnacle and under the "eyebrow" above).
- GS Adventure Gearbox (closer ratios, no "overdrive" too-tall 6th)
- R1100S Boxer Cup wider rear wheel (180 section tyre) and clocks
- different suspension units
That's about it I think

 

[GRW]

 

[tom2207]

Actually the Rockster is more than that - it's a real parts-bin special.
- GS lights (in a new binnacle and under the "eyebrow" above).
- GS Adventure Gearbox (closer ratios, no "overdrive" too-tall 6th)
- R1100S Boxer Cup wider rear wheel (180 section tyre) and clocks
- different suspension units
That's about it I think

Thats a good mix actually .

 

[tom2207]

View attachment 356549

Thats really smart . Smart enough to make a GS look like a bit of expensive overkill for most folk ,,, [ ive a GS as well }

 

[GRW]

Thats really smart . Smart enough to make a GS look like a bit of expensive overkill for most folk ,,, [ ive a GS as well }

I think it's shape and "look" with the bars, guards and screen somehow works - IMO it looks a lot better than stock.
Also stock Rockster's look even more odd with luggage cases and boxes - all out-of-proportion, where mine actually looks more balanced in touring guise.
(It also goes way better than most expect from a Boxer - I harassed the hell out of a crazy German on an exotic 1098 Ducati Bayliss Rep - all the way up the Stelvio Pass in N.Italy on it. The Bayliss Rep's tall 1st gear saw the German guy having to ride his clutch out of all those uphill hairpins, then he'd grab a look in his (rubbish) mirror to see where I was - by which time I had the fully loaded Rockster on its rear wheel, right on his tail. Of course on a track or fast road he'd have disappeared - but as a road engine the 1150 Boxer is superb)

 

[GRW]

then again I like the ST too and no one else seems to

Do you mean the 2005-ish R1200ST? Sort of a half faired R1200, with a sort of diamond-shaped headlamp?
If so, yup, iteally fanciedone of those myself - more sports-tourer than any of the other 12's - got the balance right IMO

 

[tom2207]

Do you mean the 2005-ish R1200ST? Sort of a half faired R1200, with a sort of diamond-shaped headlamp?
If so, yup, iteally fanciedone of those myself - more sports-tourer than any of the other 12's - got the balance right IMO

the very one ,, its like a follow up to the 1100s ,, I had one of those too ,,,

slightly off topic , but go watch the link , you need to have ridden a tele lever / para lever to appreciate it.

 

[roofman]

View attachment 356549

I would own that in a heartbeat

 

[Eric the chicken]

Yep, been there done that, on one of those! Like your positioning, certainly better than most of those you passed. Have you done the Advanced course or Police training?

 

[waddycall]

the very one ,, its like a follow up to the 1100s ,, I had one of those too ,,,

slightly off topic , but go watch the link , you need to have ridden a tele lever / para lever to appreciate it.

There’s a few wollys riding there.

 

[tom2207]

Yep, been there done that, on one of those! Like your positioning, certainly better than most of those you passed. Have you done the Advanced course or Police training?

Hi , its not me ,,, its a you tube video , but the guy just sets everything up so well ... I actually used to go out for a Sunday morning spin with about four or five police riders ,,,,, very educational just being in their company , as mentioned their lines and forward planning as well as faith in the machines was something you have to experience to believe , we all rode BMW GSs ,,, so all you had to do was follow and believe [ I still swear theres were faster , handled better and stopped quicker than mine ] but if you ever get the chance to do the police aware and evaluation course ,,, if they still do it ,, jump at the chance.

 

[Bluemotion]

Actually the Rockster is more than that - it's a real parts-bin special.
- GS lights (in a new binnacle and under the "eyebrow" above).
- GS Adventure Gearbox (closer ratios, no "overdrive" too-tall 6th)
- R1100S Boxer Cup wider rear wheel (180 section tyre) and clocks
- different suspension units
That's about it I think

I had one too until last year although I gave it a makeover with a different colour

 

[8ob]

A Laverda Jota popped up for sale on facebook, 1K seemed cheap. Not sure what the spares situation is with some of the Italian exotics but if doable it would make a sound investment and a nice ride.

Edit; Just went to grab a shot of it and its gone.

Bob