Find or Sell Motorcycles & Scooters in USA

1981 Bmw R-series on 2040-motos

US $9,999.00
YearYear:1981 MileageMileage:17 ColorColor: White
Location:

York, Maine, United States

York, Maine, United States
QR code
1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 1

BMW R-Series photos

1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 2 1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 3 1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 4 1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 5 1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 6 1981 BMW R-Series, US $9,999.00, image 7

BMW R-Series tech info

Engine Size (cc)Engine Size (cc):800 WarrantyWarranty:as-is 100% original from barn TypeType:Dual-Purpose For Sale ByFor Sale By:Private Seller

BMW R-Series description

This is a very special bike to me and the world, but I am starting a business so I am offering it to the highest bidder.

I found this bike online 5-6 years ago, flew to Anchorage Alaska and bought it from the original owner who had it in his barn since 1984.   He is ready to take your call and tell you the stories.  There are some of his pictures posted down below.  

Bike is completely original as it was found by me on 7/1/2011 in his barn.  First picture posted is how it was when I rolled it out of the barn to look at it.  It has rust.  It has chips.  It has patina.  The stickers are faded from legs rubbing on tank.  

It needs work to be fully restored, or if you are smart you keep it like the 100% original.   We trailed it back 10,000+ miles over the span of a few weeks behind a Ford Excursion all the way to Maine.   Since them, I've assembled every single possible part from Ebay, Max BMW in Hampton and other places to get ALL the original parts to fully restore the bike.  Most are literally the original part (like the ignition cylinder) or NOS.  For $2500 and the box of parts, you could make it complete mint and like new and sell it like Max BMW has for $13K--- I know I could do this, but I will not be the one that makes this bike non-original.  I don't want to and never will, I would sit and look at it all day and never touch it if I didn't need the money desperately for my business.

I've done the ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM TO KEEP IT ORIGINAL:
The exhaust was rusted out so I had that fabricated and repaired, he did a basic black paint on it to keep it from rusting.   I replaced the wires, the fuel lines, spark plugs, air filters, ALL the fuel filters (have a few extra in parts), Oil, battery, all the usual stuff.  Otherwise it is exactly as it was.

The bike had not run in decades when I got it, so I used WD-40, T-9 Boeshield from Boeing and a few other carefully selected products into the cylinder heads, then I flipped the bike from side to side and let it lay flat to drain out.  I kept flipping it over like I was rolling a Sake polishing barrel until the stuff that came out was clean and clear dripping onto a white sheet of paper.   Then I flushed the gas tank and put fresh, canned (not gas station bought) gas in,  hit the start button and I swear to god it started right up immediately and it was one of the the happiest moments of my life.   It really kills me to sell it, but keep in touch, once this business starts rolling I will be back and pay whatever it takes.   

I have put a lot of new pictures up, but I have 100's showing the bike on it's Journey from the barn to my garage all through Alaska, north west, maine, all over the place.  This is legit provenance going back to the day it was purchased.  I have the original bill of sale.



Other highlights:
Bike was an early 1981 delivery - #716 of these in the US, #4406 world wide (went on to sell millions)
Blue original seat in great shape
Complete untouched toolkit that came with bike
Original tire pump for under tank
Original sales brochures
Magazines, books other ephemera about the bike (it was a big deal when it came out)
Original tires
Original rims
Shop manuals
Original owners manual
NOS Repair and Parts/Accessories catalog
Two sets of mirrors (originals, NOS replacements- mirrors are off bike to keep them safe)
ORIGINAL replacement tank decals - BMW part, had to look a long time for it
A bunch of random stuff for this bike collected over 5 years or so

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