Can you identify this bike?

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Again, thanks so much for all of your help. Ive got the guy looking for the vin and title. The fact it was an rt makes me less enamoured of it, I like original bikes.

Hmmm, do I have this right? The owner has to hunt for the VIN plate and the title? That sounds really fishy to me. Does he have a credible as to story why he doesn't have them?

Credible story or not, either one of those things being missing makes the deal a show stopper. There's still way too much danger that the bike is stolen. And even if it isn't really stolen, the chances of ever getting it titled would be slim to nothing.

Not having any better information than you do and given your desire for an "original" bike I think your decision to move on is a good one. One thing I've learned is that if you're actively looking for something in an airhead, such as perusing the want ads on IBMWR or BMWMOA, watching Craig's list daily, plus doing a bit of networking with people you know, you will find what you want sooner than you think.

Ken

[Octarine]

The guy is 85, owns 5 car dealerships, has 14 airplanes and personally owns a hundred or so cars. So finding the title is probably a bit more difficult for him and I havent made it a high priority for him yet.

I do know it was last registered in 2001 and it was his personal ride. He had his BMW dealership paint shop paint it.

[khittner1]

If he can find the paperwork, the VIN badge, and the price is right, I wouldn't hesitate. It won't get a 100pt. concours rating at some snooty bike show, but it'll do what airheads are good at. I recently sold my very nice '82 Honda Passport via my first E-Bay transaction to a gentleman with a Southwest Asian surname. Several in my social circle thought I was nuts to agree to bring the bike to him, rather than have him come get it in a known, safe, local public space. He turned out to be much the same as your seller---with a car collection of four or five dozen exotics and classics probably worth millions and housed in a very clean hangar at the regional airport. My buyer had a Bloomberg profile and, while his check would've undoubedly been good, his hired "car man" was happy to hand over cash for the title and bike. Sounds like you're in a similar situation.

Plan on regular cash inputs to rebuild various bits of the device as it ages, and you'll enjoy it. If you'd rather wait for the perfect red smoke '77 or '78 R100S, plan on spending lots more money than you'll probably have to for this one.

[bbelk]

I have a project bike....

Ken, lusting lightly in OKlahoma

Something about this struck me as funny. I think it's the singular nature of it.

[bbelk]

I have a project bike....

Ken, lusting lightly in OKlahoma

Something about this struck me as funny. I think it's the singular nature of it.

[bbelk]

I have a project bike....

Ken, lusting lightly in OKlahoma

Something about this struck me as funny. I think it's the singular nature of it.

So funny I said it twice

Or is that three times now

[Major Softie]

I have a project bike....

Ken, lusting lightly in OKlahoma

Something about this struck me as funny. I think it's the singular nature of it.

So funny I said it twice

Or is that three times now

Interesting. Although I haven't actually said it even once, I believe you have now said it 4 times.

[Octarine]

Well, it was a nice idea. Turns out he thinks it's worth $5-6000 dollars with no vin and no service records. I'm still looking for something but realistically I am going to look for an 1100RT that needs a clutch. I should be able to pick one up reasonably and do the work myself. Too bad the marketplace here seems slow, this feels like a great forum.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Thanks for the update.

It's amazing how the owner can be so far out of touch with the market value of such a bike. He must be a true believer in the "BMW mystique".

On the other hand, all that an idiotic seller needs is just one equally idiotic buyer. Hmm, that would put him fully in touch, I guess. Maybe even elevate the seller to genius status.


Ken

[khittner1]

You're right to pass; it's a $3500 bike at the outside with its VIN and title in order.

Konrad