Over the years, I've bought and sold over 100 bikes, besides the collection I have now, and not including client restoration projects in the brand-specific threads I've already posted. Some have received no more than an oil change and battery, others have had significant refurbishing and repairs before selling. Still others were basket cases and/or various parts lots that finally came together in the form of rolling, non-running projects. I am going to restrict my entries here to those bikes that at least have/had the reasonable potential of being able to Do The Ton.
Starting off with this 1980 BMW R100RS that I traveled to Greenville, SC to pick up from the late father of a friend of mine. I had known him many years as he and my Dad used to consult together (my Dad was a mechanical Engineer, Art was a commercial HVAC contractor). Sadly, Art passed on not long after selling me the bike (I think he knew his time was short).
This poor old Beemer had been sitting under some pine trees for at least 5 years, and was in a sorry state. I flushed and refilled the forks, engine, tranny, rear gearbox and gas tank, overhauled the carbs & brakes, swapped the spark plugs & battery, and adjusted the valves. It fired up almost instantly, and rode decently (tires were shot, so it took it VERY easy).
It sold on ebay after sitting for almost 2 years; I was too busy to do anything with it, and it was just too big for anything other than highway touring. The seat was scruffy, but quite comfy. It came with a matching Windjammer fairing, but the buyer didn't want it (I still have it). It also had the sidecovers, but they weren't installed when I took this photo.
Starting off with this 1980 BMW R100RS that I traveled to Greenville, SC to pick up from the late father of a friend of mine. I had known him many years as he and my Dad used to consult together (my Dad was a mechanical Engineer, Art was a commercial HVAC contractor). Sadly, Art passed on not long after selling me the bike (I think he knew his time was short).
This poor old Beemer had been sitting under some pine trees for at least 5 years, and was in a sorry state. I flushed and refilled the forks, engine, tranny, rear gearbox and gas tank, overhauled the carbs & brakes, swapped the spark plugs & battery, and adjusted the valves. It fired up almost instantly, and rode decently (tires were shot, so it took it VERY easy).
It sold on ebay after sitting for almost 2 years; I was too busy to do anything with it, and it was just too big for anything other than highway touring. The seat was scruffy, but quite comfy. It came with a matching Windjammer fairing, but the buyer didn't want it (I still have it). It also had the sidecovers, but they weren't installed when I took this photo.