Keep 'em Flying: Buying a "New Airhead" By Matthew Parkhouse (February Owners News)

February 15, 2007 Page 1 of 3    123

Marilyn and her "new" 1994 R100 Mystic. Fine machine, very low miles - just broken in, actually. Pay more up front and have to spend less time/money/work to get on the road. Still, with a 13-year-old motorcycle, there are things to check. (enlarge image)

In the last month or so, three people I know have purchased "new-to-them" Airhead BMW motorcycles. I promised the first of these folks, Paul, a high-school era friend in Long Beach, California that I would put together a list of "what to look at and service" on with the new purchase. He is the proud new owner of a 1973 R75/5 he purchased from a fellow on craigslist.com. Then Marilyn Roberts, just retired from the BMW MOA, office asked me what to look for as she just purchased a 1994 Mystic. Finally, one of the parts people in the shop I work out of bought a Slash Five from a person in Beverly Hills via eBay. This discussion really brings home the role online auctions and want ad lists are playing in the commerce in used vehicles. I've purchased two Slash Fives this way myself - one of the "Europe bikes" and the R60/5 I purchased on the way to the National Rally last summer. I was satisfied with both of my purchases made this way.

Let's assume you are "still looking." There are two approaches to buying a used vehicle. My approach is to look for older, basically intact Slash Fives that need a lot of work and pay the "parts bike" price for the machine. They usually have been parked for a few years. I then go to workÉ our Marilyn is the example of the other pathway, she paid close to "top dollar" for a newer, under 20,000 mile machine that is cosmetically clean and "ready to ride." She had to pay a little over $100 to a mechanic to clean up the carbs, set the valves, generally check over and adjust things and she was ready to go. She also replaced a decade old set of tires. Obviously, a more expensive, late model used BMW should be good for many trouble free miles once the machine has been gone through as described above. We do have to remember, the "newest" Airhead is from 1995; that's 12 years ago!

The model sought after plays into this as well. If you're after the more evolved, "last of the airhead" models, there are more low mileage, newer looking ones out there. If it's a Slash Five you're lusting after, there are more examples toward my end of the spectrum. There are much-more-expensive restored/well preserved ones available as well. The Slash Fives are entering that age of being sought after "classics" and the prices are staring to rise. My friend Paul paid $3,000 for his, understanding that it would need a bit of work. "A bit of work" has turned out to be bent forks, a cylinder stud pulling out on BOTH sides of the engine, and a worn top end. He's new to the BMW Airhead scene but mechanically savvy. He took his new purchase to a recommended airhead mechanic in the area for a complete mechanical survey. He's OK with spending probably near $2,000 more to get his classic back in shape. You have to remember, this is almost double what the machine sold for new in 1973.