1971 R60/5

[PhilScrivano]

I have discovered a project bike I may want to restore. It is a 1971 R60/5 that has been sitting in a dry basement for the last 15 years. There is no visible rust. The odometer shows 33k. The tires are rotten, the battery is gone, and it has oil. I was unable to get the engine to move.

I have restored two R65s and currently own a 2002 R. I do most of my own work and see this as a 1 or 2 year project.

The owner asked me to name a price and we would negotiate. Please give me some opinions on what a bike like this is worth.


Phil

[phil]

I just recently purchased a 1972 75/5 for $2100.00. The bike did run when I purchased it. I would guess $1500.00 to $2000.00 if its all there and in good condition would be a good price. I have noticed these bikes are getting harder to find.

[flash412]

Bikes that don't run, particularly those with frozen motors, typically go for a buck a cc, if complete. That said, these days you could probably pay twice that, part it out and turn a profit.

[BMWBubblehead]

I paid $750 for a similar scenario a while ago..... restoration parts aren't cheap.... but nothing is anymore... :bikes :lurk

[Motorman]

Offer him $500 for it and see if he bites on it. Opening price can be a starting point or a sale point. You obviously have a full rebuild ahead for you here so keep acquisition cost as cheap as possible. ometimes these old sitting bikes like this started sitting due to a major malfunction like a blown tranny so it may be that some major pieces here will be toast. Keep that in mind, it isn't usually the running bike / car that gets abandoned, but the broken one that no one wants to spend the $ to fix up and keep.

[dlearl476]

In the two months it took to get my R75/5 back on the road, there was probably a /5 broken and sold for parts on ebay every two weeks. Some guys thought their bikes were made of gold of course, others were quite reasonable. For instance I've seen wheels go for anywhere from $50 to $250.

[28796]

Personally I'd look for a later R75/5 if you want a project as its an all around better bike & worth more when you are done. Aside from the seized engine the carbs & gas tank could be a mess, tranny bearings could have rusted, ect. See if the slides move & look inside the tank with a flashlight. I'd consider $500 my high end offer for that bike in that condition.

[dlearl476]

Personally I'd look for a later R75/5 if you want a project as its an all around better bike & worth more when you are done.

I disagree with the "better" part, and perhaps even the "worth more". BIGGER isn't always better and personally I would pay more for a WELL DONE 500 or 600 cc /5 than a medium rare 750.
I haven't looked lately, but I'd take a WAG that an R50/5 is going for much more, in the USA, than either a 600 or a 750, due to their rarity.

I happen to like my R60/5 more than my R75. I have long legs and my feet and shins are always hitting the larger carburetors of the 750.