About to buy my first Airhead...advice?

[drb007]

Hello, I am searching for a classic BMW airhead, and have found a few I am considering.
1. 1976 R90/6. 22,500 miles. Corbin seat. Decent shape (not showroom but clean original paint, some patina, but no dents). $3600 with new tires installed (I get to pick the brand).

2. 1974 R90/6. 10,000 miles, looks like it was repainted, all white, no pinstripe. $4000.

3. 1973 R60, 70,000 miles, has side covers that say 750cc on them? $4000.

Sure seems like the 1976 is a good deal to me...any red flags I should look for? Decent price?

Next question is which tires to put on it. I will search the forums here, but if anyone has a tire they like, I'd appreciate the advice.

[schrader7032]

Welcome to the forum! I think the order that you have them shows the order with the best on top. The '76 is last of the /6 series, larger engine case opening so potential upgrades are wider. The '74 is first year and there were some potential issues with the new 5-speed transmission. The R60/5 is somewhat underpowered compared to the others and the engine has a tendency to ping unless very carefully timed.

As for tires, I have Michelin Pilot Activs now but I hear they are no longer being made. I'd go from inch-sized tires to work best with the suspension/frame. My suggestion is to stay away from metric tires. I'm sure others will have some suggestions.

As for what to look for, see if you can get a maintenance log. But with low miles on the '76, you would need to consider if any seals might need replacing.

[drb007]

The seller of the 76 claims no oil leaks, no records of any seal work. Carbs were just rebuilt, and a new master cylinder for the front brakes, new brake pads all around.

[drb007]

Here are a few pictures of the 76…

[schrader7032]

OK, thanks. Aftermarket seat, maybe a Corbin. Is the original seat still available? Those are Lester mags so not original wheels. Replacement shocks maybe. Was the owner just tweaking the bike for his pleasure or was something wrong with the other items?

The additional instrument pods are nice.

[drb007]

Glad I posted the pictures! I’m so new to the classic bmws that I don’t know what I’m looking for. Are Lester mags a bad thing? It is a Corbin seat. Looks pretty new, and I can see the Corbin tag in the picture. The seller is a builder, looks like he does a lot of high end cafe racer builds. This is a customer’s bike. Not sure about the suspension changes. I’ll ask.

[drb007]

Here is the 74…

[Randolph]

If you're going to keep the Lesters you REALLY need to check the condition of the bearings, front and rear wheels.
I bought a bike with Lesters and the bearings were horrible! I don't know how the wheels even turned. The spacers in the wheels had no preload whatsoever and the bearings looked like gravel.
Maybe the PO already took care of it. But if not the wheels need to be completely refurbished with BMW spacers and shims and of course new bearings. It will be expensive and time consuming even if you do it yourself, but you'll feel much better when it's done.
Snowbum and Duane Ausherman have a lot of info on how the bearing preload should be set up.
Happy rolling!
Randy

[schrader7032]

Nothing wrong with Lesters...there is a special way that the wheel bearings have to be set up. As long as the person did it right, should be OK.

The '74 is even more customized. Repainted, custom seating, and looks like 2-into-1 exhausts. Highly unusual...takes extra setup to get carburation correct. Most of those exhaust changes really didn't do much for performance...just sounded good and reduced the person's wallet!

[drb007]

The seller said the bearings are good and have the proper spacers. He seemed to know about that concern and checked both wheels when they did the brake service.

Is the 76 still worth pursuing?