revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Should I (impulse) buy it? If I don't insure a bike before sometime in October my NCB lapses.

I would only use it for occasional light fun trips. It would live outside, under a cover.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 942406193/

15,000 miles
Seller's description
I purchased this bike in 2014 specifically to tour Northern Spain with my wife and friends. I purchased it with 7500 miles on the clock. It was originally a Special order from Slocombes and at that point had only one owner. I have used it for the trip to Spain and various trips in the UK, but recently I have used it for ride out with the Vintage motorcycle club. I have regularly changed oils etc and fitted Hagon shocks. The exhaust system is completely stainless and the silencers are Breakwell and Green in stainless. This bike is lovely. I also have Krauser panniers which work a treat. This bike is ultra reliable and I would not hesitate to take it anywhere. It is very original.

I bought a blue one in about 1995, it would break down at the drop of a hat. I replaced the wiring loom and no end of other components just to keep the thing going. I've owned some good BMW's, that wasn't one of them. The bloke I sold it to wanted to use it for an overland trip back to Brazil (I realise there's a boat involved), what clinched the deal was I took him for a spin on the back and it broke down with a carb problem which I fixed in a couple of minutes with the tools under the seat.

Back to the BM in question, is keeping a 47 year old bike outside under a cover and expecting it run reliably asking a bit too much?

Looks really nice in the pics , if that mileage is correct then its done nothing.
Must be worth the money .
I worked on a fleet of R80 police bikes in the 80's and they were reliable bikes compared to other bikes
of the day. The head mechanic had one for years and toured Europe regularly.

If I was that worried about my NCD I'd buy a £800 SV650, not worry about it getting nicked or being kept outside and wheelie the fuck out of it.

I love R80s - that's why I've never bought one.

Yeah not sure I'd buy that as a use once in a while bike. Kept under a cover it's more likely to lose value and reliability possibly would be an issue.

I'd buy something like an SV. Or I've been looking at BMW F800s they can be had around 2-3k for what look like reasonable ones.

It looks mint!

(If you want a suitable cover for it I have a Classic Additions v posh 'Ultimate Outdoor Bike Cover' - suitable for a large bike - in the loft. It's quite substantial so postage would be a few ££. There's a couple of security chains up there too - one's an Abus I think - if you or anyone else is interested).

https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/ ... prod_10083

Decent money and it looks a clean bike,but as piranha said a 47 y/o bike will punish you for leaving it outside.

Stick it in a tent.

I keep looking at r1200rt...christ knows why.

Dodgy69 wrote: Fri Jul 25, 2025 8:07 pm Stick it in a tent.

I keep looking at r1200rt...christ knows why.

Me too, cos I want to own a motorcycle with a radio, tho' a K1600GT in BMW motorsport colours (and a radio) would be equally tempting.

Reckon you keep pretty dry on em aswel.

Dodgy69 wrote: Fri Jul 25, 2025 8:17 pm Reckon you keep pretty dry on em aswel.

and six cylinders, who doesn't want six cylinders?

If you want it and can afford it, buy it, there are loads of better bikes available for £4K, so the reason for buying it has to be because you want one.
I believe the next generation R80, the one the R80GS is based on, is supposed to be a lot better bike.

Plenty bike for the money.

https://ebay.us/m/svnhpD

IMHO your £4k would be much, much better spent on this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326701858666

Dodgy69 wrote: Fri Jul 25, 2025 8:25 pm Plenty bike for the money.

https://ebay.us/m/svnhpD

It's got a radio and everything!

If you're going to leave a bike outside under covers surely you need a Honda or a Kawasaki.

Ever ridden an older Be-eM?

Clutch like an on-off switch.
Boingy long-travel front forks that twist under hard cornering
Bolt-on rear subframe that flexes
Shaft drive that 'jacks' up under acceleration
Front brakes that don't, really
Tall and wobbly on narrow tyres

?????

They're great! Despite the weavy wobbly, handling is very reassuring, especially in the wet.

/7 was probably the end of 'proper' BMWs before quality control jumped off a cliff.

But, as everyone else has suggested, it would be a hobby not a 'turn the key and go' bike.

One other thought: leaded fuel? Or have the valves been done?

ER

https://ebay.us/m/tkvdqY

Hmmm. ULEZ compliant, historic vehicle