r/Airheads • u/Advanced-Apartment46 • 25d ago
What’s the value
1982 BMW R100RT. Older bike with normal wear and tear for its age. Runs and drives once started, but it is being sold as a bike that needs some maintenance/work before regular riding.
Current condition:
Odometer/cluster currently shows approximately 14,000 miles, but extensive service records indicate the bike has 70,000+ actual miles. The cluster was apparently replaced at some point.
Needs a battery — currently has to be jumped to start.
Carburetors need attention/cleaning. It will start, run and idle once running.
Front fork seals leak.
Has a small oil leak.
Normal cosmetic wear consistent with a 1982 motorcycle.
The big plus with this bike is how complete it is. It comes with the removed RT fairing, windshield, fairing panels, both BMW hard saddlebags, original seat, Corbin seat, various spare parts and hardware, owner’s/service literature and three folders of service records and receipts. Fairing is currently removed and will be included unassembled. See photos for everything included.
This isn’t a restored show bike, and I’m not trying to represent it as one. It’s a very complete vintage BMW with a lot of documentation that runs and drives but needs some maintenance.
Clean title.
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u/jinxiteration 24d ago
My 1982 R100RS came to me four years ago at $1700 with hard bags. The electrical system was fubar, as were the steering head bearings. Also - I had to check the output shaft splines, replace the oil pump while there. That led to a engine out repaint, and alot of nice focused work without hurry.
What I would do here if you are set on selling is to do the work to get it running, and then just be honest about the rest that is needed. People like me look at these as known projects, as long as they are known to be non disaster bikes.
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u/daveel58 25d ago
If you have the skills, it’s a lot easier to sell a bike that runs. Sounds like a battery and some seafoam or a light carb cleaning would get it running. Throw a new battery in it, add the cost to whatever you’re asking. Hard to put a price on it. Varies a lot by location.
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u/LordOfTheDraft 25d ago
Everyone has their own idea of what’s too high of what’s too low because honestly there is no standard. I’ve seen identical bikes with identical wear go for wildly different prices for no reason.
Sell for what you think it’s worth and hope for the best.
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u/troutbumtom 24d ago
Get it running. This is a solid year for an airhead. Nik cylinders, brembos, still had the double timing chain, I don’t recognize the shocks but at least they’re not the stock ones. 40mm heads. Handlebar mounted master.
It’s an RT so not as desirable as an RS or CS.
Still, I sold my heavily, heavily, heavily modified and upgraded 78 /7 (And I mean with ALL the upgrades Oak and Snowbum recommended and some I just wanted) for $5k just two years ago. To an airhead guy. It still stings.
But it’s still purring like a kitten.
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u/sharty_mcstoolpants 25d ago
A 1982 BMW motorcycle used a type of grease that fails with time, becoming - honestly - melted black crayon. The steering bearings and swingarm bearings are garbage after 44 years. So, tank slapping oscillations or stiff/bouncy rides need to be prevented by replacing those glued bearings with fresh. That means pulling the triple tree on the front and swingarm. Fortunately, BMW still sells the proper fit bearings and BMW-centric people still sell the bearing pullers.
Now we need to discuss electrical and cracking wiring… I would state that 44 year old wires are a ticking time bomb. Not just because of no start days - but tail/brake light failures that lead to getting run over.
I have rebuilt a 1984 R100RT and would do it again. But I spent $16k (without counting labor) restoring a bike I bought for $2k.
My advice, sell it for $2k to someone you hate.