1974 BMW R-Series

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This auction is for a 1974 BMW R90/6 motorcycle. I bought this motorcycle last year from a guy who hadn't registered it for three or four years. It sounded like he had been starting it up and riding it around the block occasionally, but it needed some work and he hadn't gotten around to it. I was looking for a project at the time and had been wanting to try out one of these old airheads for a while. So, I picked it up, fixed it up a bit, and put it on the road. It's a complete BMW R90/6 at this point that starts, runs, and rides. Everything is there and functioning. I have a clear Arizona title for it and have it legally on the road with a current inspection and registration. I think the motorcycle is in really good shape and unmolested for a 1974 BMW R-Series. It's a 39 year old motorcycle at this point and it doesn't look like it has ever been completely restored or anything. So, it has all of the blemishes you might expect from a bike its age that is still road worthy, but looks like it has been regularly cared for over the years. The gas and oil that were in it when I got it were still good, the tires still held air, and it started right up with a jump. Other than the mirrors and possibly the mufflers, I believe everything on the bike is correct stock equipment for the model and year, but have no way to be absolutely certain. When I bought it, the front tire was worn and cracked, the break master cylinder was leaking, the gauge cluster was in rough shape, the tachometer wasn't working, and it only ran on one cylinder until you got the motor warmed up and had it close to full throttle. I replaced the front tire and tube, rebuilt the break master cylinder with a kit from BMW of Chattanooga, put together one working gauge cluster from the one on the bike and a spare it came with fixing the tachometer at the same time, got the carburetors adjusted well enough that it idles and runs on both carburetors across the full range of the throttle, and did some basic clean up and service. It doesn't get all that cold in Arizona and I am used to cold weather riding in Utah. So, I have had the bike on the road for a few months now giving me long enough to try it out and decide I am going to stick with my American style Honda. If you like the higher riding stance of these classic BMW motorcycles, it is plenty comfortable around town and on the freeway. It seems to cruise pretty comfortably at 75mph and has good acceleration. So, it's a much more capable bike than I would have expected out of a 39 year old classic. I think it will be a solid and reliable motorcycle for anyone familiar with them and comfortable tinkering on vintage/classic bikes. What's New... - Battery (slightly larger and more powerful than stock)- Exhaust (fins, pipes, and mufflers)- Front Tire (and tube)- Break Master Cylinder Internals- Front hydraulic break hose What's Needed... - The carburetors could probably use further adjustment with vacuum dial gauges (I do not have these and just approximated it by RPM, sound, and feel).- The seat wiggles a bit because it is missing pieces of the hinges and could use fresh vinyl (I think the vinyl on the seat is original and it has cracks at the front).- I would probably put a new rear tire and tube on it soon even though the one on it looks pretty good (I just don't know how old the tire might be).- The spring on the gas cap is not attached to the cap and comes out when the cap is opened (This works fine, but is an inconvenience).- I do not have keys for the hard cases (They are currently unlocked). What's Included... - The motorcycle as shown in the pictures- Two hard case saddle bags as shown in the pictures- BMW and Haynes repair manuals with owner/service manuals- Miscellaneous new and old spare parts and hardware- The original under-the-seat tool kit Some of the first things I check when looking at an old motorcycle like this are the condition of the fuel tank and front fork seals. The fuel tank is totally straight and rust free. I can't see any signs of any previous repair and it looks like the original paint all around. The rubber pads have been re-glued at some point, but look good. The inside of the fuel tank is clean and, even feeling up at the top of the inside of the tank with my finger, I see no evidence of any corrosion or rust. The front fork seals and their rubber covers look new and the forks do not leak at all. I drained and replaced the fork oil when I got the bike and they look and feel great. The odometer reads just under 30,000 miles, but I have no way of confirming that. The odometer on the bike came with it and works. So, it could be pretty accurate, but I did have it off for several weeks while I was working on the gauge cluster and was riding it occasionally at the time. Local pickup is obviously easier, but I can deliver the motorcycle within 75 miles of Mesa Arizona (east of Tempe) for $1.00 per mile cash on delivery. I have no way to ship this motorcycle, but will work with any shipping company the buyer wants to use as best I can if needed. I have done my best to provide an accurate and detailed description along with high resolution photographs of the motorcycle, but could have missed something. So, please feel free to ask any questions you might have. I will do my best to provide any additional information required. Obviously, I cannot provide any guarantees or warranties on a 39 year old motorcycle and it is sold as-is where-is. Thanks for looking and reading the full description! *** Update 3/15 5:52pm *** I have added three photos of the rear tire, one photo of the front tire, and two pictures (one left and one right) of the push rods. It looks to me like one of the push rod seals is wet and must be leaking some, but I do not have any oil under the bike when I park it and have not been having to add oil to the bike or anything. I thought I remembered some oil on the steering dampener, but now believe that was from the steering head. I do not feel any play or wiggle in the steering head, but it must have leaked on to the steering dampener at some point. I am working on getting a video of it running posted and will update the listing with that when I have it. *** Update 3/15 6:01pm *** I have a video of the motorcycle running posted to YouTube HERE with the eBay item number listed. Thanks! *** Update 3/15 6:27pm *** The ignition key does not appear to work on the fork lock and I do not have any other keys for the bike. The key does work on the ignition and on the seat lock. As mentioned, I don't have the key for the luggage cases either. The kick start does turn the motor and I was able to start the bike with it. I am not sure if the side stand that came with it that I am including is the right one for the bike or not. I have just been using the center stand and have not looked at it. I have probably only ridden the bike 1000-1500 miles since I got it and have not adjusted the valves. I haven't heard any loud noises, but I guess there is sort of a clatter when it starts and a tick when it runs. If I were planning on keeping it and riding it more, I would probably adjust them. It's a 39 year old motorcycle that has not really been gone through from what I can tell. So, it's all there and in decent shape, but I am sure it needs TLC beyond the work I did to put it on the road and try it out.