Description
Another great PROJECT BIKE from Bob’s BMW is being offered up! Our goal is that it is matched with the right BMW enthusiast who wants a good winter project to prevent boredom, an affair, watching way too much TV, drinking to excess or worse. The late fall and winter are the perfect time to help rescue a bike that was once regularly ridden, well cared for, and loved but due to a growing family, career obligations, and other life events was left to sit idle in a carport for almost three decades.
Are you possibly that perfect match for the great potential that lies within this PROJECT BIKE from Bob’s?
Before we continue, please read the fine print on buying a PROJECT BIKE from Bob’s BMW. We have always done our best to honestly describe, accurately photograph and clearly represent any PROJECT BIKE, or for that matter any bike we offer new or used. We want no surprises for the new owner. You can read it HERE.
If you don’t live within a reasonable travel distance of Bob’s BMW here in Jessup, Maryland, our sales staff, with a prescheduled day and time, will be pleased to walk around this or any PROJECT BIKE while you are on the phone. We can address even minute details so that even a long-distance buyer will be thoroughly informed and comfortable, knowing exactly what they are purchasing. Again, the goal is no surprises for the new owner.
This PROJECT BIKE has had just one owner since purchased new in Baltimore, Maryland in December of 1984. We have documentation showing it was serviced by the selling dealer, now long out of business, up to the 11,543-mile point in September of 1988. We received no records covering the period from 1988 forward and those 11,543 miles to the date we retrieved it from that carport and showing 27,178 miles. We believe that it has not been ridden since roughly 1994 to 1996 or about 28 to 30 years ago. While not in a garage, the carport did keep most weather off the bike.
We’ll start with the issue we feel is the worst on this PROJECT BIKE and will require the most effort – the front brake calipers were locked on the brake discs, and we had to unbolt them from the fork legs to roll the bike into our truck. These will need a complete rebuild as will the master cylinder in our opinion, and our money would simply replace the master cylinder. Of course, all lines, hoses and pads should be replaced as well.
The good news is that the engine turns freely on this PROJECT BIKE, and we were able to nudge the gearbox into all five gears on a workshop lift. The tripmeter works. The gas cap opened with some effort after using plenty of penetrating lubricant. The unexpected, pleasant surprise was that the insides of the tank were not a disaster zone and reasonably free of debris, sludge, or deposits of ancient fuel, but we would not expect an original fuel pump or the connecting pieces to be good after sitting idle this long.
The non-original paint is impressively decent and will probably have a good shine after a through wash and medium detailing. There is no sign of any crash or tip-over damage or repairs from such incidents on this PROJECT BIKE. We do know that the owner simply wanted to look at a color different than then factory #578 or Burgundy and had a local painter do the work early in the machines life but we have no documentation as to when or by who the work was performed. We honestly can state that the paint is in good shape and will shine nicely with a bit of cleaning and care.
It should not be difficult to see where and how much rust is on assorted surfaces like exposed parts of the frame, the muffler cover, areas under the seat (but not the seat pan), and some hardware. We feel we’ve provided plenty of good, clear images to help anyone know exactly what is being offered up as a PROJECT BIKE. The Russell custom seat is in very good condition and highly serviceable, but it is of course not new. The Parabellum windshield is also in very good shape without any noticeable scratches or yellowing. The saddlebags are clean, undamaged, solid and have almost no small scratches but are mismatched, having two different generations of locks but are the same generation of BMW touring cases.
The wheels appear to be straight and true and without any signs of tire iron or tire machine damage but will need some good cleaning which is probably easier when they are removed to do brakes and install new tires which of course must be on your service list. Deliver them to Bob’s and we can install any brand or style of tire you wish. And the same discount you’ll get on any parts (or accessories and riding gear) while bringing this PROJECT BIKE back to life would apply to the tires, a battery, brake and other components, or even small stuff like rubber bits and hardware.
This discount is a standard extra with all Bob’s PROJECT BIKES. Please ask for all the details when you visit.
The rear luggage rack/backrest on this PROJECT BIKE was produced by Reynolds and the backrest can be easily removed (a couple of bolts) if not carrying a passenger. The rear disc shows enough wear at just under 28,000 miles that it may not pass a Maryland Safety Inspection. The front discs looks like they still have decent life left in them following a full rebuild of the calipers and master cylinder as shared earlier. The instrument cluster appears to be in good condition, but we have no way of fully reporting on how well it works as the bike does not have a battery installed. Switches look clean and like the cluster are not faded. All control switches smoothly move in the intended directions. Even the grips are in serviceable shape.
As extra value included, there is a complete original BMW tool kit, the original factory Owner’s Manual, the BMW Proof of Ownership & Service History booklet all in a yellowing original plastic pouch as supplied when the bike was new. The correct period tire repair kit, and a few spare cables are included for good measure. The bike does not have a full matching set of keys so there’s a different one for the ignition and fairing locks than the seat and gas cap.
