This was supposed to be about the 94 530i but I digressed so much covering other things in this pic, that I decided to save the 530i for another post...
There're a few stories in this pic:
Story 1:
The green motorcycle is my beloved 73 1/2 BMW R75/5. The "1/2" part of the year designation is important because during its years-long production run, very little was ever changed about this bike. BMW had a tradition of not fixing what wasn't broke, so a model year was often nothing but a number and a 73 version of this bike was identical to a 72, which was identical to a 71, etc. However, during the last 6 months of production, the swing-arm was extended on this bike (I think it was 1 1/2") to give it better straight-line stability. I can't imagine what it'd be like if it were shorter as I'm more accustomed to really big bikes and to me this is a mini-bike with a surprising ability to achieve and maintain whatever speed you want. And is a bit twitchy.
The green on this bike is, as best as I can determine, a rare color for the whole model series, the fact that it was made in the last 6 months of production makes it extra valuable/rare, and the fact that I have both the "toaster" tank (shown) and the larger non-toaster tank don't hurt. It's all original, unrestored, and stock save for the luggage rack and crash bars, both of which I consider necessities.
When I first got it, it had a fairing and saddlebags that weren't BMW, but were custom-made for this model. The minute I got it home, my son and I took them off because we felt they were hiding a really nice bike.
I bought this bike and a Honda 305 Dream from my mom's late boyfriend. He knew he was dying of stomach cancer and he was lightening up on possessions (hmmmm... Same thing I'm trying to get started doing, but in my case it's because their maintenance and other needs are too burdensome and make my life too complicated) and of everything he owned, he loved his motorcycles the most. He had another BMW far older than this one that he was giving his son.
I actually bought these the day I first met him. Was visiting my mom and she said her boyfriend was coming over and that he was looking forward to meeting me since we had a shared passion. We ended up at his house and my jaw dropped when he opened his garage and I saw his bikes. There were 4 of them. This BMW, the older BMW, the Dream, and a 70's Honda CB 175. He told me this Beemer (bikes are Beemers; cars are Bimmers) ran as did the CB175 and I was welcome to try out both.
I fell in love with this one immediately. When you ride it, the word "special" doesn't come to mind, even despite its age. "uber-competent" readily suggests itself. It's a do-everything bike that was considered very large and powerful in its day, though its days were numbered thanks to the CB750 Honda unleashed 4 years prior.
I also rode the CB175 and liked it. He told me if I were interested, he'd love to sell me any or all except the oldest BMW because what he wanted most was for them to be in the hands of someone who would be as passionate about them as he was. He said he did, however, have a friend who was interested in the CB175. I told him that he should sell the CB175 to the guy who was interested because though the bike was in absolutely new condition with low miles, and was likely a low-production bike (the CB350 could've been had at the same time for not much more money), it wasn't particularly interesting to me, though I loved the Beemer and though I already had a 305 Dream, I wouldn't mind having another, especially since his was cleaner and had the original or at least period-correct whitewall tires.
Unfortunately, the 305 Dream, clean as it was, was a non-runner, and closer inspection determined that making it a runner would be quite a challenge as its problems were electrical in nature, the parts needed were made of unobtainium, the exhaust was rusted out and the original is completely unobtainable at any price (my other one has aftermarket mufflers) and worst of all, he'd been messing with the wiring and splicing and replacing to such an extent that it needs a complete new harness, which is also difficult to find. So that bike has become a donor for now. My other one was in running condition except that the carb was extremely clogged and his carb was pristine, so I slapped it on the other bike and had a perfect runner. The tires will be donated next. Someday I'll restore the other, but for now it just sits.
Back to the Beemer, of all the bikes I own, it's the one I ride the most by a long shot. My top 4, in order of usage frequency are:
1. This Beemer.
2. The Beemer in front of it.
3. Honda 305 Dream.
4. 74 Suzuki GT185 (another story).
[/story1]
Story 2:
The bike parked in front of the green one is a 2005 (I think) BMW K1200LT. I have a love/hate relationship with this bike. For one thing, with my 30" inseam, the only reason it's even possible for me to ride it is that I've got 32 years of far-from-casual riding under my belt. Even so, it's nothing short of terrifying in low-speed maneuvers, even negotiating city streets when dealing with red lights and stop signs. It's very tall, heavy, top-heavy, and because its tires are even smaller in diameter than the 73 1/2, it doesn't really become stable until about 30-40 mph.
Like the toaster-bike, it's an uber-competent do-everything bike that is definitely a more comfortable long-distance mount, though I personally don't find the seats as comfortable as the seats on the Gold Wing I had prior to it. About every 50 miles I need to stand on the pegs to give my butt a rest. Not really the bike's fault. My fault. I'm all upper-body with not enough butt to get adequate weight distribution, so the firmer and narrower seat on this bike means more PSI butt pressure.
I'm told the passenger seat is wonderful and I've sat on it to see what the fuss is about and have to admit it's nice back there. Wider, heated like the front, nice backrest, and easy access to the stereo's controls with speakers close by.
There are lots of great points about this bike that might mean a lot to some people, but are only minor plusses to me. Okay, I have to admit that I do love the very powerful 7-disk CD system and the heated seats and grips and optional tall windshield, which are why this bike is second only to the toaster for annual mileage. I've ridden this bike at 37 degrees with a light jacket and gloves and been perfectly comfortable.
Really, the only negatives I can say about this bike aside from it not really fitting my personal tastes are:
1. It's big and unless you're very experienced, you should be, too. Say, a 32" inseam and enough muscle to hold it up.
2. Like nearly every Beemer ever made, if you park it on the sidestand for any length of time, it smokes an amazing amount on startup because the cylinder head is on the downhill side.
3. The electric-hydraulic centerstand, though a huge gee-whiz item, is an answer to a question I can't imagine was ever asked. If you know how to use a centerstand, they're easy. I never had trouble putting the Wing (at nearly 800 lbs like this one) on the centerstand. But it really impresses onlookers.
4. Like the Wing, it's got a starter-driven reverse. Unlike the Wing, reverse is engaged via a dial on the left side and you sometimes have to rock the bike back and forth to engage/disengage it. This actually caused a major problem once when I hauled it to the racetrack in the trailer's bike-mount and was unable to rock it back and forth while mounted. I had to use a floor jack to raise the rear wheel so I could get reverse to engage.
5. Comfortable though it is, the Wing was more comfortable for touring.
6. The power brakes are another answer to an unasked question.
7. The levers are shaped so that if I forget which bike I'm on and do my usual two-finger use of the brake and clutch levers, I mash the other two fingers with the clutch lever.
8. I've created some cosmetic damage on it. A pretty deep gouge on the left side of the fairing from it rubbing the corner of a countertop in the trailer on one trip and a scuff on the trunk when I was carefully positioning the car hauler in the garage with the truck, but carelessly didn't notice where the bike was and bumped it and knocked it over. The only damage from that one being from where the truck hit it and it looks like it might buff out, unlike the fairing gouge.
9. The sun hasn't been kind to the leather. There's cracking in the backrest and the parts of the top of the trunk that're leather-covered.
Lots of minuses, eh?
There are some plusses:
1. The heated seats and grips (two levels for each) are wonderful and do extend my riding season considerably.
2. I've only got one car (the 08 Subaru) with a better sound system, and with 7-disk capability, the bike's is arguably better.
3. The electrically controlled windshield is not only cool, but quite handy. If I want maximum wind protection, holding down a switch raises the windshield. If I'm going slower and want some wind in my face, pushing down on the lower part of the same switch lowers the windshield a bunch.
4. It feels, sounds, and acts more "motorcycle" than the Wing. The Wing was definitely a two-wheeled car. This thing, with its 8k-rpm redline and eagerness to get there and the resulting sound, feels and acts a lot more like a bike.
5. Far fewer controls than the Wing had and their location makes more sense, though they do take some getting used to.
6. The highbeams practically allow you to see *through* stuff at night.
7. It does everything pretty well. The Wing only toured well.
8. The turn signals stay on longer. This was a frequent annoyance with the Wing. Though the Wing also had a pendulum-trigger cancellation mechanism. Cancellation on this bike is based on time and distance.
9. An amazingly complete toolkit. It's so complete that even if you get a flat tire, you can use the toolkit to patch the tire and use one of the included CO2 cartridges to refill it.
Anyway, this bike does have its charms but it's so not me. I like simpler bikes. Ones that expose you to the elements. Though a small, innocuous windshield is likely in the R-bike's future as I've never been a fan of constant buffetting.
This bike is the first of the too-many cars/bikes that's getting sold. Could've sold it to Matt last year when he was out, but the battery was dead and needed replacing, so I never could get it started for him to try out.
Matty, if you're reading this, $14k (it cost me $21k and doesn't even have 3k miles) and I'll ship it out to you.
[/story2]
Story 3:
There are a 94 BMW 530i and a 70 Datsun 2000 Roadster in this picture (the subject of another post, I'm sure -- I LOVE this car).
I was in Vegas in 2006 to close the deal selling the companies and to celebrate the closing, and I was playing Let It Ride while waiting for Matt to come get me so we could go to dinner.
He was late and at the time he was supposed to have fetched me, I had $75 on each spot and was dealt a pair of Kings, meaning I'd already won (a "no-brainer") so I left all 3 bets out, knowing I had $225 in winnings coming to me. Imagine my excitement as the dealer turned over first one King then another, giving me 4 of a kind. I tipped the dealer $1k and each player (for not taking my Kings) $500 and used the proceeds to buy the Datsun and the Bimmer when I got home. Later the same night, I made another $3k playing 4-card poker.
That was the first and likely last time I had multiple $5k chips in my possession. When Matt had finally come to get me for dinner, I had so many $500 chips (I'd been winning nicely up to that point as well), I had to stop at the cage because it was too many to carry around in my pocket. The cashier asked if I was playing Let It Ride and said she figured I'd be around shortly.
Anyway, I think of the Bimmer and the Datsun as "The Cars the Kings Bought".
[/story3]
Actually, I'll write about the 530i later. I'll just say here briefly that I really love this car and it's my most frequently-used car. I bought it in need of lots of TLC, and have worked my way through the list and though some items remain, it's slowly approaching new condition. Despite having about 180k miles. |
