Taylor, if that bike doesn't trip your "I gotta to have this bike" switch, then sell it. Also remember from the investment side of things, they are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. I think you have your classic bike niche taken care of from the comments on the video. So get the BMW dialed in and sell it to someone who is really wanting one. there my 2 cents. Great video and keep them coming.
If throttle cable is oem, you don’t lubricate it. It has teflon lining inside and does not require nor does it stand lubrication. Check the condition of cable and t-split under the tank. Also check the condition of throttle cam and chain. It is very interesting design.
My PD developed that issue over time, meaning the hard throttle. It seems it was a combo of problems including lack of lubrication of that very unique throttle mechanism inside the right plastic throttle housing. It has a set of bevel gears that rotate on shafts that should be on the maintenance schedule to be inspect for wear and lubrication... Maybe every 20k miles. The cables should be replaced and only lubed at the barrels or nipples at the ends of the cables. I also found a set of weaker springs to put on the carbs that also helped in that hard turning feel. Good luck. Don't sell it.
Regarding collectors items and that they’ll only go up in value… that’s not really how it works. There are fads in collecting as an investment (if you’re old enough to remember Beanie Babies) and what goes up sometimes goes down, sometimes in a big way. With vehicles, a lot of the value is driven by nostalgia, often by people who are hitting an age where the kids have grown up and the retirement accounts are looking flush, and that car or bike was the hot thing when they were in their teens or 20s and couldn’t afford it. Once that generation stops collecting due to age or death or they realize they’re not going to throw a leg over the motorcycle anymore because of physical limitations, the next generation may have little interest in the product because they have no nostalgia for it. I’ve seen this happen with a variety of cars and motorcycles.
And Taylor is a super rare gen X that likes motorcycles and wrenching on them. The market is shrinking for motorcycles and young people don’t really want classics (no place to plug your phone in, lol).
Up to you , either way , its the only stock classic bike you own , the value is in keeping it stock and remembering its a touring bike not an off road adventure bike , the original 800GS was a proper adventure bike , this is a soft tuned look alike meant for road use and maybe a camp ground field , it will only go up in value ,keep it , look after it , service and polish it , keep the miles low , or sell for as much as you can get for it and remember you once owned it , really depends on how much you enjoy riding it , Beemers are an acquired taste , if its not your thing sell !.
That bike is a keeper , what a motorcycle should be. Excellent work. If it's about money then sell a different one of your possessions , but that bike is a definite 'keep'.
It’s called Bring a Trailer. Used to be mostly cars that were gems in the rough, but it’s more and more getting to be very high end air cooled Porsches and other cars selling for $$$. There are bikes there but it’s a pretty tiny percentage of the whole.
The hanging idle issue is caused by the mechanical advance in the bean needing lubrication. It's part of the scheduled maintenance on all airheads. You will notice as the bike warms up, it starts to act up and hang more. BMW has a replacement for it I call the "Tuna Can" as it sorta looks like it, but it's a bit pricey around $500.
I got the sticky throttle again on my R100GS. This time I solved it by spraying a small amount of GT85 into the ignition trigger unit canister. I have an after market ITU on mine, from MotorradElektric. That has a small platic cap on the end. I removed the cap and sprayed ino it. On the standard ITU there is a rectangular metal cover on the side. Prise that off with a knife, and spray through the hole. If the problem persists, then it could be that the springs inside the mechanism are worn out. The best solution then is to replace the canister. The new Wedgetail fully digital ITU is proving to be a popular option for this.
Sold mine 20 years ago...regretted every minute thereafter. Very photogenic bike, show us your country in adventure format on this bike...will make great content. I will definitely sign up for that. Call it US on GS?
Hi.. been a fan for bout a year. Not too keen on this bike. Looks more off roadie than street.. really like your scrambler work and electronics are great. Sorry the apocalypse trumpet was a lost cause lol. But yeah keep up the bike work ( notice I didn't say car work..) looking forward to the current bmw projects completion.. till next,, Bard...
This engine does not need shims to adjust the valves, you do it with a feeler gauge, admission is 0,004 and exaust is 0.06, get a Clymer or Haynes (British) manual for full instructions and photos. is easy to do it, saludos desde Yucatán México.
Shouldn't be any conflict. It's a genuine collectors bike in stock form and is desirable. More so than any of your custom bikes, which you might consider to be classic, but are only really in that category when stock. Keep it for as long as you can.
Hi Taylor. Out of context but I'd love to see a video on the correct way to adjust the clutch spring tension on the CB550. Just went through hell trying to figure out why the clutch pull was absurdly heavy on one. 2 manuals just say tighten ... Thanks
I had an R-100-GS and 3 year after I got the PD version. Few things that I did not like of this version (and in the previous one, as well), the rear shock; if travelling with luggage and a partner, the shock will not last for a long, perhaps 16K or 20K Km. I tried a White Power shock, and the shaft seal broke after a short time. 😞And the second point, and this is very specific about the PD version, is the huge fuel tank. The aerodynamics of this fuel tank and the front area are not well studied. On windy days, the wind can even lift the front part of the bike, losing the control, because it is not pushing the front downwards, as in the later versions, R1100GS, etc. But in general, I had a lot of fun with those bikes.
Oh, I have my PD from 89 for nearly 10 years. It has a White Power, too. The only Problem I have is probably the weight. When I was in croatia with lot of luggage it was sometimes hard to get on the bike and when I didn't take care carefully it went to the left or right side and than I sometimes needed help to get it on...but with the wind I hadn't any Problems so far...but when I should ever buy me a new bike it would be a 1150 gs. Wish you allways a safe ride.
Lots of potential reasons for sticky throttle on the GSPD. Carb problems less likely. Sticky ignition advance quite likely. It has a mechanical advance system often called the bean can. If the bike hasn't been used regularly they go wrong, resulting in revs staying high after throttle closed. Ultimately you might want to replace it with one of the computerised ignition upgrades, such as Silent Hektic. Just replace the cables. They are teflon lined and shouldn't be lubricated. The little chain in the throttle twist grip should be checked and lightly lubricated. If the twist grip itself is sticking, take it off and check all is ok with the mounting and bars. I once had that and found the bars had gone oval at the end. Very odd!
I agree with ready player 100%, if you need the money sell it if not ride it. Don't count on it being a retirement account! Not a bad position to be in. Remember, when you least expect it, something new comes along, good luck.
By the time you have finished, the bike will be in as good condition as anyone could wish for. I am sure if you keep it you will maintain that state. If you don't need the money and think it will appreciate you could always put it for sale at a higher price and just wait. I got the impression you didn't feel a need to keep it as part of your "collection".
I would sell it locally so they would come back for you to keep up maintenance & make sure it goes to someone who would do occasional yearly adventure rides with you as well as someone who would post their own videos of their rides with you. Then do a one week adventure ride at least once a year at most twice a year. I know there would be as in all adventures flats or maintenance issues come up along the way at some point either on your adventure bike or this one & the videos would make great content. I know I’m wishing but it really would make for some great riding videos.
They need to be ridden regularly, otherwise you get problems with seals drying out and cracking, especially in the transmission leading to clutch slipping. It has a dry clutch, so even a tiny leak will ruin the clutch.
You might find that the timing advance problem dissapears if you use it regularly. I had it a few months ago after not riding for a while. Then i did big mileage and now its fine again. The crazy bob weight centrifugal mechanism inside the bean can just gets sticky. Some people take them apart and lubricate. Never done that myself.
Depends on what you are used to. If you ride modern motorcycles and especially 4 cylinder ones, a 1000cc twin might feel buzzy to you. At 75mph you'll be at around 5k revs. Maybe 4800. And that's where I get a slight tingling from the pegs. Nothing uncomfortable though. Plus the wide handle bar, upright seating position and floaty ride make you not notice it much. One caveat though. If you're anything approaching 1,8m (5 foot 9) you'll want to invest in a tall windshield. Since the standard one is utter garbage. Makes every braincell rattle itself loose over 50mph or so.
This bike has a cult following. It brought new ppl to your channel. Keep using it for content, colabs etc. It's NOT going down in value, likely to go UP in value. Great alternative investment.
My opinion is to keep it as an investment with the option to sell it at any time to someone that will really appreciate and take care of it in the future if you don't need to sell it now. The type of buyer I'm thinking of will be something like a middle aged or older experienced motorcyclist that always dreamed of having one, but wasn't in the position to before. You know what opinions are like though.
What I've learned in life is that if you don't need the money, DON'T SELL IT! Not now anyway. You may want to set a dollar amount that is your crazy money amount at which you would sell it. But not for anything less. A friend once told me a long time ago which has turned out to be very good advice; you don't sell cars, motorcyles, or guns unless you're in need of money for an emergency, or to upgrade.
I don't see why this decision is so hard. To me its simple : If you don't need the $14k and have space to keep it >> the Keep it and take it for a spin every 3 month or so. I actually do that with one of my bikes now. If you have a "man-cave" corner / shed, park it next to the bar as a show piece. Then sell it for $20k at a later time or never :) Problem solved ! rsm8
If it doesn't excite you to ride it, I'd say sell it. Maybe it will appreciate; maybe it won't. I've sold things that appreciated, and I've failed to sell things that depreciated. The latter scenario caused more regret. If you keep it, you'll sacrifice the storage space, and you will work to maintain it. Tires dry rot, yada yada. Take the money and run.
The speedo beraks every 30000 miles. So very low mileage bikes are dubious. Replace the speedo with a modern one by Acewell. Also, if bike is from around '93 the gearbox will most likely be missing a circlip, causing it to fall apart. BMW did fix many of them under warranty. They gave me a new box at 30,000 miles. Upgrade the brake with an R1100 twin pot brembo. Needs a small adaption to work. Don't make the brakes too powerful, the forks can't handle it, especially off road. Just expect to adjust your riding style to suit the brakes!
A bike sitting is a bike dying. maybe it will increase in value, but your dollar will decrease and if something happens to the economy, you could lose a lot. Lovely bike, sell it while it is still lovely.
Move it on. You don't need it. It appears you have no great love for or desire for it. Someone else will be dreaming of owning it. Put the money into something else...bikes...workshop...family, etc.
Sell the bike and invest the money. You will have greater control over your financial investment than the value of the bike itself (unless you invest in a risky asset.)
There is a throttle ‘lock’ thumb screw on the bottom of the right hand controls. Old school cruse control. That may be the stiffness you are feeling.
Congrats Taylor, you have a eye for interesting, significant bikes. Not to mention your incredible wrenching abilities👏🏆
Taylor, if that bike doesn't trip your "I gotta to have this bike" switch, then sell it. Also remember from the investment side of things, they are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. I think you have your classic bike niche taken care of from the comments on the video. So get the BMW dialed in and sell it to someone who is really wanting one. there my 2 cents. Great video and keep them coming.
If throttle cable is oem, you don’t lubricate it. It has teflon lining inside and does not require nor does it stand lubrication. Check the condition of cable and t-split under the tank. Also check the condition of throttle cam and chain. It is very interesting design.
Good to know thanks for the heads up.
I would keep it for myself personally. Nice looking scenery you have there, looks like a lot of fun .
My PD developed that issue over time, meaning the hard throttle. It seems it was a combo of problems including lack of lubrication of that very unique throttle mechanism inside the right plastic throttle housing. It has a set of bevel gears that rotate on shafts that should be on the maintenance schedule to be inspect for wear and lubrication... Maybe every 20k miles.
The cables should be replaced and only lubed at the barrels or nipples at the ends of the cables.
I also found a set of weaker springs to put on the carbs that also helped in that hard turning feel.
Good luck. Don't sell it.
Regarding collectors items and that they’ll only go up in value… that’s not really how it works. There are fads in collecting as an investment (if you’re old enough to remember Beanie Babies) and what goes up sometimes goes down, sometimes in a big way. With vehicles, a lot of the value is driven by nostalgia, often by people who are hitting an age where the kids have grown up and the retirement accounts are looking flush, and that car or bike was the hot thing when they were in their teens or 20s and couldn’t afford it. Once that generation stops collecting due to age or death or they realize they’re not going to throw a leg over the motorcycle anymore because of physical limitations, the next generation may have little interest in the product because they have no nostalgia for it. I’ve seen this happen with a variety of cars and motorcycles.
And Taylor is a super rare gen X that likes motorcycles and wrenching on them. The market is shrinking for motorcycles and young people don’t really want classics (no place to plug your phone in, lol).
It’s a great bike, nice to go along for the ride.
Last thing: keep checking tyre pressure, or better still, add tpms. Those early Akront spoked tubeless wheels tend to get leaky with age.
Up to you , either way , its the only stock classic bike you own , the value is in keeping it stock and remembering its a touring bike not an off road adventure bike , the original 800GS was a proper adventure bike , this is a soft tuned look alike meant for road use and maybe a camp ground field , it will only go up in value ,keep it , look after it , service and polish it , keep the miles low , or sell for as much as you can get for it and remember you once owned it , really depends on how much you enjoy riding it , Beemers are an acquired taste , if its not your thing sell !.
I was looking forward to this, cool bike!
I have a 1995 Mystic and similarly, it’s costing little to keep and appreciating. These are nice machines and worth preserving.
Great bike Dude, Gold Wing build next then .
Great job. Can’t wait for the R65 👍🏻
Oh, and the front brake is monumental.
That bike is a keeper , what a motorcycle should be. Excellent work. If it's about money then sell a different one of your possessions , but that bike is a definite 'keep'.
Not just a classic bike, but a “classy” bike. My vote: Keep.
Hey Taylor, great video! Can you reply with the link to the auction site you brought up on screen? I can’t seem to find it on any search I try. Thx!
It’s called Bring a Trailer. Used to be mostly cars that were gems in the rough, but it’s more and more getting to be very high end air cooled Porsches and other cars selling for $$$. There are bikes there but it’s a pretty tiny percentage of the whole.
The hanging idle issue is caused by the mechanical advance in the bean needing lubrication. It's part of the scheduled maintenance on all airheads. You will notice as the bike warms up, it starts to act up and hang more. BMW has a replacement for it I call the "Tuna Can" as it sorta looks like it, but it's a bit pricey around $500.
dude keep it. They are really hard to find as you know and will only be harder to find in a few years.
I got the sticky throttle again on my R100GS. This time I solved it by spraying a small amount of GT85 into the ignition trigger unit canister. I have an after market ITU on mine, from MotorradElektric. That has a small platic cap on the end. I removed the cap and sprayed ino it. On the standard ITU there is a rectangular metal cover on the side. Prise that off with a knife, and spray through the hole. If the problem persists, then it could be that the springs inside the mechanism are worn out. The best solution then is to replace the canister. The new Wedgetail fully digital ITU is proving to be a popular option for this.
I fitted the Wedgetail ignition. No more sticky throttle. Starts first time. Runs much much better. Best thing i've done to the bike.
Sold mine 20 years ago...regretted every minute thereafter. Very photogenic bike, show us your country in adventure format on this bike...will make great content. I will definitely sign up for that. Call it US on GS?
Hi.. been a fan for bout a year. Not too keen on this bike. Looks more off roadie than street.. really like your scrambler work and electronics are great. Sorry the apocalypse trumpet was a lost cause lol. But yeah keep up the bike work ( notice I didn't say car work..) looking forward to the current bmw projects completion.. till next,, Bard...
If you don't need the $, hold on to it for a while I recon...
Keep it. Original classic is exciting to look at.
Air head lover here so I love to see them, hear them.
That speedo movement still looks a little notchy, really easy to notice when you did that little pull leaving that old gas station.
Love this bike. You should keep it like a year and see how the price evolves
This engine does not need shims to adjust the valves, you do it with a feeler gauge, admission is 0,004 and exaust is 0.06, get a Clymer or Haynes (British) manual for full instructions and photos. is easy to do it, saludos desde Yucatán México.
Hi Tylor have you seen Chris Harris from Canada he works on Air heads he my have some good tips for Dakar GS just a thought
I would keep it ! I don't know if its the camera angle but the bars look slightly bent ??
throttle: there are little gears close to handle. maybe a little cleaning and grease helps. Worked for me
Shouldn't be any conflict. It's a genuine collectors bike in stock form and is desirable. More so than any of your custom bikes, which you might consider to be classic, but are only really in that category when stock. Keep it for as long as you can.
Could you show us the shim adjustment, sir
Hi Taylor. Out of context but I'd love to see a video on the correct way to adjust the clutch spring tension on the CB550. Just went through hell trying to figure out why the clutch pull was absurdly heavy on one. 2 manuals just say tighten ... Thanks
i love that bike - hope to get one someday.
I had an R-100-GS and 3 year after I got the PD version. Few things that I did not like of this version (and in the previous one, as well), the rear shock; if travelling with luggage and a partner, the shock will not last for a long, perhaps 16K or 20K Km. I tried a White Power shock, and the shaft seal broke after a short time. 😞And the second point, and this is very specific about the PD version, is the huge fuel tank. The aerodynamics of this fuel tank and the front area are not well studied. On windy days, the wind can even lift the front part of the bike, losing the control, because it is not pushing the front downwards, as in the later versions, R1100GS, etc. But in general, I had a lot of fun with those bikes.
Oh, I have my PD from 89 for nearly 10 years. It has a White Power, too. The only Problem I have is probably the weight. When I was in croatia with lot of luggage it was sometimes hard to get on the bike and when I didn't take care carefully it went to the left or right side and than I sometimes needed help to get it on...but with the wind I hadn't any Problems so far...but when I should ever buy me a new bike it would be a 1150 gs. Wish you allways a safe ride.
I suggest you keep it and ride it occasionally. Then when/if you need the money sell it. It won't go down in value.
I agree I have one from 1993 and I will keep it
Lots of potential reasons for sticky throttle on the GSPD. Carb problems less likely.
Sticky ignition advance quite likely. It has a mechanical advance system often called the bean can. If the bike hasn't been used regularly they go wrong, resulting in revs staying high after throttle closed. Ultimately you might want to replace it with one of the computerised ignition upgrades, such as Silent Hektic.
Just replace the cables. They are teflon lined and shouldn't be lubricated.
The little chain in the throttle twist grip should be checked and lightly lubricated.
If the twist grip itself is sticking, take it off and check all is ok with the mounting and bars. I once had that and found the bars had gone oval at the end. Very odd!
Don't let it sit. Ride that bad boy. Let others enjoy it through your eyes
I agree with ready player 100%, if you need the money sell it if not ride it. Don't count on it being a retirement account! Not a bad position to be in. Remember, when you least expect it, something new comes along, good luck.
Keep keep keep!
By the time you have finished, the bike will be in as good condition as anyone could wish for. I am sure if you keep it you will maintain that state. If you don't need the money and think it will appreciate you could always put it for sale at a higher price and just wait. I got the impression you didn't feel a need to keep it as part of your "collection".
That flopping about key will do short work of the paint below the ignition switch!!!
What size jets did you run on the black 1974 cb750 from a while back?
loved it and woow on sale prices EH!
Can i obtain one n Colorado Springs?
Great looking bike
I would sell it locally so they would come back for you to keep up maintenance & make sure it goes to someone who would do occasional yearly adventure rides with you as well as someone who would post their own videos of their rides with you. Then do a one week adventure ride at least once a year at most twice a year. I know there would be as in all adventures flats or maintenance issues come up along the way at some point either on your adventure bike or this one & the videos would make great content. I know I’m wishing but it really would make for some great riding videos.
Such a nice bike!
Keep the bike if you don't need to sell it for funds. It's always nice having a bike collection, especially if the bikes going up in value like that.
They need to be ridden regularly, otherwise you get problems with seals drying out and cracking, especially in the transmission leading to clutch slipping. It has a dry clutch, so even a tiny leak will ruin the clutch.
Beautiful bike.
Hanging idle, definitely timing.
You might find that the timing advance problem dissapears if you use it regularly. I had it a few months ago after not riding for a while. Then i did big mileage and now its fine again. The crazy bob weight centrifugal mechanism inside the bean can just gets sticky. Some people take them apart and lubricate. Never done that myself.
nice ride
Do these bikes cruise particularly well on highways at say 75mph or are they a tad buzzy at higher speeds ??
Depends on what you are used to. If you ride modern motorcycles and especially 4 cylinder ones, a 1000cc twin might feel buzzy to you. At 75mph you'll be at around 5k revs. Maybe 4800.
And that's where I get a slight tingling from the pegs. Nothing uncomfortable though. Plus the wide handle bar, upright seating position and floaty ride make you not notice it much.
One caveat though. If you're anything approaching 1,8m (5 foot 9) you'll want to invest in a tall windshield. Since the standard one is utter garbage. Makes every braincell rattle itself loose over 50mph or so.
Definitely a keeper 👍
I would love to have this bike just to get some coffee and park next to a new gs! LOL 👍
This bike has a cult following. It brought new ppl to your channel. Keep using it for content, colabs etc. It's NOT going down in value, likely to go UP in value. Great alternative investment.
I would definitely keep the bike, but I’m also someone that finds it difficult to part ways with vehicles.
My opinion is to keep it as an investment with the option to sell it at any time to someone that will really appreciate and take care of it in the future if you don't need to sell it now. The type of buyer I'm thinking of will be something like a middle aged or older experienced motorcyclist that always dreamed of having one, but wasn't in the position to before. You know what opinions are like though.
That's a cool bike. ☺
Well done, nice clean bike. Makes the newer GS look fat and overdressed.
What I've learned in life is that if you don't need the money, DON'T SELL IT!
Not now anyway. You may want to set a dollar amount that is your crazy money amount at which you would sell it. But not for anything less. A friend once told me a long time ago which has turned out to be very good advice; you don't sell cars, motorcyles, or guns unless you're in need of money for an emergency, or to upgrade.
The price on these will only go up keep the riding to a minimum do keep the mileage down and you will be quids in as we say this side of the Pond
I don't see why this decision is so hard. To me its simple : If you don't need the $14k and have space to keep it >> the Keep it and take it for a spin every 3 month or so. I actually do that with one of my bikes now. If you have a "man-cave" corner / shed, park it next to the bar as a show piece.
Then sell it for $20k at a later time or never :)
Problem solved !
rsm8
If it was mine l would be keeping it.
I'd sell it. They're fetching good money right now. Use the dough to fund some other builds for the channel.
If it doesn't excite you to ride it, I'd say sell it. Maybe it will appreciate; maybe it won't. I've sold things that appreciated, and I've failed to sell things that depreciated. The latter scenario caused more regret. If you keep it, you'll sacrifice the storage space, and you will work to maintain it. Tires dry rot, yada yada. Take the money and run.
Dude keep it! Or call me! 😁
The speedo beraks every 30000 miles. So very low mileage bikes are dubious. Replace the speedo with a modern one by Acewell. Also, if bike is from around '93 the gearbox will most likely be missing a circlip, causing it to fall apart. BMW did fix many of them under warranty. They gave me a new box at 30,000 miles.
Upgrade the brake with an R1100 twin pot brembo. Needs a small adaption to work. Don't make the brakes too powerful, the forks can't handle it, especially off road. Just expect to adjust your riding style to suit the brakes!
I'd just enjoy it for as long as you can. If you don't want to.. . .. give away bike??? I've got room in my garage for a Beamer! LOL
Put Mikuni carbs on it.....!
keep it.... ;)
Keep the bike
If you already have a modern ADV, sell it.
Sell il 😊
A bike sitting is a bike dying. maybe it will increase in value, but your dollar will decrease and if something happens to the economy, you could lose a lot. Lovely bike, sell it while it is still lovely.
Sell it if you are not going to ride it. Buy ice-cream or anything else.
Sell it buy a nice 48
Move it on. You don't need it. It appears you have no great love for or desire for it. Someone else will be dreaming of owning it. Put the money into something else...bikes...workshop...family, etc.
Sell it!!!
Sell the bike and invest the money. You will have greater control over your financial investment than the value of the bike itself (unless you invest in a risky asset.)