make a decision for me, please

[jinx]

I am a scooterist, I admit it.  I have been waiting to get myself into a larger, safer and further travelling motorcycle for a while and I am about to make that leap, but I have a choice to make here and need some advice.

The scooter in question is a 1974 vintage vespa with modern engine (200cc), solid electronics and basically the best upgrades money can buy.  I live in NYC, and it is the quickest thing on the streets for getting around.  It is currently in 629 pieces, as I stripped it down to bare metal and bagged everything to get it painted up fresh again.  I am going to be picking up the frame soon, and although I don't have a storage space, I plan on reassembling it and either riding it forever, or selling it to the first drooler to offer up $$ for it.  I have had it for a few years and it is fun, I am addicted to it.

The BMW in question is a 1981 R65LS, with less than 12k mileage and little abuse.  It was involved in a front end wreck in about 86 and the insurance check gained totally new frame and forks.  I bought it last year at this point in its life and made an agreement with the airhead owner (who will remain unknown), in hopes of restoring it to full glory.   We have, together, completed the task, with parts I acquired from many sources and with his mechanical expertise going into the rest.  It has nice new parts and the older ones have been restored whenever possible.  It is stored out of my state, out of my reach I should say, until I can pay the remainder of the cost and pick it up.  The agreement is solid, I plan on getting it in the spring, seeing how I don't have storage for it now.  I have not ridden it, obviously, but I did have a chance to take a spin on a piechler fairinged R65 on a test drive for 15 minutes.  I liked it, I liked it alot.  If I were to sell this, I would share the costs with the airhead, making sure that he was covered for his efforts.  If I kept it, I would probably spend my life tinkering on it, riding it, loving it.

Dilemma:  I can't have both.  I only have time, space and money for one in my busy life.

I would like to recover some of the costs I have put into either project, which should not be too difficult to do, because both items are desirable.

I can probably find aonther scooter, or another bmw, but right now, I have one of each and I need to shed one.  
If you are interested in either, I can send images and further descriptions along.

I realize that the responses here might be biased towards the bmw, so, I'll take them in stride.

thanks for reading-
jinx

[nhmaf]

I do know that old Vespas - like from the 1950-1970 vintage are appreciating in value as collectable items.   If you live and commute in the city, they may deliver better gas mileage.   However, the older BMW airheads  (the R65/R65LS are a bit less popular over here, but they are also more rare) are also
starting to get harder to find and appreciate in value.   Either way, you are probably making a decent choice as far as appreciation goes.

If you plan to ride further distances, on  interstate highways over to Jersey, or carrying a passenger, etc.  then the R65 will definitely give much better service than the ol Vespa.   But, if your commute to work or school is on city/surface streets and you don't plan to venture far from home on 2 wheels,
the Vespa also has a certain cachet - especially if you are one of those folks who looks good in Italian clothing.

 

As I have a 1982 R65LS, you know which way I'm leaning, but I live 20 miles from the nearest town of any significant size !

[MrRiden]

In Which buroughs do you ride? Do you have off street parking?
Rich

[Semper Gumby]

Jinx,

You don't want to be scootertrash!  Sell the Vespa and ride the Bus/train/taxis like everybodyelse does.  Keep the R65 and have fun riding around the COUNTRY!!!!!    

my .02

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Except for Bill's scootertrash joke, I agree.

Take advantage of public transportation if it is viable.

[jinx]

Thanks for the comments, they are all fair and justified.

I do ride mass transit, even though I think that it is an overly priced, mismanaged petrie dish, I like to call it the metal worm.  Instead, I have been riding my bicycle to and from work whenever the weather permits.  Its only 6 miles and I usually find myself there under the time that the subway takes, which points again to the MTA's shortcomings.

I reside and mostly ride in residential Brooklyn, but work in Rock Center.  I do have off street parking, in a small garden area.  I have been noticing the few other (2) beemers on my block, they choose to be on the street. I would have two small steps to contend with and share the room with the 8 garbage cans there now.  Easy to do with a scooter, but the LS would be too cumbersome to get up and down the steps.  It looks like the scooter wins points there.

I am not scooter trash, I'd like to think that I got in before the explosion of the new twist n go popularity.  I have put alot of time and work into making my old vespa road worthy and that separates me from alot of the newbs.

I think that answers the questions... would anyone like to buy either, because that would certainly make the decision alot easier.

[Justin B.]

Post it in the "Trading Post" section and see what happens...

[jinx]

The R65LS in question is now listed in the trading post section.

thanks

[Isaac]

 This is a tough choice. I own an r65LS and I absolutely love it. For city streets, however, I'd want the Vespa. I'd find this an almost impossible decision to make. Scooter trash? Ain't no such animal. There are just Two-Wheeler Riders.  8-)

[jinx]

I'd find this an almost impossible decision to make. Scooter trash? Ain't no such animal. There are just Two-Wheeler Riders.

Thanks for that comment.  It does not help my decision, but it does help my feelings about being caught in the middle.  :-?

Also, no one has commented on the vespa, which is linked to the LS through the menu bar along the top of the page.  I have a 30 seocnd movie with sound on there, shot before the scooter went into restoration.  Even the web converted sound file is badass.  That engine setup was near perfect, for 200cc.

here: http://homepage.mac.com/portergieske/vespa/iMovieTheater63.html

The resto project has included painting it emerald green metallic, swapping out the stock top end for a malossi 210 setup, which bumps the HP from 12 to 20, once the carb is mated properly.  I am adding driving lights, better brakes, and rebuilding it with all new hardware and rubber.  Should be nice, I hope that it will sell in the spring to a scooter fanatic.

[Justin B.]

I didn't know those things were two-strokers.  The LS is coming along nice, I only have one criticism - the "cop" tank looks a bit out of place/character on it.  I think you should give me the cop tank and I'll send you one that's a bit sleeker! ;-)  Keep up the work, I think that the idea kicked around here that you should keep both is a good one, if you can work out storage issues.  It's nice having a vehicle suited for specific purposes.  I have one bike that is fully faired (R100RT) that is perfect for when it gets below 65 degrees outside, but is miserable to ride when it's over 90 degrees.  I have a nekkid bike for when the weather gets hot.  If I lived right in town, then my R65 would get much more use.

[jinx]

I (read: wife) can't keep both.  No parking for it..., garage? that's a laugh.  No storage for parts and accessories, no place to wrench on it and not enough time to ride both.
Id like to keep them, sure, but its not practical.  I'd like alot of things to happen.
Please consider buying the LS, it is a real gem of a Bmw, lovingly restored.

The cop tank is staying, I like the storage option, for say, used plugs to throw at the taxi's that cut me off and ignore me.  Methinks thou art jealous of my cop tank? heh. Get yer own on germany's ebay.