To Buy, or not to Buy

[TheN00b]

Hi all.

I'm new here, forgive me if this question has been asked before, or if this is the wrong category.
I'm looking at a 1980 R65 as a first bike. If the odometer is to believed, the bike has done 25000 km. It looks really well looked-after, the price is right, and I am seriously considering buying it, but for a few worries:
- I asked the owner if someone I know (from a BMW dealership) could have a look at the bike. The owner became defensive - he did not want people riding the bike for fear of them crashing it, and was worried that "some expert is going to come looking for faults".
- A previous owner spray-painted the aluminium tappet covers, block, etc, and apparently this has caused some corrosion. I suppose this is not that big of a deal, but your thoughts will be most appreciated.
- He did start the bike, and it sounded really good, but he started it before I arrived as well. (He admitted this freely.)

So, what do think?
I work full time and study in the evenings, in addition to keeping my girlfriend happy, so I won't be able to spend much time fixing the bike.
I intend on using it as a commuter for the 100km round trip to work and back, so that I am not so bound by the lift club I am in currently. (In the summer, at least.)

Regards,
TheN00b

[steve hawkins]

The only comment I can give is that it is really bad news to spray an engine like that.  It will always look bad and if it does not annoy you now, it soon will.

It all has to be cleaned of - using an abrasive media.  If you are lucky scotchbright and a lot of effort will be all that is required.  If you are unlucky the engine will have to come out and be stripped an blasted.

I would walk away unless it is very cheap and you have some time on your hands....Or if you really don't mind looking at it......Or if you are going to just use it as hack for now and worry about sorting it out long term.  

There will be others, and in better order.  An expert will not like the DIY paintjob for certain.

Steve H

[TheN00b]

I certainly don't sit around wondering what I can do to keep myself busy, so I guess if I buy it, the engine will stay ugly for at least a couple years.
I'm not a purist by any stretch of the imagination, I don't think it will bother me terribly - the bike will be a bit of a hack for the time being, yes. I was worried that this sort of corrosion will become a major issue if left untreated.

The price is about US$1500. (You don't get decent low mileage bikes for that price around here.) My biggest concern is that I may have to spend as much in the near future if something serious goes bang...

By the way, the current owner is throwing panniers and brand-new tires in as well.
It sounds too good to be true.
Your thoughts?

N00b

[not-so-fast-ed]

The price is good, but it would be nice if he would at least let you do a compression test and ride it to get a feel for how it handles, brakes, & accelerates.  Ask him what servicing & maintenance has been done to his knowledge. Any receipts? Can you talk to the shop where he has taken it for work?

Tell us where the bike is and maybe one of our members could look it over for you.

I'm a poor one to give advice.  I bought mine sight unseen 3000 miles away on the input from the shop that had been maintaining it (poorly).

Ed  :-/

[TheN00b]

not-so-fast-ed,

Your offer is much appreciated, if anyone is in the nether regions of South Africa ...  

The owner claims to have had it for about a year, and in this time has done under 1000km on it, so he would not have done much maintenance on it. (He is selling it because his 4X4 club commitments is keeping him from riding her.)

The more I think of this deal, the more I worry. The owner's very defensive attitude when I mentioned the dude at the dealership bothers me.

I have till tomorrow to consider, but my gut says "No!".
I'll post if I decide to take it.

Regards,
N00b

[trolle]

Insist, and if the seller keeps denying follow your gut feeling and drop it.

greetings from a partly sunny and windy north

[not-so-fast-ed]

Danie is in Durban.  You could try to contact him for advice.
Not sure how close that is to you.
Ed

[MrRiden]

The clock stopped at 25000 km neither you or the current owner have the slightest idea what the true mileage is! It was painted to hide the fact it lived under a dead tree for 10 years, paint doesn't cause corrosion in my opinion. The current owner started it up before you saw it because it has so much neglected maintenance that it is a bear to get going! He won't let anyone ride it because it has bad steering head bearings and a transmission that sounds like a rock crusher, not to mention a broken speed-O. It's a project bike, the parts he's throwin' in were bought with the thought that he could fix 'er up but found it was more involved than he thought.
Walk Away
rich
A pessimist is never disappointed!

[NC Steve]

Overall I'd have to agree with Rich/MrRiden.
There are varying opinions on letting a stranger ride your bike before purchase, and they all make sense. But, a seller with a decent machine shouldn't object to having it taken to a reputable shop for an expert opinion. That would put up BIG warning signs for me.

And, having been thru several fixer-uppers, I can attest to the fact that you can usually buy the nicest bike you can find and afford, for the same $$$ or less than a bike needing work will eventually bleed you for, and save yourself a lot of headaches in the long run! If you "steal" it, fine, but if it's your run of the mill "good deal", you'll usually drop serious coin getting it the way it should be.

Eternal pessimist #2, perhaps?
I prefer the term "realist" myself.  

[TheN00b]

OK, I guess I'll let this one go.
The owner absolutely refuses to let the dealership look at it, and this has become a deal breaker for me.
Hopefully I'll find another R65, it looks like a very nice bike, something with which I can grow as a new rider. This forum also looks like it could add to the experience of owning the bike. Thank you all for the advice!

Hope to be able to tell you that I found a decent R65 in the near future.

Regards,
TheN00b

[JimJ]

Going through similar things myself...somewhere out there there's a pile of R65's in good condition, that run, and don't have dodgy title situations...the trick is just finding it

[nhmaf]

I think that you made the right choice in that situation.

Be patient, there will be more coming around, for sure.