$11,500
Glendale, California
Category
-
Engine
749 cc
Posted Over 1 Month
This particular bike has resided on my block now for over 42 years. I first saw it drive by when I was 19. I was impressed as the owner Don, who was our neighbor and mailman always putted by so slowly, and so quietly. I remember it was not like a Honda 305, or a BSA like my cousin owned in the 60's. I told myself that one day I would buy Dons bike. As time went on, I grew up, had children, rode a dual sport type Yamaha 600 (Thumper) occasionally, and always kept in the back of my mind owning Dons R75/5.About 15 years ago, I saw Don one evening walking to the corner, I never had spoken to him, but now in my mid 40's, I had to talk to him and ask him if he still had the BMW, since he didn't seem to be delivering the mail anymore, and I never saw him drive by. He told me he had it the garage, said he bought it in '74, he was the 2nd owner. A couple of years past, and I saw that Dons house was for sale, I found out Don had passed away, and the estate was in probate. Another 6 months, maybe a bit longer passed, and one day coming home from worked, I saw my bike in Jims garage. I stopped and asked, was that Dons BMW ? Jim said yeah! He had just purchased it from Dons son (somehow), and then I told Jim the story, that I'm sharing with everyone now. Jim likes to work on motorcycles, clean them up, tinker with brakes and carbs and get them running again. I simply said to Jim, "whenever you decide to sell it, please knock on my door, I will buy it from you!"Well, March 2005, I get laid off from a 9 year job, three months later Jim is knocking on my door, "hey, I have the bike for sale in Craigslist, and a guy is coming to see it right now. You said you wanted me to let you know when I was ready to sell it" I simply said, "How Much" and 'Will you take a check ?" So finally I got my bike after 30 years of waiting. Funny thing, I never rode the bike. Just kept it with my collection of other bikes. Now at 60 plus, it's that time, kids have grown up, I've given a few bikes to my sons, and I've elected to sell a couple other vintage bikes to get rid of some cluster. So.....Up for offer is my 1973 BMW R75/5 motorcycle, it is original, except for maybe the battery, plugs and sparkplug cables. Speedo shows 43,xxx miles. Everything works! Asking price $11,500
