Post-Sale Update: After 16 bids on eBay, this BMW/Steib hack sold for $16,000. Built over four years, the R51/3 was introduced in 1951. It was one of the first bikes BMW released after they were allowed to start creating motorcycles post WWII, so they took one of their pre-war designs and evolved it to prevent having to start from scratch.
Ex-Police – 1995 BMW K75RT
Built between 1990-1995, the K75RT was the smaller touring option in the world of the flying brick. These bikes have an incredible reputation for reliability, making this an interesting option for long distance touring. This example was a former Chicago police bike, so I hope you don’t plan on bringing a passenger with you!
1981 BMW R80G/S
In September 1980 at the IFMA bicycle/motorcycle show, BMW introduced the first GS. It was a dramatic change in the market, and while many riders were instantly enthralled, plenty of critics thought that a.) the bike was too big to be considered a true enduro and b.) the shaft drive was ill-suited for the task. The fans won out – …
1 of 17 – 1993 BMW R100R Battle of the Legends Racer
View Post1995 BMW K1100LT Special Edition
Adorned in “Navana Violet” paint, this Special Edition flying brick is well setup for touring and with just 28k miles on the odometer, it’s got plenty of life left as a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple mile eater.
Well Farkled – 2011 BMW R1200R Classic
Every once in a while you see a listing where the seller says “best version of this bike ever,” and you chuckle and move on. This time the seller’s claim of ‘best set-up R ever’ is worth a second look as the seller is Surj Gish, editor in chief of City Bike. Plus, even if he’s wrong, this bike is …
Swiss Army BMW – 1969 BMW R50/2
Switzerland is a neutral country, meaning it doesn’t engage in armed conflicts, but it does maintain a military force for peacekeeping missions. And, apparently, in 1969 the Swiss military procured BMW motorbikes from neighboring Germany.
In England – 1999 BMW R1100RS 75th Anniversary
For BMW’s 75th anniversary, the Germany company created a limited run of the R, GS, RT, and the RS. Differences were limited to the special paint scheme and fancy paperwork called the “Edition Folder” for the owner. The RS also got ABS, heated grips, and luggage to complete the package.
Concours Quality – 1966 BMW R50/2
According to the seller of this R50/2, this bike is a concours quality restoration that has preserved the original factory pinstriper’s initial under the tank. The photos make this bike look great, but the asking price is 50% higher than I’ve seen for other restored examples.
1995 BMW R100R Mystic
Available only in 1994 and 1995 in the US, the Mystic was a factory custom based on the BMW R100R. The changes were entirely cosmetic, but they were not insignificant. Nowadays a ‘special edition’ just means new paint, but the Mystic actually had several restyled parts. Some people don’t get what the big fuss is about this bike, and I …
1991 BMW R100GS
I’ve featured plenty R100Gses in the past – for good reason, they’re awesome! But it also means I’ve become pickier about which ones I share. This example stands out thanks to a cool history and a rebuild by a known ADVer.
2003 MZ Baghira Black Panther
Post Listing Update: This Black Panther did not get any interest at the asking price of $3,400, so the seller relisted it at…$3,600. Unsurprisingly, it did not get any takers at the higher price, either. In 2001, MZ introduced the Baghira an enduro powered by the thumper from a Yamaha XT660. Based on that, they also released a Street Moto, …
1938 BMW R51 Racer
Post-Sale Update: After 27 bids on eBay, this R51 racer sold for $30,100. Then it was relisted and sold for $22,600. Built between 1938 and 1940, the R51 was BMW’s last sport bike before World War II commenced. It was an evolution from the R5 that gained telescopic front forks and a plunger rear suspension. 3,775 examples were produced with …
1951 Ardie B251
Ardie was founded in 1919 by Arno Dietrich, an ex-Premier technician, and they stayed in business until 1958. They enjoyed some racing success in the 20s and 30s, but this B251 was a 246cc tourer sold between 1951 and 1953.
Ketchup and Mustard – 1990 BMW K1
Post-Sale Update: This K1 sold for $3,548 after 27 bids on eBay. This bike gives me pause – I really enjoy the 80s looks, but I’m pretty sure the paint job just gave me a headache as I looked through the photos.