Drive Drive Drive

i own a 1978 bmw 60/7 motorbike,it needs a total re build,is it worth doing,?

Public Comments

1. its all up to if you want to keep it or sell it, it could cost a bit to rebuild it but if it is a rare bike it might be worth keeping to sell , it might be cheaper to just replace it and save the parts to sell on ebay
2. That puppy will be thirty years old in a little while. If you look at the prices on some 30 year old H-D's, you would be shocked. BMW people are just as proud of their bikes as H-D people. I would look up the blue book value of one in good shape. If it is worth more than the repairs cost, I would go for it. You would never lose money. The older they get, the harder thay are to find, and the more they are worth to collectors. Plus, you get to ride a mechanically new bike in the meantime! Looks like a win - win situation to me!
3. i guess it would depend on what kind of shape it was in...paint, body etc,,,but ive always been partial to classics so i say go for it!!! anyone can go out n buy a bike, but not everyone can have a classic
4. I seriously doubt the bikes engine needs a total rebuild unless it is rusted solid. It may need pistons and rings and maybe the valves lapped. Bmw motors are practically bullet proof and would easily go 150,000 without an overhaul. It all is going to depend on how much money you want to spend.
5. This is a tough question! I rode "airheads" for 30 years. I put 46 thousand miles on my "71" R75/5. I rode my "78" R100S for almost 25 years. Neither of them were even close to needing a "total" rebuild. How many miles are on your bike? Why do you say it needs a "total" rebuild? I doubt that "everything" needs rebuilding! New BMW parts are expensive, (there's a place in England called "Motobins" that can save you a lot of money on genuine BMW parts, even after the airfreight charges). Can you do the work yourself? Are we just talking about the engine? If these engines receive regular oil changes, the "bottom" ends last almost forever. Have you had an oil pressure gauge on the engine? If the oil pressure is normal, then the bottom end is probably OK. Are there any scary noises in the engine? Maybe just a "top end" job will restore the engine's performance. Have you done a compression test? If the compression is low then maybe just a valve job will be enough. While the heads are off, it would be a good idea to replace the piston rings too. Engines are my business. I'm a professional automotive machinist. It's hard to give meaningful advice without better information from you. Does the rest of the drive train need work too? How about the chassis? Are there cosmetic issues? It's possible to buy really nice /6 & /7 "airheads" for about $2000 (I'm selling my "78" R100S for $2200). R90 & R100's have lots more torque & acceleration than your R60. The gas mileage will be about 45 to 50 mpg. The weight of the larger displacement machines is the same, so why not have the extra power? Hope this helps, "mario"
6. Probably. But, get a reliable estimate first from at least two reputable places. Once you have a dollar amount, you can address the pros and cons of the rebuild. They are a great bike, good handling, smooth. I think you would be happy with it.