1985 limited

[WillIamBurnett]

Hey folks! Been a while since I was on here, had some knee surgery and that kept me off the big beast for a couple of months
My biggest issue right now is I currently own 4 bikes I had a 2001 Suzuki intruder 1500LC, got my limited a couple of years ago and this past june I stumbled on a running driving almost pristine 1987 BMW k75s for $750 needless to say that it immediately became mine. Last week I turned 48 and decided to treat myself to a couple of things I have wanted for years so I found myself in the mountains of NC purchasing one of them when I happened to get on craigslist. There was an ad for a 1958 goldwing hmmm had to click on it right! Turned out it was another limited! Someone really loved her at one point in her life because she has like everything! All kinds of gadgets and add ins. Bad part? Someone left her out in the weather and didn't run her. The title was last made in 2016, the guy I got her from said he got it in a trade recently.......$500 was the damage. Not sure yet if I made a mistake or not. Battery is toast, the gas in it smells like alcohol or something it's so stale and old, it looks like a blind guy redid slot of wiring under the seat but alot of the original wiring is intact. Seems the PO installed an aftermarket single DIN CD head unit, new aftermarket speakers and an amplifier . I was primarily interested in the aftermarket parts like drivers floorboards, highway floorboards and heel toe shifter. The swing out armrests for passenger and the nice markland back support for me. It has the ring of fire and more LEDs than I thought possible! The PO was obviously a USMC and a member of the Buffalo Soldiers MC in Fayetteville NC from some of the things left in the luggage. I hooked up a smaller battery than it needed to turn it over and it definitely has plenty of compression. I'm thinking about dumping the old gas, getting a new battery for her and seeing what if anything she will do. Really wanted some of yalls input on where to go from there, what should I do before seriously trying to get her to fire up for the first time in idk how long and what yall thought about just parting her out which I really really don't want to do as I think that would be a sib there is no atonement for. Sorry to be so long winded lol but its been a long day. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts. Thanks!

[Rednaxs60]

Good score! Love the '85 Limited Edition. Mine after a complete paint job and engine rebuild last year - my long term retirement project, been 6 years and counting:

Had a similar dilemma a few years back. Bought an '85 Limited Edition in Ontario in the fall of 2017 (?) - been sitting in this fellows back yard for 4 years, I live in Victoria BC, and was going to use it as a parts bike. My brother took it to his place in northern Ontario. Xmas 2017, went home and we decided to see if it would start. Had to clean out the gas lines, install a used fuel pump, used a car battery, made sure it would turn by hand. Everything lit up when the key was turned to "ON". Hit the start button, a couple of time - nothing. The third try it fired but did not start - both of us were wide eyed and surprised. Next hit of the start button it caught, started and settles into an idle. No longer a parts bike. This pic is just after it was started Xmas 2017:

Came home with a work/maintenance list. June 2018, went back, did the maintenance I needed to do, put on an external alternator, front fork oil change, brakes, tires, change all fluids, and got it roadworthy. Cleaned it up, insurance and temporary plate, then rode it across Canada to Victoria BC. Sold it when I got home, but enjoyed the experience of working with my brother on it, visiting family and friends in Ontario, and the ride across Canada was great.

Long winded preamble. Thoughts on your new purchase after engine starts and it will. Good cleaning, remove all plastic, saddlebags and such. Front forks not leaking, remove and change oil, determine if OEM springs or aftermarket upgrade. Brakes - new pads all round. Clutch - rebuild clutch slave, clean out the MCs Change all fluids. New timing belts. New tires - recommend Shinko Tourmaster - very inexpensive and good for the '85 Limited Edition, work well. Check charging system - if good leave alone. Lights and such working. Lube drive train. Fix any electrical wiring issues, never know what has been done.

If you're not going to keep it, do the work/maintenance required to get it roadworthy - say $500.00 USD, then sell - should be able to make a few dollars on the sale. Too good a bike to part out. I would expect a clean, roadworthy '85 Limited Edition would fetch some $2000.00 to $2500.00 USD, maybe more.

If you part out the bike, you may be holding a lot of parts for a while and/or sending a lot to the scrap heap such as rims, etc. The motorcycle fraternity is very frugal when it comes to buying parts.

I just bought a 1985 Limited Edition carcass for $250.00 CDN. Lots of good parts will be salvaged and kept. Not a lot will be going to the scrap heap. A few pics of what $250 CDN bought:

You could keep it as company for your other '85 Limited Edition. Just a few thoughts.

[WillIamBurnett]

Ernest, I really wished we lived closer lol I could trade off electrical work for your expertise and mechanical skills!

[Rednaxs60]

Love getting into electrical work as well.