Unnecessary Motorcycle Shopping With Mercedes Update: It got Away

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
07/11/2019 at 09:46 • Filed to: unnecessary motorcycle shopping with mercedes, unnecessary car shopping without E90M3, Two Wheels Good

So the guy sold it. He told me the soonest he’d be available was Saturday and despite that he sold it on Wednesday. Told him it was a bucket list bike and I was bringing a trailer, so he knew I was motivated. Oh well, that’s how this stuff works. Hope he got his asking price. :)

BMWs and Triumphs remain the big fish that keep getting away!

As for the DT175 I’ll hold onto it for a bit longer. I’ve been wanting to replace the offroad rubber with street rubber. Then I’d maybe ride it more!

Original:

I may or may not have mentioned it here before, but I have a bucket list of bikes much like I have a bucket list of cars. Two brands seemingly unattainable for my budget have been Triumph and BMW...and I’m not surprised, they are popular and well-loved bikes.

Whenever I do see a BMW or Triumph made in the past 20 years show up on the marketplace in my budget in decent condition, they disappear before I even fire off a message to the seller. But not this time! I’m first in line to take a look at this gorgeous 1995 BMW K75.

It has 20k on the clock, comes with a ton of extras, a title, and looks to be in good condition for its very tempting $500 price. Oh, and it’s fuel injected! :D Only issue is that it stopped starting a couple weeks ago. It turns over strongly but doesn’t fire. Some research on BMW K forums suggests it could be a very easy and cheap fix.

Of course, my commitment to keeping a static number of vehicles in the stable remains, so the bike this would replace is my little DT175. It’s the bike I ride the least and I already have another two stroke in the stable anyway. Anyone want a two stroke?

DISCUSSION (21)

Pickup_man > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 11:18

I’m really tempted to take the DT175 off your hands, but I’m buying a truck tonight and I think I’ve officially hit the point of I have too much stuff. I gotta cut back and get some projects off my plate, and gain more space before I can start gathering again.

Seems like a sweet deal on that BMW though! Hopefully it’s as cheap and easy of a fix as you anticipate. Keep us updated!

bob and john > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 11:21

“BMW K forums suggests it could be a very easy and cheap fix.”

uh huh. if it was cheap and easy to do, then seller would have done it.
The price IS right however. I’m just leary of ‘cheap and easy to fix’ my left nut it is.

Mercedes Streeter > bob and john
07/10/2019 at 11:28

I asked the seller why he didn’t fix it. He claims to be an old guy and doesn’t feel like troubleshooting or paying a shop to do it. Of course, I’ll see for sure when I look at it.

Fixes for a no start condition seem to range from loose ground to “replace this kinda expensive part”...so basically like the other Germans in my fleet.

Mercedes Streeter > Pickup_man
07/10/2019 at 11:33

Knowing my luck the fix will be “engine replacement” xD but I like myself a challenge.

Fun fact: You know that GSX1100G I bought in January? Apparently it lost fifth gear not long after its new owner started riding it. DEFINITELY dodged a bullet there.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 11:48

I am very interested in in the DT175.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 11:50

I’d buy that Yamaha from you if you were close enough. Ah well.

bob and john > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 11:50

FWIW, the starter went on my F800R at one point.

$500 for the new part. dealer only. Bought a used one (from the friggen neatherlands) for 1/2

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 12:11

Oh, I love the K75, especially the ‘S’ model . Along with the Honda GB500, this is one of the bikes I wish I bought when I had a little extra cash.

Kinja'd!!!

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 12:27

I had a feeling you would be! :D It runs and rides, though the wheels can use some work. Rear wheel is missing a couple spokes and the front tire has dry rot. Tube was good so I kinda ignored it. Since the title is a bit nonexistent I’ve just been riding it to and from work.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 12:32

Those are minor details that just make it cheaper though ;)

Do not sell it without giving me a chance to buy it!

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 12:57

Cheap and e asy is relative, but every time I’ve sold something with known issues, they’ve been annoying or difficult to rectify. Troubleshooting early fuel injection systems can be quite the adventure.

Sounds like a deal though, I’d probably jump on it too.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 12:59

Fair point! No worries, Oppos and friends get a discount anyway! :)

I’ll delete the ad shortly (dealing with a salty buyer).

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters
07/10/2019 at 13:11

The owner says he didn’t even bother to start troubleshooting. It stopped working and he just decided to sell it. Starter cranks over the engine really hard so I guess it’s just seeing if it has spark and/or fuel. I’m hoping it’s one of those little things German vehicles die because like a loose ground or something. Worst case (hopefully) , I’ll probably spend a couple benjis on a broken part and have a $700 BMW. lol

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 13:19

Thankfully those have a pretty knowledgeable owner base, and the bikes are old enough that whatever problem you are having.... someone else has already had. Might be as easy to troubleshoot as a failed fuel pump, might be as complicated as a failed ECU

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 14:00

“ Anyone want a two stroke?”

well, yeah.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 14:53

Oh btw! How is the Scooter Gambler going?

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/10/2019 at 16:16

Looks like shop-teacher’s going for it lol

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 18:01

A few of us may do Galena to Rochester, MN, but that’s still up in the air. I’ll let you know if that happens . We never found a venue worth crashing, with anything fun around it to ride around Chicago.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
07/10/2019 at 18:34

Oh that sounds fun!! Hmmm..yeah I’m not sure about how a Chicago-centric scooter gambler would work.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
07/10/2019 at 22:21

I wasn’t able to come up with anything that seemed fun enough to be worth doing.

I’ll let you know if the Galena to Rochester thing happens.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Mercedes Streeter
07/11/2019 at 10:15

The first bike I owned was a 72 Yamaha CS5 200cc two-stroke.

that thing was a chainsaw on wheels. That isn’t really a compliment. I bought a Honda Hawk GT after that.

A BMW R1100S or K1200R-Sport are on my wish list. Either that, or dressing a newer R1200R cam-head in R1100S bodywork, and a Duolever front suspension converted from Paralever and Duolever parts, as an update. I like boxer engines, Hossack suspension, and slick half-faired bodywork. The R1100S under-tail stock exhaust was cool, too.