BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Anyone fancy restoring a R45, just seen this on on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326389507794 ... -19255-0/1

My brother had one of these in the early 80s and I rode it quite a few times. History has written them as underpowered overweight slugs, and yes when I got off the RD400 and rode his R45 it felt it, but put it into the territory it, well most BMW's of the time were designed for at the time at it purred along quite nicely. Put it this way, given the choice of having to do 200miles on a motorway I know which one of the two I'd prefer to have ridden. Admittedly the R65 had the power the 45 needed, but at 35bhp the R45 is only 3.5hp down on the new Triumph 400 and peope accept that quite readily.

Would I buy one that needs restoring, no. BMW parts for a 40yr old bike, (if they're still available) will be expensive and it's unlikely there will be many aftermarket part or bike in breakers yards either. Plus, a quick search on the net and for less than 2,000 euro you can buy a decent condition runner from Germany. A MPH sticker on the clocks, a secondhand headlight and you're away.

I had one back in the 90’s when I was doing CBT’s, it was perfect for that. But I wouldn’t consider it as a rebuild because it would very easily out-price itself if anything major became apparent.

The problem with these old airheads is that they do not store well. It may have been a good runner, when stashed away. However, by now the gearbox output shaft bearings will have rusted, as the shaft sits above the gearbox oil. So, a gearbox out and overhaul is going to be likely (DAMHIK!). If everything else is OK, then it might be recomissioned for under £1000. Whether it is worth it or not depends on your point of view. If it were me, I'd want to do the cosmetics as well, then it becomes financially non-viable and just a "labour of love".

Happy New Year,

Old Foxy