K75RT with Squire RX4 sidecar

Bobbin-Man

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In 1995 my dad bought a brand new BMW K75RT from Colwyn Bay Motorcycles and promptly took it down to Squire in Moreton-in-Marsh to have an RX4 sidecar fitted, I think at the time the RX4 was the flagship of the Squire range. He had everything colour matched, leading link forks fitted (we still have the original forks) and since '95 has covered just short of 21,000 miles, sometimes with my mum, sometimes with grandchildren, and in recent years more often than not with his Jack Russell for company trundling through the lanes of North Wales. The RX4 is wide enough to accommodate my mum and the dog or even a couple of the grandchildren when they were younger.

Sadly in October, at the age of 82 my dad died following a year long battle with cancer, so we now have a one owner K75 with sidecar in the garage and going nowhere. I wouldn't know where to start to advertise it for sale or even what sort of value to put on it, therefore would really appreciate it if anyone with knowledge of these things could help me out. I'm aware that I can't place an advert on here without putting a price on it so before I do, please can anyone message me with any advice on where to start?

Stu.
 

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Lovely thing. I fear either the sale of it 'as is' or separate will be a financial hammer blow as it'll no doubt be worth way more to the family as a memory ?

Sorry can't help with what is best to do....if it were me and I didn't need the cash I'd be sorely tempted to approach a museum and see if it was something they'd display. Taking my grandkids in years to come, to go see Great Grandads old outfit and knowing others were seeing it in all its glory would be sufficient for me.
No doubt I'll be an odd one out.

All the best with whatever you do
 
Looks like a nicely sorted outfit. :thumb
Sorry about the loss of your dad.

Selling outfits is much like selling classic bikes, as there's no strict book price for them.
Effectively, you ask what you want for it and a buyer pays what they're prepared to.

If you look at building something like that from scratch it's cost a fair bit of money, so something between half that cost and two thirds would be a reasonable area as a price guide for a private sale.

How about contacting Watsonian Squire and asking if they're interested in buying it or doing an on commission sale for you?
Perhaps ask the mainly Ural/Jawa specialist David Angel at F2 Motorcycles too.
Or even contact the Federation of Sidecar Clubs for assistance.

Given the circumstances though, I could never sell it.
If you decide to keep it but can't ride a combo yourself, I'll gladly teach you.
 
Selling outfits is much like selling classic bikes, as there's no strict book price for them.
Effectively, you ask what you want for it and a buyer pays what they're prepared to.

This!

In my 6 months of owning outfits I bought initially a 1996 Yam Diversion with a Watsonian chair for £2995. It didn't quite work for us and I put it back up for sale at £2995. One cyber tyre kicker told me it was overpriced and to come back to him with a more realistic figure :blast The chap who bought for it £2995 did so unseen and he texted me a few days later to say he loved it and it was perfect for him. He knew about the cost of putting these things together!

The second outfit is a 1986 K100 with a massive Oxford Watsonian chair, I bought for £2000 and it's perfect, the bike suits my height better plus wife and dog can sit side by side (and I don't have to pick up the 33kg hound and drop him in his space) :D


Bobbin-Man

That oufit looks beautiful and personally I wouldn't sell either, I'd recommend you take up Tarka's offer of lessons. Riding these things are such great fun!
 
Thanks for all the kind words and helpful advice.

I've ridden it a few times over the years and although combinations aren't everyone's cup of tea I've found it quite good fun. It has the additional left foot brake pedal for the sidecar wheel which keeps it quite balanced stopping or even using it round left-handers if you're feeling confident, although it rides perfectly well if you don't use it. My dad certainly found the combination a talking point whenever he stopped on his travels ... particularly with a dog on board!

Regarding keeping it, it's just not an option. I did consider it but I've got no space left for any more toys ... with the GS, a Caterham and a classic Mini I'm already overdoing the boys-toys status and something else just wouldn't work.
 
The federation of sidecar clubs Facebook page would be a good start if you do want to sell. A nice outfit with a known history would be welcome I'd have thought.

But as said outfit prices vary massively.
I'd say £3k to 5k would be reasonable range.

That said...The best advice is take Tarka up on his offer and use it. They are great fun.
 
I’ve never been a fan of outfits having been a petrified passenger on a makeshift BSA Goldstar with wooden platform when I was 16 and can’t quite see the point. However with the provenance of yours I’d be tempted to find a local BMW or classic bike dealer to display it and sell on commission. Nothing to lose and it provides space for your other toys. I also heard talk that Reiten Motorrad we’re considering building a R1250 GS outfit and perhaps they’d be interested as they often display older BMW’s. Just a thought.
 
Oh this is so tempting to tax it and start using it ... maybe that's for the spring though if we still have it!
 
Firstly, sorry to hear about your Dad.

If it was me,and I was in your position,there is no way that I would part with it; it looks a well put together outfit,the way an outfit should be built.

Keep it and use it. Whilst outfits aren't for everyone,for those that "get it", they are a lot of fun once one gets good at driving one!

Enjoy it:D
 
Oh this is so tempting to tax it and start using it ... maybe that's for the spring though if we still have it!

If you’ve got the space to keep it in then hang onto it. Sidecars are an acquired taste but once you’ve mastered them they’re great fun and that one is certainly a credit to your late dad who must have loved it to have kept it that long.
 
RE: Davey Bs suggestion

Consider contacting the Speyer/Sinsheim Museums in Germany. If they are interested, the outfit remains yours, and they look after it in perfect storage conditions. They hope that you will come over and ride it on their open days.
You may take it back again at any time.
You and your family become "Friends of the Museum" with passes to visit anytime without charge.
 
Hi Bobbin-Man, I pm'd you to know if you are selling or keeping this outfit, and if selling what is the asking price? Ta...
 
Anyone who has any doubts about how much fun a combination is, can't have seen Bakerman's manic grin, two-wheeling his R80 combination at speed around the campsite in Andover. :D

I miss those events. :(
 
What a lovely thing with a nice history.

Sorry to hear about your Dad.

I wonder if this would fit in my tiny garage :)

RBW.
 
Amazing what stays on the Internet. I bought this a couple of months ago, It's a credit to your late father. Ironically I bought it after loosing my parents. At present it's in at watsonian having the frame powdercoated, set up and a seat belt fitted for my dog. I am in South West Wales..if you are passing at anytime and would lime to see it in its new home feel free to shout
 


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