Optimist of the week?

http://search.ebay.co.uk/300380328163

'My eyes'.... can't believe anyone specced one in that colour combo.
from new.

 

Camoflage for the frozen north.
Unsurprisingly no bids at 5 grand.

 

That's the colour of the first model, yes. I have the original Bike
test, and their press bike was the same colour.

Not sure about the saddle, though.

Five grand is taking the piss, even for a dealer, especially as it
doesn't seem to have panniers.

 

It's low mileage because of the acute embarrassment of riding it.

And it hasn't even got heated grips (mine has ).

 

I had a spare tank from that colour scheme, curiously nobody else wanted it.

Clean bike but considering the foibles of the model year, £2500 max.

 

Not so obviously intended for a collector - it looks like it still has
the cast front weel that was subject to a warranty recall due to
collapsing spokes. Those wheels must be really rare these days )

 

Maybe it had a replacement wheel?

 

AFAIK, the replacement wheels had clearly visible extra webbing on the
central parts of the straight spokes, which this wheel not has. Also,
most later wheels had eight instead of 10 spokes.

Not long ago I got the impression the wheel replacement scheme still was
in force, but I am not sure any longer since this RT seems to be sold by
a BMW dealer (lots of BM merchandise in background of photos).

 

Heh, just noticed they auction another BM, a much nicer '78 RS with
apparently only 90 miles on it (Item number 300380327449). With the same
collapsing front wheel.

God knows how optimistic they really are; 3 bidders at 5.2 k£ and still
not met reserve.

And it will need being taken apart to replace engine oil seals, etc.,
etc., etc. . . .

 

An original RS with delivery mileage will have collectors plenty interested.
For me it would have to be the short seat model. Only a couple of days work
to get it all sorted. I'd want to look at the bores with an introscope
before buying.

 

Don't know what surprises me most, 9.9 k£ bid, or reserve not met. FFS,
it is only gold _paint_ on it.

In one way I missed the question "Howmuch additionally to sort it and
send it to Bogota?"

 

wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel,
wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel, wheel.

And I thought I had an eye for words.