Oh yay or you’ll regret it?

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Paging all wise mechanical wizard types. What do you think? Not about it’s looks, I like them but on buying a bike this old? Would it be a clanger that I’d regret or given the low mileage would it be ok? What should I look out for on an aged BMW?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201901073706337?advertising-location=at_bikes&make=BMW&keywords=Panniers&postcode=bs229lh&radius=1500&sort=price-asc&page=4

edit: apart from the width

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by Slowlycatchymonkey

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

The only thing I know is that a mate had one and the cost of parts was eye watering. But he loved it all the same.

[Bender]

If your after it because it's old and expensive then it's fine

[Mr Fro]

K reg... 1997?

[Tiggie]

K reg... 1997?

 

1997 would be P or R

If its A K reg that would be 92-93

[Guest Richzx6r]

K reg... 1997?

 

More like a 1993/4 is it not??

[Guest Richzx6r]

My Nissan is a j reg and 1992

[Tiggie]

[Stu]

Being sold by dk its more than likely an import hence the reg/year discrepancy

Low mileage can sometimes be a bad thing but then it depends how its been stored and looked after

Hardly used can mean things start to seize up like suspension bearings etc

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

It is expensive but it’s low (I’m short), it’s goiing to be reasonably close to the bike I have so I won’t ride it resentfully wishing it was my 9T, it’s already racked out with panniers and a screen which is a bonus. It wasn’t really what I had on my radar but I was browsing as you do and thought hmm why not ask those in the know whether they’d take a look or pass!

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Being sold by dk its more than likely an import hence the reg/year discrepancy

Low mileage can sometimes be a bad thing but then it depends how its been stored and looked after

Hardly used can mean things start to seize up like suspension bearings etc

 

So if you rode it and it went well would you think that it’s ok?

[Stu]

Looking at the photos it looks very very clean I would say it's been well looked after

[Guest Richzx6r]

Personally I'd pass as the age discrepancy, the low mileage meaning it's not been used that much and you can't really be sure about how it's been stored as things may look nice and shiny on the outside but it's the things you cant see that will cause the problems, though the price isnt too bad getting spares could be difficult to find and expensive to boot, but hey it's your money at the end of the day

[Arwen]

Old BMW check list:

Check for slipping clutch. It's more like changing a car clutch if it needs changed…

Final drive seal leaks/dried out.

Final drive bearing - put the bike on the center stand and wiggle the rear wheel from side to side. If it's very wobbly, then it's a pain of a job to do.

Check for very noisy valves/tappet noise.

Personally, I would have one that has been looked after by an experienced bike mechanic/owner no matter what the mileage was.

If you want more info, my other half has the R1150gsa, his brother has a R1100r. They both do pretty much all the work on their bikes, so know then pretty well!

The one you have linked to looks in fantastic condition. The 6months warrant makes me think it is probably fine. Give it a good look over for dried out rubber seals.

[Stu]

Being sold by dk its more than likely an import hence the reg/year discrepancy

Low mileage can sometimes be a bad thing but then it depends how its been stored and looked after

Hardly used can mean things start to seize up like suspension bearings etc

 

So if you rode it and it went well would you think that it’s ok?

 

A ride doesn't always give you an idea on suspension linkage bearings! The only real way is to strip it and look!

This was my suspension bearings on a low mileage bike that had been sat for a while!

 

Although mine was nowhere near as clean and looked like it had done at least one winter! And stored outside

[Gerontious]

These are great bikes. I have one... Just 3 years younger and it's been a great bike that has taken me all over Europe. Age isn't a factor with these bikes. You buy them based on one thing only, and that's condition. For the price asked I would expect perfection/near mint. No engine paint flaking (for example).

It's an absolute must that you road test it first. Gear shifts can be clunky and that's absolutely normal. During the road test everything should work as it should. There is one thing you must do though. Find a hill of moderate steepness. And at the bottom be in third gear, then open the throttle as full and as quickly as possible. The bike should leap up the hill. If the clutch slips, return the bike and say thanks, but no thanks. And wait patiently for another.

Don't worry about parts. There are 3 specialist breakers in the uk and parts are very easy to come by. Minor services are an absolute doddle. Majors.. Only a little more complicated. If it ticks your boxes and passes the hill climb test. Then consider parting with your money. One thing to be aware... Compared to new bikes these are tractors. Quick, but still tractors with a distinctly agricultural vibe. Which will be either a great laugh... Or if you're very refined, a bit tiresome.

I just had a thought.. At that mileage, assuming it's correct. The clutch should be fine.. So no need to hill climb. For its age it's exceedingly low mileage. Could easily be a great buy.

Edit. It looks completely standard aside from one very minor thing. It has the tadpole shape spark plug cover from an early 2000s 1150. No big deal.

If you can get its VIN that will tell you exactly when it was built.. To the month and which country it was originally sent to.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Being sold by dk its more than likely an import hence the reg/year discrepancy

Low mileage can sometimes be a bad thing but then it depends how its been stored and looked after

Hardly used can mean things start to seize up like suspension bearings etc

 

So if you rode it and it went well would you think that it’s ok?

 

A ride doesn't always give you an idea on suspension linkage bearings! The only real way is to strip it and look!

This was my suspension bearings on a low mileage bike that had been sat for a while!

2014-11-18 13.38.30.jpg

Although mine was nowhere near as clean and looked like it had done at least one winter! And stored outside

 

I will have bought whatever potential heartache I land on by then!!

ps I didn’t know they went rusty like that, all the bikes at college were shiny and clean, even the oil was clear!

[Stu]

So if you rode it and it went well would you think that it’s ok?

 

A ride doesn't always give you an idea on suspension linkage bearings! The only real way is to strip it and look!

This was my suspension bearings on a low mileage bike that had been sat for a while!

2014-11-18 13.38.30.jpg

Although mine was nowhere near as clean and looked like it had done at least one winter! And stored outside

 

I will have bought whatever potential heartache I land on by then!!

ps I didn’t know they went rusty like that, all the bikes at college were shiny and clean, even the oil was clear!

 

They can do if not serviced correctly!

To be honest if I was in the market for one of those then that's the bike I would be going for!

I wouldn't have no issues going for it as long as its as clean as it looks!

Get the reg number and check the mileage for each year to see what it's done as that will give you a better idea of if its not been ridden for a few years etc

[Guest Richzx6r]

I'll stand corrected but personally I wouldn't part with my money for it but each to they're own

[Tiggie]

ps I didn’t know they went rusty like that, all the bikes at college were shiny and clean, even the oil was clear!

 

That reminds me of a lad who came to work at the fish shop during the evening while going to catering college through the day. Every little thing was "its not like that at college" "college would never allow that"

Final straw came when he said we should never do any cleaning until we closed at night (just like college did) He was told by the owner "do whatever your tutor tells you to while in college, but in my shop, in the real world we start cleaning as early as possible so we can all bloody go home at a decent hour"

p.s. I'd get that bike, it looks bloody nice!!

[Gerontious]

Remember... It's a BMW and a pre-adventure bike craze BMW too. It has absolutely nothing in common with Japanese or other bikes. It dates from a time when BMW did things "their way" with zero regard for what the competition were up to. I just noticed... It's not an ABS bike, which is hardly surprising as it was an £800 upgrade that many buyers simply couldn't stomach and everyone was telling them was a BAD IDEA. And definitely not worth having.

It'll never catch on... They said. They almost all said.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

[mention]Gerontious[/mention] thankyou for the detailed info. I think I’m going to have a look. When you say you have one would I be correct in assuming it has a high seat height? That could throw a spanner in the works.

I’ll request the vin number and reg and see what it throws up. I almost wish I hadn’t seen it, it’s not the trail bike I had in mind (I’ll cross that bridge a bit later )

I like tractors. The first vehicle I drove was a tractor and at 15 it was first love. Until I drove the digger a week later when it was dumped like yesterday’s news A test ride would be needed to let me know if I could be happy on it for hours.

No ABS did make me pause for a moment.

[fastbob]

Yeah, get it if you want it . Not everything in life is about making sensible decisions , sometimes you just have to jump in . Anyway, its got six months warranty so that gives you until August to find out if anything is wrong with it . If you take a test ride watch out for speed cameras, they're as frequent as lampposts around D&K .

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

ps I didn’t know they went rusty like that, all the bikes at college were shiny and clean, even the oil was clear!

 

That reminds me of a lad who came to work at the fish shop during the evening while going to catering college through the day. Every little thing was "its not like that at college" "college would never allow that"

Final straw came when he said we should never do any cleaning until we closed at night (just like college did) He was told by the owner "do whatever your tutor tells you to while in college, but in my shop, in the real world we start cleaning as early as possible so we can all bloody go home at a decent hour"

p.s. I'd get that bike, it looks bloody nice!!

 

Lol there’s definitely a real world gap isn’t there. At uni they used to refer to it as ‘bridging the practice theory gap’

You used to have to write reflective essays on what you were taught and what actually happened in practice. I always found it bewildering, why did they just teach us what actually happens?!

[Gerontious]

When I said.. I have one that's 97% true. I have the GS version. Same bike... Just different geometry. Different looks. Slightly different gearbox. But the heart of the bike is exactly the same.

The engine that lasts forever.. The gearbox that's a bit clunky but just goes on and on. The shaft/clutch that's essentially the same. And that's almost the whole bike there. No proper frame... Just a subframe bolted to the engine to take the seat and tank. And a smaller one for the front end. Same wacky suspension. Obviously not as tall as a GS, more comfy, lower seat. And othe minor differences.

But at heart it's the same bike and only a very small step away from the R1150GSA that started the whole adventure bike insanity that's gripped the world.

Same bike. Just looks a little different, same bike though.

Edited February 26, 2019 by Gerontious