Oh yay or you’ll regret it?

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

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 .

 

Thanks for the speed camera warning!

I am partial to a bit of jumping in, especially when I know there’s a good not expensive bike mechanic down the road who’s ex bmw.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

When I said.. I have one that's 90% 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.

 

Cheers. Although maybe not cheers after the mix up on the wine with your dinner

[Gerontious]

Can you tell I'm very slightly tipsy. Probably not. Decent meal acted as a cushion. And I drank a lot of water before coming back to my room. I'm alright.

[Guest]

I reckon it's a bit on the dear side for what it is and I'd be inclined to wonder about the mileage (as in why?).......but if you've decided this is the way you want to go, have a look at http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forum.php there's some good information on there. And not teaching you to suck eggs, but if there's any bike you fancy, just Googling "make/model issues" is usually quite revealing......don't be too hasty, there's 100's out there........they ain't gonna sell out overnight.....

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Bugger. I have a photo of my driving licence but not an actual licence. That will be arriving at the DVLA’s pleasure.

[mention]Gerontious[/mention] nope can’t tell but a bottle with dinner would lay me out!

[mention]Speedy23[/mention] true there’s always plenty of fish and I do have firm plans in other directions.

I’ll email them and see what they have to say.

[rennie]

I've bought bikes from DandK in the past,

they 're not the best people I've dealt with and not the worst!

buying imports is something that some people can live with others can't.

As long as you are aware of what you're buying and any pitfalls involved

I can't see a problem.

That does seem slightly expensive to me

[Gerontious]

the bike is definitely an import as it has a KM speedo. The only other difference to an official UK bike is that it might possibly have a Catalytic Converter in the exhaust. But that only depends on what country it came from. These were early days for those things, long before they became standard. Aside from that it will be identical.

It is at the high end, price wise. But not outrageously so. Typical for BMWs of this era it would very likely have been owned by someone older. Who used it very lightly. Perhaps only locally or maybe for a longer trip, once a year and the rest of the time it was garaged or it might have been a second bike. Bought solely to tour on. Who can say?

A GS from just a year later recently sold on eBay for £7000. Absolutely mint. With 8,000 miles I spat my coffee when I saw its price and just a few days later saw that it had sold.

The only thing to keep at the back of your mind is that it's 4000 miles shy of its 24K service. This is a major that costs silly money at a dealership, but maybe somewhat under £400 at an independent. I paid £370 for my last one. Oil and air filters changed. Valves checked. Fuel filter renewed. Engine, gearbox and final drive oil replaced. Brakes bled etc.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Thanks [mention]Gerontious[/mention] I emailed them, they txt me pretty quickly with the vin and number plate. It’s from Japan, guy said it’s very tidy. No backs story on the low mileage- “my boss goes out to Amercica and Japan. We bring in a container a week so if he sees something nice and clean with low mileage he snaps it up”

[Gerontious]

Same applies. Aside from the speedo and possible (but unlikely) cat. It will be identical to a uk bike. It would be very simple and not expensive to swap the speedo if you want. Japan has proper winters so it's unlikely to ever have seen bad weather. Also.. They use pure salt in their roads with none of the damaging grit we have to deal with here. Which goes some way to explain its condition.

I would. If I wanted one.

[Six30]

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

 

Yeh import , do an mot history check it only comes up with this years and last years .

[Gerontious]

I've seen the VIN report... And turns out the bike is even better than I expected.

If I was in the market for one... I would probably go for this one. Once it's MOTD then it will be fully legal on uk roads as the headlamp will be fixed. I would swap the speedo for a uk one... Simple. And then enjoy it.

[Six30]

It's mot'd until January 2020 .... I hate adverts that have no proper description , unless they've go to much time on thier hands anwering the phone with questions from people.

[Gerontious]

The description is a bit of a joke. Fortunately it's very easy to get the full details on the bike from BMW. Turns out, it's a Japanese bike and was built at the end of 2000. So, one of the last made and by that time BMW had ironed out all the niggling little faults of the earlier bike. It will be fully sorted. A few months later.. Along came the 1150.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

It is annoying when there’s no decent despcription because it’s a bit like a reference you read into what’s not being said.

I think I’d regret not having a look so I’m going to toddle down there soon.

Bit of a fly in the ointment though, I don’t have my replacement driving licence yet. I have a photo of the front and back.

I don’t know how it works I assumed they put your details into a system to check your licence is valid before they hand you the keys? Would the photo do?

[Stu]

forget the licence just take a deposit

[gogs01]

Bit of a fly in the ointment though, I don’t have my replacement driving licence yet. I have a photo of the front and back.

I don’t know how it works I assumed they put your details into a system to check your licence is valid before they hand you the keys? Would the photo do?

 

I think you'll find that your licence number and your National Insurance number allows someone to check that your licence is "clean" (or otherwise), so I would hope that a photocopy would be acceptable (they may want to photocopy the photocopy too).

You might want to confirm that with them before setting off though .....

[mikestrivens]

Take the full purchase price as cash and I’m sure they’ll let you have test ride.

[rennie]

Which D and K are you going to?

the one on the A34 in Newcastle under Lyme?

If so it's quite a big place with lots of bikes and accessories

and there's a good snack bar in the car park

[SometimesSansEngine]

Bit of a fly in the ointment though, I don’t have my replacement driving licence yet. I have a photo of the front and back.

I don’t know how it works I assumed they put your details into a system to check your licence is valid before they hand you the keys? Would the photo do?

 

As [mention]gogs01[/mention] says, it's worthwhile offering to take the pic so you can enter your details into here in front of them and view your full up to date entitlement? In effect that actually tells them more than just the licence as it will also show up any points etc.

https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record/licence-number

[Guest Richzx6r]

the bike is definitely an import as it has a KM speedo. The only other difference to an official UK bike is that it might possibly have a Catalytic Converter in the exhaust. But that only depends on what country it came from. These were early days for those things, long before they became standard. Aside from that it will be identical.

It is at the high end, price wise. But not outrageously so. Typical for BMWs of this era it would very likely have been owned by someone older. Who used it very lightly. Perhaps only locally or maybe for a longer trip, once a year and the rest of the time it was garaged or it might have been a second bike. Bought solely to tour on. Who can say?

A GS from just a year later recently sold on eBay for £7000. Absolutely mint. With 8,000 miles I spat my coffee when I saw its price and just a few days later saw that it had sold.

The only thing to keep at the back of your mind is that it's 4000 miles shy of its 24K service. This is a major that costs silly money at a dealership, but maybe somewhat under £400 at an independent. I paid £370 for my last one. Oil and air filters changed. Valves checked. Fuel filter renewed. Engine, gearbox and final drive oil replaced. Brakes bled etc.

Left hand drive aswell?

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

[mention]gogs01[/mention] and [mention]SometimesSansEngine[/mention] thankyou for the suggestions I’ll ring and check they’re ok with it tomoz.

[mention]rennie[/mention] it is that one and crikey I somehow with typical maporexia (thats the word for people who are rubbish with maps... that I just made up) thought oh look it’s only a little bit above Birmingham... it’s 2 1/2 hours from where I live

What are the reasons behind some people shuddering at the idea of buying an imported bike?

[mention]mikestrivens[/mention] I can’t cross the M4 border with 4 grand in my pocket it’s not safe

[skyrider]

I have nothing against imports I have had three and still got one of them and they have all been greys

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

And while I’m here how I would go about sourcing a speedo for it in MPH?

[Gerontious]

What are the reasons behind some people shuddering at the idea of buying an imported bike?

 

Whatever they are, they don't apply to BMWs

This Japanese market BMW will be identical in almost every respect to a uk bike. There are just two differences and one will be fixed to get the bike through its MOT. And that is the aim of the headlight on dip.

The other difference is the speedo. Which can be changed. Just buy a used taken one from a broken UK bike. Remove the KPH one and photograph them side by side. Then fit the UK one to the bike. That way you have a record of the total miles the bike has done from new to when you bought it, did the swap and forward to when you sell it. A used speedo will cost £65 https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=10&M=30&Ct=QA&SbCt=BA_10_30_QA_50 you should also ask if the sensor needs to be changed too, I'm unsure about that. But Motorworks will give you the correct answer.

Aside from those two the bike, all it's parts and all parts it will need for servicing are identical to UK bikes and are easily sourced from either one of the 3 specialist parts sellers/breakers. Motorbins, Motorworks and James Sherlock. Or from BMW direct, via a dealership.

It's nothing like a Japanese import where parts are difficult to get hold of because, for instance, the bike was made for and only sold within Japan. And many of its parts are exclusive to that one particular model.

Edited February 27, 2019 by Gerontious

[rennie]

The speedo and the possible different specs.along with lower resale values are what puts people off.

also with some grey imports spares availability could be an issue.

some imports (american mainly) are restricted.

The only issue I can see with this 1 is the speedo.

I think you should at least go look at it.

It will be a good day out at least

posting at the same time as Tony