Pre-loved BMW R850R: how much?

Hi Chaps,

Where do you find used price guide for bikes? I've found a couple but
they're not particularly comprehensive.

I've been offered a 52-plate R850R with "6 or 7 thousand" miles on the
clock, father-and-son owners since new, apparently in excellent condition
and major-serviced less than a year ago (the bike, not the father and son).

Worth £3k? Sounds fairly good to me but it's 120 miles away so I'm not
going to go and take a look unless the price is reasonable.

Anything to look out for on these, apart from the silly prices at BMW main
dealers?

Cheese,
R.

 

It all depends on condition. Can the low mileage be verified by MOT
certificates? If it is then it's unlikely to be suffering from corrosion
or paint flaking. Does it have useful extras like heated grips, ABS or
luggage? If it has ABS does it pass the self test (need to ask the owner
to demonstrate by riding the bike a few yards until the light goes out).

If the bike is very shiny then people will pay £3k or more for any low
mileage boxer twin of that era. They will become very popular as time
goes on as they are simple & relatively cheap to fix. The next
generation of BMWs got complcated electronics and loads of problems.

One thing to check: has the poly V belt been changed? Normally a 36k
service item but I would change a 9 year old one. Cheap part, easy DIY
job. Akin to changing a fan belt on a Mk1 Ford Escort.

 

I've given up on them and use the completed listings feature on ebay as
a useful guide

That'll be one of the pig-ugly R850Rs rather than the rather stylish
later R850Rs then?

Sounds like it's right at the top end of the price range to me. If it
has genuinely had a full service and it's got the desirable extras (BMW
panniers) and not got the undesirable ones (ABS) then it might be
getting close to that but it would have to be particularly mint and lovely.

(based on the R1150R I had -
https://picasaweb.google.com/Thegits/Beemer?authkey=Gv1sRgCMT-ysGY_fqCygE&feat=email#)

They are big and heavy, a lot bigger and heavier than they look. And
surprisingly top heavy for a boxer.

Build quality is pretty shoddy; fasteners corrode and the paint only
seems loosely connected to the frame. A number of items are painted then
machined (front suspension arms, engine casings etc) so it's easy for
the paint to start lifting and corrosion to get in.

The ABS brakes rely on prayer, witchcraft and complex, regular and
expensive servicing. If I was looking for one, I'd be searching for a
non-ABS one as the servicing costs are prohibitive, and replacement
parts costs are high.

Fuel consumption isn't great, but can be helped by removing the cat.

Would I have another? Possibly. It would have to be another non-ugly
one, without ABS this time, and I'd probably try and get an 1150 as it
is a lot of bike for the smaller engine to lug about.

Apart from the things mentioned above, the thing that would put me off
most would be that it was just a bit boring. Altogether an uninvolving
ride. Great as transport, but I didn't want to jump on and play.

 

Brian Giles uses one as a courtesy bike for his customers. I really
enjoyed it.

Very sweet, handles well, just a nice naked bike. But £3k.... no.

 

The father is an old boy who hardly used it and the son, I know, has only
used it a couple of times apart from local tootling. I believe.

Thanks for the other info.

 

Hmm... I'm beginning to go off the idea. I shall check the condition and
try to find out whether it's one of the pig-ugly ones or one of the stylish
later ones.

I think a day out to Machynlleth is on the cards...

 

It's a bit like the original CX vs the Eurosport.

I think the later shape appeared in 03 so I suspect a 52 plate will be the
early type

Hmm. Not just round the corner then.

 

Nice roads for a bimble, though.

 

Oh certainly, though as it took us 5 (riding) hours to get from Glos to
Rhayader and back on Tuesday (Ledbury, Leominster, Kington on the way
there and Builth, Brecon, Abergavenny, Monmouth on the way back) and the
extra bit to Machynlleth will add about 2 hours round trip, it doesn't
make it a local visit for Rudy.

If you look at where's within 7 hours round trip, that means he can look
from Truro to Hull to Colchester and it still be as local, so unless
there's a compelling reason to look at the one in question, his options
are open.

Looking in biketrader, 850R options are somewhat limited, but there's a
lot more choice in the 1150Rs, though I'm getting confused now as there
are a lot of 01-on 1150s with the less ugly bodywork. Not sure if the
1150 got the revamp earlier or whatever.

Of course, if Rudy does get an R850/1150R with the later bodywork and
BMW luggage, I can then flog him the Givi rack/monokey fittings that
I've not got round to ebaying...

 

If it were my money, I'd probably be looking at this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201122389481449

or this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201122389489645

 

You went the wrong way. Twice.

 

Going to Wales and coming back?

 

Aye. Forget Ledbury & do Highnam - Newent - Dymock instead.

 

Came through there on Friday. It was open. No rain, see?

 

Yes, I see what you mean. They're higher mileage but I guess those engines
are good to go round the clock anyway, no? And the 1150 has to be a bit
nipper than the 850.

The reason I've been offered the bike is: it's someone I know who's been
offered 3k for it from a dealer and he thought he'd rather pass it on to a
friend to benefit from what he thinks is a slightly low price than see a
dealer add a grand on and pocket the difference. I was only considering it
from that point of view myself since I prefer something a bit sportier.

I'm going off the idea to some extent but I think I needed to read some of
your comments to help me get it all clear in my own mind.

I shall have to have a flick through Auto Trader when I get a moment...

Thanks again.

 

For some reason the 850R bike prices do seem to be holding up better
than I'd expected. I can't think why other than the presumption that
they are bought and owned by those that are in less of a hurry.

Regards the trade in value, I suspect that rather than offer a slightly
low price, the dealer might be offering a slightly high price to sweeten
the deal on whatever they're selling.

It could well be worth your friend asking the dealer what discount
they'd offer if they paid cash/didn't trade in so they can find out what
the dealer really thinks the 850 is worth.

 

Actually the 1150 might be a bit pokier but the 850 is a smoother
engine. For the 'R' that doesn't have to lug stupid amounts of plastic
around, I'd be happy with the 850.