You want a nice reliable BMW, you do

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007.

  1. Timo Geusch

    Des Guest

    Are new BMs that bad ?

    Really.

    'Cos I want a K1200S...

    D.
     
    Des, Jul 12, 2007
    #21
    1. Advertisements

  2. Timo Geusch

    Hog Guest

    Hog, Jul 12, 2007
    #22
    1. Advertisements

  3. Timo Geusch

    Hog Guest

    Hmm just a thought, I could pick it up for you. Can be garaged here for a
    few days.

    ebay 130131308816
    1987 BMW K75S SILVER ULTRA LOW MILEAGE 36,000 MILES

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:uk
     
    Hog, Jul 12, 2007
    #23
  4. Timo Geusch

    deadmail Guest

    I know, crying shame really 'cos it looks just perfect.
     
    deadmail, Jul 12, 2007
    #24
  5. Timo Geusch

    darsy Guest


    well, it's based on the California, which is definitely a cruiser. And
    one of the Jap cruisers (Suzuki Intruder??) has flat bars too.
     
    darsy, Jul 12, 2007
    #25
  6. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #26
  7. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Ah yes, I've seen that on the Gpz550 I used to have.

    Right, tyres aren't that big a problem for me as most of my riding is on
    motorways at fairly constant speeds.
    Hmm. You do know how heavily the M20 is policed?
    Guess I'll give it four weeks until Nige sells his "brilliant" example
    then :).
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #27
  8. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    *ding*. It's comfy, filters easily because it's rather narrow without
    the panniers and will sit at 80-90 all day long. And the weather
    protection is superb.

    There's someone with a K1200LT in the same carpark and I keep looking at
    that wondering how they went from the 1100 to *that*.
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #28
  9. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Modern BMWs aren't any more reliable either, and hardly anybody makes
    something that's comparable to a K1100LT. That's the reason while
    they're still popular. Like the 1100 Pan Euro, because it's a better
    bike than the 1300.

    Yes, I can think of one or two bikes that are as comfy (at least for me)
    and have the same kind of weather protection. They'd probably get me
    banned from UKRM for life, too.
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #29
  10. Exactly my own sentiments, from start to finish.

    I remember Hog singing the praises of his ex-Plod one, when he was
    trying to get me to sell it, and I just didn't see what he was on about.
    I do now. It is fabulously good at doing the job it was designed to do.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Jul 12, 2007
    #30
  11. Effortless hours in the saddle at any speed and quick if you have the
    bollox or giving Loz a reason d'etre?
     
    steve auvache, Jul 12, 2007
    #31
  12. Timo Geusch

    deadmail Guest

    Well, I've done (approximately):

    - 10k on one K100; no breakdowns (although I did replace the rings
    because it drank a bit of oil- it had done >100k).

    - 60k on another (it had done almost 60k when I bought it). Three
    breakdowns; 1 and 2 due to a failed fuel pump solder joint, 2 due to my
    kinking a fuel pipe when putting the tank back on.

    - 10k on my current K75 (it's done almost 70k now), no breakdowns but I
    did have to replace the clutch when I bought it.

    - 9k on my K1100 (it's done about 48k now), no breakdowns.

    So, I don't think that old BMWs are unreliable. Some might be, others
    aren't. I have the impression that new BMWs are less reliable.

    If I was convinced something newer would offer me the weather protection
    of a K series fairing, had the road presence (to make people think it's
    a police bike...) and was as easy and reliable to ride, I'd get it.
    Unfortunately I don't think it's out there at the moment.

    Anyway, you're not really in a position to judge, you've only had one
    shitty old boxer IIRC.
     
    deadmail, Jul 12, 2007
    #32
  13. Timo Geusch

    deadmail Guest

    Will that be the one with less miles and in far better condition than
    the one he bought?
     
    deadmail, Jul 12, 2007
    #33
  14. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    Well, I've done:

    - about 10k on a K100 16V. Sold on because of my arm injury - bike was
    fine. However it happened to be a pranged one I rebuilt.
    - about 4k on a K75S that I bought with 100k+ on the clock. Never broke
    down, but the gearbox was getting knackered. Sold for spares and
    repair, though.
    - 6k since I bought the K1100LT in February. No breakdown until last
    night, and given that all it had had was a couple of cleans and a full
    service just after I bought it, that's not bad.
    I have tried to think of something that'll meet those criteria and I
    haven't come up with something either. The GS and the KTM Adventure
    twins have the road presence but not the weather protection. Glodwings,
    K1200LTs, Trophys and Harley tourers probably have the weather
    protection but either don't filter that well and/or are massively
    expensive.
    1100GS, AFAIR.
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #34
  15. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    No problems apart from the ones that have already been diagnosed by
    UKRM.
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #35
  16. Timo Geusch

    wessie Guest

    wessie, Jul 12, 2007
    #36
  17. Timo Geusch

    Timo Geusch Guest

    I know about the 65, couldn't remember if it was an 1100 or an 1150...

    Yeah I know, sad cunts'r'us.
     
    Timo Geusch, Jul 12, 2007
    #37
  18. Timo Geusch

    deadmail Guest

    Ah. I didn't remember correctly. Still boxers. Pah.
     
    deadmail, Jul 12, 2007
    #38

  19. <Nods>
     
    The Older Gentleman, Jul 13, 2007
    #39
  20. Timo Geusch

    Jérémy Guest

    The panniers come off very easily, then the widest point is the bars.

    Redline is actually at 8000rpm. Something disappointing happens at around
    8300 (limiter?) but it's still just about possible to get illegal on a
    French autoroute in 2nd, which is more than enough for me.
     
    Jérémy, Jul 13, 2007
    #40
    1. Advertisements

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.