Not familiar with BMWs...need some advice!

[caseylee]

I've been looking for a new-to-me bike for next riding season.  Looking to do some weekend excursion this summer and wanted something a little more sport-touring oriented (currently on a Kawasaki ZR7s).  I will also be commuting a pretty good bit next year (100 miles one way).  I have found a 2001 R1150 for sale locally with only 15k miles on the odometer.  The guy is just wanting to get rid of it due to not having time to ride and said I could have it for $4500.  Seems a bit cheap to me but everything seems to be in great condition besides a small rip in the seat.  What all should I look for when buying used on this model?  I haven't had a chance to give it a good going over yet but plan to in the next few days.  Just want to get some opinions from you guys......

Also another thing I am worried about is maintenance.  The closest BMW dealer around here is about a 4 hour ride for me.  How bad off do you think I would be on the maintenance end?  I'm mechanically savvy and have always done my own but I figured the BMW would be a little more than I can handle....

[miles]

Maintenance on R bikes is pretty easy, actually.  Unlike I4 bikes, everything you might need to work on is out in the open (once the plastics are off).
Get the shop manual.  It's worth it.


miles

[info]

They are easy to work on. Generally just valve adjustments and fluid changes.
Ride it, make sure it doesn't pop out of gear. It does tend to clunk a bit shifting though.
Surging is a problem in that engine.
I am assuming an R1150R so no tupperware...

[big papa]

Get on this site and ask away.
 
r1150r.org
 
The 1150R is a great bike to have if you are far from the dealer. Many owners do all the maintenance themselves. The new K-bikes are another story...

[info]

Check out ebay item #320055469047
A new LT being sold by Orlando BMW for $17995 after the first 3 payments by BMW. BMWFS has a deal going on(check the BMW website.) I saw a new one for 18,900 OTD before taxes. Did they tell you about the finance deal??

[dflow]

At 15K miles anything wrong with it should be obvious with a good look and a test ride. That is a good price and you better move fast on it if interested. As for maintainance, oilheads are easy to work on if you have good mechanical skills to begin with and a support group to teach you some of the basics like anti-surge fixes. Good luck.

[bikerfish1100]

do not hesitate. unless something really appears to be wrong, i'd be all over that like deal white on rice.
probably no easier model line to work on for the shade tree mechanic than a boxer (for the typical issues, anyways).

[Driveshaft]

If you deside you don't want it, I'll come and get it.  Just tell me where.
 
Yea they are super easy to work on and mostly bullet proof.  Some people just don't dig the vibes from a Boxer though.

[RickC1957]

do not hesitate. unless something really appears to be wrong, i'd be all over that like deal white on rice.
probably no easier model line to work on for the shade tree mechanic than a boxer (for the typical issues, anyways).

[cworley5150]

Grab it fast!  That's a pretty decent price.  I do all of my own maintenance on mine.  It's honestly kinda fun.  
 
See if you can take it for a little ride.  Fantastic bike, but they are not for everybody.  Myself, I love the boxer twin.  When they are properly tuned, they don't actually vibrate that much.  I get great mileage and love all that torque.

[cole]

I say take it for a ride to see if you really like it from there you might just have to have it or you may not. Being far from the dealer really not a big deal. Maintenance is easy and what is the chance that something will go that you cannot fix yourself.

[def38]

I've been looking for a new-to-me bike for next riding season. Looking to do some weekend excursion this summer and wanted something a little more sport-touring oriented (currently on a Kawasaki ZR7s). I will also be commuting a pretty good bit next year (100 miles one way). I have found a 2001 R1150 for sale locally with only 15k miles on the odometer. The guy is just wanting to get rid of it due to not having time to ride and said I could have it for $4500. Seems a bit cheap to me but everything seems to be in great condition besides a small rip in the seat. What all should I look for when buying used on this model? I haven't had a chance to give it a good going over yet but plan to in the next few days. Just want to get some opinions from you guys......
 
Also another thing I am worried about is maintenance. The closest BMW dealer around here is about a 4 hour ride for me. How bad off do you think I would be on the maintenance end? I'm mechanically savvy and have always done my own but I figured the BMW would be a little more than I can handle....

If you are savvy, the BMW is the easiest motorcycle to maintain on the planet. And, the 2001 is likely the easiest oilhead vintage regarding maintenance. At 15,000 miles, the bike is barely broken in. Act fast and get back to us so we can help. If necessary, message me at def@wtez.net.

[bikerfish1100]

btw- if you decide against buying it- I WANT FIRST DIBS!! seriously- if not for me as a second bike, then i know people who would love one of those, especially at that price (probably about $1-2K below what i would expect a fair price to be!)

[Driveshaft]

btw- if you decide against buying it- I WANT FIRST DIBS!! seriously- if not for me as a second bike, then i know people who would love one of those, especially at that price (probably about $1-2K below what i would expect a fair price to be!)

 
Now now, I had dibs in post 7.

[bikerfish1100]

Now now, I had dibs in post 7.

dude, you SUCK!! allright, i'll get back in line. but if you  pass it by.....

[sagerat]

You might want to see if it had the dreaded surging problem.  That era boxer, IIRC, had a deal where at lower RPMs the engine would surge as the computer tried to find the correct fuel mapping.
 
The twin spark boxers (two sparkplugs per cylinder) eliminated the problem.  Not all Beemers of that era had the problem.
 
Of course one solution that for some reason people hated to do was just downshift.

[dflow]

Yea sagerat is right. The surging problem is awful just plan awful. You better pass on it, in fact you all better pass. Now what is the owners info so I can warn him to.

[Boxerdawg]

I never had the surging problem, but I have '04 1100S, twin spark.  The vibes can be quelled somewhat with correct [and self-done] tune-up, especially throttle body synching.  I do my own maintainence and as the others said, it's pretty easy.  
I have spoken with boxer owners who swear that their new exhaust fixed the vibes.   I'd only go that route if I really wanted a louder bike.  
And yeah. $4500 is a really good price for that vintage boxer.

[def38]

Contrary to popular belief, surging is easy to cure.

It has little to do with TB sync.

It DOES have to do with valve timing and ignition.

If your boxer surges, it is not being maintained properly. If your boxer surges and you want to cure it, let me know.

[Against The Wind]

I hate BMW's I hate BMW's I hate BMW's..........




I have to keep telling myself that. The problem is that I went to the bike show this weekend and sat on the new R1200R.........about 5-6 times........and now I have this problem........which could cost me $16,000 Cdn to fix.

Dayum that is one good looking bike.