Woke up today and deceided to buy a R1200R

[Philbie]

16th May 2010

ok, today was a hard day. none of the bikes on Bikesales.com.au are moving, and not many of them are local to my area, so haven't found anything new to look at. It's hard wanting one and not being able to have it. The dealers out of my area don't want to trade, so it doesn't give me many options.

Can't afford a new one, so looks like i'll have to keep waiting to see what come up.

[ka5ysy]

16th May 2010

ok, today was a hard day. none of the bikes on Bikesales.com.au are moving, and not many of them are local to my area, so haven't found anything new to look at. It's hard wanting one and not being able to have it. The dealers out of my area don't want to trade, so it doesn't give me many options.

Can't afford a new one, so looks like i'll have to keep waiting to see what come up.

This is your "Patience Test"

[Caroanbill]

Philbie

Some strange bikes and notations on bikesales.com.au - but the price range seems wierder yet
- a white bike for waaay too much ($25K) with Ohlins etc - but fitted with a Gearsack or Ventura rack???? Who'd pay for all those extra yet accept a butchered luggage system (you'd think the seller would remove it - it would actually reduce value on a BMW)
- a couple where they seem to have ABS related bits but no mention of ABS, and no pic showing whether there's an ABS ring or not. Since ABS is probably the most demanded (and highest priced) option, you'd think any seeler who knows BMW would feature it
- some quite cheap bikes at non-BMW dealers, also no mention of ABS ... still seems odd to re-sell a late mdoel BMW with saying whether or not it has factory panniers or ABS (since most BMW buyers look for these)
- some strange private ads, like the "beige metallic" one (cheap) where the seller hasn't mentioned or shown whether it has ABS or not

.. I may be rusted on the BMW brand, but I've come to be VERY suspicious of anyone selling a late model BMW without any idea of the model or brand features ...

Based on my experience looking for stock in 2007, I'd say there are quite a few early R12Rs in Australia without ABS. I got one of the first with ASC (traction control that requires ABS first) special order in late August 2007, and even then there were few ABS bikes in stock (probably because the non-ABS bikes wouldn't sell so dealers got caught with them). Others could probably comment on whether that situation persisted into 2008 or 2009.

I don't want to sell mine, but I did want to establish it's value - on a good look around the web, I'd say the Aussie second hand market for these is very confused ... the bike valuations on bikesales are laughably low, but understandable because BMW sold the base bike cheap - any options raised the price very quickly. Second hand, I think you'd add $1000 for ABS; $1000 for ESA (less desired so maybe worthless to some); up to $1000 for panniers plus a few hundred all up for other options (on board computer, ASC etc).

The best value seems to be the
- $22K with everything (and panniers) from Worthingtons
- $20K one with everything (plus topcase & panniers) from WA
- maybe the $17K one with ABS but no luggage from Jeffery Honda (melb)
... but they're a fair way from Euchuca!

[Philbie]

Thanks for the heads up,

interestingly, i looked at them all today also. and came up with the same information as you did.

I test rode that one at Jeffery Honda, it's the one i spoke about earlier. It's a joke, it's had three owners, has no BMW service history, and an unknown brand oil filter on it also. Has had a drop and been patched. has tyre pressure monitors (front one broken) and the ECU is displaying an error and it needs a new rear tyre. it's had a hard life......

as for the others, well, after my first experience above - needless to say I might have to get a local to check it out first before i look any harder.

[Caroanbill]

... I test rode that one at Jeffery Honda, it's the one i spoke about earlier. It's a joke, it's had three owners, has no BMW service history, and an unknown brand oil filter on it also. Has had a drop and been patched. has tyre pressure monitors (front one broken) and the ECU is displaying an error and it needs a new rear tyre. it's had a hard life......

... I might have to get a local to check it out first before i look any harder.

Yes indeed. I occasionally look at bikes in non-BMW dealerships, and the story is usually bad (and worse for older bikes). I think these dealerships don't know BMWs well eneough and get saddled with the ones no-one will take off their hands. My nephew worked in the trade a while, and his story was that serious dealers from other brands generally move BMWs on wholesale, and even then BWM dealers don't want them at anything close to value. BWM dealers generally seem to hold trades that they've paid a premium for to keep businesss, and their starting position (understandably) is to ask for the premium from the next buyer. However, you do sometimes see bargains - it pays to chat up the sales folk and get one before they have to advertise it.

What happened to Online MC at Albury? They used to do a good trade in wholesale'd used BMWs when they were a dealer.

Another source is the club ads - bikes are a bit overpriced but generally have reasonable histories, and sometimes there's a keen seller who doesn't need a premuim ... here's my old club, but no R12R there:
http://www.bmwmccact.org.au/classifieds.html
http://bmwtcnsw.org/classifieds.html
http://bmwmcq.org.au/cms/classifieds.html
http://www.bmwmccvic.org.au/index.php?o ... v=&catid=8

If you think you'd rather get a new one, there is a bit of price competition about in the Sydney / ACT market at the moment. Dunno about Melbourne (last bought a BMW out of Melbourne in 1994).

[Philbie]

19th May 2010.

Yesterday I had a call from my local BMW dealer. They told me they had just the bike for me. Somehow, and i have no idea how, I knew they might be right. So i asked what they had.

they had a 2006 R1200RT SE with 26,000 klm's one fussy owner with full service history, top box , fully optioned and touratec tank bag. Throw in brand new tyres (2) and a set of brand new BMW winter gloves if i went for it.

after seeing the photos, and being offered a good trade-in price, I couldn't resist. yep, i really couldn't. It's what i really wanted but thought I'd not be able to afford.

Given my last bike prior to the yamaha was a R1150RT - i'm no stranger to the RT line-up.

So, goodbye to the R1200R idea, and hello to my new to me R1200RT. More stuff, nice colour and a lambskin seat cover as well.

Sometimes just sitting back and waiting - really is the best option. I'm going through that really happy moment right now.

[jess]

they had a 2006 R1200RT SE with 26,000 klm's one fussy owner with full service history, top box , fully optioned and touratec tank bag. Throw in brand new tyres (2) and a set of brand new BMW winter gloves if i went for it.

She's a beauty. Congratulations!

[Stef.]

Congrats!!! Looks fantastic!
Stef.

[DMM]

Congratulations. That's a really nice looking bike.

Patience is certainly a virtue. We live in an age of near instant gratification, so it can be wise (or so I have personally found) to take it slowly and enjoy the wanting and planning of a new purchase (especially the big ticket items).

Enjoy the new ride.

[fastdogs2]

Congratulations!

I had a 2005 R1200RT in the Piedmont Red color. Some say that is the fastest color.

You will enjoy it. They are great bikes.

Bill

[Philbie]

21st May 2010.

Today's the big day - off on the adventure to pick up the new toy! it's a 420km round trip, so it should give me a great idea what the bike can do on the way home.

The forcast is sunny, not hot and perfect weather. mainly straight roads, but i'm sure i can find some twisties to try out.

I'll post some pictures when i get home.

[Stef.]

Hehe- enjoy your ride home and do ride safely! Looking forward to some feedback. I did test ride this bike a couple of weeks back and did like it a lot! It was without a doubt the best touring bike that I have ridden (with full fairing )
Stef.

[Philbie]

22nd May 2010

Rode the MT-01 for the last time yesterday to pick up the new toy. Half way there and I had to stop for half an hour to warm up again. I forgot just how cold the chill factor can be. It was a good ride, But I have a confidence issue with this bike that i can't pinpoint and i noticed it yesterday during the ride. The last 30 km's were the best, the warmth from the sun was better and the smooth v-twin was just humming along great. 1700cc is very smooth, and i won't forget that anytime soon. It's a funny type of bike, but i love it anyway.

Arrive at the dealers and say goodbye to the Yamaha. Within half an hour they had cleaned it and had it back in the showroom ready for any potential buyers to get a glance. Mine was in the showroom too, towering over everything else there, Sparkling Red paint with matching panniers and top box at the ready and the Touratech tank bag looking like it's ready to launch. with the exception of a fully optioned R1200GSA in all its glory. Paperwork time and the dealer delivery stuff and I was off.

The first 10 minutes were the strangest. out of the driveway and onto the road, and the first things i noticed is how the balance is much better and that this thing is actually lighter than the Yamaha - that's good. The boxer motor wasn't so smooth around town compared to the v-twin and whilst i was negotiating my way around a town i didn't know, and getting a feel for the different size bike and watching the panniers in mirrors that didn't vibrate, my nerves where a little tense and my thoughts were to get out of town. That's the worst time of all when you get a new bike - so cautious!

Freeway ramp ahead, thank god, and time to crank this baby up, which i did without any hesitation. Now i was getting the feel for the bike, it's weight and balance, the engine was very smooth and the protection from the wind amazing. No bugs, no buffeting, no nothing. That started the smiling straight away. I have a fuel gauge!! and look, electronic suspension adjustment, wow isn't that just the bee's knees! I was having a blast learning about all the tools this thing has whislt on my way home. I can even put my visor up and not get any breeze in my face with the windscreen up - oh, how cool is that! I was really in my element.

Twistie time up ahead, and remembering the way i had been feeling on the MT-01, i was a little worried. I hadn't had bothered, i swept throught the bends so fluidly, and took the corners like it was on rails, my confidence was booming! How can two different bikes make the rider feel so different?

Cold is now a thing of the past, running late, as you sometimes do, I wasn't going to arrive home till about 6.30pm and it starts getting cold here at 4.00pm. I found i didn't need any type of heating at all until it was almost dark, then turning on the heated grips on one, which made a whopping difference. The sheepskin seat covers kept the seat amazingly warm, which, although when i bought the bike it was neither here or there, as i'd never had them before. After last night I know they will stay. I love them. I also tried out the heated seat, and noticed it takes a while to warm up, but was a good thing. I didn't really need it, but i didn't turn it off either.

The final leg home was brilliant. I had ridden all the way home without stopping, without getting cold, and without needing fuel. My bum was not numb, and i was quite relaxed. The taller seat than the R1200R is a blessing for me and my height, I noticed the difference from the test ride last week.

This bike is my bike. it really is a reflection of who i am and what i like about riding motorbikes. It works with me and it brings the best out of me. It's my sixth bike and my second BMW. I now know there is no other brand for me. I am in my element.

Now for the fun to begin.

[dav]

Congrats on your new beast, looks great .

Heated seat!!! will come in handy in the cooler months to come.

Davin.

[Stef.]

Sounds like you had a blast riding the bike home! That's great news! Now it's time to plan long tours...have fun and ride safely.
Stef.

[Sander Abernathy]

That's a beautiful bike. Do you need any help taking all that red plastic off so you can see it?

Sorry, it's a naked bike forum and I really felt someone had to make that joke to prevent buyer's remorse from setting in among the R12R devotees.