about to buy a r1150r: tips

[Kinnamon]

Hi everyone
I'm an italian guy who owns a Triumph bonneville t100. I really enjoyed that bike, but I want to upgrade. I'd like some more of a roadster. The bonnie is cool, and fine for the city, but when holydays come I have to struggle to convince my girlfriend to take the bike and leave the car home
Anyway, I'm about to buy a r1150r, year 2004, 16.000 km, full optional (except abs): 7800 Euros.
I'll check it on friday, what should I carefully check (apart from signs of accidents)? what are the "red flags" I should try to spot out? Noises? Frequent inconvenients? Parts that usually break?
Thanks everyone for the tips you would leave

Pietro

[boxermania]

Kinnamon

That 04' seems a good choice year and mileage wise. There isn't much to be concerned with. I would inquire as to the battery, is it original or has it been replaced? I would also presume the the tires have been replaced and should be very little use on them. Does it have the bags? That always helps on trips, if you plan on traveling.

Last but not least, find who has serviced the bike and what oil has been used on it. Ahhhh....I forgot, does it have extended warranty?.....that would be an added benefit.

Good luck and post some pics when you get it.......Ciao

[Kinnamon]

Thanx Boxermania
Yes it has bags (orginal BMW, a soft rear bag and two hardtop laterals). No idea about the warranty and the battery and the oil (I'll ask on friday to the dealer) brand new tires, (at least they say).
Which oil should have been used and which is bad for the engine?
I've been told that r1150r is kind of "weak" on the electrical part, that the wires connected to the steer tend to break if the bike is frequently used in urban travels. True? How can I check it? Where to look?

Thanks and I'll keep in touch to inform you about my first impression of the mukka (that's how BMW Rs are called in Italy)

Bye

Kinna

[iowabeakster]

You are right about the wire ties. Click below. One of our resident Guru's (Cyclerob) has posted a picture that shows the offending wire ties that must be removed, if they have not already been removed. Inspect the looms to make sure that no damage has already been done. Takes 2 seconds.

If the wires inside the looms have been stressed or broken, it is not a hard repair to splice them back together.

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10940

[Kinnamon]

That is exactly was I was looking for.

Geees, is amazing how the internet riders community can be helpful!
When, back in the 90ties, the internet got popular I said to a friend: that is going to be helpful just for happytime.
I was wrong.

Thanks a lot, I'll let you know

Bye

Kinna

[boxermania]

Kinnamon

Ahhhh.....the nylon ties, good call by iowabeakster as I never had a problem, but it does happen. The issue is that they were too tight and with the turning of the handlebars one would pull on the wire bundle until the wires get damaged. The solution is to cut them off and replace them with wider ones or another form of tiedown and preferable a bit away from the original position.

Oils?.....if it was dealer serviced they would have used the BMW brand, which is expensive. Any good 20W50 motor oil is quite acceptable, personally I favor the Castrol brand. Some owner's move to a Synthetic .......it's all a matter of how the bike is being used and the owner's preference.

[snowprick]

Kinnamon

My friends have missed out the single most important criteria.

IF ITS NOT BLACK, DONT BUY IT.

[towerworker]

Kinnamon--

Be sure to check the antifreeze levels in the radiators on either side of the tank. An oft overlooked maintenance item.



Wayne

[MikeCam]

DO NOT pay any attention to towerworker. He speaks untruths.

[Buckster]

DO NOT pay any attention to towerworker. He speaks untruths.

Yeah...but it's funny!

Go ride the bike....see how you like it. Ask to see service records if available. Then get prepared to write a check!