Is this bike worth it?

[Kiishka]

Hey guys, I'm brand spankin' new to the forums, and thought I'd stop in and ask you all a question. I currently ride a Kawasaki Ninja 250, which I love to death but am looking to replace with something a little larger and more powerful. My husband and I were at a BMW/Triumph dealership to pick up his new Triumph Daytona, and I spotted an '04 black/lime Rockster in the BMW section. I had never heard of one before, but I absolutely fell in love with the bike. Here's a link to the bike on the dealer's site...

http://www.rfalconepowersports.com/pre_ ... eh=1011013

Issues:
It has 24k miles
The fit is a little off- I'm 5'4, and I can barely touch the ground. They said it's easy to customize the seat or buy a lower one. How accurate is that? I only need about another half-inch to be completely comfortable.

I flipped through the forums and did some reading... there seems to be a decent variance in how long these bikes last. Is it a waste buying a bike at this mileage?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer!

Kat

[NoRRmad]

That looks like a medium or high seat. There is a low seat, and the dealer may have one on hand. The swap-out is a one-minute job with no tools necessary. Ask him to snap on a low seat and try it out. If that's still too high, the Roadster is maybe an inch lower, and little different otherwise -- except for handlebars, headlight and paint.

[MikeCam]

That's low miles and about right for an '04. Typical BMW Boxer mileages are between 6-10K per year. Typical lifetime mileages for 1st owners are all over the place. Price is on the low side of common retail for age and condition. If a low seat is not available, they can be found online (used sales) OR you can lower the seat 3/4" by removing the rubber bushings on the front seat fittings (under the seat area). Finally, if cost is less of an issue, you can trim the foam along the sides and get a better step-over profile that would let a normal inseam (30-32") reach the ground.

Real Issues to consider: Maintenance and service history - have the fluids been changed, esp. brake fluid in all circuits? Air, fuel and oil filters?Tires and battery? Will they need changing soon? The main expensive issues include: starter motor bushings, clutch slave cylinder corrosion, clutch hub and input shaft wear, final drive bearing wear. All can occur as early as 24K miles and without a vehicle history and a detailed inspection by an expert, you have a 5% chance of getting one of the bad ones. Who will maintain the bike? BMW dealer services can be pricey.

The Boxer engine, clutch, transmission, suspension, and driveshaft are completely different from your Ninja (and from every other Japanese or European bike except Moto Guzzi). You'll need to adapt your riding style, shift technique, and maintenance approach if you own one of these. Best to read up on that before deciding. Besides here, check BMW Sport Touring, BMW RS Owners, and ADV Rider boards. Learn a bit more about Oilheads and determine if the ownership is worth it.

Having said all that: $4999 for a 24,000 mile Rockster is a near bargain.

[Kiishka]

Thank you guys so much, both of your answers were extremely helpful. I think I'm gonna bring her home next weekend!

Kat

[riceburner]

Just some quick comments:
1) It's been de-stickered = the tank doesn't appear to have the green stickers on it - why? You can haggle over that. It looks like it's been painted too...

2) Looks to me like it's non-ABS - which means the brakes will be more like the ones you're used to. (the ABS/Servo ones can take some getting used to.

3) No pannier rails - haggle point

4) GS headguards - which is cool - but get some Stantons if you can find them (BMW GS headguards will be good for 1 drop - Stantons last almost forever!)

5) Paint on the barrels looks a little flakey - but not too bad.

6) Check the forks VERY closely for bubbling paint - if so, HAGGLE HARD - the paint will come off quicker than a very quick thing. (it's not a deal killer - but a good haggle point because they WILL need repainting at some point).

[harrisphil]

I would also point out a couple of points
1 front mudguard looks like its been attacked with a disc lock
2 rear tyre looks past its best
3 double check the blue painted alloy castings at the bottom of the fork legs these are prone to flaking and look horible but will you get a good discount if any faults

with these points for leverage you should either get a good bike or a cheep bike
me I would see how much I could get off the price but yes it looks like a good bike

the only weak point seams to be the clutch/gearbox shaft on some bikes so get an extended warenty for piece of mind.

[sweatmark]

Does that price tag say $5999? The ad's $4999 is better... make them a deal including a year's warranty.

Bike looks good. 24k miles means the engine is likely broken-in and smooth.

And it's almost Kawasaki green, to ease your transition!

There are two seat options for the R1150R Roadster/Rockster: low and high. The Rockster pictured has the high seat. Pop on a low seat (standard equipment for the Roadsters) and you will fit fit. My wife is also 5'-4"-ish and rides comfortably on her Roadster with a low seat. She also has no trouble riding my Rockster once the low seat is swapped in place.

Have you ridden the Rockster yet? Highly recommended (with the low seat)... you'll either love the bike's handling and motor, or hate it. The world is your oyster as a motorcycle buyer these days - and especially in this economy - so take your time shopping and ride as many options as possible. Good luck!

[fnfalman]

Hey guys, I'm brand spankin' new to the forums, and thought I'd stop in and ask you all a question. I currently ride a Kawasaki Ninja 250, which I love to death but am looking to replace with something a little larger and more powerful. My husband and I were at a BMW/Triumph dealership to pick up his new Triumph Daytona, and I spotted an '04 black/lime Rockster in the BMW section. I had never heard of one before, but I absolutely fell in love with the bike. Here's a link to the bike on the dealer's site...

http://www.rfalconepowersports.com/pre_ ... eh=1011013

Issues:
It has 24k miles
The fit is a little off- I'm 5'4, and I can barely touch the ground. They said it's easy to customize the seat or buy a lower one. How accurate is that? I only need about another half-inch to be completely comfortable.

I flipped through the forums and did some reading... there seems to be a decent variance in how long these bikes last. Is it a waste buying a bike at this mileage?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer!

Kat

First of all, the bike doesn't have ABS which is a big PLUS!!! The ABS system of this generation is total junk and the servo-assist...don't even get me sarted on that bright idea.

Secondly even with the low seat, it's still tough for short people. I'm 5ft6 but with disproportionately short legs (26" inseam) and with the low seat on, I still only get a solid one foot down. The problem is that the seat is wide and it splays your legs outward.

Thirdly, ask for a test ride before you buy. These bikes are very awkward in the handling department. They're not only heavy as hell, but also very top heavy. Coupled with the dry clutch and the shaft drive, low speed maneuvering is a big pain. Also if you have to manhandle it in the garage or around, it's quite of a handful. Stopping and start is a pain for us shorties too until you get used to balancing it on the tip of your toes.

Fourthly, at 24K miles, those shocks are deader than dead. So figure new shocks (aftermarket Ohlins, Works Performance or Wilbur and not the BMW junk Showa yet cost more) will set you back $1500 or so plus labor.

Fifthly, have this bike's clutch spline been checked and lubed? If not then figure $600 to strip the damn bike apart to inspect to make sure that the spline's teeth aren't all shorn off and to properly lube it. BMW made a boo-boo that they never admitted to.

Sixthly, these bikes are cold blooded and take some serious cranking to turn them over. Invest in both a good battery (Odyssey brand) and a good Battery Tender.

Seventhly, without knowing the service history of this bike, I don't know if the valve gaps are set correctly and whether or not the throttlebodies are synchronized. I find most BMW dealerships to have less than stellar mechanics. They charge you a good deal, but they are either sloppy or incompetent. So, figure about two hours of labor at a BMW shop (factory or private) that has competent mechanic to check the valves gaps and synchronize the throttlebodies or else your bike is going to run like crap and induces some nasty vibrations into your hands and feet.

So, if I were in your shoes and really want this bike, I'd negotiate down to probably no more than $4000 out the door. Seriously. Hell, unless the rest of the bike is very clean, I would even go as low as $3000 or $3500.

But do yourself a favor and ask for a test ride and really see if it's your cup of tea.

BMWs, especially boxer twins, are not everybody's cup of tea. It's disconcertingly different enough that one must really want it to put up with the idiosyncrasies.

So, now, you ask, with all of the caveats I've listed, why do I still ride the damn thing after four years of ownership? Because once you get it up to speed, it runs nicely. Sporty enough to have fun with and funky looking enough to draw admiring looks. Its behavior at speed is impeccable. Solid, firm, stable yet smooth. It bucks crosswind quite well.