Will we be able to maintain our bikes indefinitely?

[Grey Thumper]

Just wondering what you all think.

I really have no plans to replace the Rock any time soon (and preferably never). It's rare, has character, is fast enough for me, easy to work on, and since BMW never came up with a replacement, just might even be considered a cult classic someday .

I'm just wondering if we'll easily be able to keep our bikes running 20 years from now the way people with /5s and R90s can today.

[sweatmark]

I'm just wondering if we'll easily be able to keep our bikes running 20 years from now the way people with /5s and R90s can today.

Sure hope so. I'm devoted to my Edition80, especially so right now.

Riding buddy has 1970s vintage /5 and /7 airheads; I've envied the strength of the airhead community, along with parts availability for 30-year-old motorcycles.

Want my oilhead to age as gracefully, and with similar owner support via large posse of devotees. For parts availability, betting on the chance of oilhead R1150** spares being accessible due to sufficiently large number of such bikes sold, with the important drivetrain components shares amongst the oilhead family members.

[boxermania]

The answer is yes, assuming timely maintenance. Instead of listing all the merits, I'll focus on the weaknesses, take into consideration that some of these issues are more of a crap shoot as they are related, IMO, to design, assembly and suppliers.

Nylon ties on wire bundles - easy repair
Fuel quick connects - easy repair
ABS failure - Will happen eventually and will be costly ,if decide to keep
FD bearing failure - Luck of the draw, appears to be a bearing preload issue, repairable
Clutch disc failure - Luck of the draw, tedious repair, unfortunately after this failure most owners start questioning the bike's reliability

[Kartooo]

ABS failure - Will happen eventually and will be costly ,if decide to keep

common problem over in Europe, they remove it all and go conventional brakes, easily done. a little change in the brake plumbing and some brake switches.
well documented on one of the European oilhead lists.
here is some post, but there are many more on other sites.

http://www.r1150r.net/board/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13571

[rockstercliff]

Of course we will, am in the process of redoing a 1975 BMW 2002 automobile, there is no particular end date on any vehicle if you are willing to do the work.