Help with buying

[hjsbmw]

This week I will be looking at an '07 R1200R with ABS, computer, bags, center stand, heated grips, hand guards, with approx. 9200 miles, supposedly in excellent shape with all services and recalls done and documented. He's asking for $11450. Private seller by the way. I'm wondering what other people have paid. I'm thinking $10500 but frankly don't know whether that's realistic.
This would be my first ABS bike. I have done maintenance on my other bikes in the past myself. Does the ABS add complexity? How complex is this model to start with in terms of electronics and so on? Any help appreciated.

[ka5ysy]

10 to 10.5 is about right for that model. Farkles do not count on resale, which is why I pull them and sell on e-bay or some other place to recoup the investment. I checked on mine recently and that was the computed sell price. This BMW is very easy to maintain, and the ABS is a simple contraption compared to others. BMW uses a proprietary computer system to do maintenance, however there is an available code reader that can read the maintenance faults if any and reset them. Altogether a great multi-purpose bike. At the quoted milage it is just at the end of a break-in period. You are going to love this machine!

Doug

[famousperson]

This week I will be looking at an '07 R1200R with ABS, computer, bags, center stand, heated grips, hand guards, with approx. 9200 miles, supposedly in excellent shape with all services and recalls done and documented. He's asking for $11450. Private seller by the way. I'm wondering what other people have paid. I'm thinking $10500 but frankly don't know whether that's realistic.
This would be my first ABS bike. I have done maintenance on my other bikes in the past myself. Does the ABS add complexity? How complex is this model to start with in terms of electronics and so on? Any help appreciated.

I'd have paid the $11,450 in a heart beat if such a deal had been available when I was looking for a bike. Of course, $10,500 would be even better if the seller goes for the deal...

(I paid $15,500 for my new '07 in '07 with the same farkles. 9200 miles is nothing.)

[Lost Rider]

If it helps you any, I was offered $7000 for trade in on my GS....

The market price is what people will pay.... go to ebay, search for r1200r's, then click "completed listing" to see what they've been selling for in the last few months. That's the market value IMHO.

I know it hurts to think of how much value they lose in a year or two, but $10,000 sounds more realistic in this market, but I'm no expert...


-Finn

[enderw88]

go to ebay, search for r1200r's, then click "completed listing" to see what they've been selling for in the last few months. That's the market value IMHO.

Currently only 4 completed listings, and only one sold, for 12000. They seem to be hard to find on the used market. They have not sold well, and those that have bought them seem to be holding on to them.

[Bheckel169]

According to Motorcycle Consumer News (March 09), a stock, 07 1200 R which is in a clean, undamaged and well-maintained condition with average mileage is $9570. This information is determined by evaluating sources N.A.D.A. believes to be accurate but, what a seller is willing to sell the bike for and what the buyer is willing to pay is another thing. Also, you'll have to determine the value of the farkles when bidding on the bike.
Bruce

[hjsbmw]

I tried the bike and it looks and rides great except for a rear tire that's on its way to go. Is it true that it's normal for a BMW to have a warning light saying 'brake failure' which goes out when you start rolling? Sounds a bit fishy as a R1100S owner once told me it's a sign of a bad battery.

[Lost Rider]

Brake Failure until you roll and the computer senses the wheels is not only normal, but a good way to let you know the ABS is working.
Have no worries.

[lewellen]

I tried the bike and it looks and rides great except for a rear tire that's on its way to go. Is it true that it's normal for a BMW to have a warning light saying 'brake failure' which goes out when you start rolling? Sounds a bit fishy as a R1100S owner once told me it's a sign of a bad battery.

As ChiTown notes, it's normal on the R12Rs, and if it were missing, I'd worry. (Also note, going *backwards* does not turn the flashing light off....)

Re the rear tire, you shouldn't expect to have to do nothing upon purchase, of course; personally, I like to start with an oils-and-other-fluids change so I have a known starting point ... even if the previous owner just changed 'em. But that's just me.

On the tires, though ... I just got new Z6's about 400 miles ago; the tires ran me $460 or thereabouts from my smiling friendly local BMW dealership. Labor was free - sales promotion - but posted rates were around $50 / tire. So you might be able to use this to negotiate the price a little. Even if the front doesn't *need* a new tire, I'd be sorely tempted - new (to me) bike, matched set for handling, et cetera.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[jfbarron]

Just buy the machine and enjoy the ride.

When you ask a question such as yours you invite an answer such as mine.

You already know the answer to this and are seeking confirmation. Life is short. Take the dough out of your mattress and buy the dream.

There may be analytical regrets but no real ones. I parked my bike beside a snow drift today. Felt totally alive!

And killed a few bugs on the way home!

Now that's progress!

[hjsbmw]

Well, I made an offer and I am waiting for a response.
If I get the bike I will want to add cylinder guards and a taller windshield. It is also not the first BMW I ride where the stock seat feels not very man-friendly. This is maybe worse on the 1100S models I've ridden. Still, what are they thinking?

[ErikM]

I traded mine in last year got $9900.00 with bags ( removed all the other farkles), if you take in the tax saving of $686.00 it' was $10486.00 Mine had 3700 miles on it was black with stripes , abs, H grips, center stand, sport screen, obc. I actually had some guy come to my house and low ball me..offered me less than I was getting as a trade .. anyway $10,500 is prolly about right, but be sensitive to the buyer, being a d**k doesn't help. He maybe in a bind or have a payoff that he needs to get close to.

[hjsbmw]

I got it for $10.5k after explaining that the current market indicates that as a fair price, and it will need a new tire soon. The previous owner was in a way happy and relieved to sell it so quick and without problems. I know from my own experiences what a pain it can be to get 50 emails saying "ready to buy", then two people show up.

Thanks for all your input. To me, it's not only my first BMW but it's in a way a salute to my home state, as I was born and raised in Bavaria.

What I'd like to get fairly soon are cylinder head protectors and a taller windscreen. Any suggestions regarding brands and places to buy would be great. Also, I am thinking about taking off the luggage rack and put it back on if I go on a trip. Saves weight, and I don't need for my commute. I guess the removal would leave some kind of holes. What are the parts that would be missing? Looking at pictures it seems there are also different luggage brackets that do not have the topcase plate but only the rails for the side bags. If that is the case then that would be another option.

[Dale_K]

Where's the picture? lol

We bought used R12Rs at the same time and have similar agendas. Please post what you find out regarding the plastic covers at the rack mounting points. I took the rack off and want to cover the holes. I've been fooling with the suspension adjustments and also the hand levers and shift lever to get them suited for me.

[famousperson]

What I'd like to get fairly soon are cylinder head protectors and a taller windscreen.

Re windscreen: Do a search on "windscreen" to turn up one of the many vast discussions on the subject. There is NO simple answer. One size does not fit all

Re cylinder head protectors: look for a recent (March 12) thread called "Cylinder head protection." (sorry, I can't seem to copy & paste the URL) There is a huge vote for the Motech bars. Nobody has anything good to say about any of the other options. I personally hate the look of the bars but am going to end up getting them because I want the protection.

[deilenberger]

There have been a number of Ebay auctions for the no-rack-bag-rails. Usually go pretty cheap since people who are selling them bought the rails you have. You might also check the BMW-MOA fleamarket and the IBMWR Marketplace.