BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I'm currently looking at various BMWs from an 04 Rockster to a '96 R1100R. I rode a '98 R1100R a few weeks ago and like it. Let the bike get away from me though (sold to another.) However I've come across a '96 with 7,100 miles and ABS for $4,100 and am intrigued. The bike is gray and in beautiful condition. The current owner did the 6,000mile service just after he bought it last year.

So how do these earlier models differ from the later? I'm a bit hesitant to buy an older one when I don't have to but I really like the price. I was somewhat astounded to find also that the bike has NO TACHOMETER. In the pictures he sent there is no tach. With such a low redline I'd think you'd want to have one. That, as much as anything else, has made the bike a lot less interesting.

Comments? Opinions?

-John

Buy it as quickly as possible. 6000 miles are you kidding! That bike is still new. If you don't get it I will.

John, Was the bike listed for sale in Atlanta? If so, I bought it last month. The color, price, mileage and reports of the 6K service are very coincidental... I have worked on this bike for the last 5 weeks. I'll post a before and after pic.

After I started going through the bike, It was clear that the only things that the dealer had done for the 6K service was change the oil and replace the air filter. I have had bad experiences with this dealer too and was not surprised about the bikes condition.

This is what I did, or, should I say, what you should have expected in an older R1100r

New hall effect sensor (the wiring harness was deteriorated and caused the bike to skip at idle and die after a few miles.)
Stainless bolt kit from Desmoparts
Repainted the scratched up tank with BMW arctic gray and added new emblems
New fuel filter
Quick disconnect fuel lines (metal)
Removed the charcoal canister (there were bits of charcoal in the tank)
Bled the brakes - fluid was brown...
Changed the transmission fluid (Synthetic)
Changed the final drive fluid (Synthetic)
Changed the oil and filter (Rotella T to clean out the crank case.)
New spark plugs (autolite)
Added a signal minder module for the flashers
Painted, cleaned or replaced all of the rusty and faded bits
Added used BMW system cases (Craigslist)
Line-X on the system case lids
Added a BMW luggage rack
Painted the dash panel, tach and clock.
Re-insulated the wiring harness (old insulation was dry rotted)
Changed the handlebars to "RT" model bars for a more relaxed seating position
Adjusted the valves (They were so tight that nothing would fit between the lifter and valve)
Balanced the throttle bodies (the throttle cable was slack on the right side causing it to rattle)
Added chrome valve covers (I'm also a Chromehead - '98 R1200c)

Oh - you commented on the absence of a tach. The pictures that the seller sent me and likely you too didn't reveal the tach.





OK, so it's hard to tell much from the photos, but this bike had some secrets:

It was clearly laid down at some point as evidenced by the broken tab on the handlebar that allowed the clutch lever/ grip to rotate. Also, the left side valve cover was conspicuously newish and had a mismatch plastic spark plug cover. It must have been a slow speed wreck since the only other problem was a very light rash on the passenger footped plastic gind plate.

It rides like new - now to get a Staintune like my C... maybe for Christmas?

ginscoe wrote:John, Was the bike listed for sale in Atlanta? If so, I bought it last month. The color, price, mileage and reports of the 6K service are very coincidental... I have worked on this bike for the last 5 weeks. I'll post a before and after pic.


Added a BMW luggage rack

Nice job! Can you tell me a bit about the luggage rack? Where did you find it and the price that I might have to pay for one?

Never thought about Line-X on the cases. Good idea for older/scratched used cases.

Nice looking bike !

-Scott