2000 GS1150 22k miles

[Happyguy73]

Hi All,

I am living in the west of ireland and after a diet of sports bikes and some naked bikes I am seriously looking into buying an 1150GS.

I have found one at a car dealership???? in a magazine here in ireland. Its a 2000 reg, yellow, with 22k miles on the clock. details on the add are very sparse. it is listed as having ABS and panniers racks, no mention of service history or tyre condition or any other extras.

Should the bike have come with panniers? Is there anything worth checking out other than listening for nasty noises in the shaft?

The bike looks good in the photos in the advert and is about the same price as i seen a 1998 GS1100 with 22k miles on it advertised for in BMW dealer ship.


but is it worth waiting for one in a BMW dealership and paying the extra (about €1500-2250 here)

or would an adventure be worth considering as i would liek to tour on this bike and plan on keeping it for about 3-4years.I am not worried about the extra seat height as i am a bit over 6'2" so dont think it would be too much of an issue


I am in no rush to purchase and really want to drive one to make sure i like it. from all i have read i think it would be a great bike as I live on the west coast and most of the roads are twisty B class coastal roads

Any advice or help would be appreciated.


thanks

Adam

P.S. sorry for the long post!

 

[Packer]

Sounds like you live in GS heaven!

The standard 1150 GS has a 2 position seat, at 6' 2" unless you're all body and no legs, you'll get on fine with the higher position. For touring on road the higher gearing of the standard bike may prove an advantage, especially if it has the overdrive top which gives 20mph/1,000.

If you can, try and hook up with another GSer who will know what to look for on the bike. You know to check out the shaft system and rear wheel bearings so with the machine on the centre stand turn the back wheel by hand, you're feeling for roughness/lumpiness as it turns. Even if the bearing is completely shot with the cage in pieces it may still have no side play. Try moving the entire swing arm side to side, heavy off road use may mean that the paralever bearings are tired. Check for corrosion on the front fork lowers and the fork brace.

Check for worn/scored discs, they are around €200 each in UK dealerships.

Check the service book, oil levels and oil cleanliness in fact everything you would check on any bike.

When it's first started they can rattle slightly until the oil circulates, mine has always been like that but goes well.

Check if it has servo brakes, you will hear the servo electric motor when you use either the front or rear levers. If it has, only use one or two fingers on the front brake otherwise you will find yourself practising your stoppies or locking the front. You get used to it. Check that the gear display works, they often get water in them and mis-read. Make sure that it doesn't jump out of gear although if it does this may be nothing more than a cruddy gear lever pivot. The gearbox should not make any noticeable rumbling or whining sounds. The box takes some getting used to as it is much more agricultural than a jap item. With a little practice you should manage smooth clutchless upchanges and a blip of the throttle and a momentary twitch of the clutch lever coming down the box works fine.

Just remember, any genuine BMW bits are likely to require a second mortgage.

Having said that I wouldn't change mine for anything and that includes those nasty plasticky Can Bus wired 1200's

By the way, you can scrape the heads on the floor, even on dual sport tyres like Metzeler Tourance but you will certainly be going pretty damn fast to do that and on anything approaching a rough surface you will be overtaking virtually everything else on the road including sportsbikes.

 

[vireo]

Hi Adam

I saw this bike online. If you post a request in the Ireland section, I guess one of the Cork GSers might give the once over for you if you want a second opinion. It seems like a good price, I guess if you could get some background on the previous owner (Limerick ?) it might be advisable - if for no other reason then to establish is the mileage is kosher.

No harm too, to sign up to the site and become a sponsor......

Rgds
Paul

 

[Colban]

Hi there,have you got a link to the dealer (just to be nosey).
22k is low for the age.Barely run in,honestly.
It wont have the dubious servo brakes,but it will have a slightly higher 1st gear and an overdrive 6th compared with the Adventure.
As others have said,try and get someone local who "knows" check it out.
Cant say i would be too bothered about getting one from a BWM dealer as the 1150 is pretty solid,but a service history would be nice.
You can service these things yourself quite easily as well.
Check out wheel bearings,fork brace and engine front plate corrosion.
Tyres aren't as critical as a sports bikes and they last a lot longer (depending on riding style of course).If the bike has Metzeler Tourances or Michelin Anakees,thats good.

 

[Happyguy73]

Hi Guys,

Many thanks to you all for your replies and my apologies for the delay posting back, been off line for a week!

Packer: thanks so much for all the info, i really do appreciate it. Really great being able to post here and get information from people like yourselves , who know what they are talking about, thank you.

smithsonianus: Hi Paul, I was thinking just that but I rang the place twice and got no answer. Also looked at your post with the 1150GS adventure for sale in germany, sweet looking bike! whats the story with VRT? is it the same as importing from UK?


Colgan: The link is http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=557215

I would be very interested in your comments!

I would love to get the adventure or a high specced 1150GS but as smithsonianus has said in previous posts,they just charge huge money for them over here.

cheers again for all your help guys, really appreciate it

Adam

 

[vireo]

Hi Paul, I was thinking just that but I rang the place twice and got no answer. Also looked at your post with the 1150GS adventure for sale in germany, sweet looking bike! whats the story with VRT? is it the same as importing from UK?


Adam

VRT-wise, the same situation/rules apply as for a UK import, but insurance and registration issues make Germany a bit more of a complicated scenario. To cut a long story short you need to budget for c150 euro plus half a day at the town hall to sort everthing. The good news appears to be that German sellers are (mostly, or exclusively) very honest and its hard to be ripped off! That said, others will have more experience......now if I can just sell my VFR, I might get myself a GSA!

Paul

 

[barkin pumpkin]

1150 gs

hi mate you could buy mine its on ebay item no170087109227 if you fancy coming over to get it , its got loads of extras please see auction whatever you decide be safe

 

[Colban]

Hi happyguy.Just had a look at the pics.Seems clean enough,but you really need to look for youself.Couple of things.It doesn't have handguards or have heated grips listed.That yellow bit above the headlights should be silver and does the standard screen come with it.Apart from the ABS,pannier rails and adjustable screen,its a bit basic for the money.How much of the 7,750Euros is the VRT?.I could pick up an 1150 of that vintage for about £4K (about 6K Euros) with extras.
Cheers,Col.

 

[Pukmeister]

A GS is the perfect choice for the roads of Ireland. I toured there two summers ago visiting friends near Killaloe on the shores of Lough Derg, and took in a tour right around the Emerald Isle including time in Norn Iron. A blast through the Burren was one of my favourite all time rides, I don't think I got out of 4th gear. No offence but thought parts of Limerick looked a bit dodgy. My Avatar pic on the left was taken looking over the Blasket Islands from the Dingle Peninsula, what a great coast road.

You will be right at home on any GS, especially being of large stature, and once you get used to its 'character' you'll soon grow to love it. My advice is to arrange a good long test ride, a few hours minimum, and buy one with luggage so you are prepared for touring/lugging gear.

Don't be scared of mileage as they are tough old buses, just be sure it is in good condition with a full set of service stamps, receipts etc. Do your homework before you commit to buy and you won't go far wrong.

 

[Happyguy73]

Hi Guys,

Thanks a mill for the info Paul, I checked out the german sites and the prices seem to be pretty good and alot of the bikes look in really good condition. I am in no panic to purchase so will keep looking till i see the right bike with the extras i want as i intend to hang onto it for 3-4 years.

Hi Colban

I think the VRT on that bike is about €450. I do agree though that its a bit basic for sure, its amazing how much these bikes cost second hand here. A dealer is looking for €7950 for a 1998 1100 GS with 23k on it! Sounds laike it may be worth looking for bikes in the UK too.

Hi Pukmeister,

Glad you like touring down this side, I live in county Clare, less than 20 minutes from the Burren and most of my days out are down those very road along the coast and through the burren. I am talking to friend of mine who had an 1150 but now gas the 1200 GS to see if he knows of anyone locally who i could get a test ride from. most of my mates drive sports bikes but to be honest after years of driving them i am starting to see them in a different light, especially considering the roads down my way.

I will continue my search and hopefully come across something nice in the next month or so. I cant drive one just at the moment anyway as i was hit head on in my car on sunday last, i wasnt at fault but have some torn muscles and other aches and pains so will be spending the next few weeks just taking it easy and reading bike Trader!!!

Thanks again to you all for being such great help and my apologies for late replies but i have not got internet at home yet so can only reply from work

Adam

 

[Colban]

Hi happyguy.FYI,if you are willing to look further afield,there is a 2000 1150 with 42K miles on it up for sale on the site,in Essex for £3700,with extras.Thats about 6000 Euros with VRT.
Need to be a site sponsor to send PMs,buy/sell etc.