Daily ride?

rossi

Registered user
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
324
Reaction score
4
Location
Cyprus
So here's the question.

My G650X is getting a bit high miles (38k) and I have an interview for a new job which may result in me bashing 40+ miles each way along the A38 every day. If I use the GX the miles will quickly get beyond the point of being able to sell the bike and probably to the point of unreliability.

Due to the miles I am looking towards a boxer. Logic probably dictates an oilhead but I am thinking of an airhead. Although I am not trail riding every weekend like I used to, I do hit the dirt a handful of times each year, normally during a trip away somewhere. I have read that the airhead GS's are lighter and better off road than the oilheads. I also like something I can tinker with and to be honest I have done about everything I can the GX and am looking for the next project. Problem is I only have the space, cash and permission for 1 bike at a time, and as a daily commuter, 12 months of the year, it has to be reliable.

So is something like a r100gs what I am looking for or am I barking up the wrong tree?
 
rossi said:
So here's the question.

My G650X is getting a bit high miles (38k) and I have an interview for a new job which may result in me bashing 40+ miles each way along the A38 every day. If I use the GX the miles will quickly get beyond the point of being able to sell the bike and probably to the point of unreliability.

Due to the miles I am looking towards a boxer. Logic probably dictates an oilhead but I am thinking of an airhead. Although I am not trail riding every weekend like I used to, I do hit the dirt a handful of times each year, normally during a trip away somewhere. I have read that the airhead GS's are lighter and better off road than the oilheads. I also like something I can tinker with and to be honest I have done about everything I can the GX and am looking for the next project. Problem is I only have the space, cash and permission for 1 bike at a time, and as a daily commuter, 12 months of the year, it has to be reliable.

So is something like a r100gs what I am looking for or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Click to expand...

It's only just run in at 38K, keep it.
 
rossi said:
So here's the question.

My G650X is getting a bit high miles (38k) and I have an interview for a new job which may result in me bashing 40+ miles each way along the A38 every day. If I use the GX the miles will quickly get beyond the point of being able to sell the bike and probably to the point of unreliability.

Due to the miles I am looking towards a boxer. Logic probably dictates an oilhead but I am thinking of an airhead. Although I am not trail riding every weekend like I used to, I do hit the dirt a handful of times each year, normally during a trip away somewhere. I have read that the airhead GS's are lighter and better off road than the oilheads. I also like something I can tinker with and to be honest I have done about everything I can the GX and am looking for the next project. Problem is I only have the space, cash and permission for 1 bike at a time, and as a daily commuter, 12 months of the year, it has to be reliable.

So is something like a r100gs what I am looking for or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Click to expand...

Been there done that :blagblah one gearbox rebuild, drive shaft rebuild, new wiring loom plus a few alternator rotors and diode board on top of the usual servicing, tyres etc plus 38mpg later I now have a K bike (50mpg+and very low mainance) for the commuting and the airhead is now used mostly for fun. The R100 GS I think is a great bike to commute on though can be lacking in top end power and you do have to plan ahead a little to compensate for the front brake :eek as far as I can work out the back brake is for heating the FD oil and not much else:thumb2 it is still my favorate bike for going into the city and summer use but the cost:blagblah of fuel is not good.
 
bumpmuncher said:
Been there done that :blagblah one gearbox rebuild, drive shaft rebuild, new wiring loom plus a few alternator rotors and diode board on top of the usual servicing, tyres etc plus 38mpg later I now have a K bike (50mpg+and very low mainance) for the commuting and the airhead is now used mostly for fun. The R100 GS I think is a great bike to commute on though can be lacking in top end power and you do have to plan ahead a little to compensate for the front brake :eek as far as I can work out the back brake is for heating the FD oil and not much else:thumb2 it is still my favorate bike for going into the city and summer use but the cost:blagblah of fuel is not good.
Click to expand...

:D :D
 
+1 on the K - in Oz a good one is about a third the price of a GS , and they are a much better everyday road bike.

They are fine on gravel roads too, just slow down and forget you have brakes and you will be OK.
 
My 100/7 has covered 220,000 miles. It's like triggers broom though. Only had three gearboxes, two front ends, a couple of sets of wheels and is almost ready for it's third set of pistons. Apart from that...
 
Rear brake also operates the tungsten filament electrical thingymadoodah at the rear of the bike :thumb

I think airheads were bmws first attempt at anti lock brakes, feckin good first attempt imho. Once thay got the anti lock bit right, they added the brakes to the k bikes:D
 
R1100R with a spare set of wheels for off road use. Just right for the miles you plan to do. As easy to tinker with as an airhead, cheaper to run and about the same price to buy

My 2p you understand :thumb2
 
I've an 89 R100GS and a 90 K10016v, The GS is my keeper but if I have to travel more than my regular 12 mile commute then it is always the K. Even old and cheap the go forever
 
Despatched a couple of CX500's. Absolutely loved them, but just too old (in every way) to consider now.
Despatched/Instructed on Airheads (My favourite being an R80RT.
Had a K, a K75S which was lovely to ride but tragic to run - 1000 miles per clutch etc (so it was obviously fucked, but then I bought it from a main BMW dealer - I traded it in a year later for the GS, and 10 years later get a summons for selling it to someone and failing to inform DVLA).

OK, i am biased. But the Airheads are too old to be reliable for work commuting, and the K's are special reliablility wise,mbut only if you own from new and do the full 200 -300k). Personally I would take Ash's advice and buy a Honda (Deauville) or for a more radical solution check out my 'Scooters are they cost effective .... thread.

best advice I ever had though was from a geezer despatching a GT 550 and a VT500E.
The advice was repeated by a guy running 2 Blackbird's.
 
nick.ct said:
R1100R with a spare set of wheels for off road use. Just right for the miles you plan to do. As easy to tinker with as an airhead, cheaper to run and about the same price to buy

My 2p you understand :thumb2
Click to expand...

I like your thinking. Just checked and it appears that the spoked gs wheels can be fitted. How about increasing the suspension travel? Surely it isn't as simple as just bolting on gs shocks? Of course if I had loads of cash I would be buying an HP2e. There is an interesting hp2 alike conversion thread in oilheads which had a few parts from the r. :drool However if I had the cash to replace the subframe I would just have 2 bikes.
 
K75rt or k100rt or k1100lt if y want miles the letter k is 4 u

skinyerdick:D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Tetley
Wanted Looking for an R80 or R100 as a daily ride
Replies
4
Views
595
Tetley
Tetley
Gelandestrasse
R75/5 Daily Runner or Rolling Restoration project, anyone?
Replies
2
Views
455
BillN
  • Locked
For Sale Straton Daily Driver 44mm
Replies
1
Views
485
craig614
King Rat
Morning Ride.
Replies
16
Views
305
King Rat
King Rat
ikkje
New bike and first proper ride
Replies
12
Views
713
markie_wales


Back
Top Bottom