Hello - newbie - advice please

[c13tay]

Hello All

Currently a VFR rider, but since taking a tour with Discovery Moto Tours last year, the GS thing has been eating away at me.

Well, I think ive finally reached the stage where im ready to leap !!!

Obviously funds are an issue, so was just wondering what the optins are.

Ive seen a couple of bikes local to me but am unsure on what is best.

Am I better going for the newest, lowest mileage, best looking or what ??

is 60K miles a lot for one of these ?

which is best 1100, 1150 or 1200 ??

Sorry to be asking such simple questions but im itching to buy !!!

thanks

Chris

 

[Greg Masters]

There wasn't much of a leap between the 1100GS and the 1150GS. Both are pretty solid reliable bikes - the 1150 having a slightly larger donkey and a 6 speed box. The Adventure models also started with the 1150 - bigger tank, higher suspension etc.

The 1200GS was a bit more of a development leap. The bike is lighter and more powerful and, fairly obviously, newer.

Unless you're on a tight budget, do consider that all 1100GS models are now at least 10 years old. High mileage 1200GSs can be picked up for under £3k.

There is also an R850GS (which was based on the 1100GS) - but they are quite rare.

Greg

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site...

I'd suggest you settle down with a mug of tea and browse the different sections of the site, in fact take a couple or more days to do it... that way you'll get a flavour of each model, and build an idea of what will be best for you

60K sounds alot of miles but there are some 1100's getting close to 200k now

Good luck in your search

 

[ronnie69]

howdy

ayup,
welcome, chap

you want one of these, you do:


http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178125

 

[c13tay]

Ronnie

Love to but a bit too expensive for me !!

Looking to spend 4K absolute tops and would really prefer a dealer so I dont have the hassle of selling my VFR

Chris

 

[ronnie69]

Ronnie

Love to but a bit too expensive for me !!

Looking to spend 4K absolute tops and would really prefer a dealer so I dont have the hassle of selling my VFR

Chris

It's a bargain!

Oh well, never mind. Bit of a try on (by me) anyway !

I stand to be corrected, but suspect you may struggle to get a dealer to sell you an 1150 for £4k (a BMW dealer, anyway) - theirs are all north of £4.5k even if 2000/2001, lots of miles, no ABS. BMW dealers don't appear to sell 1100 GSs either and even older high mileage 1150s are getting scarce. Plenty of independents around, though.

You're not likely to get a 1200 for £4k, private or independent, unless it's been to the moon and back

I know a dude who's looking to sell a 2001 black 1150 with 60k ish miles, loads of history and he wants £3100 for it. He's had it from new. Sounds a very straight machine and seller IMHO. I only know about it as he offered it to me in part ex for mine, but I'm trying to get away from the weight of the 1150. Trouble for you (maybe) is, he's in Surrey. PM me if you want his details. He hasn't advertised it yet, so you may "beat the rush" ! ?

There's also a chap on fleabay selling a fair few beemers - I gather he gets the part exs which the bigger dealers don't want. I think his ebay handle is "bidforbikes". Sells some nice looking machines and seems to describe them fairly. He's down that London, but close to a tube stop. I don't know him by the way! Someone on here ("bela" from Glasgow IIRC) bought a blue n white 1150 from him and was pleased with it. I'll double check and get back to you.

Good luck with the search.

Enough of my piffle anyway ..........

 

[c13tay]

Thanks Ronnie

Yes, details of any for sale would be good, although unless i can sell my VFR privately, will need to but from a dealer.

found 2 local to me which im going to look at at weekend

1. 2000 1150 - 2 owners FSH - silver - few extras - 58K miles - £3999

2. 1998 1100 - bit scruffy and a dent in tank - black - 45K miles - £2450


Chris

 

[jimbogs1200]

I have just been thru a similar exercise.
I rode an 1150 and a 1200 recently.. The 1200 feels much lighter and more nimble and I believe is 30+kilos lighter. The 1200 also has a fair bit more HP, but the 1150 is has adequate power IMO... I believe the 1150 has 85hp v 100 on the 1200..
I personally would only buy a 1200 thru a dealer with full warranty.

The 1150 is a better made bike IMO and will last longer...and I think has less technical issues...

I ended up buying a 1200 and it immediately broke down.... However, I like the riding characteristics and am very pleased with the bike apart from the worry of how fragile these seem to be!!!!

 

[Dahoum]

High mileage 1200GSs can be picked up for under £3k. Greg

That'll be because they are unreliable pieces of shite then Greg.

 

[elevensies]

OK, before i star telling you how good the 1100 are, think about the long term.

the 1100/1150 are getting old, yes, but still if looked after will go on and on and on, 1200 are good too, just a tad more playfull, and could have gremlins (but any bike could)

4tho is enough to get a bike, but not enough if you want low milage history dealer etc etc

these bikes hold their prices much better than any other bike, so bear that in mind, 58 tho miles aint alot, but it will be showing its use, paint flake on fork legs, front engine cover and head fins to name a few, if its not, they been painted.
1200 also suffer this as well dont think otherwise.

dont buy from ebay!!
if you cant get dealers deals the next best is here or from a enthusiast.

 

[Greg Masters]

High mileage 1200GSs can be picked up for under £3k.

Sorry, I stand corrected.

Higher mileage 1200GSs can be picked up for under £4k. Link

Greg

 

[ronnie69]

Thanks Ronnie

Yes, details of any for sale would be good, although unless i can sell my VFR privately, will need to but from a dealer.

found 2 local to me which im going to look at at weekend

1. 2000 1150 - 2 owners FSH - silver - few extras - 58K miles - £3999

2. 1998 1100 - bit scruffy and a dent in tank - black - 45K miles - £2450


Chris

£3999 for a 58k miles 2000 model - Makes my 03 19.5k miles fsh 13 months MOT at an extra £551 a bit of a bargain in my humble etc. Did I mention it had 13 months MOT ?

Waiting on surrey based 1150 seller to get back to me to confirm OK to give his contact details out.

If you pass on the 1100 for £2450, I'd be grateful for contact details for the seller IYDM - I'd like to have a look at that.

It is bidforbikes who was the ebay seller down that London, altho he's got nowt for sale at the mo'. Very pleasant when I sent him Qs on a bike he was selling http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=bidforbikes&ftab=AllFeedback

what viffer you got? I've a 92 FL in pearl white (not just any old white) with 14k miles. I reckon it's luvverly

 

[ronnie69]

Thanks Ronnie

Yes, details of any for sale would be good,
Chris

Surrey 1150 seller says I can pass on his details, but he may not want his phone number and email address on an open thread - will PM them to you, but you'll need to subscribe on here! Will swap you his details for those of the seller of that 1100 you're looking at ! (will only follow up if you don't want it, though)

 

[macca]

C13tay,
saw an immaculate 1150 in CW ( dorchester ) this w/e. Asking 6k but with p/ex could be in your range. And they are a bloody good outfit down there!
cheers.

 

[c13tay]

Ronnie

Found 2 1100's

1. tatty, black £2400 - Cheshire motorcycle salvage

2. Tidy lime green £3400 - J & S, doncaster


Chris

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

2. Tidy lime green £3400 - J & S, doncaster


Chris

Had a look at it last week and it ain't that tidy

I've had some 1100's (GS's and RT's) and the J&S one wasn't a good example and overpriced too

I bought this 1999 T plate one in Summer 2007 for £3600 from Ebay, with only 11,000 miles on and full BMW Service History

So Ebay ain't bad and I've bought some great bikes from Ebay..............just do you homework though, like any purchase

 

[c13tay]

Thanks for the heads up - was going to go over and look at the green one

Was only using the word "Tidy" as that is how the salesman described it to me !! I too thought it was overpriced

Plus he offered me next to nothing for my VFR in PX !!!


Chris

 

[elevensies]

maybe the best advice is buying from here or bmw dealer

 

[ronnie69]

c13tay - thanks for the info. Only seen online piccies of the cheaper 1100, but it looked and sounded like a nail to me, and was expensive for what it is imho.

The lime one has been on sale for donkeys I've been told.

I still can't PM you. In any event, the 1150 from surrey I mentioned is here:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182299

I've spoken to the seller and both the bike and he sound spot on, but form your own opinion. It sounds like it has been maintained regardless of cost and needs nothing doing for quite some time.

Doesn't help you sell your VFR - get it advertised, dude.