Making my boyhood dream come true and get my first motorcycle. What to look for?

[Kapitan Korsakov]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking here for quite some time now and i'm really getting the itch to buy my first motorcycle.

Dreaming about having one since i was 16, now at 28 it's time i take the plunge!

At first i've always been a fan (and still am) of old school 60's style choppers, but as i grew older I also really want a bike i can use for some travelling and rough terrain. Once i discovered the R80GS i just fell in love straight away. After owning four bikes my dad bought a 2004 1200GS and he is absolutely in love with it, which kinda reassured me as well

Like i said before, i've been reading quite a lot about them and have been scanning ads but i'm not sure how to rate them and what to look for when checking one out.

Here are three bikes for example that look very interesting and that i like a lot:

http://www.2dehands.be/motoren/motoren/bmw/bmw-r-80gs-301023405.html

http://www.2dehands.be/motoren/motoren/bmw/bmw-r100-gs-paris-dakar-303991568.html

http://www.oldlima.be/klassiekers/bmw-r-65gs/bmw-r-65gs/

I'm looking for something reliable, i don't mind working on them as i have access to a nice workshop and some mechanic friends.
Cosmetics are less important at first, i can always change that later.

My main questions are:

- Is it a wise choice to get an older GS as my first bike?
- What can i expect to pay?
- Is it possible to get a decent model under 5000 € ?
- What should i look for when going to test one ?

Thanks in advance for your advice, this looks like a neat board and regardless of the outcome i hope to learn a lot more on here

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

Go with your heart, ride a few and see what you fall in love with. Take a seasoned biker with you who can have a look over the bike for general things and test ride it. If it doesn't feel right just walk away. Do your research on the specific make and model for common faults and problems, you'll find plenty of posts on this forum for that. Good luck and happy biking bro.

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site Kapitan

I've had a few GS's... and the one I wished I'd not sold on was a 100GS PD like the red one in your links ( only mine was a purple fizz version)

It is not a bike you just jump on and ride , you need to 'fettle it' and make adjustments on a day to day basis , but if you buy a PD at the right price there will be no depreciation , unlike most bikes

Check out the Airhead section and ask a few questions in there

 

[MickDB1]

hello Kapitan
I would try and get a ride on an Airhead well before you put any cash down on one. They are lovely bikes but lacking in brakes and height (if you are tall)
Get in contact with these lads they are a fine bunch of chaps with endless knowledge. They may even help sort you a bike out.
http://www.gs-airheads.be/We are Airheads.html
PS leave the 650s to girls
Good luck and HTHY

 

[Ash]

hello Kapitan
I would try and get a ride on an Airhead well before you put any cash down on one. They are lovely bikes but lacking in brakes and height (if you are tall)

Wise words Micky.....
And spot on with your recommendation...

 

[Chicken]

hello Kapitan
I would try and get a ride on an Airhead well before you put any cash down on one. They are lovely bikes but lacking in brakes and height (if you are tall)
Get in contact with these lads they are a fine bunch of chaps with endless knowledge. They may even help sort you a bike out.
http://www.gs-airheads.be/We are Airheads.html
PS leave the 650s to girls
Good luck and HTHY

(Leave the 650s to girls) Unwise Words

 

[Kapitan Korsakov]

Thanks everyone for the info!

I've always been into old bikes and am not very interested in the high tech department, so i'm guessing an airhead will suit me perfectly.
I'll try to ride one beforehand though just to be sure.

I checked out the belgian airheads page, but the forum there seems to be missing.

Any info you can give at first sight about these ads is also more than welcome.

I read the r80gs has Siebenrock 1000cc kit, and the seller has a large collection of BMW's so that is reassuring.

 

[MickDB1]

here yer go
have a word with Bob
http://www.gs-airheads.be/Forum.html

The 650 was just in joke - as I have never riden one - and the GS version is reported to be about 27hp which may prove to be a bit lacking.
I have a siebenrocked version with dellortos in stead of the bings - It flys up to 90mph and although I love the thing I dont ride it as much as I should.

 

[Thwaits90]

Take a seasoned biker with you who can have a look over the bike for general things.

This. When I got my first bike I took someone I knew with me who had ridden for years and he was really useful in pointing out things that I might like or dislike, as well as things I should be looking out for. If you don't know much about bikes, take a pro with you!

 

[Kapitan Korsakov]

It's starting to get real! I have an appointment to check this one out on Saturday: http://www.2dehands.be/motoren/motoren/bmw/r100gs-311675430.html

Pretty excited