very low mileage!!

[justin limmitz]

Having just sold what I would describe as a 'reasonably' low mileage vehicle, (14 month old motorcycle: 23000 miles) I'd just like to know why dealers and 95% of buyers are afraid of a motorcycle with anything more than 3000 miles a year on its odometer?. What do 'we' really think a motorcycle is capable of, mileage wise?

C'mon now. We're talking BMW here. Its not like they've only been in business for a couple of years....they were making aircraft engines before our fathers were born.

Surely someone who is comitted to riding a motorcycle 90% of the time is gonna look after it !! The cost of servicing (just to guarantee the manufacturers warranty!) is gonna be a fair old whack, not to mention the fortune payed for the best tyres, fuel, oil etc.

I know people who've missed services, never topped up their oil, left their fuel tanks full of sh*t fuel for 6 months: un-used, and generally just neglected their bikes...yet the mileage will always speak for itself. I.E. 3000 miles? simply MUST be immaculate..(well, on the OUTSIDE at least)

So whats the score? Do we just regard bikes as toys? or do we regard them as inferior to cars (engineering-wise I mean).Are guys who are mile munchers simply 'sons of beelzebub'...or... as I fear most; are the new 8 valve BMW owners simply people with nothing better to spend their money on!!(ooops, I'm going straight to Hell for that one!!)

Nah.Half tongue in cheek. I wanna know how you all feel.Surely the GS is primarily a high mileage tourer, or a work horse.If you wanna impress the 'chicks' or yer mates, or accelerate to 100mph in 2 seconds, i could suggest another motorcycle company.After 20 bikes,and 25 years(nearly!!) riding.. I think I'm nearly qualified to be bitter and twisted and have a go at everybody...

oops again. the therapist won't like any of that.

Go on. sell em all next year and buy the newer, faster, cooler model. Tell ya what. You'll be my heros.

 

[BawdyMonk]

Service History Rules

I don't think dealers are afraid of high mileage bikes or cars, unless they're of a make or model that has known faults or problems at certain mileages, which make them hard to sell.

Joe Public has always had a fear of high mileages, probably brought about by motoring journalists with nothing better to scare people with.

A year ago I sold a 1300cc Subaru with 130,000 miles on the clock to a friend, apart from a new headlamp and shocks he's only had it serviced since then, and put another 20k on it, my Toyota pick up I sold this year had 240,000kms on it and to my knowledge hasn't given the new owner any problems either.

A bloke I know bought an ex-SBA Police VFR750 with 120,000miles on it, again, no real problems, I don't, nor do most of my mates have problems with mileage, as long as there is the FULL service history with the vehicle. (and it hasn't been shunted)

One reason I felt comfortable buying a BMW bike was some of the mileages the guys on the RT forum have knocked up, I think there's one RT in the states with 300k+miles on it that's never been rebuilt, and a few with 200k+.

On the other hand...I've endured for the last 4 months being subjected to snippets of wisdom about all things connected to motorcycling from a bloke with an African Twin, a bike he, and others, told me he keeps in "showroom condition" despite being 4 years old... I found out how he does it last weekend...2000kms in 4 fcuking years!!
Tosser

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I always do 10-12k per year between March and Oct, just for pleasure and hols on the GS,then use the trail/trials bike over the winter.
Sell the bike with 22-24k over a couple of years and reckon I've had the best option for use v depreciation.

 

[Mick Fagan]

According to the motor car industry down here, the best time to purchase a second hand car is at four years old.

At that age, the car has dropped approximately 50% in resale value, from new. However the real life of a car is 12 years old before it starts to become a bit of a liability.

What they are saying, is that you are getting 66% of the life of the car for 50% or less, of the original cost. plus the added bonus is that more than likely, the owner has optioned the vehicle somewhat and those items usually only add about 20% of their actual cost.

An example is when you buy a secondhand 4WD that has had a bull bar and long range tanks fitted as well as diff, G/box and transfer case breathers added. The cost of those items on their own would add up to about $2,800 - 3,000 but would only add about $500 to the secondhand sale price.

I think that's where the real value in secondhand purchases are.

I know that these are car situations, but bikes are very close to this analogy. I've seen quite a few friends crying about their bikes and the fact that they had spent literally thousands of dollars on extras and they only added a fraction of their worth to the trade in or resale value.

When one buys a brand new vehicle I think there are two ways of keeping it. Johhny Boxers way or keep it for about 15 years or so until it falls apart. That way one usually gets a reasonable value for your hard earned moolah.

I purchased my previous bike in 1982 for $6,200 which included panniers. It was a wire wheeled R100CS with the 70 HP RS motor. I kept that bike and in 16 years I cartwheeled it twice, drowned it in a river once (up to the mirrors) hit a couple of roos and had the occassional step off in the bush that was only incidental. The bike was ridden hard but not abused and was never used as a commuter bike, not once.

When I purchased my R1100GS I kept it for six months before deciding to sell it.

I advertised it in our BMW newsletter as having 305,000 Klm's on the clock, needing a new battery and some TLC as it had been ridden quite hard but ran extremely well. I also explained that the bike had a brand new G/box at 275,000 Klm's and the rear shockers died at 290,000 Klm's and were replaced with Konis

It also came with a 42 Litre steel Hoske tank, /7 seat and panniers along with an Elefantboy tank bag, as well as the original tank and seat.

I asked for $3,000 after a careful think about what I might possibly get for the old girl.

My phone ran hot from all over Australia and I sold it 3 days after the newsletter was posted out to members (about 350 or so back then).

My friends were astounded and so was I, but the fella who did buy it, ran it for another 150,000 Klm's before pulling it down to overhaul the motor. He was as happy as a pig in clover.

Basically I don't think all things considered, that I did badly out of that bike, neither did the second owner.

The G/box cost me $800 as it had been sitting on a country bike shop shelf for fourteen years and they thought they would never get rid of it. The clutch was replaced at 275,000 Klm's as a precaution, I gave it to the fella who purchased the bike, there was nothing wrong with it.

Mick.

 

[christianburgess]

I bought an R reg 1998 1100GS in June with 13500 miles on the clock and with full BMWSH . I must admit the mileage is what clinched it......barely run in. But I did test ride a couple of other bikes at the time with MUCH higher mileages and they both looked and performed perfectly as far as I could tell.
Having said that, this is my first GS, though I doubt my last, so maybe now I'd notice a difference.............but for £500 more I felt more secure with the v low mileage bike........

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Bought my R1100GS 3,5 months ago and have covered 3000 miles with it already.
Bought it on 42000 miles and unfortenately it does have a few transmission problems but can't see why it would not go for another 150k once sorted. Engine is really lose and well run in. Generally sound bike I can get happy with. Next one I buy will be out of the box though(Time to treat myself for once!)

Cheers

 

[Brian Samuels]

Bike mileage

Hi guys,my first reply to the bike mileage debate,I am a new convert to the new generation BM,s having for the last 13 years riding Gold Wings one 1200 and two 1500s.I have always run what I consider big mileages but not comparable with some of you guys particularly OZ riders.You cant fault the massively over engineered flat six Honda engine I bought my first 1500 at 16000 miles secondhand,at the time my best mate was selling his 88 1500 with 100,000 miles on the clock.I rode his bike back to back with mine and you could not tell the difference between the two motors.Thats why after major surgery I decided the Wing was just too heavy and decided on a 1150 GS twin spark,after 30 odd years of riding it seemed the obvious choice, one month and 1200 pleasure miles on I think I made the right decision especially after turning the key and that Remus Revolution full system starts singing its unique song!!!I look forward to as many 2-3000 mile trips as I have undertaken on Wings,Regards,Bald Eagle.

 

[Deadskin]

welcome

Another 1150 in Bournemouth

 

[Vern]

Over engineered!!!

My 1100, is the most unreliable bike I've ever owned. Both of the cams, carriers and anything else attached to that area, have trashed themselves, it's hade a new starter motor, shaft drive, updated gearbox, a gearbox rebuild, seven total electrical failures, and god knows what else that I can't think of at the moment. If you look inside the engine, all the castings, are really cheap and nasty (Tiawan?) It's now done over 140000miles, and I'm still waiting for something better to come along, untill then, I wouldn't change it for the world.

 

[BawdyMonk]

Re: welcome

Another 1150 in Bournemouth

I always wondered where you meant by "Gods waiting Room", I should of realised, I lived there once.

 

[p028374]

In my opinion bikes start having some problems after 40K. Nothing related to the engine that with regular service can work till 200k but to other parts.
After 40k if you want to bring the bike as new you have to plan to spend some money.
Ciao