Love is an Airhead

I have been dancing around the idea of getting back onto a bike again for a while. As the dotcom bubble was bursting I took the MSF and picked up a ducati ST4

Did a pelican day, yadda yadda yadda, and eventually sold it. At the time, what I really wanted was a monster, but the deal on the st4 appeared to be to good to pass up.

Fast forward a couple years, like 10, and I have checked out the Newer Monsters, the KLR650, V-max, v65 Magna, and various sportsters.
The monsters are still amazing, tough commuters and the desmo valve adjusting is interesting. I do love the feel of the riders position.

I have tried as much as I can to love the klr650, it's just not going to happen. When I sit on this bike it just wants to fall on me because the center of mass is all wrong.


I thought I was gonna love the V-max till I sat on one. Apparently you need to enjoy the fetal position to like this one.
The v65 is tempting, until I consider that A) I have never sat on one and B) the frame, suspension and brakes<<<the engine

On the domestic front, I sat on every single Sportster at the local Harley shop. HARD seats, marginal suspension travel, forward controls....odd, mid controls are nice. But my overall impression was that at 5'11 I was a circus bear on tricycle. I really don't care that some folks consider them chick bikes, I like their visual package; I dislike their lack of travel and ergonomics

So after all that I swung by the BMW/Duc/Otherstuff dealer and sat down on an R1150RS

This is the BEST rider position I have ever felt. The center of mass was PERFECT. The only bike I have ever hopped on and it felt more a part of me than a monster. So I feel like a complete idiot for apparently never even knowing how great these things felt. Now this was all a static test, I don't have the proper gear anymore, and that means I don't test ride.

So here is my question to GRMer's, how can I get something like an R1150RS cheap? They dealer wants 7-8k for one with 13k miles in decent condition. That is not going to happen. I am mechanically competent, can read, and am willing to put a project in the living room till it is finished (1st floor condo w/concrete subfloor). What say you soothsayers of the sprockets, where do I start looking? Are the other "R" bikes a lot like this one?

The R11xxRS are a bit of a love/hate bike actually. I don't fit them, so I don't like them. Oh, and you'll have to edit your post again as that's an oilhead, not an airhead .

You can actually buy them with fairly high mileage if they've been maintained well - I bought an R1150RT w/ 30k miles on it and took it up to 80k with hardly anything but regular tire changes and having it serviced by the book by my tame BMW specialist in the UK. The main issue is that you need access to the software to talk to both the engine and ABS ECUs if you want to service it yourself and that software is really hard to come by.

Earlier models like the R100RS you just commented on are very different beasts - for starters, the seating position is very different (and IMHO, more comfortable), the bikes aren't as heavy but you also don't have that much power. You'd really have to try one to figure out if they are for you.

I think the salesman was gently trying to also communicate that it was oil cooled, not strictly air cooled. As long as there isn't a water pump, I am happy. So I definitely love this oil head, and probably will love the airheads.

I can see the RT model's having even more comfort to them. In the modern era of the 1100-1200 BMW, are there bad years/good years? Certain models that may not be loved by the faithful but are good bikes to pick up at a discount?

If I step back in time to the r100 era, are there models to seek, to avoid?

It looks like its time to find a forum dedicated to these magical machines. I really, really, REALLY want one.

Re the RT, I'd get an R1150RT with the six speed gearbox; all 1100s only had five speed boxes they and can do with the extra gear.

Another bike worth looking out for is the plain jane R1150R (or R1100R) - they're cheaper, lighter due to less plastic and I find them much more comfortable than the RS.

With the R100 and R80 models, the earlier "heavy flywheel" bikes are a bit smoother and better on fuel, with the late single-side swingarm bikes being worst on fuel. The R80 is less powerful but a lot smoother, the R90/R100 engines were stretched a little too much and as a result is known to suffer from oil leaks.

These guys share more BMW love, than almost anyone I have found on the web. ADV

frequent poster on here, Mental, bought a salvage RS1150R (?, whatever the sportbikey looking model is). I think he had stupid-little money in it (for a BMW) for what he ended up w/ in the end. I'm sure he'll chime in w/ the details....

Unfortunately this is my second favorite bike right now. I've been pounding the R-90s around mountain roads and having a helluva good time!

Dan

I understand the Love for Airhead thing, but don't rule out a K bike. I had a K-100rs for a while, heated grips, progressive suspension, Supertrap and a comfy seat. I couyld keep up with the squids and keep a 12 pack in each saddle bag.

Actually IME the most important piece of equipment to buy for a recent BMW is a decent seat - for some reason even the "comfort" seats aren't much to write home about.

I will have to find a k-machine to sit on also. After listening to a few youtube videos, I am guessing there are some exhaust systems out there that can "embiggen" that somewhat VW sounding exhaust note.

The cop version R100RTP seems to sell for cheap. Use searchtempest.com to trawl for one.

I had a number of airheads, selling my R100CS I converted from an RS - I didn't have space and wasn't riding it. Then we got a way bigger garage, I sold my KTM 950 SM, and I have an opportunity to buy a nice, stock 1983 R100RT - onto which I'd swap the repainted upper from my RS, which I kept for some unknown reason.

Now I have space and I'm grown up enough to want a quiet, comfortable bone-stock motorcycle for once.

914Driver wrote: I understand the Love for Airhead thing, but don't rule out a K bike. I had a K-100rs for a while, heated grips, progressive suspension, Supertrap and a comfy seat. I couyld keep up with the squids and keep a 12 pack in each saddle bag.

How cheap are those things getting these days? I've always liked the look of the less fairinged versions of the K100 and K75 bikes.

I have had my 99 R1100RS since 2005. Never gonna get rid of it. Love it. I t shares space with my GSXR, R6 and DR. I will forget how much I like it and then ride it to work and wonder why I don't ride it more.

My experience is don't fear the mileage on these bikes. I've heard stories of oil consumption until the rings break in.....at 20k miles. They're built for the long haul. BMW Love is a committed relationship not a short term dalliance like some sportbikes.

I always like the R1100 or R850. It looks like an orthopedic shoe but form should follow function to some degree.

This is what my old K bike looked like. If I could do it right now, a K-75 S in fire engine red really turns my head.

K75Ss are brilliant bikes, less buzzy than the K100 and almost as quick. Last well, too.

Yeah, I like the chin spoiler.

So weird they layed a 4 cyl on it's side like that...and it works. BMW does some strange stuff.

BoxheadTim wrote: K75Ss are brilliant bikes, less buzzy than the K100 and almost as quick. Last well, too.

I'm not quite in the market yet, but to gauge where things are, what do you make of this K75 deal wise?

I'm not up really up to speed with US price levels yet but it looks like a decent bike. However unless you really want that sort of screen I'd search out an S. That's likely to be a bit more expensive but IMHO they're a much better bike, especially if you like riding longer distances.

For that, I'd budget for a better seat though.