Dear Abby,
A nice one has popped into my 'Beemers for sale' field of vision today. In particular I have a 'K bikes for sale' urge since I miss my own K100RS back at home, but any bike that piques my interest and is for sale is worth a squiz, in my estimation. I almost rode the bike home to give it a go, with the owner's permission of course, but it was bucketing hard with cold rain so I rode my own comfortable, spread wing fairing R1150RT home instead. I'll try the bike in a coupla days when it dries out a bit. I know when I need to slow down and take it easy.

This is what it looks like - as clean as this - but this is not the actual bike. It comes with series III panniers and an OEM top box, has very few dingles and dents, a custom Rich's seat (local Seattle-area) and has...wait for it...27,492 original miles (about 44200 kilometres) on the odo. I checked its service history and the owner has ridden it less than 4,000 miles since the end of 2006, after a full service and new tyres, which by now are past their use-by date! I promise to replace them with Michelin PR4s as soon as...



I do have room in the garage...next to the R1150GS & RT. Am I being greedy, and do you think my bike back home will sense there's been a change in the atmosphere?

TWB

Buy Buy Buy

PS, I also promise, even tho' I quite like some of the better efforts, not to turn it into a custom, bobbed, channeled, flat black, retro, mods 'n' rockers, slammed, clubman bar, knobbly-tyred, high-fendered scrambler or café edition, that never existed in history on this sort of bike anyway.

 

well as long as you stick to your promise .......

JR

Apehangers with leather tassels?

Al

Dear TWB,

You can fit 3 or 4 bikes into the space occupied by one car. Make maximum use of your garage, buy another K100rs.
Remember, money cannot buy happiness, but it can buy another K and that's the same thing.

Abby

Wow, that looks like one pristine specimen mate!  I see nothing wrong with adding another playmate to the garage...

OG

PPS,
and it's only US$3200! Am I worthy?

TWB

 :pirat:

Go for it !!!

Uh...ya for sure.

I think that garage space is the only limiting factor that should be considered. If you have space, fill it with a K. Nature abhors a vacuum and a garage with space should be filled.  

TWB,

Buy it. The RS's will likely become increasingly sought after, and considering the low mileage you're looking at a bargain.

As for it's would-be stablemates, the arrival of a fresh steed will in all probability heighten their collective anxiety levels (fear of neglect, rejection) and spur them on towards better behavior.

If and when you might decide to part company with her you will realize a nice return on your investment.

Buy it!

Dear Abby,
OK, on the sage advice of my riding partner, close friends, work colleagues and fellow forum members, I'm gunna get this one into my garage. Decision made. Thanks for your earnest input.

I'll get some pics up over the next few days as we become better acquainted.
  

TWB

Cant wait  

k-rider

Phew, sanity prevails. these pristines got to be in the right hands IMHO.

klamityboy wrote:I think that garage space is the only limiting factor that should be considered. If you have space, fill it with a K. Nature abhors a vacuum and a garage with space should be filled.  

There is some truth in that but I still need a path through the bikes to get from the front to the back of the garage (currently 4 solo bikes and a sidecar).

I was reminded this arvo on the way home why the Mighty K, especially in 16 valve guise, is such a pleasant beast to ride; it revs crisply and moves forward with a turbine-like rush when you tach it up. As the signs says, "Slower traffic keep right." I found myself in fourth gear at 80 mph overtaking cars in the right hand lanes (normally the slow lanes) just because it seems to me that in America no one thinks they're the slow traffic and they clog the left or "passing" lane. So, right is the new left.

Back to the K. Having ridden an R1150RT regularly as my near-daily rider it was good to once again grasp a set of 'bars that are low and forward. I like the 'S' position. Call me a Wiley from way back.

The total mileage on this bike is just under 27,500 miles. The paint is good except for some hash marks where the former owner let it drop to the ground on the right hand side. The top box and panniers are tidy and scuff-free. There are no gearbox or engine oil leaks and the engine breather hose is in good nick. The heated grips work in both positions: hot and very hot. The dash lights are bright and green - perhaps someone whacked a set of LEDs in there! There's WristRest bar end/cruise control weights fitted. The engine appears overfilled, the oil sight glass chockers with clean oil with no bubble in sight. There's a brand new BMW Exide gel battery, clean, green coolant, the front tyre is dated '27th week of 2012' while the rear tyre is over 12 years old, 3rd week of 2002. They're Dunlop D220 in the front and Dunlop Sportmax out the back. The back is gunna get pitched simply because of its age while the front has heaps of life left in it. I'm not a big fan of Dunlop tyres but they'll do.

"One lap and they're done!"

I opened up the panniers to find two new mirror pods with indicator lenses, a thick service manual with a stack of workshop receipts, an oil filter kit, extra key set, a fuel filter, and a pile of other useful etc.

The bike rolls down the road sweetly, but the windscreen flip up thingy has been removed due to some hamfister hamfisting it - the tabs are broken off clean. A dark-tint Laminar Lip will fix that. The PO slid the forks up 10mm or so in the triple clamps but there's a stock height shockie out back still - the forks will be put back proper. The Rich's custom leather seat is comfy for fifty miles but lets my inner thighs get pinched by the side covers, such is the cutaway at the front which was made for the short arse PO. The seat was fabbed using the original seat pan so unfortunately it's gone.

Over the course of the week I'll change all of the fluids: fork oil, gearbox and final drive, engine and oil filter. The brake pads are at 80% front and rear, and appear to be the OEM Brembo variety. Bonus.

I looked and didn't see any signs of exhaust header to collector cracking which can happen more often that not on this model. I know the boys at Maxmoto in San Fran and they import Remus so I reckon a full system will take care of that for the future.



I see a week-long, shakedown, late-Winter getaway happening soon, perhaps to sunny So Cal and on down into Baja, Mexico.

Los Cabos y Todos Santos, allá voy! Un cerveza fria, por favor.

Jealous, it's beauiful.

I had 220s on a new bike years ago, I couldn't wait to get rid of them.  The bike was transformed completely when they were gone.

Al

Great score!

good  buy daz would love to come for a ride with you but I'm a bit laid up for repairs

 Compliments, looks a great bike TWB !
Enjoy !
Jos

Dear Abby,
thank you for being encouraging towards our often impulsive decisions, even tho' this one - a good one too - wasn't. She's found a good home, will be looked after, and in return will bring happiness and a new lease on an otherwise mundane working life. She's going to be a blast to ride on the commute. Somehow it might go a bit faster...but too, the weekend and longer rides will be pure joy up over the Cascade mountains and beyond come Summertime.
  
TWB


- Sorry to hear, Rick. At least for the time being, you can live viKariously through your fellow forum member's rides, stories and exploits. Get well soon. I'll be back in late-September and we'll catch up. Cheers.

Super jealous. Just imagining some twisties in the Cascades on a warm spring day. Oh rain, will you ever go away?

Excellent purchase!

Ya, I'd have room in the garage for that (read I'd make room in the garage for that).   

Enjoy the ride.

REALLY a nice one , congratulations .

K-rider