Question for you BMW members?

[Ncdan]

What’s the pros or cons with a well kept, low mileage, R1100RT and the “fare price range?

[RinkRat II]

      Pro.... It's a BMW

      Con..............So me if not all surge in 3rd,4th and 5th gear, some early ones were worse. Not a deal breaker but could be annoying . My buddy had
      one, 2001 I recall and I could barely feel it. Nice bike .
        Pricing from 4500.00 on up.  My $.02

       Paul B

[LongRanger]

R1150 models have power-assisted servo-actuated ABS brakes. They work great and I never had an issue, but others have. Repairs are expensive. Advertised pricing in my neck of the woods for a solid pre-2001 R1100RT starts at about $2000 and rarely exceeds $6000.

[blu guzz]

rear drive failures were well known on them.  If that happens, it can be expensive or you may get lucky finding a used one.  It can also be inconvenient if it goes out when you are far from home.  There can be about 50 mile of warning.  At least that was my case on a 2003 k1200rs I had.  39,500 miles and out she went.  Got me to riding Guzzis.  All of them of that age are in danger of this.  Most of the Ironbutt riders used to ride them and many switched to Goldwings after.

[Ncdan]

rear drive failures were well known on them.  If that happens, it can be expensive or you may get lucky finding a used one.  It can also be inconvenient if it goes out when you are far from home.  There can be about 50 mile of warning.  At least that was my case on a 2003 k1200rs I had.  39,500 miles and out she went.  Got me to riding Guzzis.  All of them of that age are in danger of this.  Most of the Ironbutt riders used to ride them and many switched to Goldwings after.

Interesting, was there no recalls?

[FarmallA]

Actually the driveline problems with  R1000 and 1150 BMWs was with the transmission input splines.  Read all about it at bmwsporttouring.com/oilheads or just google it. Mine had no problem in that department.

It is said that the surging problem was caused by the fuel injection system (closed loop, with an O2 sensor) running on the hairy edge of lean for emissions.  Ethanol fuel pushed it over there edge.  Be that as it may, the cure is a AF-XiED O2 Sensor Manipulator.  It's a little dongle that goes in line with the O2 sensor to spoof the computer into thinking the mixture is leaner than it is, so it richens it by an adjustable percentage across the whole range.  Worked perfectly on my '99.  Check it out  here: https://www.beemerboneyard.com/bmwafo2sema.html.  (I have no financal or other interest)

Tremendous long distance bike, and it can carve a corner too.

FarmallA
Steve

[FarmallA]

Oh yeah, the R1150RT has the whizzy (power) brakes, but the R1100RT has conventional (tremendous) Brembos.

FarmallA
Steve

[Ncdan]

More information was requested.
The year model is a 1999 and the bike has 29,000 miles.
One owner, garage kept, black in color.
Asking price is 3300.00.

[sdcr]

Dan,
My personal experience with a 2000 R1100RS, which is essentially the same mechanics, as the RT is positive. I bought mine in 2001, with about 2500 miles. Never experience the rear drive failure, and I currently have 95,000 miles. I did have a clutch fail at 55,000 miles, due to some weak O rings, that allowed oil to penetrate the clutch disc. The clutch itself would have lasted, otherwise. Also, a too tight wiring harness, near the headstock chafed through, and had to be replaced. Arduous, but doable self repair to replace the sub harness.

Basic tires, brakes, valve adjustments, filter and fluid changes have all that has been needed. The sweet spot for these 1100 models, is 1997-2001. These will all have a clunky five speed.

An unmolested R1100 RT with low miles, IMO, would be $2500 on the low side, to about $4-4500 high side. Personally, I wouldn’t want a 20+ year old bike, that has extreme low miles, since it probably will have sat unused for long periods.

[blu guzz]

Also keep in mind that the bike you are talking about is 24 years old.  While many bikes that age can be fine, age is a factor as well.  I wouldn't pay more than $3,000 for one.

[Tkelly]

See if you like riding it,it is way different from a Guzzi.

[cookiemech]

$3300 for a clean 29K one owner bike is very good. I had a 2000 R1100RT that I bought new and it was an excellent bike (now have a 2015 R1200RT).

One item that can be problematic is the Hall effect sensor (HES). With time and heat, the wiring deteriorates and when it fails, you're dead on the water. You can replace it with a new one that has good insulation.

[SIR REAL ED]

More information was requested.
The year model is a 1999 and the bike has 29,000 miles.
One owner, garage kept, black in color.
Asking price is 3300.00.

I talked to my resident BMW expert about a 2000 R1100R a few weeks back.  His reply was "Great bike!!  A couple years earlier they had some issues but they were resolved before the 1999 model year."

Based on a 5 minute conversation with him, I would say go for it Danny.

Test ride first of course,  No point in buying a bike you don't like just cause it is in good shape at a good price.

[Ncdan]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.
I had a 1985 R100RT but didn’t keep it long. It was just too tall for me even with a 30” inseam and I just couldn’t seem to bond with the Beemer, at the time.
This particular bike caught my eye as it is a very well maintained one owner  BLACK Beemer at what appears to be a good price.
I’m not an impulse buyer so it’ll probably get sold before I could get around to attempting a test ride anyhow.
Thanks for all the collective feedback!

Dan

[sdcr]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.
I had a 1985 R100RT but didn’t keep it long. It was just too tall for me even with a 30” inseam and I just couldn’t seem to bond with the Beemer, at the time.
This particular bike caught my eye as it is a very well maintained one owner  BLACK Beemer at what appears to be a good price.
I’m not an impulse buyer so it’ll probably get sold before I could get around to attempting a test ride anyhow.
Thanks for all the collective feedback!

Dan

The R1100 series will be “taller” than the earlier airhead, R100. But, The seat of the R1100Rt, has three adjustment points, low, medium and high.

[Perazzimx14]

rear drive failures were well known on them.  If that happens, it can be expensive or you may get lucky finding a used one.  It can also be inconvenient if it goes out when you are far from home.  There can be about 50 mile of warning.  At least that was my case on a 2003 k1200rs I had.  39,500 miles and out she went.  Got me to riding Guzzis.  All of them of that age are in danger of this.  Most of the Ironbutt riders used to ride them and many switched to Goldwings after.

Or the repair can be inexpensive. Buddy can replace the big end bearing (the part that fails around $100) in a h/motel parking lot with a puller and some various common hand tools.

The others that comment on the servo assist brakes yes, they too can be a problem but are very easy to bypass for a few dollars and in a few hours and you'll have excellent non-ABS brakes. The servo units are typically not rebuildable and if you can get NOS they are several thousand dollars so it's not worth it to replace unless you absolutely love the bike and have to have ABS.

I've bypassed several of my Hexhead GS's ABS pumps (very similar to the earlhead) and after buying the $20 bubble flaring tool it now costs me about $4.50 for a piece of 3/16" brake line and a 1/2 pint of DOT4 to do the bypass in about 2 hours.

RT's ain't GS's when it comes to holding value. The RT is typically substantially lower and an earlhead would be worth in the $1500 to $2500 range in good condition. The nice thing is you can get a lot of bikes for not a lot of money. The downside is like almost any 20/25 years old bike it will not take long to get upside-down if it needs anything.

[inditx]

Or the repair can be inexpensive. Buddy can replace the big end bearing (the part that fails around $100) in a h/motel parking lot with a puller and some various common hand tools.

The others that comment on the servo assist brakes yes, they too can be a problem but are very easy to bypass for a few dollars and in a few hours and you'll have excellent non-ABS brakes. The servo units are typically not rebuildable and if you can get NOS they are several thousand dollars so it's not worth it to replace unless you absolutely love the bike and have to have ABS.

I've bypassed several of my Hexhead GS's ABS pumps (very similar to the earlhead) and after buying the $20 bubble flaring tool it now costs me about $4.50 for a piece of 3/16" brake line and a 1/2 pint of DOT4 to do the bypass in about 2 hours.

RT's ain't GS's when it comes to holding value. The RT is typically substantially lower and an earlhead would be worth in the $1500 to $2500 range in good condition. The nice thing is you can get a lot of bikes for not a lot of money. The downside is like almost any 20/25 years old bike it will not take long to get upside-down if it needs anything.

  Perrazimx14  knows Beemers!
My .02, the R1100’s are nice bikes but for not much more an 05+ R1200RT is a much more refined bike IMHO, and I’ve owned several BMW’s.
I now have an '04 R1150R which I love but if/when I get tired of it, I’ll move back to an R1200. (probably not an RT 'cause I like the naked R, personal preference)
Best wishes either way Dan.
Jack aka inditx

[Ncdan]

Thanks guys.
I was going to go take a Look at it Today but got rained out.
I talked with the owner today and he seems to be a honest fellow.
He bought the Beemer from the second owner and said that both prior owners could be described as meticulous about their machines.
It has 29k miles, new tires and battery. Reason for selling is he has 3 other bikes and is 72 years old and simply does not ride it enough to justify the garage space.
I’m supposed to go tomorrow and take it for a ride.
I guess I’ll just allow my 55 years of riding experience

take over.
However I was told by an old BMW guy once that one must put a couple thousand miles on a BMW to appreciate the excellence and superiority of the brand????

[SIR REAL ED]

However I was told by an old BMW guy once that one must put a couple thousand miles on a BMW to appreciate the excellence and superiority of the brand????

As I was once told:

"BMW owners are people of superior intelligence, discernment, and refinement....... or so they like to believe!"

In my old age, I'm starting to think superiority is as subjective as beauty.   

[Huzo]

My mate who I tour with has this






The shot where it’s torn down is one day after he bought it to install a new “long spline” clutch.
10 hours to go in, 13 hours to come back out…
Then we took off for a long trip.
It is THE BEST 1,000 k in a day bike I have ever ridden, (but I just love my Norge more), that could easily be the other way around though.
As a tool to do a job, it is phenomenal though. He has now done multiple thousands of kilometres on it and it is PERFECT.

He also has this one


He’s never had a problem in 130,000 km.

[Ncdan]

Thanks to everyone who offered their knowledge on the Beemer as it helped quite a bit.
I went and looked at it today and it is a fine example of the year, make and model. I’m sure at 3350.00 someone will get a fine BMW.
After sitting on it and seeing what the riding position will be(European style) and I could barely flat foot the bike on the lowest seat setting, I just don’t think I’d be satisfied with ownership.
I think for me the bottom line is I’m just locked in with the cruiser style riding position as that’s where I have spent 55 years of riding and I’m too old at 70 to attempt change now.
I guess I’ll just have to wait for MG to bust out with a new cruiser with the new V100 mill. Yea I hear ya, I know, “don’t hold my breath”😂

[Perazzimx14]

Thanks to everyone who offered their knowledge on the Beemer as it helped quite a bit.
I went and looked at it today and it is a fine example of the year, make and model. I’m sure at 3350.00 someone will get a fine BMW.
After sitting on it and seeing what the riding position will be(European style) and I could barely flat foot the bike on the lowest seat setting, I just don’t think I’d be satisfied with ownership.
I think for me the bottom line is I’m just locked in with the cruiser style riding position as that’s where I have spent 55 years of riding and I’m too old at 70 to attempt change now.
I guess I’ll just have to wait for MG to bust out with a new cruiser with the new V100 mill. Yea I hear ya, I know, “don’t hold my breath”😂

Two years ago I was looking for a winter bike and really wanted to like the Hexhead RT's. I like the hexhead GS's and also the price point of the hexhead RT's is very palatable. Looked a quite a few online and almost bought sight unseen then one came up at a local dealership for reasonable money. Buddy and I went to test ride it and some other bikes and before I left the parking lot I knew this was not the bike for me. It just felt wrong. I really wanted the RT to work as the wind protection on the RT is amazing.

[SIR REAL ED]

Thanks to everyone who offered their knowledge on the Beemer as it helped quite a bit.
I went and looked at it today and it is a fine example of the year, make and model. I’m sure at 3350.00 someone will get a fine BMW.
After sitting on it and seeing what the riding position will be(European style) and I could barely flat foot the bike on the lowest seat setting, I just don’t think I’d be satisfied with ownership.
I think for me the bottom line is I’m just locked in with the cruiser style riding position as that’s where I have spent 55 years of riding and I’m too old at 70 to attempt change now.
I guess I’ll just have to wait for MG to bust out with a new cruiser with the new V100 mill. Yea I hear ya, I know, “don’t hold my breath”😂

Don't give up just yet Dan-O!

There is a BMW for people with short legs:

https://danville.craigslist.org/mcy/d/south-boston-bmw-r1200/7651440517.html

As the Beem-O-Philes I know consider the R1200C to be the ugliest BMW ever made, good deals are out there!

 

[Ncdan]

Don't give up just yet Dan-O!

There is a BMW for people with short legs:

https://danville.craigslist.org/mcy/d/south-boston-bmw-r1200/7651440517.html

As the Beer-O-Philes I know consider the R1200C to be the ugliest BMW ever made, good deals are out there!

 

Thanks for the word of encouragement Sir Ed but it was just a fleeing moment of passion. I had a 1985 R100RT but really could never get use to the riding position.
I guess I’ll just stick with my ole 83 CB1000C and my 02 pumpkin orange Stone👍

[Perazzimx14]

Don't give up just yet Dan-O!

There is a BMW for people with short legs:

https://danville.craigslist.org/mcy/d/south-boston-bmw-r1200/7651440517.html

As the Beer-O-Philes I know consider the R1200C to be the ugliest BMW ever made, good deals are out there!

 

Or you could get a nicer looing BMW and get lowered shocks for it? Then you won't have to worry about being seen on a German Bassa

[Ncdan]

Or you could get a nicer looing BMW and get lowered shocks for it? Then you won't have to worry about being seen on a German Bassa

Now that’s a thought P14👍