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R 1100 GS to buy. Km - how many's too many R 1100 GS to buy. Km - how many's too many
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  #1  
Old 26 Nov 2007
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R 1100 GS to buy. Km - how many's too many
After 4 years of traveling the hard way.. It's time for me to get a bike. I'm now living in Holland. I want a bike for daily comuting and weekend/weeklong trips around greater Europe. With the lass on the back (hopefully!)
I'm looking at BMW stable; my budget is 4000 euro; A 1100gs & the f650 seem to fall in this price bracket. I'm leaning towards a boxer. However most 1100gs's I've seen advertised are in the 60,000km-100,000km range.

The question i want to ask; Seams a lot of Km's ? Can i expect reasonable reliabilty? I know there's always the unknown with anything mech. but whats your experience with the bikes in this Km range.

Also; my experiece riding bikes is riping around the farm back in NZ on 250cc's as a young fulla.. not on the road. I'm a reasonable sized athletic guy (185cm 6'2/solid build) would a 1100 be too much bike for a first roadie? or a f650 be a better choice to start with?


look forward to what you guy's and girls have to say.. Thanks
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

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Old 26 Nov 2007
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Smile welcome.......
Firstly.. to the HUBB

secondly, depending whether your goin on road mostly with the occasional dirt track, or wanna explore lots of dirt.
the 1100 is a fine machine, docile untill you wring its neck, so i wouldnt worry too much about it running away with you. its heavy though. so offroad its gonna hurt to pick up when you drop it. not IF you drop it, when you drop it. and mileage wise...100,000km is only 62,500 miles, so it isnt even properly run in yet!!!

thirdly, you have come to the right place for advice, fun and generally the best way of making sure you dont get to bed till 2am!

Enjoy

Martyn
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Old 26 Nov 2007
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Thanks for the welcome!

To be realistic (terrible word... that...) to start off with it would be road only. I've only just moved to Holland... and as far as i can figure there's not too many dirt tracks around here! But with more time, money, experience ( and more gentally easing the girlfriend into it ) the likes of Morroco, Turkey, and the 'Stans are calling to me!/us (she just doesn't know it yet!)

.....So 98% road. But it would be sacrilidge to own a GS and not get SOME dirt trails under it ! right!?
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

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Old 26 Nov 2007
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Also;

What should I be looking for as far as common failures/problems when looking at used GS's especially the 1100GS ?
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

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"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin
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Old 27 Nov 2007
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Here you find everything about BMW GS (1100 and other models), including common failures/problems of aged bikes:
The BMW R G/S and GS motorcycles
Personally, I own a '95 1100 GS with 103.000 km on the clock. I've rode it from North Africa to the Stans and I've never experienced any problem.
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Old 27 Nov 2007
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I've got a 1999 R1100GS also with 103,000km on the clock and it's been great . No major problems. Only thing I have had to replace was the shock absorbers at aorund 60,000 km. Now running on Ohlins but that was as much choice as necessity. Other than that it's been very reliable.
The later models have reportedly got better gearboxes so try and get a 1998 on model if you can. the earlier ones have some history of gearbox problems.

As for there not being too much off road in Holland - weill I disagree. there some great trail riding in Holland. Do a google search on the BMW GS Club Nederland and hook up with those guys and you'll have plenty of dirt to ride.
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