Im about to buy a 1998 BMW R1100GS, 27,000 miles on it, for $7200. Does anyone have any problems with this? Are there any dirty little secrets that i should know about this bike?

Let me tell you more: This will be my second motorcycle. I just gave away my 1978 KZ400 that i rode 4000 miles on around the Great Lakes last summer. The trip was at times a frustrating experience because i had so many bike problems, but i made it. I paid $700 for that bike, so i guess i got my money's worth. I vowed never to ride such a piece of junk so far from home again.

So now i am moving onto my second motorcycle, and am about to take this GS. I love its upright riding position and want to be able to carry two passengers and luggage on long trips, without any power problems, and on this bike i can do it.

But, it scares me a little bit. I like bikes that i can work on. I would rather have a bike that breaks down occasionally that i know how to fix than one that 'supposedly' never breaks down (because i know it will break down and then i'll be screwed!) The BMW is fuel injected, and i don't like this; i don't like not being able to tune my bike up. But according to BMW the bike never needs 'tuning'. Supposedly the bike never needs anything besides its 6,000 services. is this true? should i be scared? The only thing i can really do to ths bike is change its oil, but then that is just the kind of bike i was dreaming of when my ignition switch was cutting out north of Lake Superior. Or maybe i'm just nostalgic for all those beautiful riding days i spent, summers past, with my bike in parts on my garage floor.

Tell me, is a BMW really all they say it is? And is this model a good buy for this price?