Noob Questions

[kroberts]

Hi fellas. I haven't owned a bike in years and can no longer suppress the urge. I looked at a 2000 R1100S today. 33XXX miles. Silver with yellow stripes. Scuffs on bags but no damage to bike. Needs some TLC but seems solid enough. Has a Remus exhaust system on it. Sounds good aside from blown seal at the lower joint from the left cylinder pipe. Mileage is so low that I am a little spooked.

Owner said he would take $3500 for it. I know this is a stupid question to ask on the 'net given all the possible variables and unknowns but is that a fair asking price?


Pity the noob. TIA

[twodear]

Pity the noob - LOL. You'll fit in fine.

There are at least two other threads axing the same question, did you review those?

The real question is whether the bike is worth that much to you.

[brentw1]

abs for normal street driving is a good thing.
the 2000 came both ways.

[kroberts]

Hi. Yes, I found the Canadian thread. Funny, I was looking for a Hawk when I found the BMW. Always loved the look of those Hondas. I'm intimidated by the size of the BMW. My last street bike was a Yamaha RZ350 (yeah, it's been a while for me). Those things were a blast...but considerably smaller than the BMW.

When I rode this 1100 it was immediately obvious that it had been many years since I'd been on a bike. The mass of the thing startled me. I know that if I buy it I would get used to it again. It was a little disheartening though. I used to love riding. My wife made me get rid of my last bike. I'm single again but I digress.

Another question; where is the VIN placard/plate/sticker/stamp/etc located on a BMW? I'm going to look at it again tomorrow. I want to compare the title to the bike.

Thanks

[brentw1]

right main frame above the rear sets

[lkchris]

FWIW the 1100S is about the smallest modern BMW boxer. Think before long at all the only thing that will feel big about it to you will be the power.

[bradzdotcom]

as another rider who's enjoyed the yamaha rd/rz series:

the bmw won't wheelie every time you almost-nearly think about doing a wheelie.
the bmw is (approximately) 73,412 times more comfortable.
those round glass-based things on the yamaha were ornamental. the bmw has real mirrors that you can really see things in.
an RD/z at 33k miles probably needs pistons and rings. the bmw is barely (maybe) broken in.
the amount of "performance certificates" you'll receive on the bmw are 10 times less than the yamaha (even pre-radar).
it has a clock.
you don' t have to buy yamalube. if your bmw mixes gas and oil, something is wrong.
you won't need to buy stock in a spark plug company to lessen the hit of buying them.
you don't have to worry about dodging bugs. the bmw has a little fairing on the front.
it comes with some real tools that really work. they don't even bend.
practice saying "i ride a bmw". practice saying "i ride a (anything else). see which sounds better.
(sidenote: gottlieb daimler should never have quit making motorcycles, "me? oh, i ride a mercedes-benz".)

if the situation presents itself, women will actually get on the back of the bmw for a ride and will commit to doing it again. i'm fairly certain that's never happened on an RD, much less the RZ model.

33k on the odo, 3.5k out of your pocket.
i say snag it.

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by kroberts

My last street bike was a Yamaha RZ350 (yeah, it's been a while for me). Those things were a blast...but considerably smaller than the BMW.

The RZ wasn't Yellow and Black with your name on it, was it?

[daweise1]

I bought a 1999 R1100S with about 36,000 miles on it in April for $4,100 with ABS, heated grips, and the 5.5 rear wheel. Minor upgrades, but factory parts came with it also. Same color as the one you are considering.....

At the time, I felt like I stole it. Others on the market were $5,000 or more (D@mn stealership.....) It tooks me 2 years of looking to find the opinions, color, condition, and price I thought was fair.

In the spring, your price of $3,500 will become $4,500 quickly. After looking for 2 years, I can tell you R1100S have hit bottom, and more than likely, they will be heading up in price. I have seen wrecked bikes commanding more than $3,500.

[kroberts]

That's my real name too. My friends thought I was a dick for signing the nose cowl. They had never heard of King Kenny.

I had two RZs, an 84 (yellow/black), and an 85 (Red/white). I tweaked the 85 pretty good. Carbs, reeds, SpecII chambers, milled head, sprocket. God that thing would just destroy a 500 Interceptor up to about 90 mph...and it sounded SO good at 8000rpm.


I'm going to look at the BMW again later today.

Thanks all

[wswartzwel]

[nail24fac]

If it's the silver with yellow strips that I'm thinking about, you have a very desirable color combo. Age and wear on tires, age of battery and service record are the things that will determine the present value. Is this the color?

[kroberts]

Yes, that's it. It's a good looking bike.

[kroberts]

Well I bought the bike. Paid $3500 for it. Owner is going to bring it over tomorrow. I dont have a motorcycle endorsement on my license and the registration is expired.

It's going to need a fair amount of work. Lots of hose replacements, etc. I'm going to have to get some manuals (owner and shop). Going to do all the fluids and plugs I guess. It has no maintenance history. Will need tires relatively soon.

Do most of you guys buy your parts online? Any site recommendations?

I'm going to need a helmet and a good riding jacket. Not a leather jacket, a nice Hi-Vis, long waterproof windbreaker, like the jackets the Euro bike cops wear.

Pretty excited. A bit nervous too.

I'll start a new thread and post some pix tomorrow.

Be patient with me. I promise to use the search function.

[nail24fac]

If you haven't ridden for a long period, I'd highly recommend a motorcycle safety course. Things have probably changed since you last rode. The R1100S is a forgiving bike; but, it is still capable of getting you in trouble if you don't respect it. Find a knowledgeable BMW owner to go over your bike with you.

[bradzdotcom]

nail has a good point.
i've ridden a ga-gaggle of motorcycles and these things are definitely different.
different lines, different braking point, different anti-dive up front.
it's far removed from an rz.

the more questions you ask, the more help you get....but make sure you use the search function first. you can get flogged around here for not doing that.
you get major bonus points for asking a relative question that's never been raised.

as far as "what to do", it appears as though you (and more importantly, your bike) have been adopted by this group of wheeled pervs, and like it or not, they're going to make sure you get that bike into perfect shape.

after all, they've already spent the bucks doing it themselves.
might as well spend your bucks too.

it's what we do.
and we do it damn well.

[RIQUE]

Originally Posted by kroberts

Well I bought the bike. Paid $3500 for it. Owner is going to bring it over tomorrow. I dont have a motorcycle endorsement on my license and the registration is expired.

It's going to need a fair amount of work. Lots of hose replacements, etc. I'm going to have to get some manuals (owner and shop). Going to do all the fluids and plugs I guess. It has no maintenance history. Will need tires relatively soon.

Do most of you guys buy your parts online? Any site recommendations?

I'm going to need a helmet and a good riding jacket. Not a leather jacket, a nice Hi-Vis, long waterproof windbreaker, like the jackets the Euro bike cops wear.

Pretty excited. A bit nervous too.

I'll start a new thread and post some pix tomorrow.

Be patient with me. I promise to use the search function.

Wow you need to buy a sschit load of stuff lovely!


1. I get all my parts from Max Motorcycles. Good prices plus you get extra candy
2. New Tires a must. May I suggest you get Dunlop Q3`s They are out of this world sticky.
3. Shoei has a new helmet out the 1200. A bit pricey but man it a looker!

Enjoy!

[kroberts]

Well the sellers delivered the bike, we did the paperwork, and they left.

I rode the bike around my neighborhood for a bit, then parked it in the garage. After dinner I started looking it over. Trying to find the exhaust leak.

I'm one of those people that that PT Barnum was talking about when he said "There's a sucker born every minute".

I've got a real bad feeling about this.

So tell me, what are Remus exhaust systems made of? Probably titanium, right?

I think this bike is a crash rebuild.

I found what I assume are the pilot holes for the BMW VIN number plate that is probably supposed to be attached to the frame.

Then I found a "Texas Reassigned Vehicle Identification Number" sticker on the bike.

Pity the Noob. Ha!

I'm going to go eat some draino now.

[nail24fac]

Take some photos and post them. Look for broken tabs on the frame. They will be easy to spot. Don't remove the plastic unless you know what you are doing. Find a friend that hase owned a BMW! Let's find out what kind of bling you have on it. All is not lost because it is a salvage titled bike. Check over the engine looking for cooling fins that may be broken off. Start getting to know your bike by doing some basic things like changing the fluids, checking for bent rims, leaking shocks. Download the maintenance manual online and start reading about care and maintenance. The R1100S can take some abuse.

[twodear]

Bummer…but it is not the end of the world - yet. What are the laws around the seller having to come clean about not informing you of the missing VIN plate and the Reassigned tag? Can the bike be registered without a VIN plate?

If the motor runs, the wheels are in line with each other and there are no cracks in the headstock frame bit or the rear C-frame or swing arm then it is likely to be at safe to ride. The Texas Reassigned tag - can that only refer to a wrecked bike or perhaps one that was merely stolen and recovered?

I believe Remus used stainless steel tubing.