Is this right for me/good deal?

[JonyRR]

anybody remember the dude on the tricycle from 'laugh-in'?

dadadadadadadadadada...do...dhu!

[brocklanders]

i bought my 01 in jan its my first bike and i believe i got the perfect motorcycle im 6'1" and there was one time when i all most tipped it but i was able to recover. the only thing that was tricky was maneuvering at slow speeds but you will get used to it. as far as it having to much power that is up to how you ride it. take someone with you to look at it and if it checks out buy it 6500 is a good price you will not be sorry

[hawkeyejohn14]

I love the BMW ABS on my "S" and could of gone the BCR route with the smaller battery and alterator and no ABS but I am very glad after a couple of rides in the rain that I had the ABS, heated grips and accessory sockets. If the BCR had all this I would of went that way as they are way cool. If ABS is no big deal then I would go this way but for me it's a must on a bike this big.

[AZ-Twin]

Sean,

If you get the BCR you may want to follow some of the advice here an pull the fancy valve cover covers and put some engine guards on it. I have engine guards on my R12S so WHEN I drop it it won't damage the engine. I know two of the more experienced board members have dropped their bikes in the garage within the last 6 months. It usually happens in parking lots, stop lights, places like that.

Here is a good beginner that you can drop all you want, and it won't depreciate a bit in a year.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/685937683.html

Don't take anyone's advice personally, it is all based off personal experience and probability. You may never have an incident, but we were all beginners once, and it really hurts picking your cherry baby up off the ground, compared to some 3K POS you don't care about as much.

I personally would never recommend any bike with plastic on it for a beginner, odds are that it will get dropped, and motorcycle plastic is expensive. I recommend dual sports with no plastic to beginners, and it seems these days with gas what it is there are lots of beginners.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

EDIT-
another
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/667165986.html

[SeanCJ]

Thanks again all for the continued advice and suggestion, as well as the genuine concern for my safety.
I won't go into too much detail as it would fill a book, but in short....
I bought it!
Needless to say, I couldn't have purchased a used bike from a more knowledgeable, courteous, enthusiastic, and genuinely nice person. Retired military colonel whose motorcycle collection (a Harley big boy, Suzuki GSXR1100, a dirt bike, and an old army motorcycle) was immaculate; garage immaculate (all bikes covered, floor clean, all tools neatly placed; house immaculate inside and out (he just finished remodeling it himself and it was very apparent attention to detail was there). Everything was obviously well respected and cared for. I knew within minutes that the BMW was in good hands.
He spent an hour reviewing the R11S's workings with me, never blinked an eye when I asked him to drive it up and down the street in front of his home for me over and over, and he gave me ample time to look it over. I sat on it over and over again and it fit me perfectly. He held it up for me so I could take both feet off the ground and give it some revs to feel engine movement. In no way did it feel too heavy or difficult to manage. Just right for my size and I could easily manuever it around the garage. My legs fit along the gas tank/side plastic perfectly. Very comfortable positioning for me.
He took off the belly pan and left side plastic to show me the engine from all angles and allowed me and my friend to give it a full look over. He showed me how to change to oil, change the brake fluid, and even how to change the brake pads!
The bike itself....perfect mechanically and cosmetically! Not a scratch, ding, or scuff. Beautiful machine! The engine fired up instantly and purred like a kitten. This bike is quiet! Even when he ramped it up in front of his house, it was surprisingly quiet!
So, after about an hour of looking it over and some genuinely nice and pleasant conversation about many things, including the bike's history, he asked me if I liked it and what I was wanting to pay for it. His price was $6400 initially. He looked at me and said "Sean, its your for $6100." Without skipping a beat, he even threw in a pair of leather saddle bags (which I actually didn't take as I didn't think they would look right on the bike.)
Out of respect for this very nice man, and for this great bike, I didn't even barter. I agreed that it was well worth the $6100!
I gave him a deposit. He moved it back to its spot in his collection and place the sheet back over it. There it would stay until I was able to come pick it up.
He and his wife asked us to stay for lunch, but we had to get back home. It was a great experience.
I will go back to pick it up Tuesday evening. I'll be hauling it home in my truck.
I can't wait to practice with it a bit in the local high school parking lot just a block up the road from me. I won't be riding it on the open road at all until after my 3 day riding class next month, but maybe a bit on my private neighborhood's roads. I know them well.
I know alot of you are shaking your heads at this, but this was just too good an oppurtunity to pass up.
I left his house truly believing in my heart that this was the right person to buy this BMW from and that this was 'the' bike for me. I know I would have regretted it for a long time had I left that beautiful bike sitting in his garage and 'settling' for anything else.
Anyway, I guess I ranted on too long afterall .
Thanks again for all the advice and suggestions everyone! Please understand that I will take all of what has been stated to heart and will hopefully be a better rider because of it.
Best regards.
Sean

[AZ-Twin]

Congratulations on your new purchase.

Post up a pic so we can see it. I would imagine you got quite a deal if it is as good as it sounds, and it probably is.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[twodear]

Good for you Sean. Once you're on the road, try to get out of town often and enjoy your new toy!

[chewie]

Congrats Sean!

If you are gonna ride it around in parking lots, I have one peice of advice to help with any potential slow speed off's.

If your turning in a small area, 1st gear slow around cars and such, just use the back brake, don't touch the front in the carpark. My experience has shown me that if your turning the bike and you nip the front brake too hard, the bike can dive in and fall over.

If you try to do a small figure of 8 on the bike with front brake, then try with just back brake (riding the back brake) I am sure you'll agree it's easier on the back and you can turn tighter too. That will go along way to keeping you upright in the car park.

Good luck with your bike and your 3 day course. Don't let that be the end of your schooling and enjoy.

Best of luck mate!

[Steve Carlton]

Glad it worked out well, Sean. I think heated grips and ABS came together or not at all on the '04, but if yours has heated grips, don't tie it down by the hand grips (it can wreck the heated grips). As mentioned before, get some cylinder guards if they'll fit over your existing valve covers, otherwise some non-BCR valve covers for a while, if they're not too expensive.

Does he have the blue cowl that covers the passenger seat?

[on2wheels52]

Welcome to the zoo, Sean.
I initially came here for the technical workings of the bike. I started from the first post and at least skimmed every post related to the mechanical side of the bike. This shared internet experiences brought me up to speed in a hurry on the S, in the past it was done by pouring over the shop manuals and trial and error. A few weeks of catching up greatly eased any maintance jobs on the thing.
Jim

[wswartzwel]

Congrats on a good deal!


Slow riding in parking lots can also be made easier smoother by learning to feather the clutch some.

Looking forward to some pictures

[ckcarr]

This fellow sounds like he was the "dream" seller everybody wants to find. Garage full of bikes he rarely rode, all taken care of immaculately. He didn't have a Corvette hidden anywhere did he?

Congratulations.

[michaelrm69]

Fantastic Sean!

[bikerfish1100]

Sean- sounds like the bike and seller were the right combo for you.
again- i'll toss in my $.02. what are you expecting to learn or discover by doing any riding of your bike before the class? my experience (8 years teaching MSF classes) is that most students gain little by having prior parking lot bike practice, unless that experience is substantial and observed/coached. you have a much greater likelihood of dropping the bike and scuffing plastic in that situation now, than you will after having taken the class. best thing you can do now- go ride a bicycle. seriously, it will work/reinforce that "balance thing" for you. (remember to keep your eyes up, and looking where you want to go). just itching to feel your bike? sit on it in the garage, make vroom vroom noises, and envision yourself having a great time on some fine country roads- but i would strongly advise fighting the temptation to take it out and play with it. little to gain, quite a bit to loose.
think about it- what could you gain by following thru with "I can't wait to practice with it a bit in the local high school parking lot just a block up the road from me. I won't be riding it on the open road at all until after my 3 day riding class next month, but maybe a bit on my private neighborhood's roads. " vs what might you loose?
hey, i could be totally wrong and am just suggesting undue excessive caution- but the odds, based on my experience as a RiderCoach, say that i am right.

[bill pierce]

Congratulations Sean,

I looked at several boxer cups a few years ago and couldn't find a clean one for less than $9,500. Needless to say you got a great deal!

It took me some time to get used to the telever front end, as I have been riding conventional bikes for 38 years now. However the more I ride it the better I like it.

Be careful and enjoy.

[hawkeyejohn14]

Congratulations on getting a great bike at a great deal from someone who maintained it with love. You are one lucky man. Ride it like you stole it which for 6,100 you almost did.

I am learning if you need the latest rash of what's hot you can pick up some great deals on timeless machines that have been well loved.

[ckcarr]

C'mon Bikerfish..

When people ask for advice they really want validation.

[hawkeyejohn14]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

C'mon Bikerfish..

When people ask for advice they really want validation.

but true....

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

... He didn't have a Corvette hidden anywhere did he?

The Corvette was out in the barn along with the Dusenberg, an Auburn Boattail Speedster, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by AZ-Twin

The Corvette was out in the barn along with the Dusenberg, an Auburn Boattail Speedster, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

When I see you I'll tell you that story about my younger brother Scott. That's how he met his (now) wife. But there was a barn, hundreds of cars, airplanes, and motorcycles involved.