Looking for info on BMW motorcycles

[jrossowvue30]

I have been interested in picking up an older BMW bike and other than some forums that would like you to pay before you use helpful features like posting, replying or searching I have not found much. I have found a few on CL close enough to me but I always seem to be too late in finding and they are always sold. I would like something older, 80/90's K series would be great for me and they seem to be fairly cheap. Also interested in R's from the 70's as some of those seem to be reasonable as well. I lean towards the K's because I am a new rider (this would be my first bike) and I would feel bad learning on something older that could be a real classic.

I am looking for general advise, what are they like to work on, best sites/forums to look for classified ads, what kind of problems would be worth taking on and what issues should I look stay away from.

I have posted on bf.c but nobody had anything for me there. This board seems to be more helpful on most everything and was just wondering if anyone on here had any experience with the two wheeled BMWs.

[Kershaw]

http://miles-by-motorcycle.com/

a friend of mine runs this site. he is a big bmw bike nut.

[bmwstudent]

i own a 98 k1200 rs, its a pretty sweet bike. 160 hp says bmw and i believe them. That bike is really not for beginners though i've been riding for almost twenty years. They are great bikes but they like all bmws need maintenance. I just got mine back from bobs bmw in baltimore. I had to get its 36K service, two new tires, front fork seals replaced, oil change, etc. The 36k service included new tranny and diff fluid, timing chain guide rails, valve adjustment, and a bunch of other stuff. I honestly don't have any idea how difficult it is to work on. I work on class 8 trucks for a living and cars for fun. I just could see myself having time to do all that shit to the bike, so i paid to have it done. Honestly if your considering a bmw bike look at the f series if your new to riding. The k bike is not a true sport bike. its a sport touring bike, it has saddle bags that you can remove Its a big bike, thats why i own one. I'm 6'3" and 250lbs. Its a great highway machine but its kind of heavy through the turns compared to my brothers gsxr. His bike also weighs probably two or three hundred less pounds. going outside now to get a pic or two

[bmwstudent]

Back with pics

[bmwstudent]

and one more, fuck it I'm riding to work tomorrow.

[bowtie2bimmer]

How old? Like 70s? 80s? 90s?

Are you looking for a K bike (4 cyl) or an r bike ( boxer twin)?

[Irish1]

ADVRider.com!! Best Motorcycle web-site out there. NOT specific to Beemers, but a huge percentage of the contributors ride BMW Bikes. The Flea Market section is a great place to find a well-cared for BMW Bike. ADVRider also has a great Bike and Car Racing section, with smart commentary by well-known Racing Journalists. Check it out, and take your time. IBMWR Marketplace is also a great place to find BMW Bikes and equipment. Good luck and ride safe.

[jrossowvue30]

i own a 98 k1200 rs, its a pretty sweet bike. 160 hp says bmw and i believe them. That bike is really not for beginners though i've been riding for almost twenty years. They are great bikes but they like all bmws need maintenance. I just got mine back from bobs bmw in baltimore. I had to get its 36K service, two new tires, front fork seals replaced, oil change, etc. The 36k service included new tranny and diff fluid, timing chain guide rails, valve adjustment, and a bunch of other stuff. I honestly don't have any idea how difficult it is to work on. I work on class 8 trucks for a living and cars for fun. I just could see myself having time to do all that shit to the bike, so i paid to have it done. Honestly if your considering a bmw bike look at the f series if your new to riding. The k bike is not a true sport bike. its a sport touring bike, it has saddle bags that you can remove Its a big bike, thats why i own one. I'm 6'3" and 250lbs. Its a great highway machine but its kind of heavy through the turns compared to my brothers gsxr. His bike also weighs probably two or three hundred less pounds. going outside now to get a pic or two

Thanks for the input. I was looking at the K700's, maybe a K1000 (found one that needs a little work for $600 within a reasonable distance, no its probably more work going into it than I want) and was not looking to get into the 1200 just yet. I am not necessarily new to riding as much as I would be to riding/maintaining on my own bike. This would be something for me to use on Sunday afternoons and to get around the city in nice weather. I'm 6'4", 220 so something smaller is not really going to work for me, I've tried them out for size and fitting is pretty uncomfortable, weight is a different story I know but again a 700 isn't something I would be too worried about. The money to fix isn't an issue but was wondering since I was looking at something from the 1980's working on them might be fairly reasonable verses something a bit newer.

[jrossowvue30]

How old? Like 70s? 80s? 90s?

Are you looking for a K bike (4 cyl) or an r bike ( boxer twin)?

ADVRider.com!! Best Motorcycle web-site out there. NOT specific to Beemers, but a huge percentage of the contributors ride BMW Bikes. The Flea Market section is a great place to find a well-cared for BMW Bike. ADVRider also has a great Bike and Car Racing section, with smart commentary by well-known Racing Journalists. Check it out, and take your time. IBMWR Marketplace is also a great place to find BMW Bikes and equipment. Good luck and ride safe.

I would be interested in any of those years but I was looking at some 70's R bikes and a few 80's K's. I like the look of both a lot for different reasons. I feel like there are some mid to late 80's K's that are in a very reasonable price range that would be fun to get into.

I will check out ADVRider.com, thanks.

[jaywood]

Tomorrow I will get some pics of my dad's bike. He has an r60.

I posted a wanted ad on craigslist and some guy called me and he had one sitting in his garage. He wasn't even looking to sell it, but he said when he saw the wanted ad I put up he decided to see what he could get for it. It's been really reliable as far as I know. It does leak a little bit of gas occasionally but other than that it has been a trooper.

Definitely search craigslist.

[jaywood]

Here's the craigslist find