I have a Craigslist and motorcycle weakens or illness!

[VanRiver]

Hey @dusty roads Yup, follow your gut my friend. Sounds like this is not the right bike for you, especially if it needs a lot of wrench turning and repairs to get it back on the road....and not to mention if you are finding it too heavy to be comfortable on. Did you take any pictures of the bike...if yes I would love to see them?

 

Here is a great video from the President of the BMW Motorrad club of Illinois about what to look for when buying a used BMW LT. He has a whole set of instruction videos on Youtube about this bike and is an awesome fountain of insight and information. This is where I learned all my stuff from to get my Beemers running A-OK

 

 

 

Drove to see the BMW on the weekend and it needs a lot of work. Has been sitting for a while and won't stop smoking even when running for a while on the center stand and thoroughly warmed up. Has been dropped and some damage has to be repaired. Needs just about every wear part replaced which will add up quickly to a high cost. ABS...motors can be heard working for front-rear circuit so it does not appear to be the ABS unit. It has been sitting and neglected so it could be a number of issues with the ABS. Bike is very heavy and at my age and diminishing strength I'm wondering if it's the right choice of bike. Rode one several weeks ago and it's a handful just finding room to do a slow turn. Might make a low offer and see what happens since the owner got the bike from a friend who was going to get it on the road, gave up and sold to current owner who is also giving up on the bike. Don't think he knew what he was getting into, although hi is mechanically very savvy judging by the vehicles he had and what he had done to them, the guy is extremely knowledgeable.

I thank you for the info and will see how things go. Will post if I end up with bike. In the meantime, will keep riding the Venture which has proven to be supper reliable since I went over it two years ago.

[dusty roads]

Hey dusty roads Yup, follow your gut my friend. Sounds like this is not the right bike for you, especially if it needs a lot of wrench turning and repairs to get it back on the road....and not to mention if you are finding it too heavy to be comfortable on. Did you take any pictures of the bike...if yes I would love to see them?

 

Here is a great video from the President of the BMW Motorrad club of Illinois about what to look for when buying a used BMW LT. He has a whole set of instruction videos on Youtube about this bike and is an awesome fountain of insight and information. This is where I learned all my stuff from to get my Beemers running A-OK

 

 

 

 

Good day VanRiver, have enclosed images of BMW which don’t show the true state of bike. Close inspection reveals all of the flaws which are not apparent in the images.

 

 

Bike has been sitting for some time…possibly in the elements and there is rust showing on a lot of the bolts-nuts that has ever been wrenched. What cannot be seen are the scratches, loose-rattling plastic, bent shifter, road rash on front-rear sides, road rash-rip in rear left speaker vinyl from a slide, etc.

 

 

Another concern which I forgot to mention is a slight knock when engine hot and idling. Knock disappears when rpm is brought up and the engine runs very quiet at higher rpm with a smoke cloud.

 

I have watched Kurt’s videos last week and every item he mentions to watch for is obvious. Will need brake lines, rear rotor, all new pads, springs, tires, battery, a lot of new seals since they will dry out, electrical issues sorted, ABS repaired, valve check and who knows what else…list could be endless. These are only visual observations that are readily apparent.

 

 

Another problem is lack of facility to do work on in the winter. No longer have access to machine shop and lift to work on over the winter like I did with my Venture. Suppose I could leave it till next summer and then start which is acceptable to me.

 

 

 

In the meantime, will keep riding the Venture and not worry about any problems. Will go to see my buddy MarCarl to tighten neck bearings just a bit. Had them perfect when replaced and the bike was striped down, but just could not leave things alone.Let me know what you think and if this bike is worth anything with what I have described. Sure wish I could find one like the one you picked up, it’s a real find.

[BlueSky]

It looks pretty good in the photos, but the smoking even after warmup, and the fact that the two previous owners passed it on rather than repair it does make me wonder.

[WRIDR]

Oh boy... "at my age and diminishing strength"!!

 

We tried to learn your Age Info, but didn't find it. Nevertheless, regardless of all the other deficiencies noted and/or of concerns, those little words are probably the ones you should pay serious attention to.

 

We are a classic example; at 72 (then) major strength-related problems showed up, even walking our beloved '09 RSTD backward over a paper thin carpet runner in the garage. Things have gotten progressively worse, to a point where we had to toss in the towel, and opt for Yammy's 400 cc Majesty Scoot. It's still a VERY serious BIKE in its own right, BUT hundreds of pounds lighter, and no leg-lifting to climb over the saddle.

 

Sounds like you're already talking yourself out of this one, and we hope that is the course you follow.

 

Rgds, WRIDR

[BlueSky]

Oh boy... "at my age and diminishing strength"!!

 

We tried to learn your Age Info, but didn't find it. Nevertheless, regardless of all the other deficiencies noted and/or of concerns, those little words are probably the ones you should pay serious attention to.

 

We are a classic example; at 72 (then) major strength-related problems showed up, even walking our beloved '09 RSTD backward over a paper thin carpet runner in the garage. Things have gotten progressively worse, to a point where we had to toss in the towel, and opt for Yammy's 400 cc Majesty Scoot. It's still a VERY serious BIKE in its own right, BUT hundreds of pounds lighter, and no leg-lifting to climb over the saddle.

 

Sounds like you're already talking yourself out of this one, and we hope that is the course you follow.

 

Rgds, WRIDR

 

Exercise, Exercise, Exericise! Exercise helps at any age. I don't want to exercise and it's hard to make myself exercise but I like the results. It doesn't take a lot to maintain or even gain strength. At 74, if I didn't exercise, I'd lose my strength quickly.

[dusty roads]

It looks pretty good in the photos, but the smoking even after warmup, and the fact that the two previous owners passed it on rather than repair it does make me wonder.

 

Might look good in the images but not so on closer inspection. You are absolutely right about two owners passing on repairs and the smart thing to do is also to pass on this bike.

[dusty roads]

Oh boy... "at my age and diminishing strength"!!

 

We tried to learn your Age Info, but didn't find it. Nevertheless, regardless of all the other deficiencies noted and/or of concerns, those little words are probably the ones you should pay serious attention to.

 

We are a classic example; at 72 (then) major strength-related problems showed up, even walking our beloved '09 RSTD backward over a paper thin carpet runner in the garage. Things have gotten progressively worse, to a point where we had to toss in the towel, and opt for Yammy's 400 cc Majesty Scoot. It's still a VERY serious BIKE in its own right, BUT hundreds of pounds lighter, and no leg-lifting to climb over the saddle.

 

Sounds like you're already talking yourself out of this one, and we hope that is the course you follow.

 

Rgds, WRIDR

 

I'm a young 67 and it's my youthful delusions that keep me interested in bikes. Got sick a couple of years ago and sold off all of my bike stuff figuring my riding days were over. After going through treatments and some time passed I had a bit more strength and started looking at bikes again. Got the Venture since a good friend of mine suggested it would be good therapy for me to work on something to keep the mind occupied. Was not sure I could even handle the Venture but eventually by next spring had a bit more strength and started riding it. It was a good decision.

 

Unfortunately my mind can't accept the fact that my body is no longer capable of handling heavy bikes. That fantasy has to be adjusted with a good dose of reality. Can no longer ride long distances since my lack of stamina gets the better of me. Bottom line is that I really have no business trying to go to a heavier touring bike as much as I would like to.

 

Will most lightly pass on the bike and accept the situation for what it is though at times I think I still can. Usually these thoughts come when I wake up in the night and the brain is not up to speed. In the light of day reality dictates another story.

 

Thanks for the advice and ride safe.

[cowpuc]

Been at our vacation home for less than 2 weeks and I have already purchased 2 motorcycles....Yes, I have a problem. The wife is MAD, but always easier to ask forgiveness than permission. I need to block the Craigslist website from my computer!!!!!!

 

I need a support group...."Hello, my name is VanRiver.........Hello VanRiver.......I have a motorcycle Addiction......it has been 2 days since my last motorcycle purchase!"

 

Anyway, bought a nice project 1990 Honda Transalp XL600V last week, and today I picked up another BMW K1200LT. She is a 2005 with only 27,000 miles on it. This beauty has been sitting outside for the last year, unloved, and ready for a new owner. She runs and drives great, just needs TLC and general love, for some maintenance and to make her shiny and pretty again....as well as a few odds and ends here and there. Got her for $1800 bucks, I couldn't say NO!!!!! I already have a 1999 K1200LT in my collect and love it so much! I'm very excited to have an even newer model in the herd.

 

Here as some pictures directly when I bought her......all dirty and unloved.......Also, I tried a new motorcycle pick up service here in Phoenix today and they were awesome!!!! They had a really cool pickup vehicle that I thought I would share some pictures of as well.

 

I look forward to washing and polishing her up tomorrow (will post some nicer pictures then).....I think I will name her "Goldilocks"

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114005https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114006https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114007https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114008

@VanRiver ,,, I dont how on God's green earth I missed this (have been a little busy with Grand Kid stuff but still,, NO excuse = sorry brother!!) but WOWZY WOW WOW WOW - SHE IS A DANDY!!!!:dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool:

 

YOU DA MAN BROTHER AND ANYBODY THAT CAN RUN A "HOME FOR UNDERLOVED AND ABUSED MOTORCYCLE'S" LIKE YOU DO IS A FRIEND OF MINE FOR LIFE!!!!:clap2::clap2:

 

Ya got a GOOD heart Riv!!

Puc