Low mile r1150r or high mile r1200r

[everyman07]

I have two options.

2004 R1150R with 18k miles, non-ABS or a 2007 R1200R with 95k with ABS. Both have the same accessories. Both are the same price - $4k.

I've ridden the 1150R but haven't gotten up to ride the 1200r yet.

Is the 1200r enough of an improvement over the 1150r to balance out the mileage difference or am I better going with the lower mileage bike. I like the idea of ABS but it isn't a must have.

Two personal considerations with my back I need to move around a bit and the 1150r seat gave me some wiggle room and the 1150r is the ferro with blacked out engine which I really like.

Thanks for your input,

Andrew

[Karamazov]

I have two options.

2004 R1150R with 18k miles, non-ABS or a 2007 R1200R with 95k with ABS. Both have the same accessories. Both are the same price - $4k.

I've ridden the 1150R but haven't gotten up to ride the 1200r yet.

Is the 1200r enough of an improvement over the 1150r to balance out the mileage difference or am I better going with the lower mileage bike. I like the idea of ABS but it isn't a must have.

Two personal considerations with my back I need to move around a bit and the 1150r seat gave me some wiggle room and the 1150r is the ferro with blacked out engine which I really like.

Thanks for your input,

Andrew

I wold be thinking the exact opposite. I wouldn't want a bike that was 12 years old and only averaged 1500 a year (which I'm guess means there were more than a few years it saw none). 95k leaves plenty of headroom for mileage on a boxer, assuming it's been well maintained. I'd try talking the R1200R guy down a bit - it's a buyers market for R1200Rs and you might be able to do better than 4k.

Edit:

And yes, I think the R1200R is a massive improvement over the R1150R.

[deilenberger]

I'd have to agree with N8 - but depending on the condition and service records available on the R1200R - the price is not out of line. I sold mine for considerably more then that last fall with 97,000 miles on it (just because a 2012 R12R came along with no miles on it that I couldn't pass up..) There may be a few maintenance items to check out on the '07 - but overall it is a MUCH better bike then the '04 (I traded in a '04 R1150RS to get my first R12R..)

Check the brake pads are good, the rear rotor isn't heavily worn, and there is no oil dribbling from the steering damper or either shock. If it hasn't got aftermarket suspension on it by now - it's probably overdue. Aftermarket is the way to go on suspension (they're better and they're rebuildable.)

On these bikes - service history is a primary buying consideration. The more complete the better (the buyer of mine got a loose-leaf binder with about 2" of maintenance records..)

Let us know how you love it when you get it - some pictures would be nice.

[sweatmark]

I have two options.

2004 R1150R with 18k miles, non-ABS or a 2007 R1200R with 95k with ABS. Both have the same accessories. Both are the same price - $4k.

I've ridden the 1150R but haven't gotten up to ride the 1200r yet...

Ride the R1200R, then consider the options.

Do the bikes come with BMW system cases?

18k miles for the 1150 means mostly new. Because the bike is non-ABS, you don't have to worry about the iABS module and lack of service. And IMHO the bike's age is moot; aside from tired tires, there's not much in the machine with a "born on" date that merits considerations of baked-bread freshness. Flush the fluids, install new battery and tires, and go. There's a member of this board with nearly 200K miles on a 2004 R1150R .

95k miles for the 1200 means some parts are 95k-old. I don't care if the bike is a 2012: 95k miles is a lot of riding, braking, shifting, exposure to elements and UV, blah blah blah. Service records. It's all about the maintenance and parts replacement over that 95k miles.

But ride the 1200. It's smoother, lighter, more powerful, more sophisticated, potentially more reliable (i.e.fewer documented weaknesses), and has better aftermarket support than yesterday's news 1150.

I rode the 1200, and decided to stay with my 1150. No regrets.

[peels]

I can only discuss low mile 1150's. I bought one with 13,500 miles 3 years ago, with only the memory of airhead reliability in my mind. Which means a LOT of sitting. I have had my share of difficulties, but thanks to the fellow oilhead guys here, none of them were show stoppers. i'm convinced that riding these things regularly(but respectfully with maintenance) is the best procedure. Sitting does bad things.

for ME, it hit my brake and clutch system(eventually ABS system and clutch slave) sitting with unchanged fluid. It is leaking gear oil right now. again, doesn't stop the party, just annoying.

I say If you don't mind wrenching, I don't think you'll go wrong with either bike. Just get a manual either way. If you dont want to work on them, $ will disappear quickly. DOing maintenance and repair myself, I dont think Iv'e spent 500$ in 3 years, and that's including the battery and tires.


Even after the struggle I had with transmission removal for spline lube and oil seals, I certainly have no regrets. I ride it every day, and still dream of riding it more.

Make sure you use the right antifreeze. Just ask "Towerworker"

[everyman07]

Thanks all. Still debating. Headed up next week to ride the 1200r

[everyman07]

Thanks all. Going to ride 1200R next week and see what that tells me.

[deilenberger]

Thanks all. Going to ride 1200R next week and see what that tells me.

Take your checkbook..