New to this board (hello) - Rockster questions...

[Srben]

First of all, "hi"! I currently own a Suzuki DR 650 dual sport, and have really fallen for the looks of the R1150R. I'm doing a lot of research at this point, and would like to hear from the owners of this bike. Specifically:

1.) What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

2.) What are the maintenance costs like? Are there any issues with the bike that I should know about?

3.) Is there anything else that you think I should know before getting one of these bikes? I'm no Bill Gates, and this will take some brown bagging to buy; please shoot from the hip. Thank you. - Daniel

[DJ Downunder]

1.) What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

2.) What are the maintenance costs like? Are there any issues with the bike that I should know about?

I'll start....welcome aboard Daniel.

I like everything about it and dislike nothing....my maintenance costs have been very low....I do oil changes myself...and valve adjusts are not expensive.

I would not hesitate in recommending that you buy one.

David

[jrock]

and have really fallen for the looks of the R1150R

What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

I assume you are talking about the Rockster hence the title?

[Guest]

Daniel,

I have an '04 R1150R that I've owned for about 9 months. I really love the bike, it handles great and is so smooth. A big plus for me, it stands out from the crowd of the "look a like" cruisers out there. I wanted something different. My only complaint is the low seat; it gets bad after about 2 hours in the saddle. I did an 11 hour day this summer and have decided to change it to the tall seat or a Sargent. Still researching on this.
Can't go wrong on this bike!

DK

[Srben]

and have really fallen for the looks of the R1150R

What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

I assume you are talking about the Rockster hence the title?

To be honest, I haven't really made up my mind...The R1150R is a very classy looking bike, but the Rockster has a lot of attitude and looks great. Viewpoints on either would help. Thanks.

[Srben]

1.) What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

2.) What are the maintenance costs like? Are there any issues with the bike that I should know about?

I'll start....welcome aboard Daniel.

I like everything about it and dislike nothing....my maintenance costs have been very low....I do oil changes myself...and valve adjusts are not expensive.

I would not hesitate in recommending that you buy one.

David

Thanks, David. Are the valve adjustments hard to do? I don't own a shop manual, and I haven't ever done work on a boxer.

[Srben]

Daniel,

I have an '04 R1150R that I've owned for about 9 months. I really love the bike, it handles great and is so smooth. A big plus for me, it stands out from the crowd of the "look a like" cruisers out there. I wanted something different. My only complaint is the low seat; it gets bad after about 2 hours in the saddle. I did an 11 hour day this summer and have decided to change it to the tall seat or a Sargent. Still researching on this.
Can't go wrong on this bike!

DK

Thanks. I don't know why bike makers don't just make comfortable seats, stock. Thanks for the heads up.

[Lion_Lady]

Thanks. I don't know why bike makers don't just make comfortable seats, stock. Thanks for the heads up.

Compared to the seats on most other bikes,the BMW stock is head and shoulders above any other manufacturers' stock seat. The thing is most other manufacturers never intended for anyone to actually RIDE for more than an hour at a time.

P

[NCRoaster]

The R1150R is a great bike with lots of torque but not too much. It handles very easily and goes as fast as anyone reasonably should want to go. It makes for an excellent commuter or recreational ride and a very good touring machine with some minor modifications. It has a look of its own and the folks who ride them are a great bunch of characters, as you will find out if you frequent this board.

I don't like that you have to remove the gas tank to do almost any service on the bike. As mentioned, the seat is too hard and uncomfortable for a long ride. Cancelling the turn signals is confusing at first and you have to get used to the BMW setup for this. The stock shifting and brake levers are about two inches too short (the part where your foot presses down on) in my opinion. Though I love the bike, I wish it was about fifty pounds lighter. I weigh 165 lbs but had no problem riding the bike, I just kept thinking I would like it a whole lot more if it weighed less. At low speed (25mph or less), like if you are cruising the boulevard checking out women, you tend to get warm feet from the heat coming from the cylinder heads. It never gets uncomfortably hot but on a hot day you will notice it the most. I would like it if the mirrors buzzed a little less. The cost for service work is high but I don't know if it is any higher than for other brands.

I hope this helps. I would add that you will not go wrong choosing the Roadster. Oh yeah, you get a certain amount of respect when you ride because its a BMW. BMW riders have a reputation for being more responsible riders than some of those crazies on sport bikes, for example.

NCRoadster

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks, David. Are the valve adjustments hard to do? I don't own a shop manual, and I haven't ever done work on a boxer.

No...they are not hard at all...I plan to start doing my own...get yourself a shop manual...like this new one that I just got.

David

[DK]

[quote="Lion_Lady"][Compared to the seats on most other bikes,the BMW stock is head and shoulders above any other manufacturers' stock seat. The thing is most other manufacturers never intended for anyone to actually RIDE for more than an hour at a time.

Just curious, what seat do you have? I currently have the low seat and am trying to decide between the BMW tall seat and the Sargent seat. Been gathering info to make the best choice.

DK

[new2BMW]

I didn't find the tall seat any more comfortable than the stock seat. It did give some extra leg room, but the butt pain was still there. You will find a lot of Sargent fans on this site.

I traded my Roadster recently for a Yamaha MT-01. There was only one reason for the change....the MT is what I have always wanted in a bike. (Sorry Lion Lady, but the seat on my MT is very very comfy. I'm sure it was just a random occurence, but it is much better than my stock Roadster seats.)

The Roadster was a great bike that is easy to ride slow or fast. The handling is supurb for a naked "standard" style bike. In fact, it runs very well with sport bikes due to the great handdling and mid range torque.

If I had one complaint, and this might have led me to keep the BMW, it is the fact that extra power from the oil head boxer engine is difficult to acquire. You can get some extra horse power with pipes, a chip, intake mods, cams etc, but you typically give up some of the beautiful mid range torque that this bike provides naturally.

Except for the fact that the MT-01 was built specifically for me, the R1150R Roadster would be my perfect bike. I seriously wish I could have both.

Good luck on your decision.
Jeff

[Lion_Lady]

[Compared to the seats on most other bikes,the BMW stock is head and shoulders above any other manufacturers' stock seat. The thing is most other manufacturers never intended for anyone to actually RIDE for more than an hour at a time.

Just curious, what seat do you have? I currently have the low seat and am trying to decide between the BMW tall seat and the Sargent seat. Been gathering info to make the best choice.

DK

I've got the Sargent seat now. But I had the tall seat (well, still own it, but now it won't fit on the bike with the Autocom box installed on top of the fuse box).

I found the tall seat to be a bit too 'pointy' up front at the tank end. To use a very coarse term - it was a 'cootchie crusher' after an hour or more.


Pam

[Lion_Lady]

1.) What do you like and dislike about the R1150R?

2.) What are the maintenance costs like? Are there any issues with the bike that I should know about?

I'll start....welcome aboard Daniel.

I like everything about it and dislike nothing....my maintenance costs have been very low....I do oil changes myself...and valve adjusts are not expensive.

I would not hesitate in recommending that you buy one.

David

Thanks, David. Are the valve adjustments hard to do? I don't own a shop manual, and I haven't ever done work on a boxer.

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, you'll find a comoplete description of a valve adjustment in the tech section of http://www.ibmwr.org. Anton Largiader(sp?) the tech writer for BMWOTL, the BMWRA mag, has devised an AMAZINGLY simple method of valve adjustment that can be done accurately and easily in less than an hour. I did MY OWN oil change and valve adjustment last week - hubby did the throttle sync but I can do that too next time.

There is a complete with pictures how to of the basic boxer valve adjustment in the August OTL issue.

P

[Srben]

Thanks. I don't know why bike makers don't just make comfortable seats, stock. Thanks for the heads up.

Compared to the seats on most other bikes,the BMW stock is head and shoulders above any other manufacturers' stock seat. The thing is most other manufacturers never intended for anyone to actually RIDE for more than an hour at a time.

P

P.S. - I love the avatar

[Srben]

The R1150R is a great bike with lots of torque but not too much. It handles very easily and goes as fast as anyone reasonably should want to go. It makes for an excellent commuter or recreational ride and a very good touring machine with some minor modifications. It has a look of its own and the folks who ride them are a great bunch of characters, as you will find out if you frequent this board.

I don't like that you have to remove the gas tank to do almost any service on the bike. As mentioned, the seat is too hard and uncomfortable for a long ride. Cancelling the turn signals is confusing at first and you have to get used to the BMW setup for this. The stock shifting and brake levers are about two inches too short (the part where your foot presses down on) in my opinion. Though I love the bike, I wish it was about fifty pounds lighter. I weigh 165 lbs but had no problem riding the bike, I just kept thinking I would like it a whole lot more if it weighed less. At low speed (25mph or less), like if you are cruising the boulevard checking out women, you tend to get warm feet from the heat coming from the cylinder heads. It never gets uncomfortably hot but on a hot day you will notice it the most. I would like it if the mirrors buzzed a little less. The cost for service work is high but I don't know if it is any higher than for other brands.

I hope this helps. I would add that you will not go wrong choosing the Roadster. Oh yeah, you get a certain amount of respect when you ride because its a BMW. BMW riders have a reputation for being more responsible riders than some of those crazies on sport bikes, for example.

NCRoadster

You know, I was wondering about that...I live in Houston (110 degrees) and was thinking about the engine baking me, but I just love the boxer engine. It's the best looking engine out there, imho. There's a lot of great info in your post. Thanks.

[Srben]

Thanks, David. Are the valve adjustments hard to do? I don't own a shop manual, and I haven't ever done work on a boxer.

No...they are not hard at all...I plan to start doing my own...get yourself a shop manual...like this new one that I just got.

David

LOL. Great picture. A little creepy? Yes, but entertaining all the same!

[Srben]

[Compared to the seats on most other bikes,the BMW stock is head and shoulders above any other manufacturers' stock seat. The thing is most other manufacturers never intended for anyone to actually RIDE for more than an hour at a time.

Just curious, what seat do you have? I currently have the low seat and am trying to decide between the BMW tall seat and the Sargent seat. Been gathering info to make the best choice.

DK

I've got the Sargent seat now. But I had the tall seat (well, still own it, but now it won't fit on the bike with the Autocom box installed on top of the fuse box).

I found the tall seat to be a bit too 'pointy' up front at the tank end. To use a very coarse term - it was a 'cootchie crusher' after an hour or more.


Pam

What is the seat height with the "taller" seat installed? My DR is fairly tall (as are most dual sports), and I love it.

[Srben]

I'll start....welcome aboard Daniel.

I like everything about it and dislike nothing....my maintenance costs have been very low....I do oil changes myself...and valve adjusts are not expensive.

I would not hesitate in recommending that you buy one.

David

Thanks, David. Are the valve adjustments hard to do? I don't own a shop manual, and I haven't ever done work on a boxer.

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, you'll find a comoplete description of a valve adjustment in the tech section of http://www.ibmwr.org. Anton Largiader(sp?) the tech writer for BMWOTL, the BMWRA mag, has devised an AMAZINGLY simple method of valve adjustment that can be done accurately and easily in less than an hour. I did MY OWN oil change and valve adjustment last week - hubby did the throttle sync but I can do that too next time.

There is a complete with pictures how to of the basic boxer valve adjustment in the August OTL issue.

P

Great link! Thanks! The valve adjustment article was well written. What is OTL?

[NCRoaster]

THE BMW WORLD
AN INTRODUCTION FOR NEW BMW OWNERS
OR POTENTIAL OWNERS
Copyright 1991 D. Eilers.

This excerpt is from the above publication:

BMWRA is a much smaller organization with a less polished, but more irreverent monthly magazine on an occasionally erratic schedule called On The Level (OTL). RA avoids much of the bureaucracy and politics inherent in any organization as large as the 20,000 member BMW MOA. As a result, it also lacks some of the polish and "services" a more structured and organized association like BMW MOA provides.


BMWRA worries less about offending the hands that might feed them (BMW) and, as a result, they seem to more quickly report any systematic problems people are encountering with BMWs, e.g., BMWRA was talking bluntly about the major problems with BMW K bike speedometers and fork seals many months before any mention in the BMW Owners News. As an example, I believe BMWMOA changed to BMW MOA at BMW's lawyer's request (note the added space), while BMWRA ignored BMW's request as being frivolous and weird.


OTL also spends a lot of the editorial space on chasing down rumors of new developments from BMW with very little space dedicated to members "travelogs" (they also spend an awful lot of time patting themselves on the back for the accuracy of their technical predictions, ridiculing some of the musings of "professional" writers.. seemingly forgeting professional writers are paid by the word more than by an accuracy score!).

NCRoaster