Hi guys, The bike fever has beset me once again, and being an older big guy I figured I'd go the big tourer route this time around. I found a 1999 BMW K12ooLT locally on Craigslist. They are a really good looking bike IMHO but I've never ridden one. They're huge though. Anyone here have any experience with one? It looks very similar to this one: It's priced half as much as a similar year and mileage Goldwing, which is the other option I was considering.
Haven't ridden one, but my BIL is a big fan of the older Gold Wings and I think it's a cult kinda thing...Like Harley Worship!, but I would buy that one , it looks clean! Good luck BK
Lots of experience with BMW motorcycles but none with the K series. I seem to remember hearing a lot about rear drive failures. You're in PA?, there is a pretty active group around Phila, called Mac-Pac. IBMWR.org is used to be a great place for info/message boards, I haven't been there in years though. My go-to mechanic for anything I can't handle is in Yardley, PA, I'd be happy to pass along his info if you'd like. Like the Harley's and Gold Wings, low miles for a bike like that is under 100k, looks pretty clean if that's the bike.
I've been doing some reading online and that does seem to be the case. And repairs on these don't come cheap. As much as I like the looks and the stats on these bikes I might have to pass on this one. The photo I posted was just one I found online, not the actual bike. I'm trying to find something used with a good ABS system. There has been compelling research over the past couple years that ABS on a bike decreases fatalities almost 40%. That's worth taking into consideration.
Kawasaki KLR, Honda Nighthawk 750, Honda Pacific Coast, Honda ST1100. I'd love a Goldwing but even used prices are outrageous.
I have its little brother in the garage. Doesn't have many miles on it but needs some work from sitting. Given parts cost, I think its days are numbered.
What do they get for a 6 yr old Wing these days? I just asked my wife if she could remember the last one we bought in 1990… she thought we paid $5000 for it. It was in great shape too. We didn't have it very long once we realized we just didn't have time to ride it. Wish we still had it now.
2008 Goldwings are going for $14,000-$18,000 right now. Seeing as how I just bought a 2014 Nissan car for $17,000 I can't really afford a late model Goldwing. The 1999 K1200LT I'm looking at has 67,000 miles and they're asking $3200. On the other hand I'm also looking at a BMW F650, a V-strom and the KLR650s. Yeah, big difference in types of bikes but I can get a newer F650 or V-Strom with ABS with a lot less miles for the same money as the K1200LT. And parts for the late model KLRs are plentiful. I just don't like the brakes on the KLRs.
I have no idea how long the Wings last. Are 20 year old GWs out there? I'd bet they could go 100k miles with not much problem if they were taken care of. Good luck in finding a BMW.
Nice looking. I was trolling cycletrader.com for some 250 - 650 dual sports this morning. I would like something that gets great mpg and could be taken off the paved roads.
Wow that is quite the spread of choices, I can't imagine owning a Goldwing or KLT, just not for me, but the others are all on my short list of a second bike. The "LT", is jokingly referred to as the "Light Truck" amongst the older air cooled BMW community. I've heard they are very light feeling once under way. A late model Goldwing has a bigger engine two more cylinders and ten more horsepower than your brand new Nissan car $3200 sounds like a great price for that LT esp if it is road ready.
Well I'm keeping my options open. I'm trying to find something around $3000 with ABS. Not many options out there unfortunately, given those parameters.
The K1200LT I was originally going to look at has been sitting for a year and the current owner says it just needs a battery and new gas. I'm not taking a chance on a bike that complex. Pass. I'm going to look at this one tonight, it has ABS but I won't likely be taking it off road, 2000 BMW R1100RT:
My boys are 17 and 21 and have never ridden motorcycles. I decided to pick up something they could learn to ride on trails and dirt roads. I just got home with a 2005 KLR650. I would have preferred a BMW but this makes it more of a family venture, and with all the side guards, engine guards and hand guards I don't have to worry about them dropping this one. It's not exactly a beginners bike and I'll need to lower it for the shorter of my two boys but it came with an extra larger front sprocket which will slow it down in the lower gears a bit for them.
Nice choice, I'd love to own a KLR. Many say solid dirt riding skills translate into safer street riding...better bike control...better idea of the limits of the machine...etc. Parking lot tip overs can certainly get expensive on the big tourers with all that plastic.
