Story of buying a used bike....

Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
1,458
Location
Colorado
Ok fellas, you are going to have a hard time believing this one......

So yesterday, I purchase and take delivery of a beautiful, 2007 R1200RT. The bike only has 13,800 miles on the dial. I bought it from a Mexican man that speaks very, very little English. His wife translates for me, but he purchased the bike back in May of 2021. During his four years of ownership, he tried to pass the motorcycle license test, fails twice and gives up.... storing the bike in his garage.

The story of mileage is important here.

He bought it with 13,500 on the dial. He rode it a little over four years.... only 300 miles in four years, as it had 13,800 when I bought it. This is verified by the mileage on the Title.

So I am flipping through the Rider's Manual and I get to the point where maintenance is recorded and find this.....

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From April of 2018 til May of 2025, the bike was only ridden about 323 miles. Heck, since May of 2014 til May of 2025, which is 11 years, the bike was ridden about 2,200 miles.

When I dumped the motor oil, it was dark black, with only 330 miles on it. Back in went Mobil 1 15w50. The oil out of the Final Drive was also dark, but the transmission oil was golden and new looking. Both of those got full synthetic 75w140. On the first ride, the bike is running silk smooth and shifting silk smooth.

Honestly, I am stunned that the fuel system wasn't choked up with Ethanol wax, but the bike started right up and the throttle is very responsive.

Ok, fast-forward to this morning. With a new-to-me bike sitting in the garage, I enticed the wife into a ride, as we would swing by her favorite BBQ joint. We ended up riding 260 miles today and this RT is simply ROCK SOLID. Wow, did it perform wonderfully, from 6,000 feet elevation to an 11,000 ft pass.

I believe I found a true garage queen in pristine condition and it cost me $3,500 and it also has a Russell Day Long Saddle, which is over $1,000 these days.


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By the way, I have a herd that is too large and needs thinning. This BMW RT will cause some of that to happen. I think my LT and my VFRX will hit FBMP.
 
Nice find! Love sport tour style bikes and yes, a great seat. If the day ever came that I trade out my Road King or had the funds to put two in the garage, I would have a similar "sport" tourer in my garage right now.

My only suggestion beside the trans and oil is to check the age of the tires. If they havent been changed in the last 5+ years you most likely want to swap them out.
Also a brake fluid flush would absolutely be part of that maintenance.

Good luck with it, I am SURE you will put many good miles on it and plenty of fun.
 
Bought a two year old 2005 Suzuki V-Strom with 93 miles on it.

The owner was a shorter guy - about 5’7 - while the V-Strom and other “adventure bikes” tend to have high seats. First bike. On his first ride, he came to an uphill stop sign and dropped the bike, scraping up the plastic fairing, bar end and clutch lever. Put it in his garage and never rode it again.

The poor guy was a recording technician who mostly worked nights and was a single dad. He was still paying off the loan.

vstrom_jgs_truck_thumbsup.webp
 
What is Ethanol Wax?
I've never called it "wax" but I presume it means the stuff that clogs the fuel line and carbs and or injectors when ethanol containing oil is allowed to dwell in a fuel system for long periods. I have no motorcycle but am familiar with this concept from outboard motors and is why I put Stabil in fuel of any gas can or fuel tank that is not being used for long periods.
 
Flippin nice find! My second bike with a place was a 2007 WeeStrom. (Wee.. meaning the 650, rather than the 1000). I put 46,000 on that bike before I gave it to my little brother. Probably the best value Sport-Touring/ADV Touring bike on the market. That little V-twin engine will probably go 200k miles with good maintenance.


Bought a two year old 2005 Suzuki V-Strom with 93 miles on it.

The owner was a shorter guy - about 5’7 - while the V-Strom and other “adventure bikes” tend to have high seats. First bike. On his first ride, he came to an uphill stop sign and dropped the bike, scraping up the plastic fairing, bar end and clutch lever. Put it in his garage and never rode it again.

The poor guy was a recording technician who mostly worked nights and was a single dad. He was still paying off the loan.

View attachment 281343
 
please translate your acronyms. Thanks in advance
FBMP is.... Facebook Marketplace


"LT" is this...... BMW K1200LT ... BMW Touring Bike

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"VFRX" is a Vfr1200X.... Honda Adventure Bike

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"RT"... is the R1200RT.... The BMW Sport Tourer....

1748308128072.webp
 
Flippin nice find! My second bike with a place was a 2007 WeeStrom. (Wee.. meaning the 650, rather than the 1000). I put 46,000 on that bike before I gave it to my little brother. Probably the best value Sport-Touring/ADV Touring bike on the market. That little V-twin engine will probably go 200k miles with good maintenance.
Road tested a DL1000 first. Too much weight on the front wheel to be good on soft dirt.

Next bike was a 2009 DL650 ABS. Rode 22K and sold it to a guy in NJ, who rode it four years. Then he sold it to a German tourist who flew into Newark, got a cab to his house, loaded his stuff and toured the country for the summer. It had never been to the dealer.

Practical….

hockeyvstrom.webp
 
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