Story of buying a used bike....

[Ranger83]

Have Michelin Road 4’s on my Triumph. Newest model is 6. Very popular anywhere it rains.

 

[BigJohn]

I seriously considered the Road 6's, as my Motorcycle Cop Friend of mine, just put them on his RT Cop Bike and he loves them. Instead I went with the Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT, as I exchanged messages with two RT riders that got over 15,000 miles on those tires, one of them eclipsing 18,000 miles. I know the Road 6's are spectacular, but doubt they will get that kind of mileage and I HATE to change and balance tires. And on the Western Slope of Colorado, we only get about 14" of rain between May and October..... Rain performance is not an issue for me... cause I ain't riding in it.

 

[97prizm]

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.....

View attachment 281194


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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Gunnison County Colorado? Looks like a fun ride but with some steep grades. Bike looks awesome. What is your wifes favorite bbq place? I haven't been up to pitkin, Marble or crested butte in years if ever. There are a lot of neat mountain towns.

 

[BigJohn]

Gunnison County Colorado? Looks like a fun ride but with some steep grades. Bike looks awesome. What is your wifes favorite bbq place? I haven't been up to pitkin, Marble or crested butte in years if ever. There are a lot of neat mountain towns

"Smoke" in Glenwood Springs

.

 

[97prizm]

"Smoke" in Glenwood Springs


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You and the wife are going to have to go for a ride and hit up Jabo's Bar-Be-Q in Centennial. It's worth the trip. I've been a couple of times and once for a late lunch the owner came out, and was my server. The sandwiches are big enough for two people. He smokes everything over Hickory and it reminds me of Kentucky bbq back home. If you have extra time you definitely need to hit up Gejos Italian in Centennial as well.