Having second thoughts

[TBzz]

I bought an '04 r1150r on ebay 6 weeks ago. It had only 41 miles on it. I paid $8,000. It had some slight damage from a drop, but all I needed to replace was the plastic engine guards and plug covers and now it's immaculate. The problem is that I'm not sure I like it that much. I'm about six feet tall and the pegs seem pretty high, also, the seat is situated for instant testicular pulverization. I coughed up 600 more for the side bags, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't just try to sell it while I might get my money back. Any words of wisdom from the gang would be appreciated.

Oh! You boys might find this story amusing. I was over at CC BMW in Metuchen last Saturday. I mentioned to "Doc" that I had bought this bike, but wasn't too thrilled, and might like to trade in or up for a GS. He asked me about the bike. When I told him the story, he proceeded to give me a long lecture on how the bike is basically worthless. I'll try to remember all the negative things he said.
Sitting for two years causes terrible harm. The seals are rotten. The fluid all has to be changed. The battery is dead as a door nail. The fact that it has so few miles is suspect. (When I mentioned that the nubs on the tires are clear evidence that the odometer is accurate, he practically jumped out of his seat to denounce the tires) Hard, brittle tires! No warranty. And, worst of all, a "mysterious history."

Anyway, we walked outside to take a look at the bike. There it was, shimmering with perfection in the morning sunshine. But, you should have seen the sour look "Doc" had on his face as he stood, glowering at the bike, arms folded, head shaking slowly in disgust. "I see it has the decals. People don't like them, and they're clearcoated on so you can't remove them," he said, (in error, as they are easily removed). I felt like I had entered into the twilight zone. You would have thought we were looking at a rusted out old moped I had just fished out of Raritan Bay. Anyway, he said he'd give me $6,000 on a trade-in. I thought the clincher came when he said that if I did trade the bike in, he would not sell it for more than $7,500 off the floor. His conscience would not allow it.

I told him I'd let him know.

[towerworker]

Sounds like "Doc" is an old car salesman. I would totally ignore everything he said. He is simply trying to sell you a new bike. You have a wonderful machine right now. The 41 miles is a tad curious but we've all seen similar things over the years.

There are I believe footpeg lowering kits, if you wanted to explore that route. If the bike simply does not fit you there's not much you can do about that, so maybe trading to something more comfortable would be appropriate. But if it were me I would be looking for another dealer to buy it from. Sounds like "Doc" still has his stethoscope stuck up his backside.

Good Luck!
Wayne

[towerworker]

No disrespect meant to car salesman. I used to be one a very long time ago.

Wayne

[duckdave]

Your dealer's just pissed you didn't buy a bike from him. My dealer was (is) the same way. I'm scheduled for some maintenance with them next week, hoping the money parting from my wallet will soften them up. If not, then I just hoping for some decent service.

[Sunbeemer]

I am over 6' tall with a 30" inseam and found the riding position challenging at first, then I added a tall seat and found the perfect posture that lets you sit for long periods without back pain. It's like sitting on one of those ergonomic seats where you suck in your gut, keep your back straight and bend at the hips, putting a little weight on the pegs to keep the weight off your wrists. This keeps your lumbar region from taking the hits you'd get on a cruiser in what has been called "the sit up and beg" position. Try it for a few months and I believe you will grow to love it. The bike was designed to be ridden in a semi-crouch to get you on the controls and settled on the pegs for instant weight control. I think the Germans knew exactly what they were doing when they designed this machine, and we just have to figure out what they already know.

The "Doc" sounds like he wanted to sell you something, all too common in medical practice these days... If the tires aren't dry rotted, they should be ok. Change the fluids, add some Sea Foam to the gas and ride it.

[wncbmw]

This probably isn't the best forum to get people to bash the Roadster.

If the bike runs well and doesn't leak fluids, I would think the dealer rant is BS.

My suggestion is experiment with some cheap way to raise your seat height, such as a sheepskin or air seat and if that makes the bike fit you better, then think about a taller seat. Most after market or custom seats can fix the testicular issue also.

[johnnyjs1]

Suburban Machine sells the peg lowering kit (its about 1 mile from me). I'm 6' with a 32" inseam, and thought the leg room was pretty uncomfy at first. I was gonna get the kit, but realized it would look pretty crappy on my Rockster. After a month or two, I realized it was actually pretty comfy. The nutt-buster seat on the other hand, I could not deal with so i got a bill mayer saddle. But before i did that, I made up some aluminum seat lifters(they raise the front of the seat either 1/4 or 1/2", preventing the "boyz" from making love to the tank). Theres a few members here who got some from me. They will tell you the lifters help, but theres nothing like a sargent or mayer seat.

[Byrdguy]

I've yet to buy a bike that had perfect ergos. They all needed a little tweaking to suit me, and my R1150R is no exception. That being said, the only thing I had to change was the seat. Mine came with the low seat and I had to purchase the taller (1") seat and all was well. I'm 1/2" shy of six feet tall and after getting used to the "high" pegs the bike is very comfortable. I've done 4-500 mile days with no problems. Do something about the seat (can't have crunched boyz) and ride the bike for a while and see if you get used to it. Also, if you get to where you can live with the ergos, put some serious miles on it. After about 10k miles, it loosens up and rides and runs like buttah!! They are great bikes.
Also, your dealer is a jerk and I would go out of my way to find another.

[ruddy]

My bike came with the high BMW seat and Suburban Machinery lowered rider pegs, and that combination fits me to a "T." When I picked it up, I had a 400 mile ride to get home, and I did it with no strain or pain at all. If I were you, I'd try the high seat first and the lower pegs later if the seat by itself doesn't do it for you. You'll find that the seat has more foam padding which is more comfortable and its flatter profile helps with the "testicular pulverization."

[busithoth]

I'm 6'2" and thought I'd need to lower the pegs when I picked up my 1150r, but a used sargent seat made it unnecessary. I did some good riding in the white mountains this past weekend, and the seat made it feel like nothing.

[KHaynes]

1. If your bike was truly so bad, your dealer's conscience would have prevented him from even making any offer at all.
2. Lower the pegs.
3. Enjoy the bike.

[priapismic]

I almost didn't keep my bike, either. The ride home from the dealer's - 118 miles - nearly killed my folded-up legs. The first thing I changed on the bike was to get a footpeg lowering kit - mine is the MV Verholen kit (used to be sold by Pirate's Lair (piratesk12site.com) but I don't think he carries R1150R stuff any more). Then I added a (slightly taller) Sargent seat, and now, 5+ years later, I'm good for 500-600 miles days. BTW, I'm 6' tall and 32" inseam.

Get a peg lowering kit. And a new dealer.

[mcollect]

I bought my RR two years ago and the seat, as stated was horrible! I have tried most of the ones out there, the sargent was great until I found a used Corbin. BTW the other three bikes in my stable have Corbin's on them, I most have a Corbin shaped behind. I am only 5'9" and the sargent seat did not allow my to flat foot it at a stop unless I slid sideways off the saddle, but the boyz were happy on all the aftermarket seats. The German designer of the seats must not have a set. I ride on a lot of gravel so I put a set of Fastway pegs on, they lowered the pegs about an inch and gave me security to stand up when in dirt/gravel.

[johnnyjs1]

I bought my RR two years ago and the seat, as stated was horrible! I have tried most of the ones out there, the sargent was great until I found a used Corbin. BTW the other three bikes in my stable have Corbin's on them, I most have a Corbin shaped behind. I am only 5'9" and the sargent seat did not allow my to flat foot it at a stop unless I slid sideways off the saddle, but the boyz were happy on all the aftermarket seats. The German designer of the seats must not have a set. I ride on a lot of gravel so I put a set of Fastway pegs on, they lowered the pegs about an inch and gave me security to stand up when in dirt/gravel.

Happen to have a pic of the fastways on the bike?

[brem]

I'm 6' 2" and my Rockster is entirely comfortable for the lower half of my body. I have the tall seat on it and I've done 500+ mile days with no leg cramps at all. The reach to the bars is long and low enough that that's where most of my discomfort comes from. I have heard from quite a few people about the trick of propping up the front of the seat by 1/2" but then I find that I only squash the jewels if the pants that I'm wearing are too tight. Granted, the slope on the stock seat looks like your main culprit there. See if you can get your dealer to spot you a tall seat for long enough to find out if that would cure the problem.

[MikeCam]

As stated by others above, $6000 for trade in doesn't sound like he dislikes the bike as much as his words indicated.

For you, there are the usual options:

1) Yes the seat to peg ratio is tight. Either peg lowering (which reduces lean angles) or seat raising (for instance Comfort Seat plus beads or sheepskin cover OR aftermarket custom).

2) You didn't say what color, but any color other than Atlanta (sucks) Blue is a classic on this model. Black (is best), Sienna Red and Piedmont Red are okay, Silver and Granite Gray are nice while Dark Dakar/Dakar (???) two tone is sublime. Bags are always a plus.

My pricing system for East Coast 1150 models works this way: Base 2004 at standard mileage - $6500 Add $500 for ABS; add $500 for system cases and racks w or w/o luggage grid; add $150 for each year's worth of low mileage (in your case - 4 years or another $600). So your buy price is about right. You might not sell it for that much this late in the season but prices for used BMW should stabilize through next winter due to offsetting factors in gas, new prices, and economic malaise.

[MikeCam]

But let me ask you this:

Of the bikes you've owned and ridden which did you like the best? Road standard? Sport? Dirt? Upright, leaned over, cruiser style? Hard ridden, leaned over crotch rocket? Laid back ride all day sofa style?

If the style of bike doesn't suit your riding profile, you'll never like this bike. If, however, you like naked, standard, upright, sporty, commuter, roadbikes that can sport tour, cruise, or hoon a little bit, then the candidates are Yamaha FZ1, Kawasaki Z1000, Honda 919, Suzuki SV1000, Aprilia Tuono, Ducati Monster, Triumph Speed Triple, Moto Guzzi Breva, and BMW Roadster/Rockster (or the GS series as a matter of fact). All are reliable and durable within their manufacturers niche. Some are inexpensive while others are exotic and priced so.

Of all those, however, the Roadster is the easiest to maintain, service, and repair. It falls in the middle for performance, style, and handling. It shares the high side with Ducati, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi for price.

Your second thoughts are not unreasonable, but before a trade-in, maybe give it another 5000 miles of riding it around town, in the countryside and on a trip. Play with the seat height (which I think is a wiser move than peg lowering) and see if you and the bike come to a relationship that you can accept.

[ASQTec]

I bought my R from CC BMW back in '03, and still go there often. I thought I knew everyone; Who's Doc?

[towerworker]

If you decide you want to sell the bike----call MikeCam. He doesn't have enough bikes in his garage. There's probably room for one more.

[jfslater98]

Who's Doc?

He's the one with the handlebar mustache. He handled the sale of my Rock, seemed like a nice enough guy at the time. It's a shame to hear a classic "hustle" like that, but maybe they're having a tough time making their numbers now.

FWIW, I've been happy overall with CC's service and parts, they treated me very well the last time I stopped in. They've done a good job on my bike the couple times I've brought it in for service. If they did service loaners I'd probably go there more often...