New old guy....

[Ol' Jeffers]

Hi folks!
Name's Geoff and I live in the south-east of England.
I've been riding bikes for over 40years and have just bought an R1150R. My first BMW!
Black, 2002, with, now, just over 8000miles on the clock.
Apart from the headers being a little old looking, the bike is immaculate as it had been in storage for four years between 2004 and 2008!
I've fitted a MRA screen as I didn't care for the stock one. ( http://www.sportouring.com/gallery.php? ... hoosen=513
and scroll to the bottom. ) I've used this German manufacturer's screens before and I think they are superb!
My next job is to fit a Remus exhaust and collector box replacement just to get some exhaust noise! I wish I could get 'Two Brothers' pipes over here!!
Previously I've owned Nortons, Triumphs, Kawasaki and Yamaha motorcycles so I have a little experience 'on two wheels'!

[rdsmith3]

Welcome!

If you want exhaust noise, you can just remove the stock muffler (or whatever you call them over there). See how you like that. You can put a tip on the open pipe. It's much cheaper than buying a different muffler. These bikes are not very noisy.

The headers should have a nice bluish color with maybe some touches of gold. They all look that way, and there's not much you can do to change it.

[boxermania]

I ran a TBR on mine and was very happy. Regarding the exhaust pipes, I favor the Jet-Hot coating, it is a high temperature ceramic coating that I presume is also available overseas. If you want to see what it looks like, go to the User Rides, page 4 and look at the last entry, the Atlanta Blue with the mods. That was my bike.

[Ol' Jeffers]

Thanks for the welcome and the exhaust tips, guys....I never considered ceramic coating before, there are
many companies in England that can supply this service at reasonable prices so I shall make some enquiries.
Can't find any exhaust on the Two Brothers site that is specifically for the 1150R so I expect that one of the
other models is compatible.
Can you give me a link to 'User Rides' please. Tried a search with no luck!

[gregor]

And I thought my black 2002 was low mileage at 18,000! I'd get a full dealer service front to back as things can deteriorate in storage. Important to get the brake and clutch fluid changed.Check the tyres carefully for cracking - they do deteriorate with age regardless of usage. I recommend Bridgestone Battlax BT021.
As for the headers, if they are not corroded- why worry? Think they are stainless.
Standard exhaust is fine for me, I use earplugs to keep down the wind noise . I've got an MRA screen as well coincidentally.
Enjoy the bike.

[JCL]

I notice the MRA screen for the R1150R only comes in smoke/gray tint. Is this shading any problem for you guys? I think I'd prefer clear.

John

[riceburner]

ACF50 is your friend, and get a rear wheel hub cap sorted out.

Welcome

[Ol' Jeffers]

And I thought my black 2002 was low mileage at 18,000! I'd get a full dealer service front to back as things can deteriorate in storage. Important to get the brake and clutch fluid changed.Check the tyres carefully for cracking - they do deteriorate with age regardless of usage. I recommend Bridgestone Battlax BT021.
As for the headers, if they are not corroded- why worry? Think they are stainless.
Standard exhaust is fine for me, I use earplugs to keep down the wind noise . I've got an MRA screen as well coincidentally.
Enjoy the bike.

Hi gregor, the bike had been run by the previous owner after it's time laid up. It was given a full service in July last year and
I've booked it in for another this year. When I viewed the bike I asked for new boots to be fitted and went with my usual
Pilot Road 2s. Here's a link to my Flickr album.....feel free to look around! http://www.flickr.com/photos/19900087@N04/
The headers are stainless steel single wall pipes. The collector box is S/steel also. The place where I bought it (Dobles Coulsdon)
put a new MoT on it and they have a very good reputation for doing things right!
I know very little about my bike at the moment, I've ridden it about three hundred miles and I like the way it does things. I may get
a Kisan SignalMinder though!

@ JCL.....Fortunately I like the graduated tint of the MRA screen and would probably have chosen this had there been a choice. I can
see why some folks would prefer a clear screen though as it wouldn't visibly clash with the lines of the bike as much.

@ riceburner.....Yup! The ACF50 is already in stock in my garage!

[gregor]

My headers look the same. The [dis]colouration just adds character- any corrosion would worry me though.
Bike looks very clean sitting on that Honda display!

[boxermania]

Ol' Jeffers

The User Rides is at the top of the R1150R page, to the right of the discussion box........the third choice.....

[Ol' Jeffers]

Ol' Jeffers

The User Rides is at the top of the R1150R page, to the right of the discussion box........the third choice.....

Great pictures, thanks!! You guys have some nice machinery. Good to see the ladies getting involved too.
Here are some pics of my 'new' 9 year old 1150R. I think it was used as a lounge ornament by it's previous(3!) owners!
Now on 8100 miles. Cost me £4200 inc. new rubber.
I managed to get a repair warranty on it for about a dollar a day too. So no sudden surprises!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19900087@N04/

Fitted goodies: Heated grips; Chromed alternator belt cover; Hard BMW touring cases(not shown); Soft top bag and rack;
Head protectors with the word "Magnesium" on them (?). MRA screen which I fitted to replace the bluish OEM sportster screen.
If anyone can see anything obviously wrong I'd really like to know!
Some comments have been made about the gear box being less than smooth. I find it to be fine. I can go up through the box
without the clutch OK and even careful down shifts can be made.

[boxermania]

Great looking bike, it appears to be in excellent shape.

Well aside from the windscreen there are a couple of additions:

The turn signal lenses have been swapped for the clear ones and the bulbs for amber ones (your year came with amber lenses and clear bulbs)
The front engine cover has been upgraded to the chrome variant.
You have also changed tires from April 12 (earlier pics) to April 26. What tires did you fit, they have a nice patern.

Last but not least, what is the slider switch, just to the left of the heated grips switch for?, I've never seen that on stateside bikes.

[rdsmith3]

Last but not least, what is the slider switch, just to the left of the heated grips switch for?, I've never seen that on stateside bikes.

I think that allows you to turn the headlights off.

[Ol' Jeffers]

Glad you like the look of it.
The tyres I had fitted are Michelin Pilot Road 2, a tyre I've used on a couple of bikes recently
and have had good results in respect of wear vs. grip. They're good in the wet too!
Yes, Bob's got it in one: The switch to the left of the heated grip switch is the On/Off switch
for the lights. I have a hazard flash switch too (all four indicators flash simultaneously).
I didn't realise there would be so much difference between the US and European models.
The only other upgrade I have made is to the headlamp bulb using an Osram 55/60watt Nightbreaker
which is 90% brighter than standard but consumes no more power. This is another upgrade I've
applied to all my bikes recently as HID on a bike is illegal in the UK.
(Not yet widely enforced....but give 'em time!)

[n.i.paul]

Hi Geoff and everyone else, I have just returned here after 6 years away. I have just purchased an 03 r1150r with 6600miles on the clock. Whats special about that I hear you say. Well apart from the low low miles, its actually my old bike that I sold back in 2004 with 2000miles on the clock.
I was toying with idea of getting back on a bike and when I seen my old bike for sale I couldn't ignore it, especially with so low miles.
Like yours Geoff, its black, it has the clear lenses, heated grips, ABS brakes, low seat, hard BMW luggage and BMW screen all of which I ordered when buying it new. I sold it to a retired Police officer who was going out to Iraq for a while and on his return he developed arthritis in his legs, hence the lack of miles. Its fully serviced with new tyres and is in great condition.
Pick it up tomorrow and will post some picures when I get a chance. I haven't been on a bike for 6 years so I will be taking it easy.

Paul.
(Belfast. Northern Ireland)

[Ol' Jeffers]

Hi Paul! Good to 'meet' you.
Mines got no ABS but your's must look pretty much identical!
Take it easy for a week or two.....it all falls back into place quite quickly.

[n.i.paul]

Yes Geoff, got the hang of it pretty quickly, though a bit shakey in the corners. Hoping to get out tomorrow morning weather permitting. Only one thing I've noticed is the front forks are marked from stone chips or something. The silver coating has quite a few "chips " in it. Any one had this problem and sorted it?

Paul

[Ol' Jeffers]

I think it would be best to start a new thread on this as it would be off-topic here.
The rest of the 'experts' can then become involved and tell you what they've done to
rectify the problem. Me? I'd try to match the colour of the finish and get me little paint
brush out! I've never seen silver 'wrinkle' finish before.....may be BMW do a 'touch-up' kit.