Good deal on a used R1, but...

Good deal on a used R1, but...

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Discussion

Pebbles167

Original Poster:

3,436 posts

152 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
So my BMW K1200R is up for sale to clear a little money for a mortgage.

In the meantime i have been looking for something cheaper, around £2k to go on the occasional trackday and ride out. I've been mainly looking at older 600's, but yesterday a friend offered me his 2005 R1 (under seat exhaust model) with 18k miles for around £2k, a bargain right?

Only catch is, that it's been sat idle for 3-4 years without starting, albeit under a cover in a garage. Therefore it hasn't got an MOT although i know it's history and know it's mostly sound, and that's not so bad.

What bothers me is returning it to use after such a time. What am i looking at? Fuel drain, tank clean, battery change, tyre change, etc. Anything else i should take into account?

Is this still sounding a good deal?

Thanks in advance smile

Edited by Pebbles167 on Saturday 1st August 09:46

Esceptico

7,446 posts

109 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
I seem to remember a very similar thread a few weeks back (different bike but pretty much same story - buying bike from a friend that had been sat around a few years). If you can find the thread will find lots of advice.

Jazoli

9,095 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
Charge battery, put fresh fuel in, see if it starts, then go from there, will probably only need an oil change and a set of tyres after that, I'll have it for £2k if you don't, that is proper cheap.

Pebbles167

Original Poster:

3,436 posts

152 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
Cheers for the heads up, I'll try find the thread.

And yeah its a hell of a deal, if i don't buy it, I'll give you a PM as he wants to shift it as he's buying up land.

Of course, i need to shift the BMW first. A week on the bay, and only one guy offering me an old Yam TDM in exchange frown

cat with a hat

1,484 posts

118 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
drain + replenish the fuel
drain + replenish the oil + filter
Maybe look at plugs, clean air filter etc
Check tires / pump up / replace if perrished or flat spotted badly
Lube chain if it looks dry
Try start / new battery / recharge
give it an Italian tune (thrash it around and check the brakes)
Clean
MOT
Enjoy


Jammez

661 posts

207 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
Knock him down a few more quid then go for it!

I bought an old SRAD, been sitting for years. Charged the battery, new fuel & unseized the brakes.

Sold it a couple of years layer and made a grand!

rat840771

2,023 posts

165 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
What a steal, if you don't have it I'll have 3rd dibs

Wedg1e

26,800 posts

265 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
As an aside, I'd just bought my last ST13 and then I remortgaged the house and it worked out cheaper to add the bike's loan to the mortgage and pay it off... over the term of the mortgage I paid less interest (on the bike's portion) than I would have on the original loan!
Not sure if mortgages can be had that cheaply now... frown

Mad Dave

7,158 posts

263 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
That's a steal! I sold an identical spec bike a few months ago for £4,250! Buy it, replace the oil and filter and check any rubber hoses for perishing and it'll be fine, assuming it's been garaged and not left out in the rain all that time smile

Awesome bikes too btw.

Redgate

325 posts

147 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
About a month ago I sold my faithfull Speed Triple to a good friend of mine. The bike had been sat in a garage, under a cover, for nearly 8 years.

I told my friend about all the potential technical issues he might have to deal with to make it road-worthy once again and we agreed on a discounted price.

He took the bike to an official Triumph dealer where they performed a regular service and of course, replaced the battery. It cost him ca. £300 and he has now clocked a little over 500 miles. The bike runs perfectly.

I was surprised (not to say shocked) that they did not recommend to change the tyres. I told my friend that he had had a nice bargain and should invest into a pair of new hoops.

Based on that story I would imagine/hope that you should not have too many issues with your R1.


Pebbles167

Original Poster:

3,436 posts

152 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
Cheers for the advice everyone. My bike has not yet sold, so I don't have the R1 currently. But as soon as it does it'll be a done deal.

I'll post up a few shots when I get it.

WaferThinHam

1,680 posts

130 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
That's a really good price. I picked up my 05 R1 for low 3's at the start of the year.

MrB1obby

771 posts

150 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
Battery, fuel, ride. I'm sure some people would ride so little a set of tyres can be on for 5 years!

A mate bought a fireblade recently, barely been used in 8 years iirc. Put a new rear tyre on the day he bought it with a fresh mot and voila, 500+ miles later after going to Pembrokeshire he was home 2 days later.

Renn Sport

2,761 posts

209 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
OP: Please get it bought...

As suggested; Fresh fuel, oil change and battery. Fire it up and let it go through a heat cycle. Then maybe do the plugs and inspect the air filter and consider flushing the cooling system.

Check the brakes and put in fresh fluid. Enjoy the yamaha goodness.


Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

222 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
I have heard that's its worth turning the motor over with a drop of oil in each chamber so that the bores don't score on start up, as they will be bone dry? Is this an olde wives tale?


bass gt3

10,192 posts

233 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
I have heard that's its worth turning the motor over with a drop of oil in each chamber so that the bores don't score on start up, as they will be bone dry? Is this an olde wives tale?
I'd agree and go a bit further.
Remove the plugs and pour a couple of cc of oil into the bore. Let it sit a while so it finds its way into the ring lands.
Change all the fluids, Oil, water, fuel and then turnover for a while with the plugs removed. This allows the oil pump to pump oil up to the head and get everything nicely oiled before starting.
The problem with sitting so long is the oil can drain away and what's left trapped can 'sour' over time. Then pop the plugs in and start it up.
Run it for 100 miles and change the oil again.

Redgate

325 posts

147 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
I have heard that's its worth turning the motor over with a drop of oil in each chamber so that the bores don't score on start up, as they will be bone dry? Is this an olde wives tale?
I had heard the same thing, with horror stories about engines seizing completely. That's why I was concerned when I sold my bike. Guess we were lucky then.

dern

14,055 posts

279 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
I think I'd probably change the brake fluid before going far (or fast on it). Have a look at the colour... if it looks like strong tea (without milk) then I'd change it.

sc0tt

18,037 posts

201 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Have you bought this yet?

Renn Sport

2,761 posts

209 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
I guess... if giving it a full service before start up you could swap the plugs out or inspect them and drop a tiny bit of engine oil down the cylinder.

let it sit...

Then maybe put it on a stand stick it in gear and turn the engine over by hand. You could even pull the coils off the plugs and thumb the starter and get oil pressure and revolution of the crank.

Then maybe follow this up with a rendition of the Gruffalo. However you're going to have to do all the voices for the Mouse, Fox, Owl and snake etc..


After this she will start up and allow you into the fast group at your local track day. Just remember to get fresh tyres.