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From: mazlack@ernie.BERKELEY.EDU (Lawrence J. &)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Need help in choosing a touring bike
Message-ID: <10707@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 15:28:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.10707
Posted: Fri Oct 18 15:28:59 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 20-Oct-85 04:46:26 EDT
References: <379@eneevax.UUCP> <3600008@inmet.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.ARPA
Reply-To: mazlack@ernie.UUCP (Lawrence J. Mazlack)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 21

>
><I want to buy a nice comfortable (read: easy to handle) touring bike.
><[one interesting bike is] the BMW R80RT.  Of course, I can't afford that.  
><By the way, I am looking for a bike which will cost about 2500.  
><I will pay as much as 3000 if I have to (I would rather not).  
><I am also willing to buy a used (but not too old) bike.  
>
>I've ridden a BMW (just one, 80K+ miles) for over 10 years
>and worked on them as a professional mechanic for 5.
>You should be able to find a 6-10 year old BMW in your price range.
>I would not hesitate to buy one with 40-60K miles.
>I personally know one 1971 R60/5 (600cc) with over 200K miles
>pulling a sidecar that has had three valves and a clutch replaced
>but has never been overhauled.  (I've persuaded the owner to
>let me autopsy the beast when it does finally pull a one hoss shay.)
>
>The usual caveats about buying any used motor vehicle apply.

Agreed.  You are better buying a good used machine that may well run
over 100K miles (not uncommon at all with a 2 cylinder BMW) than a new,
Japanese machine that may not make 25K without a major overhaul.