Wanting to Purchase a Used Motorcycle

[drsales]

I have it down to two bikes. Just getting back in to it after a 30+ year layoff. Looking for a cruiser. I feel for the dollars these two are the best bang for the buck.

1. 1997 Honda Valkyrie 22k miles single owner. $6900 Almost perfect (Minor scratches)
2. 1993 BMW K1100LT 50k miles single owner. $4000 (Cracked fairing.

Anyone have any experience with either bikes?

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Either one have the maintenance records with them ?

Either one looks decent.

 

[honk]

Gumby can tell you all about a Valkyrie, and I'd say that the Honda would be the more comfortable bike if that's what you're after. I rode an RT1100 from SF to SLC and back with a circle up to Portland, OR on the way back. The bike was troublefree but kind of buzzy in the fairing and it cramped my legs. It had a seat like that one and probably would have been more comfortable if I could have slid back or just moved around more.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Valkryie's are heavy, but really smooth riding. BMW is more sporty. I'd take the Valk for highway cruising, BMW for twisty canyon rides.

 

[yooper]

K bikes are MUCH smoother than R bikes. They are awesome on long trips. Those are very different motorcycles. Get both!

 

[Gumby]

I've owned both. My flying brick was a K100RT. Rode it a lot for 7 years. I've put 18,000 miles on the Valk in the last three years.

BMWs are sportier. They are FAR more maintenance intensive, although if you do the maintenance, they will last forever. If you don't they are troublesome.

With the Honda, you can ignore it and it'll still last forever.

My Valk will spank the dog**** out of the Bimmer in just about every aspect, except MAYBE a really twisty road. There it would be close enough to depend on the rider's skill.

The Honda is faster, smoother, way more reliable, and better looking. The BMW has an annoying whine all of the time and a annoying vibration right at cruising speed. The Valk has a lot of transmission whine that can be cured by synthetic oil and better than stock pipes. It has perfect balance at all speeds. You can balance a nickel on it's edge on the valve cover from start up to red line.

Both have very defined riding position. The wide low motors don't give much in the way of foot forward riding position. You can get Kuryakin pegs for the Valk that work well, and taller seats if you're tall. In fact, the Venture seat on the purple bike above is about the best aftermarket seat you can get. It's high on my priority list. The forward part of the seat is wide. That makes shorter riders have a tough time holding 800# of bike up. The Bimmer is also pretty tall. The fairing design really gives you very limited movement, but you can still do a lot of miles on the K-whiner.

If that's a picture of you in your avatar, you want to test ride the BMW. I got mine from a larger gentleman who found it very uncomfortable. I don't know how well I'd fit myself anymore. They are really best for folks in a certain height and weight range.

Parts and service for the Honda are also considerably cheaper.

97 was the first year for the Valk. They had wheel bearing issues and seats that would put your nuts to sleep. They also had the highest hp rating of any year. 100+, IIRC. You might want to do some research on it first. http://www.valkyrieriders.com/

Anything else you have a question about I'd be happy to give you my informed (for once) opinion.

 

[Gumby]

Valkryie's are heavy, but really smooth riding. BMW is more sporty. I'd take the Valk for highway cruising, BMW for twisty canyon rides.

The weight is way low. They ride very light once you're under way.

That's actually true of both bikes.

 

[OregonCruzer]

Now HERE'S a bike!

 

[nat]

Nice write up Gumby.

I really want a Valkyrie still. I was at the Int'l Motorcyle show in 1997 and sat on one there. I loved it a lot, but I fear the drivers here in the Bay Area and I really want to live to see my boy grow up

 

[drsales]

Well I rode the K1100LT today. Down around Wooster, Ohio. Mostly two lane roads with many hills and curves. Weather was 75 with gusty winds. The road structure was designed right for this machine. Nice pick up and braking. Took the curves with little effort (as compared to the Valk) I can see why there are a lot of riders that love the bike and brand. One must remember both of these bikes designs are night and day apart. The fairing was great. Little wind noise vs the Valk. The Valk over all is a smoother (Vanilla) great highway bike 4 lanes vs the BMW hills and turns etc.. The BMW lets you fill the road and the bike.

Negatives: Touchy clutch (dry style) grabs the gears quickly, if you do not time it right it surges up or down depending how you time it with the throttle. With time I could fine tune my efforts. The Valk gets high regards for the clutch feel. High pitch wine from the tranny as does the V. Along with minor vibration (motor is hard mounted with little damping). Room for my knees, slightly tight with the fairing. Warm legs. The bike was pushed more by semi wind blast vs the V. The fairing was cracked along the left side betweem the glass and the rear view mirror. Not wide open but cracked. The previous owner a small man of 70 years dropped it the night before he traded it in for a new bike. I could get it fixed or cover it up with reflective tape.

All in all both are great machines. Which one is my choice? They are asking $3999.00 for the BMW I might offer $3500. The Valk they want $6900.00 I might offer $6400.00

Now I have to figure what kind of roads I think I will ride? I would love to do a trip up the wast coast of Michigan. Highway to get there with two lane driving along Lake Michigan. I must sleep on this.

 

[bsmith123]

The other woman

this is my bike with a neighbors kid checking it out, it's in the shop getting a powder coat on the frame and the model bike's blue and white paint hoo hoo! just hot rodded up the motor with s/e heads top end rebuild s/e ign s&S carb and evl 3010 cam and dyno tune

I love it cause i can keep changing it. think long and hard on what you really like style comfort tinkering---the whole pkg. It's a very individual thing.

I always like hondas i;ve owned several and could not kill them! I had one a CR500 with a worn out magneto and a kick start---Icalled it the "one legged stair master"! but once it started it was a beast in the desert

good luck on your bike and take care getting back into riding.

 

[drsales]

Well I'm still looking. The K1100lt was sold last week. The Valk is still on the lot now down to $5.9k. I am waiting for my bonus which should arrive late Feb early March. But today I saw a 2002 R1150R BMW. $4900.00 with 9.5k miles. The bike was own by the dealer's son. He moved to a crouch rocket. The bike does not have ABS. Tires newer back and front maybe 2-3k left. They state the 12k service is $500. Nice condition, color (black). Smaller than the previous bikes but I start to think this might be the one to teach and become at ease. Then move up to something.....if I want to in a year or two. Sorry no pics at this time.

 

[drsales]

I pulled the trigger bought the 2002 R1150R. Smaller fella is the salesman. Thats me with my dapper hat on my shaved head.

 

[D'Animal]

Congrats on you purchase!


Man you have a clean garage.

 

[drsales]

New Pics

Well I have had the bike at home for 10 days or so and have been riding when I can. Picked up some items for my butt, wool cushion and beadrider topper to cushion the back side. What a great bike to relearn my riding skills after a 30+ year layoff.

 

[drsales]

A couple more.

 

[Red Herring]

Nice!

I have a Russel Day Long saddle like the K1100 you tried. Man is that thing ever comfy!

Remember to do the spline lubes regularly! The spline ends are dry, just like the clutch! The output shaft also needs a very slight lubing every so often. Amsoil has smoothed the motor and hugely improved the shifting on my K. Smooth as butter. I recommend.

Congrats on your purchase! Here's to many safe miles.

 

[drsales]

I have added a Parabellum windshield and also lowered the foot pegs.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Well I have had the bike at home for 10 days or so and have been riding when I can. Picked up some items for my butt, wool cushion and beadrider topper to cushion the back side. What a great bike to relearn my riding skills after a 30+ year layoff.

Hi ,nice bike. I too have been considering selling a cruiser and buying a BMW after a long long absance of bike ownership (22 years) . I was curious as to how tall you are and if you have plenty of legroom?

Some of the other comments suggest BMW are for the shorter riders. Are all models of BMWs like that?

 

[atoyot]

That motorcycle is bad ass. I have always liked Honda's but that one you where looking at was terribly ugly...sorry. I think the BMW's are very cool. I would love to take one on an overland expedition type trip.