YAMT - Thinking of getting a motorcycle and needs help with opinions

[Papagayo]

My wife is getting her masters in the evenings, while I watch our kid. She wants to do something special for our anniversary, my birthday, etc.. and wants to get me a bike. I always wanted a bike. It's been a long time since I rode a bike (I was like 10). I was looking for something easy to ride with engine size around 600cc..

Her friends told her that we should not compromise on the type of bike and get the bike I want.

Bike I want is BMW R1200 R.
I can get 2004 BMW R1200R with only 700 miles for around $10k..

Never rode on BMW bike and wanted to know how they handle.
Is this a good deal?
Am I crazy?

If I do get the bike, I'm going to have to have a friend ride it back to my house. I have to get a license, and maybe get some pointers on riding a big bike.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
Am I crazy?

possibly

take a motorcycle riders course and safety course

if that is in your budget, that is a nice bike . i would buy something very similar, i like that style

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If this is your 1st bike, get a cheap better and ride it and learn on it. You're going to kick yourself when not, if, but WHEN you drop your $10K BWM and find out how much it will cost to fix.
And please, go take a class before you actually buy anything.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
My wife is getting her masters in the evenings, while I watch our kid. She wants to do something special for our anniversary, my birthday, etc.. and wants to get me a bike. I always wanted a bike. It's been a long time since I rode a bike (I was like 10). I was looking for something easy to ride with engine size around 600cc..

Her friends told her that we should not compromise on the type of bike and get the bike I want.

Bike I want is BMW R1200 R.
I can get 2004 BMW R1200R with only 700 miles for around $10k..

Never rode on BMW bike and wanted to know how they handle.
Is this a good deal?
Am I crazy?

If I do get the bike, I'm going to have to have a friend ride it back to my house. I have to get a license, and maybe get some pointers on riding a big bike.

It's a great bike but personally, I think it's too much bike for your experience level. A riding buddy of mine has a BMW R1150R he bought used for about $7k. It's black with a windshield, lots of extra chrome and saddle bags. It had 10k miles on it when he bought it and it's been trouble free. He's had it for about a year now. The 2007 R1200R is a much nicer bike though. They've lightened it up quite a bit and totally redesigned it so that it's more of a true sport touring bike now. They handle great and have plenty of power.

I've been eying the BMW F800-ST myself.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
If this is your 1st bike, get a cheap better and ride it and learn on it. You're going to kick yourself when not, if, but WHEN you drop your $10K BWM and find out how much it will cost to fix.
And please, go take a class before you actually buy anything.

Listen to him and to JulesMaximus.

Buy a cheap used bike. A GS500 or the like. Ride it for a year or so. Learn. Sell it (likely for about what you paid for it).

THEN

Buy your dream bike.

 

[gotrdun]

the (suzuki?) sv650 or honda f4 or f4i make for great beginner bikes if you're looking for something sportier.
I second the motion not to *start* on a BMW.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

what exactly is it about opinions that you need help with?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Dirigible

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
If this is your 1st bike, get a cheap better and ride it and learn on it. You're going to kick yourself when not, if, but WHEN you drop your $10K BWM and find out how much it will cost to fix.
And please, go take a class before you actually buy anything.

Listen to him and to JulesMaximus.

Buy a cheap used bike. A GS500 or the like. Ride it for a year or so. Learn. Sell it (likely for about what you paid for it).

THEN

Buy your dream bike.

+1

 

[The Stigenator]

Dont be an RUB (Rich Urban Biker - aka Poser).

You want a BMW but you have NO expereincce. The BMW's are sweet bikes but they are heavy. You should ideally start with <500cc. Dont even look at the 600cc unless they are cruisers. The only exception is the SV650 but that is just the max of an exception.

I suggest start with an GS500F, learn to ride it for 10000 miles and then upgrade. BMW's are heavy touring bikes, they look nice but they are too much bike for you.

You are lucky your wife is buying that for you, yay to you to have such an understanding wife. However dont over do it and kill yourself. Get a normal 500cc bike, learn to re-ride, learn the finer side of riding (throttle control).

By the way get some gear (leather preferred) - jackets, pants, boots, gloves and a full face helmet .. and make sure you got health insurance and life insurance on you.

TGG

<--- motorcycle rider for 10 yrs - Rides a 2001 GS500 for now.

Edit: first step - MSF course. www.msf-usa.org .. sign up, learn to re-ride.

 

[broon]

If you take the class and ride smart, you will be fine on that bike. The key is to ride smart. Start by riding around the neighborhood...a lot. Get up early on the weekend and ride around a local highschool parking lot. But take the course first.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Sweet, I can seel you my gear, I have a leather jacket and mesh jacket for sale.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
My wife is getting her masters in the evenings, while I watch our kid. She wants to do something special for our anniversary, my birthday, etc.. and wants to get me a bike. I always wanted a bike. It's been a long time since I rode a bike (I was like 10). I was looking for something easy to ride with engine size around 600cc..

Her friends told her that we should not compromise on the type of bike and get the bike I want.

Her friends are clods, probably RUB's as mentioned earlier, Rich Urban Bikers who are basically 50 mile a year "riders." Let me explain why they are fools, two main reasons. One, you really have no idea what you REALLY want until after you know how to ride. I have friends who started on Harleys and now ride sport bikes. BMW's are as different from Hondas as a Toyota Camry is from a Mazda Miata. You don't know what you really want yet. Two, most beginner style bikes have almost zero depreciation when bought used, you can sell them after 6 months to a year for almost what you paid for it. If you don't have the patience to spend 6 months learning on a beginner bike, then you're a bad person.

Bike I want is BMW R1200 R.
I can get 2004 BMW R1200R with only 700 miles for around $10k..

Never rode on BMW bike and wanted to know how they handle.
Is this a good deal?
Am I crazy?

If I do get the bike, I'm going to have to have a friend ride it back to my house. I have to get a license, and maybe get some pointers on riding a big bike.

I have an R1100 RT. BMW's are...unique. You either love them or you hate them. I personally hate them, I think they're overpriced for what they offer, and they have a legion of followers that are every bit of the poseur/image conscious/badge whore that most RUB riders are. But I digress...that is a big heavy bike that isn't the easiest thing to learn on. You'd do much better by buying a used smaller beginner bike. You'll be a better motorcycle rider for it in the long run, sadly something that most riders aren't really interested in doing. This is your life that you're taking in your hands, there's little room for error on a bike so why not try to hone your skills as finely as you can?

 

[chusteczka]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
My wife is getting her masters in the evenings, while I watch our kid. She wants to do something special for our anniversary, my birthday, etc.. and wants to get me a bike. ...

It seems you are expendable in this relationship.

 

[Papagayo]

I am going to pick up my bike on Friday.

I been looking at bikes for few months, and this is the most beautiful bike I've ever seen.
Even if I don't ride and it sits in my garage, I still love it. It's like work of art.

I am doing to takes lessons.
State of Ohio gives "Basic Ride Course" that trains you on bikes..