high mileage k1200

[Sandy67]

I am looking at a 2000 k1200lt with 96000 on the clock. How many miles are too many and is there something I should be aware of that starts happening with this many miles. Bike looks great,,,,I just wonder whether I will start having issues with this many miles

Thanks
Sandy
Muleshoe, TX

[rglassma]

When any machine has that many miles on it, the service record is crucial:

One must know what has been done to the bike. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1) Has the final drive been replaced, at what mileage
2) Have there been any seal replacements, or slave cylinder/clutch assembly replacments, when? If not, you will probably be due for that. It is an expensive repair
3) How about brakes. When were the pads / rotors replaced, ABS Unit issues, etc. How often has the fluid for the brakes been changed?
4) What about speedo, brake cables, master cylinder, etc.
5) How does it run?
6) any leaking under the engine, oil drops, etc.

Overall has the preventive maintenance schedule been followed religiously?

Have the bike checked out by a certified BMW Tech. These engines have been known to last over 300K miles .. So, if the bike is great, you should enjoy it for a long time. Then, what about the price?? how much can you negotiate the price down to and what is the final cost.

Just a few suggestions.

[SilverBuffalo]

Anything mechanical from a pencil sharpner to the space shuttle,

is going to wear out and/or have problems with use and time.

Some people are going to Bitch Moan and Whine about every little thing,

while others just ride them and fix them when they break.

(I'm in the second aforementioned catagory)

To some the LT is the Best Motorcycle in the World

to others Big Money Wasted

here's a link to an LT that went over 300,000 miles with minor issues
until it was totaled in an accident.
http://www.donarthur.net/

[Sandy67]

I have just lost my fuzzy feeling for the bike. Current owner doesn't have any of the maintenance records and has owned to bike for just over a year. I get this feeling that there is something expensive lurking in the shadows. The price is reasonable (6 k) but I seem to hear (in the words of a previous Presidential candidate "a large sucking sound" ,,,H. Ross Perot). Me thinks I shall pass. Thanks guys for the heads up. Currently ride a Honda 1800 VTX but looking for more comfort and a wind envelope. I have always liked the looks of a K1200 and the apparent reliability.

[hallzee]

I have just lost my fuzzy feeling for the bike. Current owner doesn't have any of the maintenance records and has owned to bike for just over a year. I get this feeling that there is something expensive lurking in the shadows. The price is reasonable (6 k) but I seem to hear (in the words of a previous Presidential candidate "a large sucking sound" ,,,H. Ross Perot). Me thinks I shall pass. Thanks guys for the heads up. Currently ride a Honda 1800 VTX but looking for more comfort and a wind envelope. I have always liked the looks of a K1200 and the apparent reliability.
My suggestion would have been to check out the maintenance records. BTW, you can get a used LT with a lot less than 96K on the clock for around $6k. I bought my '01 2 years ago, with 9k miles for $10k.

[zippy_gg]

I have just lost my fuzzy feeling for the bike. Current owner doesn't have any of the maintenance records and has owned to bike for just over a year. I get this feeling that there is something expensive lurking in the shadows. The price is reasonable (6 k) but I seem to hear (in the words of a previous Presidential candidate "a large sucking sound" ,,,H. Ross Perot). Me thinks I shall pass. Thanks guys for the heads up. Currently ride a Honda 1800 VTX but looking for more comfort and a wind envelope. I have always liked the looks of a K1200 and the apparent reliability.You may want to contact Ken Meese (AKA Meese on this forum). He is selling his high mileage but well maintained LT, and the bike seems to be in your price range.

[DakotaDude]

If you can obtain the VIN#, call a BMW motorcycle dealer and ask for a service/maintenance/recall history on this particular bike (or any other BMW that may strike your fancy). As others have said, many LT's run well past the six-figure mileage marks. A well maintained LT could easily hit 250-300K miles with only a few relatively minor issues.

Service records from a dealership may be spotty, especially if, like me, and a lot of forum members, the regular maintenance (oil changes, valve adjustments, brake pad replacements, etc) are performed by the bike's owner versus the BMW dealership. Most of us are pretty meticulous about servicing our bikes and maintain records of the services performed. If he performed maintenance but has no records, I understand your caution. If a dealership did the maintenance, he should have the dealership's stamped logo in his service booklet at the appropriate service intervals. In the absence of a service booklet, call a dealership.

I wouldn't write off this LT completely until you have an opportunity to access dealership records/history. Although, like you, I also would have lost the initial fuzzy's I may have had for this bike. I also think $5000 is a more reasonable price for a bike of this mileage.

One other thought for your consideration; the bike may simply be too big for it's current owner. I bought my 2000LT from a guy who realized the bike was too heavy for him to handle after the bike fell over in his garage while he was tippy-toe-style backing the LT toward the garage door. The bike tipped and caught his ankle between the floor and the driver footrest, resulting in a severe compound fracture to the lower leg.

Good luck in your search.

[Bob204bc]

I started having issues at 22,000. After everything broke and was replaced (and I mean ALL of the typical complaints you read about here, ABS, clutch, rear end, fork seals, etc...) it is a trouble free ride. Maintenance costs are quite high but at 73,000 miles this is still a GREAT bike in spite of the expense.

So.....what starts to fail at 96,000, HA-HA, who knows..............

(This very helpful message was not sponsored by your conveniently located BMW dealer)