Newbie on the lose!

Considering a 1999 1200LTC with about 30k 2-owner miles and really nice shape maintained in MD at Bob's. Owner asking $9,650.

Considering a 1994 GL1500 SE with all the goodies and 120k miles. One family owned from new. Just VA inspected for safety and all the bells and whistles. Owner asking $4,800.

Have not ridden either yet. My last bike was a 1986 Honda GL1200SE-i. Wondering what you all think out there about the goods and bads of the choices?

thanks in advance!

Ride them both, then you'll know.

I think Bob's is asking way too much for the 99. But with a name like "Ranger Bob" you must go with an LT!!!! Ranger Bob sounds like an Army Ranger that would never be happy on a bike covered with stuffed animals .

In all seriousness the LT is a Sport Tourer where the wing is more Tourer. I like riding the twisties on my LT but if I were going to stay on the super slab the wing is a fine choice.

Besides you'll love us once you get to know us and you wouldn't want to be on a wing and stay on this board would you? Of course you'd be welcome regardless!!

I hope you make the right (LT) choice!

I bought my 99 LT almost 2 years ago with only 8700 miles on it and have been extremely happy with it. I now have 31k miles on it.
Just prior to that I almost bought an older Wing for less money. but decided against it. The LT was in much better shape so fun to ride...
I would make the same choice again today if presented with the opportunity.

I think the LT is a little expensive, but if you can grind him down on the price,
the BMW would be my choice. Its newer and better in the twisties than the Wing. Ron

That sure seems like a high price for the LT.

From what I've seen, my 2002 LTC with 60k miles on it is worth about that much (with the ohlins, etc) or less, even with the farkles. And its running better than it ever has and keeps getting better.

I'd look around, I think you could get an 02 with low miles for a little more money, that seems to be the banter year for some 'improvements' (depends on who you ask).

regards!..geo

thanks for the information. Since the commonality appears to be that the price is too high, what would the right price be? Tires were changed at 12,000.

thanks

There is a '99 LTi on cycle trader at:

http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/3/1/82196231.htm

for 7900.00 with 40K and it is loaded !!!

I have driven my GL1500 for 100.000 km every day for 3 years long. I got a K1200LT after that and drove again 120.000 km with that machine. So, I can compare the two very well.

I put all the maintenance costs, depreciation and insurancecosts in an Excel sheet and found that the GL1500 is not that cheap per KM as the KLT. The KLT is about 60% of the costs and that is what made me change to BMW at first.

But then I got in love with the driving quality of the BMW. It handles very well, it is modern, fast and can be driven like a sportsbike. The Wing is still a machine someone looks at but my hard and ratio is shifted towards the BMW. I have loved the machine since I have it, did not have any problem with it and would go again for the KLT if I had to choose again.

Regards, Hans

I don't know if I'd call that one loaded. It's an Icon, the bottom-end model. Everything listed on it are factory items, except the intercom which could be any make or model (including the useless BC-1).

Can't comment on the pricing of either bike -- not my area of expertise.

Do you plan on riding two-up? If so, BE SURE to ride both bikes two-up; you may see a huge difference in the two.

I have an '05 LT and am still very new to bikes -- 3100 lifetime miles on 2 motorcycles, most of those the LT. I like the LT more every time I ride it (and I'm the guy who was whining about high COG, hard-to-handle-at-low-speed, harder to handle w/passenger, etc.)

As someone has already said: ride them both. You'll know what to do.

The Icon is the middle model, You get the BC and CD changer and some other small doodad...I don't recall.

Oops, you're right there, Keith. Thanks for the correction.

Of course, we can't all buy used bikes from Raffy, so we gotta take what's out there.

And we don't have to worry about where all the money is going to come from for the farkles either.

I have to agree with the others here, WAY too much for a '99. I have seen better equipped '02s for around that price, certainly can get an '01 for that if you look for a while.

There were a couple issues with '99s, and one stayed around until late '00 build date, the hot hesitation problem. If the '99 did not have the upgraded Motronic with the secondary injection mapping installed, skip it and keep looking.

Watch Cycle Trader, the classifieds on this site, and even eBay, you may find a much better deal.

Don't know where you're located but it seems that January would be a good month to beat this guy down on price? Unless he really wants to floor it for 3 more months.

Hell, I've got a nice 99 with 70K on it, make me an offer over 7K!

I'll deliver.

One difference that is getting more important to me every year: Fuel economy. The High cruising speeds I love when out West (75 mph actual) will have that Wing getting 32 mpg, sometimes worse! (I owned two of them.) The LT will get mid 40's, some times close to 50. Mine almost Never drops below 40 even on windy days.

You state tire replaced at 12K ... Now at 30K Tires needed again IMHO.

Don't let the early build date be an issue .. really not one with all the little tricks we now know.

A "99" with 30 K is worth about 9K +/-

*** I have an ICON version myself.
Over the base model you get:
On board computer
Radio with cassette & 6cd player in trunk

Nice bike BTW.

Scott

I have had a GL1500. Even though it is a nice bike, there is no comparsion between it and LT - The LT wins hands down. I like the others think the price might be a little high, especially in Jan. Good Luck.
Leon
05 Blue LT

Wow....$9K for a '99 that has 30K mi??

Just to compare...I bought my '99 1200LTI in October with 9,300 miles for $8K - from a 2nd owner in NJ. Boy do I feel even better now!!

If you can't knock off at least $1K on the '99, I would look elsewhere.

Good Luck!

-Larry