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Good deal on BMW 1150RT-P? Or avoid in general Good deal on BMW 1150RT-P? Or avoid in general
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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  #1  
Old 7 Jan 2011
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Good deal on BMW 1150RT-P? Or avoid in general
Hey guys,

There is a place not too far from my house that always has tons of police bikes and motorcycles. I stopped in one day to take a look and they have several BMW 1150RT-P bikes with 4X,XXX on the clock. Just inquiring he said that he was asking $3100 and up for these.

If I were to be able to find one with service records from CHP, is this a good buy? I've heard that these are ridden within an inch of their lives - started and floored in the same motion - but also that the CHP has only one rider per bike so they're essentially single owner bikes. Also, the CHP services them to the T but local police might not be as diligent.

What do you think? I'm looking to take a trip from California to Maine this year, not entirely sure which way around but I want something that will last and that I'll be able to sell later (well, unless I can do a trip form Bangkok to London in a few years too )

Thanks!!
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  #2  
Old 8 Jan 2011
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Those are excellent machines, generally tough as nails!
Just look it over carefully for leaks and obvious abuse. Plenty of them run well over 100k miles.
2004 and newer they had the twin spark heads, which was a significant improvement for that engine.
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Old 8 Jan 2011
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These can be excellent bikes. Just pick out a clean one with no sign of screw/bolt head or other damage.

NOte.. many of the police bikes had an extra low first gear, these are ideal for creeping about without having to ride the clutch. they also had fan assisted oil coolers.
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Old 9 Jan 2011
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Thanks guys, yeah they look real solid. In addition, there are some other nifty features that come with the P version, such as a second battery, beefier alternator, crash bars, de-linked brakes, and some more that I forget about ATM.

The guys is offering a 30 day "warranty" not sure what that means but I'll have to find a mechanic to inspect whatever I'm looking at and do a thorough check myself.

I'll keep looking at what comes in and out of his place and hopefully I can scrape up the funds to buy one in a month or two
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  #5  
Old 15 Mar 2011
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I'd buy one in a minute. They do get better maintenance than average and no worse abuse than most of the bikers around here.

The cars are a lousy deal as they sit idling forever, to the point of doubling the engine time from the mileage, but the riders are more picky.

I would have bought mine.
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