BMW R850R - advice please!

[Feasty]

I'm currently looking to slightly upgrade my current 1998 BMW F650 to a faster, smoother more comfortable bike. Now I've found a BMW R850 at a dealership not far away, but it's a trade in and therefore being sold 'as seen' i.e no warranty - but does come with 12 months MOT. The previous owner traded it in for a new Royal Enfield.

It's a 2000 with 37k on it, looks pretty neat for it's age (I've not seen it in the flesh) and they're asking £2500. It comes with full luggage, screen and being a shaft drive bike I wouldn't have thought the mileage would be much of an issue.
It's done about 3-4k miles every year of it's life going by an MOT check - but of course I can't see any advisories online. And the last owner had the bike since 2014.

Obv's it's a risk having no previous owner to talk to about it, to know what they're like. Having no warranty, and no full service history - but then there's plenty of us who do our own servicing. I'm hoping it's a big plus the last owner had it so long.

Is this a big risk buying without any comeback from the dealer - or could I be buying a bike that's been well looked after for years. Any help with how to tell would be great!

This is the bike:
https://www.smalleycross.co.uk/used-bikes/bmw/r850-r/79109.htm
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[1198]

I wouldn’t regard 37,000 miles as a huge amount to be honest, chain drive or not - it’s averaged less than 2k miles per annum. Is that a fair price? I’d certainly be using their stance on ‘sold as seen’ to fight a few pounds knocked off.

[MarJay]

Any time a dealer says that about a bike that is in their stock, I'd run away. If they had confidence in the bike they'd not say that. It's rather disturbing when they do it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[AL-]

I would also walk away but the mileage wouldn't be the reason

[arry]

[smokin joe]

[Feasty]

Interesting and appreciated responses.

So you don't think many dealers would sell part-ex's in this way?
Their reasoning is it's not their main source of selling...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[MarJay]

[KiwiBob]

You could ask the dealer for a look at the V5 and/or ask for the previous owners name and address. Then give the previous owner a call and see what he says about the bike.(and hope he is honest).

If they refuse I would walk away .. As others have said "Trade sale" and "sold as seen" from a dealer is not a good sign.

As for the bike it looks tidy and its MoT history is good.

[arry]

[A100man]

The bike looks tidy enough and cheap compared to the one or two on ebay (similar one is up for 3650) however I'm not sure I understand this bit

[MarJay]

[Feasty]

Looking into the 'no warranty' technicalities from a dealership, so long as they sell it 'fit for purpose' then legally I have 30 days to request a refund/fix if anything develops in that time.
If it becomes a sold as spares or repairs, that's a different kettle of fish...

I plan to take a look at the bike over the weekend, we'll see how it goes. I'm grateful for all the ideas of how to approach this.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Freddyfruitba...]

I notice that other used bikes at this dealer specifically have a "6 Months In House Warranty". I'm guessing that the dealer is rather clumsily stating that this doesn't apply to the bike in question?

[KiwiBob]

[Evil Hans]

"Yeah, it's in my showroom, and advertised to customers, but it's a trade sale so you have no come back"

Other favourites are:

"Yeah, it's in my showroom but I'm selling it for a mate, so effectively it's a private sale"

"Yeah, it's in my showroom but I'm selling it for a customer, so effectively it's a private sale"

Draw your own conclusions.

A mate of mine bought a Porsche 928, from a Porsche specialist, which was "being sold for a customer" ... turned out the chassis was an inch and a half shorter on one side than the other.


To be honest, I'd refuse to buy anything from him Just Because Of His Terrible Abuse Of Capital Letters In His Adverts.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Evil Hans]

[Feasty]

[Irezumi]

[Robby]

It would be a red flag for me.
It's a bike which, like all BMW flat twins, is known for being able to reliably cover large mileage, but can also suffer from some quite expensive failures. Failures which don't look that expensive when worked into the total lifetime cost of owning the bike, but would sting if you had to fork out a grand in repairs on a bike worth twice that, that you've owned for 3 months.

If you're able to talk to the previous owner, that should shed some light on the situation. It could be that the dealership are trying to cover their arse just in case it needs a drive shaft in 3 months. Still, doesn't make me trust them either way.

[Ste]

[PotatoHead202...]

The BMW's of that era aren't without their problems but they're significant less so than those a few years more into the 2000s. I would check the final drive unit is good as well as the clutch. Apart from that just corrosion.

That one doesn't look like it has ABS.

I really like these but the lack of ABS and price puts me off. Personally i'd be looking at a CBF600 for similar (if not less money).
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Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

[Pete.]

Looks like an honest enough bike. Obviously summer ridden the finish is excellent for the age and it doesn't look re-finished. The exhaust front pipes aren't polished up they have some blueing but only indicative of light use. Mine are thoroughly cooked and dark blue all along their length. The discs are original, not thinned and not blued another sign of light use.

If you could get th price blow 2k I'd call it a reasonable buy.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Feasty]

Yeah I think below £2k, see if I can change their minds about a warranty too.

I've also started looking round for comparisons and liking a Suzuki V-Strom 650 2008 with 30k for the same price - 8 years newer and that does come with a warranty!

I just preferred the idea of a shaft driven bike. I had a Divvy 900 years ago and loved how smooth it was...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Rockburner]