Going To Look At A Winter Hack

[Chriss]

I called a guy up today, and I'm going to look at his bike. It's a 1985 BMW K100, with 70,000 miles on and the advert states "T&T" (think that's Taxed and MOT'd). He said the engine's worn, rattles a bit, smokes a little bit, had new fork seals, new pads, and has a weeping caliper seal, which he's got the bits to sort that. Also had a new timing chain and tensioner. He's asking £600.

Basically, as I know nothing about the mechanics of a bike, with that information in mind, what should I be looking for, what should I check? Thanks for any advice in advance, Karma points are at the ready.
____________________
TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[colin1]

I dont know anything about that bike, but £600 for a bike that age seems a bit much.

have a look on ebay to see what they go for.

at a guess id reckon £400 wd be a better price. I think he is trying to get back the price of recent work done.
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[iCraig]

I'd personally steer clear of it, 510lb bikes aren't great winter hacks!

Imagine if you dropped it on ice, you'd damaged the road aswell as the bike.

Also the fact its engine rattling and worn would majorly put me off, as your likely to get a money pit just to keep it running.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Meant to last well and pretty well made. Heard that at high mileages (higher than that) the gearboxes can have issues occasionally.

However as mentioned it is a heavy bike. If you are going long motorway journies then it will probably be good. Used round town and down back lanes where there is more of a chance of dropping it then you might have problems. Also if you drop it on one side the cover you smash is the rocker cover.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing