BMW R1150R the "beakster". Some thoughts.

Here is a very brief opinion on owning a second hand BMW R1150R. Some of the issues I had and other things I wished I knew when buying one.
+ The engine is understressed and can outlive many of the other components.
+ Nice luggage, very good for 2 up riding.
+ Torquey engine, shaft drive means no chain to oil.
+ Better braking than anything out there, with only 1 finger.
+ Still a true boxer and the only one I know of still in production.
- Heavy bikes and perhaps overly complex, these are not the BMW boxers of old.
- Linked brakes, iABS and a lot of servos are potential issues with old bikes that were not properly cared for.
- Dubious quality plastic used in places where they should have put metal, especially since we are dealing with a "premium brand".
- Definitely not a bike to own second hand for the financially or mechanically challenged.

[@StefanCCCC]

Excellent review, you answered all my questions. Consider making videos more often

[@poatemaine6200]

sold the bmw, wife is still upset

[@BMRTV]

I had a rockster for a couple years and removed the abs unit. Brake feel improved and made trail braking a lot nicer. Saved weight too :)

[@poatemaine6200]

The Absectomy is MOT (ITV) failure reason where I live, so no option for me

[@wayne3340]

Great video, excellent information.

[@Dsriwich]

Excellent review. Thanks.

[@poatemaine6200]

Glad it was helpful!

[@a.k1311]

Very relaible engines. Some came out the factory without Abs system.. those are the good one….

[@poatemaine6200]

yep, the engine itself is quite reliable, everything around it perhaps not so much, mainly because of the complexity and the silly engineering mistakes like the Getrag transmission not engaging properly with the shaft, cheapskate plastics where it should be metal and so on. If I will getting another BMW it would only be an old airhead, /5 or /6 series.

[@colinhill2393]

The dry clutch scares me. Its s big expensive job when it goes.

[@poatemaine6200]

on the bright side, when its done properly, it might outlast the bike.

[@demiratmotovlog]

Good review but I have to correct somepart of it. The rattling noise dissapearing when the clutch lever is pressed is coming from the rod pushed from the slave cylinder in the back which is inside of the shaft connected with the splines of clutch. The rod is inside the shaft with a felt wrapped around to prevent dust and oil entering from the back to the front. New felt cuts the noise but after a while it rattles again, it is not related to the clutch situation

[@ddoggycanada]

hey there. I'm experiencing similar symptoms with my R1150R. Is this a serious issue that needs to be addressed asap??

[@ddoggycanada]

1. clutch lever pressed to change gears = rattling stops. 2. let go of the clutch lever (clutch engaged) = constant rattling noise

[@demiratmotovlog]

@@ddoggycanada exactly, nothing to worry about👍

[@poatemaine6200]

​@@ddoggycanadaif your bike is close or over 100.000 km and clutch has never been changed you might want to think about it and if do it tell workshop to inspect the primary shaft spline ends. If bike is around 40-50 thou km that could be more worrying... but WORST case it can leave you stranded case in which clutch and primary are due anyway. Make sure you replace with aftermarket improved primary and it should last literally forever. Until then, follow the golden rule: if it aint broken dont fix it and enjoy the ride. My 2cents.

[@poatemaine6200]

got my particular rattle check from bmw mechanic, if hes wrong im wrong. You also have a point though, thanks for the input.

[@elvispopa7493]

Salut, fain review. Mulțam pentru informații. Cautam mai multe informații despre el. Exact motorul asta imi place R1160R. Am gasit unul exact ca cel prezentat, 55 mii km inclusiv cutiile laterale originale, in conditie f buna. Un pic 'speriat' dar cred ca o să il iau 😊, e un clasic..

[@poatemaine6200]

fara grija, motorul in sine e utilaj de 300k km, fara gluma. Sa fiu sincer l-am dat doar pt ca nu aveam timp si chef de anumite lucrari de intretinere mai implicate, ma profilez pe moto mai simple. Am monocilindri de 500 si japoneze ieftine, dar cele mai serioase drumuri cu bmw le-am facut, fara probleme.

[@drewmorg.]

How is this bike to ride around and push a little bit? Does it give good satisfaction under wide open throttle? Is it expensive to maintain in current day?

[@poatemaine6200]

1. As it seems you lift, you should have no problem, but for a scrawny person I do not recommend it, its over 250kg. 2 Yes, good torque and power, its a big engine, albeit different than a Japanese inline four, is not so revvy and torque starts VERY low. For its weight is agile, but my previous 750 GSXR would have ran circles around it. 3. I would say yes, if you rely on dealerships or decent shops. Imagine to purge the brakes you have to do front circuit, then rear circuit, then ABS circuit. If you want to change clutch you basically split the bike in half. I recommend an earlier airhead BMW, they used to be sooo much simpler back in the day.

[@thatmanstumototours2270]

The Telelever handles wonderfully,loves to attack the twisties and the oilhead motor loves to be revved...

[@poatemaine6200]

@@ziyasrevenge there used to be a time when BMW had good engineering and a lot of common sense. Not so much in the last 20 odd years. Perhaps is a change of philosophy in the sense that lately you are supposed to take the bike to a shop for them to make $$$ rather than fix it yourself. Otherwise the battery under tank idea should have never left the meeting room.

[@poatemaine6200]

i was surprised how well telelever works

[@teucer4]

I really loved your video

[@poatemaine6200]

thanks

[@kingdomdjs4421]

Hey dude. What is the flap over the gear lever used for. It's a black lift up flap

[@poatemaine6200]

12v accesory socket

[@FamMenn]

@@poatemaine6200 Very useful to recharge the battery, e.g. when winterized😊

[@danielyim267]

bought a 2004 with 8,900 miles and Replaced in-tank Fuel pump U hose due to failure. Parts are hard to find and if you do find them they are crazy expensive. stay away!

[@poatemaine6200]

yeah the older boxers are simpler

[@DonnyBrisco]

Beemerboneyard makes these bikes easy and cheap to fix. I have an 04 1150R, have over 40k miles I've put on it,i do the valves, carb sync , oil changes myself. Really rarely ever have any issue with it. Solid bike and cheap to ride. Paid 3.2k and found out Haggerty insurance, my provider, has it's worth 33k as the midnight black, 80 anniversary edition of boxer. So there's that, rear ended my wife on it.... Long story.... They put out 15k to repair it. My wife insisted, she's really attached to it, i wanted to take $ and buy 3 more bikes. 😄

[@DonnyBrisco]

Oh yeah and removed abs right off

[@poatemaine6200]

the ideal number of bikes to get is the number you have plus just one more :)

[@marcotodeschi278]

Io ci ho fatto 160 000 km senza problemi sempre carico. Va ancora bene ed è ancora esteticamente poco usurata. La terrò fin che va. La posizione della batteria è l 'unico vero difetto di questa moto. Forse anche un po bassa di sella per mè che sono oltre 1.90.

[@poatemaine6200]

la moto più comoda che ho avuto. Mia moglie è ancora arrabbiata perché la vendo. Sì, l'accesso alla batteria è ridicolo. Ho dovuto smontare il serbatoio, svitare i radiatori e un milione di viti solo per sostituire una batteria scarica.

[@FamMenn]

@@poatemaine6200 Honestly, yes the battery underneath the tank is a surprising design choice. But I do not see it as a real issue: I ride among others a 2004 R1150R and changed the battery every 5 to 7 yrs, so what? Buy quality batteries only and a smart charger to keep the battery in good state of health, and that's it🤷‍♂

[@teucer4]

Heavy? Ride a Harley Street Glide and get back to me. Europeans and their concept of heavy…they have no idea.

[@poatemaine6200]

I actually did ride a springer. They are indeed insanely heavy...but their center of gravity is very low which makes it easier. In europe many times you need to park on an incline between tightly packed scooters so any bike above the weight of a japanese 600 would be complicated to move backwards uphill.

[@davidroberts283]

I agree. I have a goldwing 1800. The 1150 is light.

[@poatemaine6200]

@@davidroberts283 I switched to old style 500 singles and air cooled UJM. Light and easy to work on.

[@joeq.public281]

European bikes and people are lighter than Americans.