BMWMCCWA

Hi all

Just wanted to ask a very subjective question
I am in the process of buying a 2006 R850R and have been astonished by the number of guys who call this bike f ugly
and heavy and under powered and....

Any thoughts. If I could afford a R1200R I would but this is an intro for me to boxers

Cheers all

This is a "when did you stop beating your wife question".

Whether a bike is ugly or appealing is in the eye of the beholder. I have a R1200C that was reagrded as an ugly bike but is now more trendy with its bobber styling. As a BMW Club we should not be calling any of the inventory ugly.

Horsepower is another matter. The 850R is not a lot lighter than the 1200R but has around 40 less horsepower. The difference of 70 to 110hp is very noticeable for me but may not be to you. One of the great joys of motorcycling is acceleration and this is all about horespower. I have a 650Gs and hardly ride it preferring the balance and power of the 1200's.

In the end it depends on what you use the bike for. It also may be better to buy a smaller capacity bike with lower kilometres and in better condition.

You dont have to rush into buying a bike.

Hi gozone,

Motorcycling is about your personal freedom, freedom to ride what, when and how you choose.

How you choose to experience your motorcycling is your personal choice.

Questions maybe should be:

• Is the R 850 R a reliable machine that is not going to let me down ?

• I commute to work, with the occasional weekend ride in the country, will the R 850 R fit the bill ?

• Am I happy with 70 horsepower or do I "LUST" after 200 ?

I'm going to be the last to tell you what is good or bad, how to ride and where. Well not strictly true, as I would not let a fellow motorcyclist fall for a bad thing. However in this case, I can't offer any suggestions about the R 850 R as I don't know anything about 'em.

Ugly! have a look around, it's getting difficult to find a pretty bike these days Don't see anyone calling a GS or a GSA pretty. It doesn't stop folks from buying them by the truck-load. 'Pretty' and 'Ugly' are often concatenated in the case of the GSA.

Although I must say that that R 100 RS Jack just purchased is a damn pretty bike

Note that most Harleys are struggling to make 70 horsepower in standard trim... and are a truck load heavier than any R850 R will ever manage. Doesn't stop folks from buying 'em

Like Bozo suggests, do your homework, which is what you are trying to achieve here
Help him out guys...

You haven't mentioned the milage of the bike. Post a little more info about the machine.

You could have a chat to Thorsten over at BM Bikes, Vince from Bassendean Motorcycles or Dave Munro. These guys are all very BMW bike savvy and I'm certain would be happy to give you some quick details about the R 850 R.

Good luck and hope we catch up at a club meet or brekky.

nev

Nev

There are 4 850R's for sale in Australia on Bikesales.

The 2006 one for sale in WA has done 49,184 kms.

That kilometerage is good for the age of the bike.

Hi gozone, I would rate the R850R as one of the sweetest bikes I have ever owned, I loved the silky smoothness of the slightly smaller motor and would happily have another one of them!

regards Jim

Bozo wrote: There are 4 850R's for sale in Australia on Bikesales.
The 2006 one for sale in WA has done 49,184 kms.
That kilometerage is good for the age of the bike.

Err, your point?

I was making a guarded comment on how people always seem to be telling other people how and where they should be riding their bikes...

Is that kilo'meet'erage or kil'OMET'erage?

Nev

I agree with everything that you have said other than milage. Mileage is just distance travelled in miles and I suspect the 850R measures distance in kilometres.

My point was that if a limited number bike like the 850R is being purchased it is likely that the full details are on Bikesales, Gumtree or Ebay.

I should have added that there is a huge amount of information around to be able to compare prices for a particular model but in the end you need to be confident about how the bike has been used and serviced and that it will suit you.

A great bike is sometimes a surprise just because it is reliable, different and enjoyable.