thinking of switching from a K to a boxer

[bronzecrow]

Hi people im new here, i curently own a K1100lt tic its my only transport and whilst its very relible and has great weather protection it is just to heavey for me, and its lacking in soul, i probley only do 3000mile a year max (work from home) so im thinking of swaping it for a boxer, am i mad? is this a good idea, lol i relise you guys may be biased, my previous bike was a hardtail sportster chop i did 9000miles in a year on that and loved every minute, So im looking for a relible comfortable bike but one which i can love (and pick up if i drop it!)

ive read that as long as a boxers transimision is in good conditon then it should be a reliable and cheap to maintain bike?

cheers

philip

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Hi people im new here, i curently own a K1100lt tic its my only transport and whilst its very relible and has great weather protection it is just to heavey for me, and its lacking in soul, i probley only do 3000mile a year max (work from home) so im thinking of swaping it for a boxer, am i mad? is this a good idea, lol i relise you guys may be biased, my previous bike was a hardtail sportster chop i did 9000miles in a year on that and loved every minute, So im looking for a relible comfortable bike but one which i can love (and pick up if i drop it!)

ive read that as long as a boxers transimision is in good conditon then it should be a reliable and cheap to maintain bike?

Hi Philip, welcome to the forum.

You sound like you would enjoy an airhead, but I wonder about your expectations. When I bought my first airhead I was surprised at all the problems that showed up and needed attention. To be sure they were little things, and some things that were the result of insufficient maintenance by the bikes previous owner.

The bike was (and is) a '77 R100/7. The headlight relay quit relaying, then the L/H carb started overflowing, then the R/H turn signal quit working, and so on. These are small problems in the scheme of things and I was thinking that I was just having a run of bad luck. Then the bike quit firing on one cylinder. And months later the front brake lever crept towards the handlebar when braking.

And this was in the days before Boxerworks.

But I had a manual and one by one I figured out the problems. But it didn't seem to be teething problems because occasionally a new problem would appear. Finally I figured out that when people were talking about reliability they were really talking about really important reliability in the drive train.

A couple years after that I dropped 4th gear in my transmission while torquing heavily in 4th while getting on a freeway ramp.

To be sure a lot of people have very few problems with their airheads. But a few years here on boxerworks has shown me that a lot of people have had problems like I had as well.

I think where I'm headed with all of this is that your LT is a modern reliable bike. And there are going to be few airheads that are going to display the same level of reliability.

I would not get rid of the LT without having run an airhead for a while if it were me. Can you afford to keep your LT if you buy an airhead? I think a few months of experience with an airhead will settle the question in your mind as whether you should switch over.

I still maintain that this is a golden age for airheads. A big part of that opinion comes from the facts that airheads are still fairly available at reasonable prices. But you have to work at finding them. The IBMWR want ads, Craig's list, and the BMWMOA want ads sometimes often feature airheads for sale. Then there is eBay for some people. A second part to my opinion has to do with the fact that there is still a big support structure for airheads. There are few parts that you can't get new. And used parts (except for some highly sought after parts) still seem to be very available.

All of my riding bikes are airheads, and I don't expect that to change any time soon. It could, but I don't have a high yearning for the things that modern bikes offer.

I presume you've been lurking here on Boxerworks a bit. Most of the airhead guys around here are pretty handy with wrenches, but certainly not all. If you know an airhead mechanic, or are a good mechanic yourself, I say you're good to go, airhead wise.

Just don't sell your LT first, unless you want to get rid of it for another reason.


Ken

[vanzen]

Any one here can and will extoll the virtues of the airheads,
and one might well leave with the impression that the old motorcycle is somehow sacrosanct,
exempt from the trials, tribulations, and foibles of mere machines –
They are not. Parts is parts, and they get tired, worn, abused ... and then they will break.

Airhead owners are an exceptionally frugal bunch.
Having said that, new parts will not be any less expensive, used ones often a crap-shoot,
and any operating / repair $$$ savings incurred must be compensated in full – with your time.

Buying an old BMW motorcycle for daily transport ?
I am reminded of a definition I once heard:
"An old world machine that demands constant attention and quits when it doesn't get it"

Are you ready for all that ?

Then, welcome aboard !

[Airbear]

Welcome aboard, Philip.

Old boxers ooze soul and are very easy to love. My old sweetie makes me grin every time I see her. I pat her seat each time I pass her on the front porch, and my wallet and toolbox are always open if she is having difficulties. Unlike Ken in Oklahoma, I'm not a boxer slut. Only one for me.

I'm not biased, but ain't she purty? Grin.

[Garnet]

My winter commutor is a 72 /5 that I bought as a rolling basket case and basicly just put together and rode.
That being said I've owned airheads for 33 years now and own a couple and have a lot of spares and tools.

Any old bike will need a lot more attention than a new one, especialy if you use it daily for short trips.
For me, if I don't have something to do in the shop I develop a bit of a twitch, so constant attention to my bikes helps.

As the guys have already pionted out most of the ups and downs of BMW ownership, so as long as you don't mind getting your hand dirty a bit, they are a rewarding machine to own.

Let us know once you have your eyes on a particular bike and we can fill you in on what to look for.

[dougie]

I'm not biased, but ain't she purty? Grin.

Best lookin' Aussie I've ever seen (Brunhilde that is, not you Charlie).

[Ken in Oklahoma]

. . . Unlike Ken in Oklahoma, I'm not a boxer slut. Only one for me. . .

Hey! Slut is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of myself as a paramour.



Ken

[Scot]

. . . my previous bike was a hardtail sportster chop i did 9000miles in a year on that and loved every minute . . .

Welcome, Philip, and . . . hang on!

One of my very first thoughts, when I read of your hardtail Sporty, was that if you loved every minute of the 9 grand in a year on that thing, then you'd be a perfect candidate for an airhead manufactured anywhere from the early 50's to the late 70's . . . with a stock seat.

It has been suggested that the Brass at BMW makes all the designers line up and bend over. They smack 'em all squarely in the cheeks with a 2 X 4, and the one(s) who says, "thank you" gets to design the seats.

[godot]

Welcome bronzecrow. You're already getting excellent advice from some very wise, longtime airhead owners.

And to go along w/Ken's suggestion that this is a "golden era for airheads", here's a good example for sale by another member of this forum-

http://boxerworks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=863

Moving to an 80s era machine w/ their superior brakes, electronic ignition, etc. might ease the transition from a big K. Might be the sweet spot between that and the Sporty.

[Jeff in W.C.]

. . . Unlike Ken in Oklahoma, I'm not a boxer slut. Only one for me. . .

Hey! Slut is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of myself as a paramour.

Ken

And, what better way to show your affection than to have a harem.

Right