Is it worth it?

[billyfields]

Well this is my first post as a new member.. been driving Beemers since 1975 but finally joined the MOA! I am finding it difficult to concentrate at work with this issue nagging at me. Perhaps some sobering, enlightening or face slapping thoughts from esteemed members will help me through my crisis :dunno

I have a 98 R1100RT with about 72000 km (~41k miles). Runs well and like it a lot. One of the local dealers has a few new 2004 R1150RTs at a pretty inviting discount - about $3000 or 15% off MSRP in Canada. They are willing to give me a pretty fair trade in as well - close to what I would expect to sell the 98 for privately. Still, after taxes etc I am looking at about $12,000 - enought to put off those new storm windows for a year or so... the wife is not impressed.

So the question - dare I ask - is.. is it worth it?? Assuming marital harmony is not shattered :stick and that I am not willing to go bleeding edge with the R1200Rt... is it worth the money for the technology improvement, the fact that the R1100 already has 72k km, the 3 year warranty, the trade up value if I decide to go to the R1200 in a few years.. etc.

Any wisdoms or otherwise appreciated.

[Jeff]

:thumb At 41 K the motor has only just got a good break in. If you feel guilty and have the cash a set of new tires and may be new shocks will make your ride all that much better.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

First of; ....Welcome to the bored....ooops!!, Board :D :D :thumb
Second; as we are all kind nutty about bikes it is often a good thing to step back a bit and let common sense take the reigns for a while.
If home improvement means adding value to the house I would go for that. The 04 RT is a really great bike, but if you can add tires, shocks and a farkle or two without incurring the wrath of your SO to your 'old' bike, it might be a better choice.
If on the other hand you really (X100) wanna get the new bike well...... :evil :evil go for it.
Just make sure the desicion is made with the mind and not the heart.

[Rich]

enought to put off those new storm windows for a year or so... the wife is not impressed.



I'd do the windows, impress that wife of yours, and in a year or two look for a nice R1200RT to purchase. Remember that old saying, if the wife ain't happy, nobody's happy! I think it's true.... Look at it this way, you have a nice bike now, why buy the 1150 when the 1200 is already available? Just my thoughts. I have a pretty dang good wife so this opinion was easy to come by.

[kbasa]

I'd do the windows, impress that wife of yours, and in a year or two look for a nice R1200RT to purchase. Remember that old saying, if the wife ain't happy, nobody's happy! I think it's true.... Look at it this way, you have a nice bike now, why buy the 1150 when the 1200 is already available? Just my thoughts. I have a pretty dang good wife so this opinion was easy to come by.

Rich has obviously been married a while. Good call.

[BradfordBenn]

Wait for the R1200RT. Do the storm windows now to save the money.... plus make SWMBO happy.

[bullit7801]

Hey Billy, Welcome to the asylum.

I faced a similar choice this last spring. A new R1100RS or a new R1150RS. The 1150 has 5 more horsepower, 50 more cc., dual plugs, a hydraulic clutch rather than cable, one more gear in the transmission, the new 5 spoke wheels, and the linked power brakes. Did I miss anything, readers?? :dunno Some of these are big advantages, some are not.
I didn't need the horsepower, dual plugs (does your RT surge?), or the extra gear. A cable clutch was fine. The new wheels are a big improvement. You don't have the problem with the brake buttons on the front and their replacement. You can fit the radial marathon tire on the rear, which doesn't come in 18 inch size.
Most important to me and why I bought the 2001 R1100 was NO POWER BRAKES and a great deal.
You have a fine bike now that has many years of good service in it. I don't think the upgrade advantages out weigh the negatives. Now an upgrade from the 1100 to the 1200 with the counter-balanced engine..... :thumb
Go for the windows. Rich is right about the wife. ;)

tb

[jopars]

I'm new to the forum as well, although I've been riding BMWs since 1966. My current bike is a '94 R11RS with 115,000 km on it, and I wouldn't dream of going to a 1150. Just not enough justification (I do have a deposit on a R12GS tho', as an additional bike). Go for the windows and domestic peace, or possibly wait for the 12, IMHO. :) :wave

[Ozonkiller]

Personally, If I fell into a big pile of cash tomorrow, I'd still keep my old bike ('96RS) as I don't want to start over accumulating the miles. It's about to roll over 76,000 miles and I'm leaving for Daytona on Monday. It's easy to own a new bike with no miles. It's a right of passage to own a nice bike with a ton of miles. Besides, it's paid for :banghead

[Scootertrash]

I say go for it. But I'm reminded about what the darlin' x use to say to me, "Ya gotta sleep sometime."

[Cliffy777]

my first reaction was bike vs storm windows??? get the bike.
but what do i, a twice divorced pinhead, know about obtaining and maintaining domestic bliss? i think the compromise approach is healthy - get the storms and add a couple tweaky type toys to the nice bike you own now.
(i am assuming that the storm windows were planned and discused which would provide ample reason for your sweetie to be honked off) that way you keep harmony and get something two-wheeled out of the deal.
welcome to the forum, by the way.

[manicmechanic]

Yes, the new windows will definitely keep you warmer in the winter than the new bike would.

[Grey Matter]

What is more important to you, your wife’s happiness or yours?

I would get the windows this year & an R1200RT next year. I would be afraid the difference between the 1100 & 1150 will not be that much & you will miss your old bike, it is already set-up the way you like it. The R1200RT will be a big difference in power & performance (at least it should be). Then you can enjoy your new bike with a clean conscious.

Delayed gratification is hard but worth it in the end.

[Rich]

Rich has obviously been married a while. Good call.

23 years and counting!! :clap

I sort of chuckle reading through this thread. I replaced all my windows in 01 and shingled my house that same fall. Did the work myself with my wife and kids lending a hand. And in 02 I had a contractor come in and re-side the house and attached garage, two guys did the whole job in 4 days, along with eaves and gutters. And THEN, I had sweetie all happy and I purchased my 04 RT in the fall of 03.

I just love it when a plan comes together! Now all I have to worry about is getting the kids through college...... Somehow it all works out. :thumb

[whicks]

Here's one more vote for not getting the new machine.The reason? The EVO,servo equipped brakes are the worst feature I've ever had to deal with in 25 years of BMW riding.The R1200RT won't have them,and waiting a few years will give BMW some time to sort out the problems it most likely will have the first year or two(just ask the people waiting foe the K1200S)

[silvermanx]

Paint the windows and sell the house, buy a new bike and move down south so you can ride year round! :thumb

[stan]

I have a '96 R1100RT with a multitude of modifications. Just getting it the way I want it. The only bike that interests me now it the R1200RT. I say wait. Be patient. The 1150 isn't a real new generation, only an update of the 1100. The 1200 is the real new generation RT. No sense in investing in technology already outdated. Like buying a 10 year old computer. Just nuts. I hope to resist the urge to buy for about 2 more years and then add the 1200 and somehow keep the 1100 and my wife of 32 years. Maybe in 2 years I can somehow make it her idea.

[bmwcliff]

I think you ought to just do what your told like the rest of us married guys. My wife suprised me this past summer, went to the BMW dealer to ask about trying to lower my K 1100LT, and the Citrus Green Rockster completely turned her on. I was impressed with the Rock when I first saw it, but was afraid to bring it up[ daughter for college this fall], anyway , the dealer smoothed talked her, and it was a little lower anyway, so I ended up with a demo at a great price. You never know. :dunno :groovy

[BobFV1]

Go for the best deal ever on the 04 - it's a beautiful bike, the twin spark is great, the brakes are great. The styling on the 04 is classic - the styling on the 05 is, um, well - it sucks. Do the windows in the Fall - maybe you'll ave a windfall between now and the..... Good luck and safe riding!

[billyfields]

They say an ant hill is a lot like a human brain. No single ant knows what it is doing but together they make a lot of sense. Same goes for this thread ;)

15/18 responses say not to do it - thanks. That was my gut instinct but it sure helps to hear. Instead, as some of you suggest I am already looking at getting some Ohlins and a GPS. Both (comparatively) affordable and already I'm getting excited about it. I am also reminded by a few comments that Beemers need to be broken in to reach maturity. I had the old R90/6 for about 25 years. I think I started to meld with the machine around year 10. I am sort of rushing the 98 RT out the door a bit uncerimoniously here. :bolt

My wife read your responses and laughed all the way through.

Gentlemen, thank you for the therapy! :beer

[lkchris]

Bummer about the brakes on the newer RTs.