What do you think of this...

[LowThudd]

I'm starting this thread to avoid making many threads about different bikes I'm looking at. Since I am not sure when I will be buying, I won't know what will be available until I can afford it.

First on my list 95 900ss/CR $2900

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mcy/1513689652.html

This is a new one

91 BMW K100LT $1500

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/mcy/1520310755.html

I know, BIG difference between that and a 900ss/cr, but I would like to take some long distance trips. Good bike for that.

My concerns: The BMW has 70K miles! Pretty heavy too.

And I LOVE the Duc, the Bimer is something that I would want anyway though. And ALOT cheaper.

Experience/Oppinions?

[Monsterlover]

I have to say Duc.

A) I know nothing about bmw's

B) a BMW does not even come close to looking like the SS

C) the bars on the ss, even though they are clipons, are still pretty high compared to todays sport bikes.  You could ride distance on the ss for sure.  I did 600 miles in one shot on a Triumph 675.  Would have been more comfy on the ss I think

[Bigbore4]

After watching my son put a clutch in one for a friend, if ya gave me any one of the boxer models, or the older K bikes, I would keep it only long as it took to get it on CL.

The need to grease splines, and the access, sheesh.  If you can't do it yourself it's 1200 or more for a clutch replace.  No thanks.

Now that new sporty Bimmer, hmmmmmmm

[Duck-Stew]

I'd say the SS (but I"m heavily Ducati biased...).  If you go check it out, look for rust coming through the chrome plating on the fork sliders at the bottom near the caliper mounts.  The older 41mm forks have a bad habit of rusting through there and are getting harder to find w/o rust.

Also, it looks like the front rotors have been upgraded to the 'snowflake' units off of a 996 or similar. 

[LowThudd]

Yea, after I posted I downloaded the BMW repair manual. That bike is a PITA to work on. Still, the motors are known to run 200k miles or more. It is tempting. I can't see getting hard bags on an SS. If anyone has links to hard bags(or even soft) on an SS I'd love to see it. 

[triangleforge]

One way to split the difference between these two bikes would be to add the Ducati ST series (ST2, ST4 & ST3) to your search. Before I pulled the trigger on a 1998 ST2, I was in serious lust with a 900ss CR that was a day's drive away in LA, and sometimes I still regret not picking that one. But unlike the Supersports, the ST2 is a genuine all-day, multi-day trip bike that came standard with hard bags.

A lot more fun carving up the canyons than the Bimmer, and not giving away a whole lot to the Supersport, if anything -- the 944 motor in my ST2 is rated at 83 HP vs. 80 HP in the 900ss, and the later ST4 & ST3 give significantly more than that.

[LowThudd]

One way to split the difference would be to add the Ducati ST series (ST2, ST4 & ST3) to your search. Before I pulled the trigger on a 1998 ST2, I was in serious lust with a 900ss CR that was a day's drive away in LA, and sometimes I still regret not picking that one. But between the two, the ST2 is a genuine all-day, multi-day trip bike that came standard with hard bags.

A lot more fun carving up the canyons than the Bimmer, and not giving away a whole lot to the SS, if anything -- the 944 motor in my ST2 is rated at 83 HP vs. 80 HP in the 900ss, and the later ST4 & ST3 give significantly more than that.

I'd LOVE an ST. I just can't find one in my price range, and I really don't want to lose out on what seems to be a cherry CR. I think, assuming I don't miss out on it, my first choice is still going to be the CR.

[LowThudd]

My list is back to including a 01 996 which is missing the tank and seat. Otherwise complete for $800. It is too much bike for me right now, but I am getting prtactice on my radian with less than half the HP of the 996. I've found the parts, for not too much money. The ss is ALOT more money, but I think it would suit me better. I'm finding I like to lean forward more than I thought I would on my radian(which crams my arms up alot), so the riding position of the 996 would be good. Think I'm just in for alot of trouble with the 996? I guess worse comes to worse I could part out the 996 if I had to and make some cash. All oppinions welcome.

[Grampa]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1522115236.html

[LowThudd]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1522115236.html

Much too expensive. I'd go for a ST if I had that much.

[Grampa]

Much too expensive. I'd go for a ST if I had that much.

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1522640837.html


this is a lil cheaper

[LowThudd]

I'm looking at a 95 Triumph Trophy 900. Anyone familiar with the bike? Seems like it'd be a nice sport tourer.

[kopfjäger]

Heavy, slow, but buy what  "You" want."

[Cloner]

Also, it looks like the front rotors have been upgraded to the 'snowflake' units off of a 996 or similar. 

I don't know, Stew.  Weren't the original rotors on this unit full floating cast iron like the SP models?  If so, I'd say the change to snowflake stainless steel, semi-floaters is a downgrade.

Either way, the SS is a good mount, but not a spectacular sport tourer.  I'm happy up to around 300 or 400 miles per day on mine, then I'm ready to get off of it.  Bear in mind that my scoot has rearsets that move the pegs up about 25mm and back about 25mm and the bars are lowered about 20mm.

If you're itching for a Bimmer, I'd suggest looking for an "R" bike in lieu of the "K" model you've found.  "R" bikes are a little easier to maintain and, to me, display more of the classic flavor of BMW machinery.  It's more of an aesthetic thing for me.  Either way, it's hard to beat BMW hardware if you're REALLY going touring.  I've never been a fan of shafts, but they're great when you're hoofing it to the tune of four-digit days, especially when you're in inhospitable, dusty, wet environments that can be detrimental to chain life.

I'd steer clear of the Trophy.  It's a pig with few redeeming qualities, IMHO.  At least the Bimmer is a comfy, reliable pig.   

[Duck-Stew]

On the SS/CR's they used the 10-hole steel carrier 3.5mm discs that were fitted to the '93 to '99 Monsters (all but the '99 M900S).  The snowflakes would be an upgrade over those rotors but if it *did* have the iron floaters, then the snowflakes are a downgrade as you say most certainly.