1995 BMW R-Series

Clear

Bike runs great, but probably needs a clutch. Two years ago I got caught on a sugar sand road and got buried to the axles where the only way out was through. I got through by feathering the clutch to minimize wheel spin. I didn’t know it at the time but the GS has a dry clutch, similar to a car. Doing what I did got me out of the bind, but may have damaged the clutch. Since then, the clutch slippage is very noticeable, especially when accelerating hard. It is still drivable and feels very solid on the highway if you baby it and don’t have to accelerate quickly. In looking at the manuals (included), replacing it does not appear to be beyond the capabilities of someone with intermediate mechanical abilities. It also may be as simple as an adjustment (or not!). The tire on the front is new, but a cheap tire. The tire on the rear probably has a few miles left in it, but will need replacing in the near future. Same goes for the brake pads, which new ones are included but not installed. The large scratch on the gas tank was the result of a low speed fall several years ago when the front wheel hooked into a rut at the end of our driveway before our road was paved. One of the stock rear bags was also damaged, which is why it has the ammo cans, which have worked out great. The tank also has the bubbles in the plastic coating, typical on the plastic BMW tanks of that era. The anti-lock brake light has been flashing since bought it. I put on about 28,000 miles and never missed it. I guess you don’t miss what you never had. The brakes are still fully functional as standard brakes. Due to a recent knee surgery and other health issues, I have decided to sell it as-is rather than repair. It is just too much bike for me now. A person with reasonable mechanical skills could bring this bike back to its full capabilities quite economically. It has always been very dependable and is comfortable and stabile on the highway. It is also very capable when travelling on less travelled roads and trails, limited only by the rider’s skills. If you are a BMW purist, this probably isn’t a good bike for you, unless it’s for parts. But if you are looking for a powerful and dependable bike that you can be fixed and not have to worry about where or how you ride it, this might meet your need.