Looking at a 2003 k1200LT to buy

[Gadgitman]

Good morning,
I am looking at a 2003 k1200LT with 75K miles on it. The asking price is $3999.00. What I would like to know is there any inherent problems that I should look for, any telltale signs of impending financial burden? It seems that prices for these bikes are all over the board and many come up for sale in my area.
Thanks for any help!
Mark

[Laitch]

Good morning,
 What I would like to know is there any inherent problems that I should look for, any telltale signs of impending financial burden?

This guy seems to be ambivalent about the bike. :giggles

[Blue]

I had one.  Other than being a financial mess with clutches, drive shafts, swing arm bushings, final drives, abs components, shocks, fork seals and cruise controls, it was fun to ride.

I still have an aftermarket seat if you decide you want a new seat for it.  The seat is looks like new and was made by a former administrator of this forum.  It is a Dawn 2 Dusk seat in black vinyl made around 2006 and removed around 2014. 

[Bill]

Search Chris Harris videos on youtube.  He had some opinions on the K12 as I recall. He was a BMW dealer mechanic when the K12 was introduced.  As detailed in the Love song  post the other day the engine is robust .....

[F14CRAZY]

Part of me thinks it's be better to stick with a K1100LT.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

A now departed friend of mine had one that he bought new.  He was in his 80's when I knew him and the bike was about 8 years old and had about 20,000 miles on it.  He had all his work done at a local independent shop where he claimed to spend $1000+ each year for maintenance. 

I had some work done there, and when I came by they had another 1200LT opened up on the lift.  There is a terrifying amount of wiring, plumbing and other stuff crammed in under all that bodywork.  I am a reasonably competent mechanic and troubleshooter, but I wouldn't have the slightest idea of where to start on that machine.  I can't begin to imagine what I would do if it stopped running somewhere a couple thousand miles from home.

Compared to the K1200LT our bricks are bicycles.

[Gadgitman]

The luster is gone now after your insight into this model's problems. Unless I find one as low prices as my k100 was I don't want a 1200LT much now. I love my reserected k100, but I now want a proper k bike! One that has all its original equipment and has never been down or abused! Oh ya, and a comfortable seat!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

It has been said that it is best to avoid K bikes with a 2, 3, or 6 in the model number.  With the number of nice classic(75, 100, 1100) K's out there it's not that hard to do.

[beemrdon]

Chris Harris is pretty harsh in his criticism of the K1200LT - very funny, Check it out.



I own a K1100 LT and love it. I will keep it until it dies (or I do), which won't be for a very long time either way. If you can find a good one, grab it. They don't go for a ton of money.

[beemrdon]

And then there's this guy, Kirk. He owns a K1200 LT and works on them for others and is a member of the IllinoisBMWridersclub.

[Gadgitman]

Thanks for the videos guys!
It gives me more to think about. For what I want to do to one of these bikes I want a cheap one with beat up plastic and weathered seats. I have seen them near me as low as $1500 looking bad and running great, just didn't want one then.