Getting My Hands on This Old Beast
So, there I was, needing a new set of wheels. My old bike, bless its heart, was pretty much done. I’d been eyeing these BMW R1150 GS models for a while. Always liked the look of ’em, kinda purposeful, you know? Not one of those flashy things, but a bike that looked like it could actually go places. Plus, you hear stories about these Boxer engines, how they just keep on going. Some say they’re quirky, some say they’re full of character. I figured, why not find out for myself?
Finding one wasn’t a walk in the park, let me tell you. Most of them were either thrashed to an inch of their life or priced like they were made of gold. Finally, I stumbled across this one. The advert photos looked okay, not great, but okay. The seller swore it was “mechanically sound.” Famous last words, eh? Went to see it, it started, it ran, it stopped. Good enough for me at the price he was asking. Shook hands, handed over the cash, and rode it home, a bit nervous, not gonna lie.
First Impressions and the “To-Do” List
Getting it back to my garage, the rose-tinted glasses came off pretty quick. Mechanically sound, my foot! The thing was tired. Not knackered, but definitely neglected. There was a bit of an oil weep here, a bit of corrosion there. The previous owner’s idea of cleaning seemed to be just hosing it down and hoping for the best. My heart sank a little, but then again, I do like a bit of a project. Gives you something to do, right?
So, the first weekend was all about discovery. I made a list, and boy, did it grow:
- Full service, obviously. Oil, filters, plugs, the whole shebang.
- Check those valve clearances. Heard they can be a bit fiddly on these.
- The brakes felt a bit spongy. Definitely needed a bleed, maybe new pads.
- That clutch slave cylinder… always a worry on these. Looked a bit suspect.
- And just a general deep clean and de-gunking. Years of road grime caked on.
It was clear this wasn’t going to be a quick turnaround. But that’s half the fun, isn’t it? Getting to know the machine, bolt by bolt.
Rolling Up The Sleeves: The Actual Work
So, I got stuck in. Started with the easy stuff. Drained the old oil – looked like it hadn’t been changed since the bike left the factory. New oil, new filter. That felt good. Air filter was choked, so in went a new one. Spark plugs were next. The old ones were pretty grim. It’s amazing what some basic maintenance can do for how an engine feels.
Then I moved on to the brakes. Stripped the calipers, gave them a good clean. The pistons were a bit sticky. Pushed ’em in and out a few times, lots of brake cleaner. New pads, fresh fluid, and a proper bleed. What a difference! Suddenly, I had brakes that actually felt like they could stop this big ol’ girl.
The valve adjustment was next. I’d watched a bunch of videos, read a few guides. Took my time, double-checked everything. Wasn’t as bad as I thought, actually. Just methodical. Once it was all buttoned up, the engine sounded a bit sweeter, a bit smoother. Or maybe it was just me wanting it to sound sweeter.
The big job I was dreading was that clutch slave. It looked like it was weeping fluid, just a tiny bit, but enough to make me nervous. Changing that thing is a bit of a pain because of where it is. But I bit the bullet. Got the parts, set aside a whole afternoon. There was some cursing, some skinned knuckles, but I got it done. Topped it up with fresh fluid, bled it, and hoped for the best. So far, so good on that front, touch wood.
Still Tinkering, But Loving It
It’s been a few months now, and it’s still a bit of an ongoing thing. There’s always something, isn’t there with older bikes? A bit of wiring that needs tidying, a rubber bit that’s perished, a bolt that needs a dab of thread lock. But honestly, I’m really enjoying this R1150 GS. It’s got character, loads of it. It’s not perfect, it’s got its quirks, but it’s honest. It rumbles, it shakes a bit at idle, but once you get going, it just pulls. Took it on a longer ride the other week, just a few hundred miles, and it was brilliant. Comfortable, capable, and it just felt right.
Sure, it’s taken a bit of effort to get it to this point, and there’s probably more to come. But every time I fix something, or improve something, it feels like it’s more my bike. It’s not just something I bought; it’s something I’ve put my own time and sweat into. And you can’t beat that feeling. It’s a proper machine, this old GS. A bit rough around the edges, maybe, but a good ‘un. I reckon we’ve got a good few adventures ahead of us.
