R1200ST - Nice, low mileage, wanted

[Dids]

Hi,
I'm on the lookout for a nice, low mileage R1200ST.
Checked FleaBay, but nothing there massively grabs my fancy...
Anyone know of one that might be up for sale???
Cheers

[milleplod]

There's never many to pick from! I had mine for over 6 years, would still have it now if it hadn't been written off in an accident in France back in May. Interestingly, my insurer paid out more than what all but one of the STs are advertised for on eBay/Bike Trader. I wouldn't get too hung up on low mileage, although that depends on what you regard as 'low', of course - mine had 35k on it, and was mint. Condition and service history is much more important. I reckon they're a future classic, I loved mine! Good luck with the hunt.

Pete

[Dids]

There's never many to pick from! I had mine for over 6 years, would still have it now if it hadn't been written off in an accident in France back in May. Interestingly, my insurer paid out more than what all but one of the STs are advertised for on eBay/Bike Trader. I wouldn't get too hung up on low mileage, although that depends on what you regard as 'low', of course - mine had 35k on it, and was mint. Condition and service history is much more important. I reckon they're a future classic, I loved mine! Good luck with the hunt.

Sorry to hear of your accident, hope you weren't injured.

I take your point that condition and service history are probably the most important things to look out for. I was thinking of a mileage less than 30k.

One issue I'm not too clear about is the servo/ABS reliability. Some of these bikes I've been looking at have had their brake system modified to remove the servo/ABS system. I know that this has been done on a lot of R1150s but hadn't realised that it was also an issue with R1200s.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that, because of the CAN Bus system, removal of the servo/ABS can cause problems......
Any thoughts on this?

Cheers

[milleplod]

A few bruises, that's all!

I purposely bought mine as a non-ABS model, to avoid any potential issues. Only the very late STs got 'normal' ABS - that's the system that, should the ABS fail (warning light on instrument panel) you still have full braking, just no antilock facility. The earlier STs (most of them, I think) had the servo-ABS, often referred to as 'whizzy' brakes - that's because, when you turn the ignition on, you can hear a 'whizzing' sound for a second or two as the servo fires up. If that system fails, you're left with what BMW call 'residual' braking....apparently, around 20% of the norm - people who've experienced it refer to it as being '****ing scary'! Without the servo, the brake lever needs a much, much bigger amount of 'pull' to stop the bike. So....most people, when faced with the £1500+ bill to sort the system, have it removed - quite a few of the well-known indies do it (RGM, Overland and Classic etc) at prices from around £200 up to £400. You're then left with a standard, non-ABS system just like how some of the bikes came out of the factory - no warning lights, no other electrical glitches at all.

My current RT has servo-ABS, I'll be having it removed when (not if....) it fails! I don't really like it anyway - the brakes feel very grabby, especially at low speed. They are very powerful though, they really do pull the bike up quickly the odd time I've needed to, very reassuring....but I know, deep down, that the servo will fail as I'm going downhill, at speed, fully loaded...just as the lights at the bottom change to red!!

Another plus for no ABS is the ease of home servicing, if you do your own - it's a piece of cake to change the fluid, it's much more complex on ABS bikes.

Pete

[The Teutonic Tangerine]

You may struggle as there only seem to be 183 in use https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_r_1200_st

I too reduced their number in 2013 when I had one written off after an Australian woman drove into the side of me.

[Dids]

Thanks for all the info on the R1200ST servo/ABS - really useful to know.

It's a bit worrying to hear that two of the very few R1200STs around have been written off in accidents.
They say things do come in three's...................

[kfrogzx7]

Thanks for all the info on the R1200ST servo/ABS - really useful to know.

It's a bit worrying to hear that two of the very few R1200STs around have been written off in accidents.
They say things do come in three's...................

I'm not riding mine until I hear about the third write off !!

BTW I thoroughly recommend an ST, all round great bike and the last BM sports tourer with telelever . I wouldn't worry too much about the abs/servo, by the time of the ST development had tuned it to be far less abrupt and intrusive ( at least mine is ) than it was on the S and RS models and with careful maintenance ( quite diy- able if you watch all the tutorial vids on youtube ) it should be reliable.
It's a lot sportier than it looks and is also quite capable of proper long distance touring ... ie a genuine sports tourer, and there aren't many of those around these days.

[Blackal]

I’ve always liked the ST as a true sports-tourer, with what BMW do best.......... luggage.

Some are truly shonky colour schemes, which only seem to amplify the ugliness ........

But - if you get a chance..... the metallic grey scheme is quite kind to the shape, and with some clever graphics - could actually look great, I reckon.

Al

[kfrogzx7]

I’ve always liked the ST as a true sports-tourer, with what BMW do best.......... luggage.

Some are truly shonky colour schemes, which only seem to amplify the ugliness ........

But - if you get a chance..... the metallic grey scheme is quite kind to the shape, and with some clever graphics - could actually look great, I reckon.

Al

Mines the red / graphite, which I like, but no she's not a looker .... but then neither is a GS or an RT imho. Excellent headlight tho' ... as you'd expect with a face like that

[milleplod]

Gratuitous pic of 2 German tanks....

TigerandST.jpg (302.98 KiB) Viewed 14271 times

I think my ST just beats the Tiger on looks.

Pete

[colm cummins]

Nothing to do with me but if you are willing to travel, there are some for sale here.
https://www.donedeal.ie/search/alert/676495

[Dids]

Nothing to do with me but if you are willing to travel, there are some for sale here.
https://www.donedeal.ie/search/alert/676495

Thanks for the heads up about the Irish R1200STs.

I really like the look of the one that's just done 22,000 Km.
I'm a bit daunted by what might be involved in attempting an international purchase though........

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....................

[Luke2184]

One on eBay now. 5000 miles £3300 bidding

[Dids]

One on eBay now. 5000 miles £3300 bidding

Thanks for the heads up about the R1200ST

That's exactly the bike I'm looking for, except......
I live in London and will need at least an 06 plate if it's going to comply with the new ULEZ emissions zone they're bringing in here next year.

[colm cummins]

2008 in Ireland, looks good with a lot of bells and whistles.
https://www.donedeal.ie/motorbikes-for- ... t/20285106

I do not know either the bike or the seller.