RE: Longevity etc.

["Minor, Bob" <Bminor@xxxxxxxx>]

Your problems with a '99 surprise me.  I had come to the conclusion from
years of reading these lists that '99 was THE best year for an oilhead.
I, on the other hand, have a '96 RS which had its share of problems.
They include the notorious input shaft leaking problem (new clutch and
transmission repair required), ABS that crapped out and has since been
yanked (but maybe that deer I killed contributed to that one), bearing
issues in the rear end (and after replacement and adjustment is still a
touch loose), and a third gear that does a little slip thing under load.

Hey, but I love my bike.  And I better too, because I don't think I
could ever sell it due to the third gear issue. 

I also have '97 Italian made F650ST.  It never has a problem.



- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of LindaT.
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 6:42 AM
To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Longevity etc.

Just to add another data point here.  I have a 1999 RT with 60k miles
and a
1995 CBR600F3 with 70k miles.  The F3 has left me on the side of the
once
with a regulator/rectifier burnout that was mostly my fault for
overtaxing
the electrical system. The cam chain tensioner has been replaced several
times with OEM under warranty and once with a manual version out of
warranty.  It never failed just got noisy.  No other significant
repairs.

The RT has left me on the side of the road once when the throw out
bearing
disintegrated last week when I was 200 miles away from home.  Took 4
days to
repair.  Last year, second gear died when I was 3000 miles from home.  I
could ride it, but it was a pain.  Had to have the transmission rebuilt
not
under warranty.  Various seals have been replaced all under warranty.
Oh,
and the ABS hasn't worked right for the last year.  I keep getting hard
faults that I clear, but come right back.  The whole reason I bought
this
bike was to get a touring bike with ABS.  Those criteria severely
narrowed
my choices to the ST1100 (at the time) and the RT.  The St was too tall
for
us vertically challenged folks.

I'm planning two long trips next year on the RT and I'm wondering what I
can
do to prevent getting stuck out in BFE with yet another significant
breakdown.  I know I'm going to replace the alternator belt before I go
along with regular fluid changes, but I'm now officially worried about
the
reliability of this bike.

These days, when I think about reliability, Honda is the name that comes
to
mind.

Any suggestions welcomed.
LindaT.
www.CustomTankBags.com
Hollywood, FL
IBA,BMWBMW,AMA
'99 R1100RT Mr Buzzy
'95 F3 Purple Haze
'00 KLR250 Super Sherpa Tenzing

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Tom Brown
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 7:13 AM
To: BMW Oilhead List
Subject: Longevity etc.

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