Is there such a thing as a cheap Beemer?

[Nessism]

Apparently, BMW motorcycles are similar to their cars, in that they have good vehicle dynamics, and power, but crap reliability. Airheads excluded, maybe, but since that point, they are NOT the reliable vehicles that their reputation suggests.

[Grimly]

All that said, one issue with doing this sort of research is that there's also a lot of confusion and bad info out there, including plenty of people who confidently assert that BMW never did and still can't make a final drive that doesn't fail.

I never had the slightest problem with the final drive on my R80/100RT, and it got a good hammering, first from the polis and then me.
The only wear item was the splined hub, same as the Zuk.
And rear wheel bearings, it let me down once, but that was an old set still in it from polis years.
What amazed me when hearing about all the FD failures on the later ones was "why?" They already knew how to make a good one.
I suppose a new tranche of designers, that paid no attention to the hard-won knowledge of those who'd gone before.

[Brendan W]

I had an 83 R100RT and now a 97 R1100R. Cheap means being able to do the work yourself as we all know. The fuel injected R1100R is a bit of a challenge as there is only one TP sensor and getting balance right is tricky.... almost impossible ... but essential for big jugs... thank you carbtune
If cheap is purchase price the sweet spot here are the plastic coated R and K touring bikes from the noughties. Airheads are beyond any kind of sense.

[alke46]

From my experience of the failed final drive, the guy who repaired mine claims to have repaired over 350 units, they all had the same problem.
That problem was the shimming done at the factory was off but as much as 10 mm. Either too loose or too tight from the beginning.
I guess bmw couldn't be bothered by it since it would be coming back to the stealerships for a hefty price to fix it.
German engineering my azz.

[Eli69]

Well, knock on my wooden head, I have had no problem with my high mileage 02 r1150gs. Now it'll explode cuz I said something. ...
Maybe it was fixed before I owned it. I don't know.