Buy a 2001 1150 gs adventure in 2024?

A 2001 1150 gs adventure 62k miles has come up for sale in my area $2500. I’ve always enjoyed the look of these bikes but never owned. I’m mostly road miles with gravel/fire roads sprinkled in for fun. I know this forum will likely speak in favor of it, but is this still a reasonable purchase option in 2024? I don’t mind wrenching but also don’t want to have the bike apart constantly.

I would buy another GS1150 in a heart beat. Loved tinkering with it, loved riding it.

A great year , low miles at a reasonable price....be careful about leaking it's location.

Expect some issues. Budget time & money for repairs. If a daily rider, expect to catch up on maintenance & find some issues like a weepy seal or flaking wire sheathing.

Hall Effect Sensor will be suspect unless replaced. ABS pump should be treated with care & flushed. Battery, filter, fluids & tires should all be reasonably fresh. The seat cover may need a reupholster.

Whether the price is good hinges on the bikes condition plus the accessories. Those bikes usually came loaded in the U.S. market. If still hanging on the bike, that'd be fantastic.

I'd want to peer behind the fuel plate to inspect the condition of those hoses & fittings, but that's a big ask. The fuel hoses will need to have been replaced by now.

In general though, I'd expect the bike to be worth a hard look. That model isn't getting any easier to find.

Loved my ‘02 GS.

Do the maintenance stuff and enjoy!

Bonus points if it’s a cool color.

Post pics if you get it…..

To the OP: As I recall the first "Adventure" (big tank) model was in 02. My 01 GS has about 85k miles on it now. I've done the clutch spacer, rebuilt the gearbox, big rear bearing, rewired the hes, cam chain tensioner, ignition coil, added a techlouisn, rewired the abs, replaced the rid , and all the other fixes that I have forgotten. I have newer and older bikes too. I keep it because it rides so good and is somewhat reliable and if I sell it at today's market I will be giving it away. They are undervalued and underappreciated. But .....If I did not have it I would not seek one to purchase.
JMHO Cheers

If you are mechanically inclined , buy it. The old oil heads are easy to work on. But there's a good chance you won't have to work on it, just ride it.

The biggest most expensive item is the shaft from gearbox to clutch plate replacement. To do it RIGHT will cost you almost $2000 in parts as you will want to replace everything you see once you split the bike in two. I did one 16 years ago and spent $1000. Bike did have 99,999 miles.

I have 2 2000 R1150GS.
One I have owned since 2007 and the other last year as doer upper but it is in my shed in bits due to family circumstances.
Anytime is the best time to buy a 1150GS.
They have enough modern stuff to be reliable and safe but not to much that the home spannerer cant work on them without too much bother.
Usual maintenance for any bike of that age apart from as mentioned 1150 specific like clutch and wiring but bother easily fixed if you have the nous. For the wiring I have used spiral wrap on one bike and split mesh on the other. Read up about clutch options as there are input shaft issues that can be dealt with a special clutch plate and has has been said when open replace everything you can.

To solve input shaft issues (IF it has it), requires finding another gearbox front cover, this as some had incorrect machining.

If that's what you want and the bike rides, stops and looks its mileage, it's well maintained etc - go and get it!

At that entry price, even if it doesn't end up working for you, you can part it out later and recoup and make money on it - GL!

If this bike is a reg. GS model, rather than an ADV version with the big tank + braided stainless brake hoses, then the OEM brake hoses require mandatory replacement. Hopefully, they'll have already been replaced, but if the factory brake hoses are still in place, they can be dangerous after a couple of decades. No kidding around on this one.

I just sold my 02 1150 GSA. Really liked that bike. An absolute blast to ride. The only reason I sold it is because I’m thinking of going back to Alaska this summer. I just didn’t trust the 1150 to get me up there and back. I’m not all that good at trouble shooting bike issues. So I sold the 1150 and bought a 2012 1200 GSA with low miles. Hopefully it will be able to make the 12,000 mile trip without mechanical issues.
If I wasn’t thinking of Alaska I’d still be riding the at 02 1150.

He says it’s a 2001 GS Adventure

^ BMW never built '01 GSA - the first MY for GSA was '02...

I know….but the op must not. Could it be a late 2001 that is a 2002 model year? Or it’s a regular GS and op is wrong? Although I thought the ADV came out in Spring of 2002.

^ Who knowz? It is probably regular GS someone labeled as an Adventure...

Either model still a spanking great deal if it’s in good condition. Lot of fun for
$2500!

The differnece between and regular 1150GS and an 1150GS Adventure is basicly, a big fuel tank, a black extra beak on the beak, and some diffenrent gear ratios and a little more suspension travel.
Non are a big deal.
The big fuel tank from an adventure i have on my regular 1150GS. The extra black beak, i have that too because i think it makes it look better.
I also have longer shocks, Wilbers, to make it ride higher.
Now, its pretty much an 1150GS Adventure.
Oh, the gear ratios, never had a problem there.

I have changed put the exhaust for a lea vance and that opens it up somewhat.
Mine is an 2002 with 185,000km / 120,000miles.
Still goes well, pulls hard, and i would ride it across the country tomorrow.
Yes, some servicable consumable items:- Final drive pivot bearings (no different from the bearings on a bike with suspension linkage e.g. DR650.
Final drive output bearing (yeah, but i havent changed a chain!)
Starter motor overhaul, parts easyily availble from euromotoelec in Denver.

These 1150 and 1100 i think are the prime, the pinicle.
The 1200's i think had that next step of electronics with CAN-BUS, and the later versions, even more so.
I also have an 1100GS that is a project and i have completly stripped down and rebuilding, re-wiring, because they are simple and reliable.

The pre-02 1150's could also be referred to as GSA with the "A" indicating ABS brakes. The GSA term wasn't coined in 2002 it was just re-defined. It is possible the seller is stating this is a GSA meaning a GS with ABS brakes but the OP has interpreted that to mean Adventure model. Either way, this should be determined before moving forward. I agree w/ @Hay Ewe in that for that price (depending on what all comes with it) the differences between the Adv and standard models are negligible. I have an 02 GSA (and owned an 01 standard previous to that). My GSA has the standard tank on it as well as the 2seat config of the standard model. I effectively have a standard GS with Adventure height suspension (TFX) and Adv gearing. I like the Adv height but would prefer the standard gearing...or a hybrid low 1st/tall 6th. I have Rocket Sprockets installed and that effectively lowers the gearing...not sure I really need a low first anymore.

It's also possible that Tuckers is correct too...it could be an 02 Model Year built late 01.