‘Base’ GSA1250; madness?

[Shoestring]

A quick update:

I finally ordered a base R1250 GSA this week. I chose to have the 'Comfort' pack (grips and TPS), cornering ABS (which comes with some additional rider modes and traction control), and the LED indicators fitted. As this is a non-standard spec. it will be a factory order and the current delivery date is end of May. Hopefully as BMW will have been building 1250s for nearly a year at this stage the usual Beta problems will have been sorted.

I'll fit a set of bread bins, auxiliary lights, some mud guard extenders and probably a Garmin when it arrives.

Thanks for all the feedback, it made me much more confident of taking this route.

Planning a week in Germany and Austria at the end of June - pics to follow

SS7

 

[Engineer]

Pretty much every recent GS or GSA you see on a Motorrad dealer’s forecourt is a full fat ‘TE’. This is a UK market only package that includes electronic suspension, quick shift, and a whole lot of other bells and whistles. The thing is, the things that might attract me to a new GSA are not on the TE list; mainly the smoother more powerful motor, and a decent screen, so I’ve been seriously considering a ‘base’ GSA and adding a couple of options - grips, tyre pressure. However the dealer I’ve been talking to is trying to dissuade me on the basis that resale would be difficult. I don’t really want to buy a new bike for the next owner; do we really think a base GSA would be unsellable in three years - at any price?

Also, best place to sell my current bike(2011 gsa, 30k, full history, ).

Thanks,

Charlie


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They all say that it will be harder to re-sell, some truth in that, however there will always be a significant number of people who prefer a simpler machine - the difficulty dealers have is in finding them.

 

[beaver]

My Mate has a large used car garage (4 sites in all) and they will not buy some of the cheaper (french usually) used cars now just in case they go wrong. He had a Seat in the other day and some ECU had gone and it cost close to £2K to get it fixed (he tries to make £1K on a car)... so its just not worth the risk as a lot of these cars get older, these things fail quite a lot....

Guess the same is becoming ture with bikes...

Thats why I've bought a basic (used) as I intend to keep it

 

[Shoestring]

I've just heard from the dealer; the bum basic Beemer is scheduled to trundle down the production line w/c 6th May. Any ideas how long it usually takes from production in Berlin to delivery in the UK?

I've got some trade contacts, so there's a Garmin and a set of SW Motech bread bins on their way too.

SS7

 

[twizzle]

4 weeks

 

[LBJ GSA]

I've just heard from the dealer; the bum basic Beemer is scheduled to trundle down the production line w/c 6th May. Any ideas how long it usually takes from production in Berlin to delivery in the UK?

I've got some trade contacts, so there's a Garmin and a set of SW Motech bread bins on their way too.

SS7

Good stuff. You'll have it in time for the better weather! I collected my base 1250 GSA (with a few options) in the first week of March and have hardly ridden it due to the crap weather. Good to have it there / ready, but I'm hanging out for warmer brighter days.

 

[bobsnew]

A quick update:

I finally ordered a base R1250 GSA this week. I chose to have the 'Comfort' pack (grips and TPS), cornering ABS (which comes with some additional rider modes and traction control), and the LED indicators fitted. As this is a non-standard spec. it will be a factory order and the current delivery date is end of May. Hopefully as BMW will have been building 1250s for nearly a year at this stage the usual Beta problems will have been sorted.

I'll fit a set of bread bins, auxiliary lights, some mud guard extenders and probably a Garmin when it arrives.

Thanks for all the feedback, it made me much more confident of taking this route.

Planning a week in Germany and Austria at the end of June - pics to follow

SS7

Its amazing, I inquired at my local stealer last week for a base GSA with similar addons and was told 10-12 weeks delivery

 

[Striker]

I ordered a base spec GS on the 12th March with 2 options:
1) The pillion package...( mainstand, larger screen and two seats)
2) Heated grips

The bike was a factory order. I’ve had a call from the dealer saying it’s in the UK and should be ready for collection on Saturday

 

[Shoestring]

Glad to hear I’m not the only one. I quite like the idea of BMW building a bike just for me, rather than getting one pret a porte.

It’s also nice to have something to look forward to through the drudgery of every day life.


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[LBJ GSA]

Its amazing, I inquired at my local stealer last week for a base GSA with similar addons and was told 10-12 weeks delivery

Bob, the dealers want to steer customers to the TE model as (i) it's easier / quicker for them to source and (ii) there's generally more margin in the deal. I ordered my base GSA 1250 in Jan and could have had it in Feb, but I deferred it until March 1st for 19 registration. I paid a £500 deposit and balance on collection. Some dealers are also nervous about the being 'stranded' with a base model if the purchaser pulls out between order and collection. They are less concerned on this with top spec bikes as they know they can re-sell that unit easily. I have previously bought a new GS TE, a new GSA TE and a S1000R Sport in order to get my hands on the bike ASAP in the middle of summer, but this time I was determined to test the situation and there's no ignoring the fact a base GSA is about £3k less than a top spec bike. I added heated grips, cruise control, fog lights and a top box - which added about £1000 to the base price.

 

[bobsnew]

Bob, the dealers want to steer customers to the TE model as (i) it's easier / quicker for them to source and (ii) there's generally more margin in the deal. I ordered my base GSA 1250 in Jan and could have had it in Feb, but I deferred it until March 1st for 19 registration. I paid a £500 deposit and balance on collection. Some dealers are also nervous about the being 'stranded' with a base model if the purchaser pulls out between order and collection. They are less concerned on this with top spec bikes as they know they can re-sell that unit easily. I have previously bought a new GS TE, a new GSA TE and a S1000R Sport in order to get my hands on the bike ASAP in the middle of summer, but this time I was determined to test the situation and there's no ignoring the fact a base GSA is about £3k less than a top spec bike. I added heated grips, cruise control, fog lights and a top box - which added about £1000 to the base price.

Its encouraging to know i am not the only punter out there with the same mind set, having learnt the lesson of paying for all the gizmos previously I that hardly use, this is a definite route I am taking this way round, the idea of the long wait had no effect on me anyhow as i have a bike that I have confidence in for this summers mileage, I also accept that there's far less profit in the base model, but i believe there's still maneuverability for a reasonable negotiations I am not trading my old bike, so I look forward to the challenge.

 

[Shoestring]

I collected my ‘base’ GSA on Friday. Not great timing as I then had to flog through city traffic on a Bank Holiday Friday afternoon. The handover went well, most of the time taken was in the TFT screen. They’d not seen a !base’ GSA before so were interested to see what was included; the suspension set up was probably the most interesting aspect. The big preload knob is all the way out for a rider with no luggage, there’s another smaller knob at the bottom of the damper the function of which doesn’t appear to be covered in the manual.

Flogging through the heavy traffic wasn’t much fun but when it cleared I could appreciate the additional grunt of the 1250. Still early days but so far no regrets in my choice of GS.




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[leadfarmer]

The knob at the bottom of the shock is damping adjustment but I don’t know if it’s just rebound or if it’s combined compression and rebound

 

[Neil W]

I've just heard from the dealer; the bum basic Beemer is scheduled to trundle down the production line w/c 6th May. Any ideas how long it usually takes from production in Berlin to delivery in the UK?

I've got some trade contacts, so there's a Garmin and a set of SW Motech bread bins on their way too.

SS7

My last one was 8 weeks from date of order being placed , 3 days later it was 5 weeks , 4 days later it was 3 weeks and 2 days later it was in the UK and then it was in for PDI so next weekend , next day oh it will be here tomorrow so the answer to your question is who the f*ck knows ?

 

[Shoestring]

My first service is already booked; I’ll also ask for the HP frame protectors to be fitted. £55?

I ordered the bike end of March, so wait was about 8 weeks.




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[roamer]

I swapped my basic 64 reg gs in last july , and thinking it was a TE the they offered £8600 that went to 7900 ,
so regardless of the deal that was the difference offered,
No issues from the dealers actually taking the bike in, i then sold on the ohlins, luggage etc,

 

[LBJ GSA]

I collected my ‘base’ GSA on Friday. Not great timing as I then had to flog through city traffic on a Bank Holiday Friday afternoon. The handover went well, most of the time taken was in the TFT screen. They’d not seen a !base’ GSA before so were interested to see what was included; the suspension set up was probably the most interesting aspect. The big preload knob is all the way out for a rider with no luggage, there’s another smaller knob at the bottom of the damper the function of which doesn’t appear to be covered in the manual.

Flogging through the heavy traffic wasn’t much fun but when it cleared I could appreciate the additional grunt of the 1250. Still early days but so far no regrets in my choice of GS.




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Hi Shoestring. How are you getting on with the GSA suspension. I didn't option in ESA on mine and am really missing the magic carpet ESA ride to the point, I might part ex it back (2 months old) for a TE. Madness I know......but please let me know how your getting on with yours and what settings you have tried with the pre load and damping controls on the rear shock.

 

[Shoestring]

I’ve only had the bike a few days and 200 miles, the pre-load is backed right off (as per the manual), and I’ve not touched the smaller knob at the base of the damper. Ride is fine; compliant but with good control and no floating or bouncing. The biggest improvement was to reduce the tyre pressures from the 42/48psi it came with(!) to 34/36 or so. That reduce harshness and noise over high frequency bumps without increasing slip angles. I expect things to settle down more over the next 1000k as the bike beds in.


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[LBJ GSA]

I’ve only had the bike a few days and 200 miles, the pre-load is backed right off (as per the manual), and I’ve not touched the smaller knob at the base of the damper. Ride is fine; compliant but with good control and no floating or bouncing. The biggest improvement was to reduce the tyre pressures from the 42/48psi it came with(!) to 34/36 or so. That reduce harshness and noise over high frequency bumps without increasing slip angles. I expect things to settle down more over the next 1000k as the bike beds in.


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Good stuff. Good to hear it's working out for you. I can't seem to set my suspension set up so it is 'nice' like how I remember my old 2004 oil cooled. I test rode one with ESA the other day (back to back) and it was like night and day. I'm tempted to part ex it back in for another one with ESA and eat the financial loss! Have you had ESA before / test ridden one with ESA?

 

[Shoestring]

Good stuff. Good to hear it's working out for you. I can't seem to set my suspension set up so it is 'nice' like how I remember my old 2004 oil cooled. I test rode one with ESA the other day (back to back) and it was like night and day. I'm tempted to part ex it back in for another one with ESA and eat the financial loss! Have you had ESA before / test ridden one with ESA?

I’ve spent a few hours on ESA bikes. I’ll usually try out the various modes, then stick it on ‘Road’ and get on with riding it. Difficult to compare with mine without riding them back to back, especially as it’s still settling in, but I’m happy with the ride quality which is the key point.

It’s your choice but I’d try a good aftermarket solution before the p/ex option. Good damping can transform a bike (or car), if you don’t like if take it off and sell it - you should get 60% of your money back.


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