1150GSA good deal/bad deal?

[rymus]

Thinking of buying in the very near future after lusting for quite a while. Have my eye on two;

First is a 2002 with 31k miles and thats about it. No blingy bits. No panniers, top box or anything. Asking is 3750

Second is a 2004 with somewhere north of 34k miles. Has Al Jesse panniers, standard top box, datatool alarm, tobinators, few other minor bits and seller is throwing in a few year old garmin 2610 with it on a migsel mount. Asking is just over 6000

Both prices in Euro by the way. For the year, the amount of milage and the kit that's included, what's your opinion on which to go for? I am budget limited to below what the 2004 will go for but I'll stretch the budget if it represents the best deal.

Haven't seen either bike yet but I'm not exactly a wonder with a spanner so I probably wouldn't know what to look for beyond the usual corrosion and signs of damage etc. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Hope to be joining your ranks soon

 

[DavidJames]

My vote would be 2002 - especially if it has ABS because it wont have a servo

You will have spare money to do what you want to it rather than what someone else has done. For example Jesse panniers are very expensive and probably worth the money if you are going round the world, but if not then there are plenty cheaper out there.

 

[John Armstrong]

+1 on the servo idea,

Plus €2250 for a set of panniers, an outdated / unsupported GPS / an alarm that at 6 years old is just waiting to get you stranded etc etc. Is it almost twice as good condition?

 

[biking photographer]

Take a look at the front engine casing, the area behind the front wheel. If it has been cared for, there will not be any corrosion around the bolt heads. Obviously service history etc is important, and if you buy from this site, from anybody with a reasonable number of postings, you should not go wrong. Amazingly, prices for BMWs seem less on the site than in general, so you should get a good deal. I'm on my second 1150 GSA, and think they are amongst some of the best BMWs built. Strong road presence, good build quality, well respected.
Bit heavy/ tall for some, but manageable with time, make sure you don't mind the servo whine on those fitted with ABS. My first did'nt have the servo/ABS, and the brakes were less grabby/pleasanter at slow speed. The servo/ABS makes the brakes very powerful/ safe at higher speeds. The best bit of a GSA is this website, and the wonderful people/ stories/ rides/ cameradery etc. that goes with it!

 

[rymus]

The best bit of a GSA is this website, and the wonderful people/ stories/ rides/ cameradery etc. that goes with it!

Would agree with that from what I've seen so far. Looking for advice on some forums is a painful experience, not so here. I've been reading over the ride reports religiously over the last year or so and planning out some epic trips

I don't know what the situation is with the 2002 regarding servo, I'll hopefully get a look at it in the coming days so I'll know more then. Have arranged to see the 2004 this weekend all going well. I had been erring on the side of the 2002, unless of course I can get the guy with the 2004 to drop his price.

Cheers guys, the help is much appreciated. Hopefully I'll be joining in on the argument about which is the fastest colour in the coming weeks

 

[Mort]

Hopefully I'll be joining in on the argument about which is the fastest colour in the coming weeks

White

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

White

Wrong

 

[rymus]

without fully realising it at the time, I've completely derailed the thread

 

[metropolis2k]

Another vote for the 2002 one from me!

Have a read up on here about the issues to check for on the bike and you'll be in a good position to judge the bike when you see it and test ride it.

 

[Ash]

my 2002 had servo/ABS

 

[Borderraider]

White

Wrong

2002 seems the better buy..really depends on condition.

 

[Bury_Dave]

Hi,
I bought my 2004 GSA in September for £4600. I didn't beat the seller down - took his asking price. Had 37k miles on it, vgc, all panniers, top box etc, just a 3/4 worn rear tyre. FSH etc.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242635

You'll notice that he was asking £5,000 originally but he dropped it to £4,600 by the time i made enquiries.

The trick Rymus is to be patient and not limit it to the two you've mentioned. The right bike WILL turn up for the right price. Also, make enquiries to people selling on ebay and contact them again if their bike doesn't sell and make a sensible offer that is their reserve less ebay commissions / sellers VAT etc (not inconsiderable sums when all added up).

Dave

 

[jimbo]

Take a look at the front engine casing, the area behind the front wheel. If it has been cared for, there will not be any corrosion around the bolt heads. ...

To a point yes, but my bike has been cared for in many respects, garaged, ACF-50ed, serviced carefully, but there is still loads of corrosion on the engine casing. ultimately that's just cosmetic.

 

[flatdog]

To a point yes, but my bike has been cared for in many respects, garaged, ACF-50ed, serviced carefully, but there is still loads of corrosion on the engine casing. ultimately that's just cosmetic.

Agreed on this, mine should be on the scrapper if the condition of the front cover is indicative of misuse.

 

[Mort]

Wrong

Bollox to ya

 

[rymus]

got an update this morning, the 2002 is sold

Going to see the 2004 on Sunday anyhow.. Well, assuming it's not sold by Sunday.

 

[finn]

Thinking of buying in the very near future after lusting for quite a while. Have my eye on two;

First is a 2002 with 31k miles and thats about it. No blingy bits. No panniers, top box or anything. Asking is 3750

Second is a 2004 with somewhere north of 34k miles. Has Al Jesse panniers, standard top box, datatool alarm, tobinators, few other minor bits and seller is throwing in a few year old garmin 2610 with it on a migsel mount. Asking is just over 6000

Both prices in Euro by the way. For the year, the amount of milage and the kit that's included, what's your opinion on which to go for? I am budget limited to below what the 2004 will go for but I'll stretch the budget if it represents the best deal.

Haven't seen either bike yet but I'm not exactly a wonder with a spanner so I probably wouldn't know what to look for beyond the usual corrosion and signs of damage etc. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Hope to be joining your ranks soon

pay your subs and have a look in fsaw as there are 3 all in your budget

 

[Stujw70]

Agree with Finn, for the sake of £12 you will have access to the GS's For Sale section. Not just pushing our own bikes but Plenty of other decent bikes at varying prices around at present.

Good luck

Stu