2008 GS or A - minimum upgrade recommendations

[hooley]

I've decided that I want to get a new GS or possibly a GSA after attending a DAS course at the BMW rider school late last year. I took out a GS out with the instructor after passing my test and really enjoyed it. I've borrowed and hired a few bikes to keep my hand in and at last have a place where I can securely lock a bike up. And after trying a few bikes I still come back to the GS.

I intend to keep the bike for several years and because of this I want to keep the bike as basic as possible, I'm not interested in ASC or ESA as there's the potential for 'more to go wrong' in the future.

I'd like to just spec heated grips & the computer and leave it at that. I'm aware that in some circles, when the time comes to sell that there is an expectation that BMWs should be fully loaded or at least have the grips and ABS. I can't really afford to load up the bike with goodies.

Any thoughts on as few options as possible would be much appreciated, especially if I chose a GSA as that would be the limit of my budget.

 

[Annette]

My tuppence worth? Buy the bike you want and can afford (hopefully they are one and the same ) and enjoy riding it. If you worry about what it will be worth in 3 or 4 or however many years time you won't enjoy it so much.

I've got the bike I have because I love it and have never worried about what it's going to be worth when it comes to selling it.

I give it a hose down once a week and a good clean every month and have it serviced when required and ride it every day.

And a quick plug, if you do want some aftermarket accessories check out:

www.ruggedroads.co.uk

 

[mikepg]

+1 on Nettie's comment.

 

[blackbird]

Keep it basic !!!!! i went for heated grips, computer & alarm as you said more things to go wrong when i bought mine, a GS was in for a new ABS pump to be fitted as the bike was out of warranty poor guy had £1200 to find.

 

[Budweiser]

Treat yourself to a fully loaded GS Adv and enjoy

 

[hooley]

thanks everyone...

Thanks for all the comments! I’m certain that I want a GS/GSA with heated grips, computer and possibly an alarm. The alarm I’m not sure about because I hear stories about bike alarms giving a lot of trouble, how are the BMW factory fit ones?

I agree with Nettie that I should get the bike I want even if it’s a bit of a stretch financially. I’m really not tempted by all the gizmos even if I could comfortably afford them. One query I do have is that the brochure shows the GSA with the pannier mounting system already installed, do these come with panniers as standard? (I’m not convinced).

Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[mikepg]

No - you have to pay an extra $5780989568705 for the boxes unless you are really lucky and buy secondhand with them already in place.

I think alarms are a total waste of money and time - but maybe that is because of where I live.

 

[WGD1340]

Thanks for all the comments! ..........heated grips, computer ....alarm.......stories about bike alarms giving a lot of trouble, how are the BMW factory fit ones? Nettie .....get the bike I want even if it’s a bit of a stretch financially. ......brochure shows the GSA with the pannier mounting system already installed, do these come with panniers as standard? (I’m not convinced).

Thanks again for your thoughts.

OK Heres my piece.
Bought a March 07 GSA with all the shit except a chrome finish exhaust.
Grips
I would need heated gloves aswell, as my hands get cold easily. Doing it over again I would put the extra money to the gloves not the grips.
Computer
I very seldom use it, and when I do, its more from idle curiousity more than any real fact finding element to any spin I do.
Alarm
Used it in the first month or two. Never use it now. Have a hoop lock from Nippys to lock it up.
Luggage
Shoulda bought it with only the mounting system as I have seen quite a few systems on eBay at 50%ish of what they are new. Consider only the side panniers and leave the top box out. Luggage is not standard. Mine was around £1200 extra I theenk...
Spotlamps
Pish poor light and not worth the money except for bling/pose value unless you upgrade to HID kit.
ABS
Never used it, but then again, it only takes you to use it once for it to be worth it. I have it on my 2001 Astravan and in 100,000 miles never used it once either.

Are the stories you hear based on genuine owner feedback or internet drama stories?
One point to remember is that the bad comments on the internet about any product usually far outweigh any good comments.
"When we do bad, no one forgets, when we do good, no one remembers" n all that malarky.

Mechanically/electronically speaking I have had no problems whatsoever in 12500 miles since March last year. Only gripe I had was rapid rear pad wear. 1st set was less than 3000 miles.Started braking harder and pad life extended as per dealer advice.
(Touring rider=rapid pad wear Sporty Rider= less pad wear)
2nd set lasted 4000. Went to Ferodo Platinum. Still going strong.

Buy the bike for what you want it to do, not for what you want to get for it. (as in resale value and not bling :)

 

[hibee]

Word of warning on resale though...........!Grips and ABS seem to be the norm for valuation at trade in time..........!Seen non ABS sit for a while!




David

 

[WGD1340]

Word of warning on resale though...........!Grips and ABS seem to be the norm for valuation at trade in time..........!Seen non ABS sit for a while!




David

Good point and I agre with it entirely. Was just pointing out the lack of use/usefulness I had found to date though.

 

[Deleted Member I]

Fuel , Map and a sense of adventure

 

[hooley]

Thanks - I've done it!

Again thanks for all the info. Went and ordered a silver 1200GS today, had one in stock which had the pack with ABS, traction control and tyre pressure checker. After a great deal of pacing, walking 'round the block a few times I went for it. It was a case of if I don't sign on the dotted line today I never will.

WGD1340 thanks for the write up, I appreciate all of what you wrote, especially the electronics not giving hassle. Got a couple of hundred quid off the deal because I explained my preference for a simpler bike. Picking it up in 2 weeks. Time to sort out the insurance, here we go then.

 

[Deleted Member I]

Again thanks for all the info. Went and ordered a silver 1200GS today, had one in stock which had the pack with ABS, traction control and tyre pressure checker. After a great deal of pacing, walking 'round the block a few times I went for it. It was a case of if I don't sign on the dotted line today I never will.

WGD1340 thanks for the write up, I appreciate all of what you wrote, especially the electronics not giving hassle. Got a couple of hundred quid off the deal because I explained my preference for a simpler bike. Picking it up in 2 weeks. Time to sort out the insurance, here we go then.

Get them to make sure the heated grips are not the faulty ones!!!!

I had a replacement on mine.

 

[Budweiser]

Again thanks for all the info. Went and ordered a silver 1200GS today, had one in stock which had the pack with ABS, traction control and tyre pressure checker. After a great deal of pacing, walking 'round the block a few times I went for it. It was a case of if I don't sign on the dotted line today I never will.

WGD1340 thanks for the write up, I appreciate all of what you wrote, especially the electronics not giving hassle. Got a couple of hundred quid off the deal because I explained my preference for a simpler bike. Picking it up in 2 weeks. Time to sort out the insurance, here we go then.

Congrats - Don't worry in advance of anything going wrong Just get out there and enjoy your new ride

 

[RobBD]

Congratulations, what a long time it will take for the next two weeks to pass!!!!
Enjoy it as I'm sure you will, and for what its worth I think heated grips are great and I would order them for sure!
And resale value- you'll get your moneys worth in the first blast down a dirt road so any money you get after that would be a bonus