Annual costs query

[Crofty]

I am returning to motorcycling after a 12 year lay off and want to do some touring before finally hanging up my leathers.
I fancy an “adventure” type bike and my head says Honda Transalp but my heart says BMW F800/650gs but it is all down to reliability and costs.
Therefore I would like hear from owners what their annual costs are.
I have searched the forum and got plenty of costs for services/consumables etc but to get a better picture it would help to know how it stacks up over the years and how it averages out over a few replies.
I would probably do no more than 6k a year and do some of my own servicing ie oil and filter changes but would get valve clearances etc done in an annual service.
I am retired now and on a fixed income so the figure I have in mind is £50 a month/£600 pa to include tax, annual service and tyres/brake pads etc on an annual mileage of about 6000 miles.
I have about £5000 to spend on a bike and hopefully to get a low mileage example with years of life left in it.

Crofty

 

[Davey B]

Transalp.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/b...l/Honda/XL700V-TRANSALP/2010/_/R-NXGN-3030329

Cash left for bits and bobs

 

[Crofty]

Thanks Davey
Nice bike,some great Transalps out there for 5k
More interested in the affordability of the F650GS right now

 

[illumeo]

Two years old F800GS (2 years in April now got 12K on the clock)
I have been changing the oil between services myself, just coz i can.
So far spent.

miles item cost
300 1st Service 106
3000 Oil 34
6000 Service 192
9000 Oil 34
10000 Rear Tyre 105
12000 chain and sprockets 129
12000 Service 294
12000 Air filter missed on above service 16
12000 Head bearings X2 38
12200 Front Tyre 98
Tax 70
Headlight bulb, a couple of cans of chain lube and copper slip too but I can't remember how much they were
cost of fuel per mile 0.11 But you will do a LOT better

Hope that helps a little bit even if it is the wrong bike and paying for BMW servicing

 

[Crofty]

illumeo,many thanks
total comes to £1116 if i add the years tax that you got with the bike new it is £1186 and with the cans of chain lube approx £1200 so it works out fine in practice.
i would probably just do the same as you so thats been very helpful.

 

[rodooo]

i have had both a 700 transalp and my current bike is 800 gs. gs is by far my favourite. transalp only 5 speed gearbox where as i like having the 6 speed of gs.gs lighter,more performance and the genuine luggage is better. gs very easy on juice but the transalp costs less on the purchase price. you need to ride both to see. a friend has a 650 twin and its even easier on juice again than the 800.