Buying used: mileage Vs fabrication

Trento

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Hi there folks,
I'm about to pull a trigger on a 1250GSA and am looking for a used one. I'm in between the rallye colour scheme and the ice grey, which I really like. Anyways, I never owned a GS before, and wonder if there are any obvious conclusion about what's more important: less mileage or newer fabrication date. I'm only looking for bikes 2021 onwards, but have found some interesting mix of options between prices and mileage and fabrication year.

I know that each bike will have its own preservation and it's difficult to pin point what's best without checking each bike individually. I tend to prefer low mileage, assuming that bikes made as of 2021 should be some somewhat similar. I'm also considering getting one still in warranty and extend the warranty, just to be sure. Also only looking for bikes that were serviced exclusively in BMW. Maybe with all these checks + a proper check of the bike live (scratches, falls signs, etc), I should be good to go, assuming that these GSAs could go for hundreds of thousands of miles if properly taken care of. Am I missing anything?

I've been finding some good prices for bikes still in warranty, but around 35kKm - mileage scares a bit, but could be a good opportunity. Another option would be a newer bike - 5kKm from mid 2024 from a BMW dealership, but paying considerably more.

All insights would be greatly appreciated! thanks!
 
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I prefer a Bike that's been used and has miles vs one sat in the garage used only a few times a year. Bikes with miles which are used regularly are (usually) maintained better than MFR standard/guidance, have fixes/repairs/niggles sorted out as they need to be reliable. They have money/time spent on them to ensure they will keep going without issue. These sorts of Bikes usually have good service & receipt history for services, fixes, accessories, parts etc.

A Bike used every now and then with low miles and sat in the Garage doesn't need all those things. You can delay getting a new battery, fixing that niggling rattle, servicing it as it's not an inconvenience.

I bought my 2013 GS 3 years ago with 27K miles on it. In that time period i've ridden 37K miles (total mileage now on 64K miles). And it feels just as good now, if not better than when i picked it up! Yes, it's needed maintenance bits done on it through time/mileage related items - and also things do fail. But i'm happy to spend the time/money to keep it in tip top shape and ready for riding.
 
For me...it would depend on a number of factors...how much extra would I be paying for x miles? There'd be a sweet spot for me...If a 24 bike with 1k miles was £16k and a 21 bike with 30k was £10k...it may be that a 23 bike with 8k was sat at £13k...and that'd be the one for me.....dunno if that makes sense...it does to my pea brain. (case in point.....I collect an NT1100 today, it is the colour I want and is 6mths old. It has full luggage and has 2500miles on it. There is another with 200 miles for the same money....not my favourite colour and no top box....the 2300 miles extra is well worth the freebie top box and fave colour....)
 
+1 on DJ123 advice and Davey B's buy the one you really want as long as the mileage isn't galaxy miles. Hope you find the right one and best of luck with it
 
A carefully ridden and well maintained bike with five times the mileage than one that's been mercilessly thrashed would be the one I'd want.

I'd chose a garaged bike over one that's been left under a cover outside.

I'd chose a bike that's been handwashed, not jet-washed.

As you say. Every bike is different. You shouldn't be overly concerned with mileage or production date. Unless you're concerned about resale value.

Everyone wants to buy a low mileage , newer bike. Why ??? Because the majority of people don't know what else they should be looking for. It's that simple.

A smart buyer will find an older, higher mileage bike that's been meticulously maintained and buy it for a song.
 
If you're not sure, then keep looking until you are. You'll know when the right bike is sat in front of you!
 
Funny I was just trying to figure out where to post a question about finding a good used GS for sale. Having found I am restricted from replying in the for sale section.
The answer depends on your budget. Reputation, BMW's are pretty good.
Best choice? Choose a bike with lower than average Km but not really low.
Dealer or Private. With a dealer you can probably finance. Warranty.
Or Higher mileage lower cost? Later model.
I really like my bike, I've been very happy with it. It's a late 17 R1200GS with 85000km. full service history. I chose it over a slightly younger 1250 which had about 85000km, It was cheaper. I've had the Bike 2.5 years trouble free years, and put nearly 20000 of those Km on it. Runs like a swiss watch. Uses a little oil between service not enough to bother topping it up. I changed it. Maybe I was just lucky. I bought it from a rental co. So I knew it had been ridden hard put away wet. but regularly maintained. (Recommended by a friend bought his GS from same co. he is a mechanic)
Advantage, I got a top of the line TE Exclusive spec GS for a very good price. Which fit my budget.
It had a set of panniers and guards for going off road.
Its a BMW, A 50 000 mile boxer has a lot of life left in it if you look after it.
Disadvantages. No warranty. Had to Pay full price up front. Clearly it's got a lot more miles than a lot of other similar age bikes.
Clearly a lot of other riders would have not have bought the bike.
Low milage, I had a bad experience with a really low milage garage queen car. lots of problems.
I will be looking for a bike myself. Round about the end of March.
Dealerships, have been closing. looking on line, Near where I will be. (GLA) not a lot of choice. Most a good low miles but higher price. But you get a 2 year warranty
Something similar a late model R1200 GS or maybe RT. If I can find one at a price I can live with. A 1250 would be nice but probably a bit to much.
Buying private. might take me to long.
Superbike, guys. mixed reviews.
Looked into shipping my bike both ways. costly. and it's an older bike.
I like my GS.
 
Thanks yall, very good insights.

Right now I'm in between:

- 38kKm from 07/2022 for 16k (private).
- 1,8kKm from 04/2024 for 21k (BMW dealer).

I could afford the newer one, but 5k is quite a difference.. would be good money to buy the suitcases, insurance, etc.
 
Loads of choice out there and plenty of low miles, well maintained bikes available. Which would be my choice. I dont get the idea of buying one with loads of miles ‘because it is sorted’. It may also have much more wear (obviously…) than a low miles bike. Low miles, used from BMW with motorrad warranty, is a no brainer. Little changed that I am aware of on the 1250, mine had the fancy lights, which were amazing, but tbh spots are always retrofittable if not already installed, so not worth extra money.
The only reason to purchase with high miles would be a very, very low price.
 
If you buy a BMW approved used ie. from a dealer you will get a 2year warranty and breakdown.
 
I wonder, why the GSA and not the GS?
The GS is a bit lighter, easier to handle, easier to filter, less top heavy (30litre tank on the GSA, it has to go somewhere!) and a more sporty ride. Unless you need big tankrange, and I doubt most people need more than 200miles anyway, then save some money and save a hernia if you drop it.
 
J biker said:
I wonder, why the GSA and not the GS?
The GS is a bit lighter, easier to handle, easier to filter, less top heavy (30litre tank on the GSA, it has to go somewhere!) and a more sporty ride. Unless you need big tankrange, and I doubt most people need more than 200miles anyway, then save some money and save a hernia if you drop it.
Click to expand...
Same weight if you only put 20 litres of fuel in it, as for filtering both bikes have the same width handlebars.
Less stress looking for fuel when touring with a GSA fewer fill ups.
Never pulled a hernia and to be honest the bike feels pretty much the same with a full tank or empty, only noticable when moving it in or out of the garage. :thumb2
 
Jersey_GS said:
Same weight if you only put 20 litres of fuel in it, as for filtering both bikes have the same width handlebars.
Less stress looking for fuel when touring with a GSA fewer fill ups.
Never pulled a hernia and to be honest the bike feels pretty much the same with a full tank or empty, only noticable when moving it in or out of the garage. :thumb2
Click to expand...
Hmm. All of the spec sheets say heavier. Im saying heavier. No point in NOT filling the bigger tank, which is making it heavier again and more top heavy again. Are they not also 20mm taller?
Bars may be the same width but Adventure with fixed pannier frames and panniers fitted is wider than GS with vario panniers ‘at that point,’ extra care needed in traffic.
Not to say there are not benefits for ‘some’ people but I am saying that for most people the extra bulk is not needed.
 
Wouldnt be to bothered about BMW servicing, alot of them dont know their hand from their arseholes!!
There not all like that, just talking from my own experiences :oops:
 
J biker said:
Hmm. All of the spec sheets say heavier. Im saying heavier. No point in NOT filling the bigger tank, which is making it heavier again and more top heavy again. Are they not also 20mm taller?
Bars may be the same width but Adventure with fixed pannier frames and panniers fitted is wider than GS with vario panniers ‘at that point,’ extra care needed in traffic.
Not to say there are not benefits for ‘some’ people but I am saying that for most people the extra bulk is not needed.
Click to expand...

They're (alu panniers) not that much wider than the handlebars. IIRC the max handlebar width at the widest point is 100cm, and the ADV panniers work out to be the same, or slightly over at 102cm (if i recall).
So unless you're really scraping through on the bars - the rear end still gets through unscathed.
 
I've always had adventures but I've recently reverted to a 1300gs and difference in weight and bulk is really noticeable, my garage is approx 100 yards up an unsurfaced lane, if I remember correctly it's around 40kg lighter.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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