Anyone reading this thread and wonder what to do themselves?
Definitely go for an upgrade! I did. Here is some advice:
Even though it can be a big inconvenience to part company it’s ultimately worth it. Why not try to persuade a friend to take it off your hands? Maybe someone who is taking it up for the first time might appreciate an older model to learn on?
To avoid some of the expense you could even try lending it out. An advert in the local paper’s ‘Private’ section is only a couple of quid .You will be surprised how many specialists are looking to get their hands and tools on older examples.
Or maybe could try simply leaving it out in the street? I guarantee that, within a week or two, it will be completely stripped down with no effort on your part and someone will give you a maybe fifty for the rough frame. Do not, whatever you do, put it into the back of the garage and hope to get it out now and again to tinker with. It will not work. You will be stuck with the old beast and it will get more and more expensive to maintain, leaving you less time and money to enjoy your new toy.
Definitely avoid anything with several previous owners in a short period. There is probably some sort of nagging problem that may not become obvious on a quick first ride. That being said, some do come laden with all sort of extras courtesy of their previous keepers at no cost to yourself. Some may even of had complete re-sprays and new body work. By all means try them out, but take care you do not get simply dragged in by the glitz. Never forget that someone else got rid of it too!
Eventualy you will be safely rid of your old one. But it’s important to take great care when choosing the right replacement. You have probably got used to an old (and quite possibly increasingly unresponsive) model. You may find yourself caught out by the modern types. They may be fun at first but can prove exhausting, especially on longer runs, their slimmer modern frames forcing you into more and more positions as you struggle to keep up. Something around 25 to 28 years old, nicely positioned between a really old model and the downright dangerous, may suite you nicely. Many out there have been well looked after by careful original owners, a few rare ones being barely run-in. Whatever you do, keep well clear of anything under say 17 or 18 years since first registration.
Also be careful about what you see in the glossy magazines. These are certainly tempting models but are definitely built for speed rather than comfort. You will also struggle persuading them to carry as much luggage as your old model. Many are now shipped in from Eastern Europe and Italy due to easier import rules within the expanded EU. They may look smart and glossy now but generally deteriorate rather quickly into a big drain on your resources. The Italian in particular ones need to be serviced regularly and it’s a specialist job, requiring a complete strip down. You may well not be it up to it and will be forced to let others do it for you; frustrating and expensive! It’s also a long way to take it back should you need to return it. Its original makers will almost certainly have a limited command of English, offering you little or no assistance. It is surprising how many people get themselves into all sorts of bother by ignoring these simple pieces of advice.
By all means go for a few trial rides and get a good feel for what is out there. Perhaps even try placing an advert on the GSer board, you may find someone prepared to let you have ago on theirs for a week-end. It costs nothing to ask.
