Shaunie
Registered user
I owned a '97 11GS for 2 years and loved it to bits. Even though for those 2 years it proved to be the most unreliable bike I've ever owned.
Anyway, on holiday in Austria last year the damn thing breaks down again and has to be trailered home.
So I spit my dummy out and in a fit of madness trade it in for a newish Kawasaki KLV1000.
It's a nice bike. It's fast and it's comfy and I'm even impressed with the handling. It's got a few extras.
Meta alarm/immobiliser
Scottoiler
Heated grips
Hand guards
Panniers & top case
Centre stand
But it's not a GS.
Trade in values for the KLV are nothing short of insulting.
I have the chance to do a straight swap for a 2001 R850GS with 10,000 miles. The 850 has no extras.
NO ABS
NO heated grips
NO handguards
NO pannier rails
NO nothing, not even a RID
On paper, it's a no brainer. Why swap a year old, 90bhp machine with all the extras for a 4 year old, 70bhp machine with no extras and more than twice the miles.
If it was an 1100 with a few options, I think I'd have already done the deal. But it's only an 850.
I don't like 2nd hand bikes/cars as I'm not really mechanically minded and always seem to get the lemons.
Bollocks, I don't know what to do.
Anyway, on holiday in Austria last year the damn thing breaks down again and has to be trailered home.
So I spit my dummy out and in a fit of madness trade it in for a newish Kawasaki KLV1000.
It's a nice bike. It's fast and it's comfy and I'm even impressed with the handling. It's got a few extras.
Meta alarm/immobiliser
Scottoiler
Heated grips
Hand guards
Panniers & top case
Centre stand
But it's not a GS.
Trade in values for the KLV are nothing short of insulting.
I have the chance to do a straight swap for a 2001 R850GS with 10,000 miles. The 850 has no extras.
NO ABS
NO heated grips
NO handguards
NO pannier rails
NO nothing, not even a RID
On paper, it's a no brainer. Why swap a year old, 90bhp machine with all the extras for a 4 year old, 70bhp machine with no extras and more than twice the miles.
If it was an 1100 with a few options, I think I'd have already done the deal. But it's only an 850.
I don't like 2nd hand bikes/cars as I'm not really mechanically minded and always seem to get the lemons.
Bollocks, I don't know what to do.
.....having said that you've gotta ask why is someone wanting to get rid of it in the first place ? The 850 is a fine bike - smooth to ride and well mannered with plenty of torque to enjoy - who cares about horsepower anyway - it's torque that matters.
