GS sold, but this is odd

[Nutty]

So, I've just sold the bike, and the guy came round to collect it. As expected, it was love at first sight. When I asked him if he'd ridden one before, he said no!

This is the second 1200 GS that I've sold this year, where both buyers had never ridden one before, but happily paid big money on the off chance they'd like the bike. I'd have thought they would have at least test ridden one at a main dealer before shelling out that sort of money on the off chance they'd actually like the bike.

Both chaps in their 40's, from sports bike backgrounds, and each time they sent a text when they got home to say how awesome the 1200 is, and why hadn't they got one years ago!

Says a lot about the R1200GS does that.

 

[Tom]

Says more to me about "follow the herd" mentality of the human condition

I bet you it was the same when they bought that CBR 600 those years ago

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Ah, but they read a road test in MCN that said it was the best Adventure bike in the whole world, ever...........

Andres

 

[Humbug]

I wonder how long they keep them before they move on to the latest "must have"?

 

[Georgeeboi]

You lot are a sinnicle bunch why would he be following the herd? you weren't the first buy a BMW so your following like a sheep as well, maybe he should of bought an MZ that would have suited you!

 

[Nutty]

I wonder how long they keep them before they move on to the latest "must have"?

I'll be keeping in touch with the guy from yesterday for sure, as I've still got my triple black (sorry, I mentioned triple black, I meant 1200), we'll be meeting up for ride outs , so will be interesting to see. He's going to Spain on the bike with some mates in August, so I'm happy the bike will get used as it should be.

 

[davegs]

No try but hate...

Heard it all the other day on a job, customer said he'd just sold his Ducati quite an old one I think. My mate said I'd got a BMW GS "he said god they look rank"
but I wouldent mind one of those bikes that Ewan Magor went around the world on!!!. Hates the things but never sat on one!!.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I've heard it too. People buying a GS without even riding one..

Personally, I went to a dealers and test rode one for a day to make sure I liked it.

 

[Blackal]

I bought a 1200 GSA in 2006 without ever having sat on a GS of any kind....

Got shot of the knobblies after the ride home, but kept the bike for 5 yrs.

Al

 

[APE]

My mate is into bikes and he never tries them before he buys (generally new) - this pheonomum is not unique to GSs

 

[morty]

I've never test rode any of the bikes I've owned.At the end of the day they all give you that rush and sense of freedom,wether i'm thrashing an old RG or on the latest plasticky race bike or big tourer.I prefer function over form and basically they all do the same in a different way.enjoy regardless.It's all about biking not the bike.

 

[rce]

Around here getting a test ride without a £1000 deposit to cover damage (while other dealers have no loan machines at all) means a lot of people have to make do with sitting on the bike in the showroom....

Rainbow being the exception, the only other test rides I have ever done is on an FZ1 and with £1000 depending on me getting the bike back safe I took it very steady and didn't enjoy it.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I've bought plenty of bikes without test rides.............but..............£10k's worth of bike that's totally different to anything I've ridden before (ie he'd only ever ridden sports bikes prior to the GS), mmmmmm, I think I'd have blagged a go on one first - I don't have that sort of money to throw around

Then again, if he don't like it he can aleways sell it on for what he paid for it I guess

Andres

 

[Wrinkly]

I'm not sure when dealers first started offering test rides?

I most certainly bought lots of my early bikes without ever riding them as test rides were unheard of.

Steve

 

[davegs]

Test rides

I think BMW's were about the first.

 

[APE]

I think the point about the insurance excess is a good one. First ride on a bike you're not familiar with not good if you topple it - dealer will replace every item with the slightest scuff and would soon gobble up your £1000. Most secondhand sellers unwilling to allow a test ride so I dont find this scenario surprising tbh.

 

[ymfb]

I'm glad I test rode one as I almost instantly knew it was not the right bike for me. I bought an F800GS and what a grea bike it is.

I've bought a number of bikes without a test ride but only after I carried out some investigations.

 

[yamonda1]

I bought my 1150GSA from a bloke on here who lived near Derby .. I was in Durban .. can't explain why, it's just something I wanted to do ... next time back in UK I rode it home to Liverpool never having ridden any BMW before and although I've still got my FJ12 I've never ridden it since .. says it all

 

[Greenman14]

I've bought bikes without a test ride, but I know how my rating of a bike relates to road test report, and what sort of basics - number of cylinders, weight, power suit me. But I still test rode the GS before spending £10k on it.

And I also test rode my KTM before buying then realised after 9 months that it wasn't for me. Everybody makes mistakes.

 

[Country Bumpkin]

+1

You lot are a sinnicle bunch why would he be following the herd? you weren't the first buy a BMW so your following like a sheep as well, maybe he should of bought an MZ that would have suited you!

Good point well put.