GS sold, but this is odd

[The Nutter]

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

But that's just it. How can a bike that has now been out 8 years be the 'latest must have'? I suspect these two buyers have realised that for 99.9% of the time, a GS will meet all their riding needs. Simples.

 

[The Nutter]

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

My brother is the same. He must have had a dozen bikes in the last 6 years from a Multi Strada to several Harleys. Currently owns a F650 GS (twin) and after several months is still trying to convince himself he has bought the right bike. He doesn't even sit on them in the showroom to see if they 'fit'.

 

[WindyChuffer]

I don't think it's odd.

Buying a used bike privately is a very cost effective way of getting a free / nearly free long term test ride. If you don't like it, flog it, and the hit will be minimal.

After all, a 1hr / half day / weekend test ride does't really tell you enough.

Cpls of years ago I did it myself with a car. Bought a Defender off ebay, unseen, and had never driven one. I figured that if it wasn't as described I'd tell the buyer to fek off plus ebay bids on vehicles and property are not legally binding. If I didn't like it, I'd flog it... Two years on and I still have it (out of choice though!).

 

[John RTW]

Never sat on one or ridden one before mine arrived in Thailand, just needed a reliable bike that was up to the job, eighteen months on and it's still gives me a smile when I get out and about on it. Still I would have loved to have kept the Royal Enfield on the RTW but with that many snags I know I made a good choice to get shot of it and go for the BM.

Just started Down Under so I'll be completing many many miles in the next 12 months

 

[Time Traveller]

I've only just got my first 1200GS (2009 second hand).

I'm not sure I wouldn't want to try before buying though, I'm not sure if you really can tell if you're gonna like (or bond, or love) a bike even with a long test ride...but you can, at least, tell if you're gonna hate it.

For the GS, the Jury is still out. I loved my TDM 900 hated the XT660Z, mixed feelings on my KTM990 Adventure.

The GS is an ugly bavarian tractor - but I like that in a strange way - and it is surprisingly easy to clean after the other aforementioned bikes. But - I need to do a long trip, it still doesn't feel like "my" bike.

 

[rodders]

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

I had test rides back in the early 1980's
The first two bikes I bought in the 70's are the only ones I did not test ride before purchase.

 

[Exile]

Part ex'd my Dynaglide over the phone with digi photo's exchanged against a R1200GS, ten days later did 3.5k in Spain with my wife, amazing bike, off to do Eastern europe in August, risky way to buy a bike I suppose, but work collegue did exactly the sam when he bought his 1150, I guess it's a BM thing!

 

[RedShanks]

Having never sat on one before, I bought my 2004 GS12 sight unseen over the phone from a guy I instinctively trusted and who was offering it to me at a very good price.

I took the train one Sunday from North London to Abergeveny, then cab from the station to a village about 15 miles away. I handed over the money, had a brilliant ride home, and haven't looked back (except for a still mysterious problem with one of the throttle bodies sticking, which Steptoe sorted out - even though he doesn't know how!)

Two years on and I'm still in love with it.

 

[Rasher]

I don't think it's odd.

Buying a used bike privately is a very cost effective way of getting a free / nearly free long term test ride. If you don't like it, flog it, and the hit will be minimal.

After all, a 1hr / half day / weekend test ride does't really tell you enough

+1

I have bought new and used without test rides, with used I agree with above statement.

For new you are taking a potentially expensive gamble without a test ride, but often new bikes are not available for a demo, although it seems more common now.

Even so a half hour ride will only confirm if you really do not like the bike at all and highlight the real big deal breakers - still much better than getting two lamposts from the dealer and realising you have just made a huge mistake

I prefer to get at least an hour if I can, long enough to see if comfort is an issue and ride the bike on dual carriageway / motorway plus a mix of A roads, B roads and some back lanes.

Dunno why anyone can moan about dealer excess - some dealers only give third party - and often do not make it clear, I always ask and are amazed that dealers will just stuff a disclaimer under your nose and not point this out.

£1,000 excess is not unreasonable, having worked in the industry I have seen complete twonks write-off bikes at the first corner they come too, or drop them in the car park trying to impress onlookers with their GP starting technique.

Lobbing your own bike up the road will cost you quite a bit, by the time you pay the excess, lose your no claims and in the event of a write-off get a crap low valuation for your pride and joy. Why should dealers provide a free crash a bike service?

The excess is so high due to the number of morons who cannot ride for 30 minutes without falling off, if your incapable of riding an unfamiliar machine then you should not be on the road - or should stick to the bike you passed your test on for the rest of your life.

BMW are by far the best for demo rides, there is not much else I like about the brand, but they do put far more effort into allowing potential customers to try pretty much any of their models than any other manufacturer.