GS versus Honda Crosstourer

[Sailor]

Has anone else had this?
Recently received an unsolicited invitation from Honda UK to ride their Crosstourer. They must have got my name from DVLC as a GSer and were trying to tempt me!
I went of course.
Despite having been invited to test a Honda I was required to sign an indemnity making me responsible for the first £1,000 of any claim. I don't believe I have ever been asked to do that by any other dealer.
The salesman didn't seem too sure whether there were 2 cylinders or 4! First mistake, find out what you are selling.
Having ridden about a mile whilst trying to work the funny indicator switch, I noticed the fuel warning light flashing. Second mistake, make sure there is enough fuel for a reasonable test ride.
Being mean I just put £2 worth of petrol in and then proceeded to use it up.
When I returned the bike I mentioned that I had had to put petrol in, but there was no offer of a reimbursement. Not very tempting this, is it?
As to the bike it was not a patch on the GS, and I couldn't wait to get back on my own bike.

 

[Wilsdorf]

Not a good start.

The Crossdresser's big brother should have been all that and more!

 

[APE]

Has anone else had this?
Despite having been invited to test a Honda I was required to sign an indemnity making me responsible for the first £1,000 of any claim.

You should have told them to shove it

 

[Twotter]

Had to do that in a few BMW dealers for a good few years now, nothing new. So if you don't want to pay for damage you may cause to their bike, just don't sign it and don't ride it.

Easy.

 

[patzx12]

£2 ?? thats one squirt of the pump.
I always thow £10 in when i test a bike.

 

[wust588]

£2 ?? thats one squirt of the pump.
I always thow £10 in when i test a bike.

Seems fair enough to me.
The Honda maybe turned out to be crap, but any bike must be worth riding if you are given the opportunity?
Couldn't have gone far on £2!

 

[The Other PaulG]

Jack Lilley Triumph also ask for a sizeable deposit.

PG

 

[Roymondo]

Hmm - the topic title is "GS versus Honda Crosstourer." Care to enlarge a little on the rather bald assertion that the Honda is "not a patch on a GS"? What made you draw that conclusion? Was it the near-empty fuel tank or the £1000 excess? Or was it Something Else? The posting contains next to naff all comparison of the two bikes.

 

[Rushy]

My post in another, slightly more enlightening , thread on the Crosstourer;

Crosstourer

 

[Sailor]

Raymondo

Hmm - the topic title is "GS versus Honda Crosstourer." Care to enlarge a little on the rather bald assertion that the Honda is "not a patch on a GS"? What made you draw that conclusion? Was it the near-empty fuel tank or the £1000 excess? Or was it Something Else? The posting contains next to naff all comparison of the two bikes.

Perhaps the title wasn't as appropriate as it could have been. I was attempting to highlight the poor attempt to interest me in a Honda Crosstourer as a competitor to the GS.
The Honda does not appear to have much in the way of a flywheel, and needs to rev to develop power which admittedly it does seem to have, but not in the same way as the GS. The bike does not have the feel of a large capacity twin, i.e. perversely it is almost too smooth. I like to feel the engine working when I open the throttle. The screen allows significantly more buffeting at motorway speeds than the often criticised GS screen. The suspension does not absorb 30mph sleeping policemen as well as the GS. The driveline is not as smooth as the GS. The topbox fitted to the test bike did not appear to have anything like the capacity or the quality of the GS topbox, and overall the Honda did not feel to me to have the quality or presence of a BMW and according to the salesman with luggage costs in the region of £14,000.

 

[red1]

You should have told them to shove it

No different to lots of BMW dealerships, and quite common throughout trade.

 

[APE]

No different to lots of BMW dealerships, and quite common throughout trade.

The difference is they invited him to take the test ride. If I bowl into a dealer to try a bike I think it's fair enough but not if it's their invitation. Just my opinion

 

[Ian M]

It seems to me that the problem is with your dealer, who doesn’t sound very switched on. I’ve test ridden the Crosstourer, the Triumph Explorer and a twin cam boxer recently and in each case the insurance excess was £1,000. Yes, it’s a fair bit of cash if you bin it, but look at it from the dealer’s point of view – he’s lost his bike for the time it all takes to be sorted out and potentially a few sales too. I really don’t see that excess (for an incident which you’re responsible for) as a big issue, if you’re really that worried, ride carefully or not at all.

And it was the Crosstourer which I bought………….

 

[28jay]

I sort of liked the look of the crosstourer, when it was first shown. Got to admit was slightly tempted, but looking at the depreciation of the vfr 1200. Decided to wait, got offered a pre reg vfr dual clutch thingy for £8k, about a third off

 

[Rasher]

I have had BMW test bikes without much fuel in them, but if someone is lending me their bike to spank around on I don't think putting a few quid of fuel in is too much to ask.

I suppose a full tank scores brownie points, but if you end up buying one they have to tack the cost on for all of those who used up petrol and did not buy one onto your bill

Some dealers don't even provide fully comp so £1,000 excess seems fair - still be cheaper than crashing your own bike by the time you paid an excess, lost your no claims bonus and either get a crap payment for a write off, or end up with a crash-repaired bike.

I would rather buy a great bike where I put £2 in the fuel tank on the demo as opposed to a shit bike just because the demo came with a full tank

 

[Wilsdorf]

I am surprised - more because it was an invitation to try it, as stated above.

I've never been asked to sign or agree an excess - if fact I took a car out the other week and they didn't even want to check I had a licence!

Surely dealers factor in a cost of having demos (plus I believe there were good breaks for them on having demos too, which in some cases meant they made more money on selling them than new bikes/cars!!!). You would think a few quid on petrol wouldn't be here or there and certainly leaves a better impression.

But yes, it doesn't matter how good the service is if you hate the bike.

 

[Northern Monkey]

I tested one at Preston - very helpful - had To sign the insurance waiver buts that's normal to me - dealer said its full of fuel it's yours for the day, "I'm not goin to try n sell you it - if you like it you'll buy it!" had it all afternoon - topped it up for him just out of courtsey - told him if he could put the engine In my 1150 I would buy it! I didnt like the front end feel - he said not a problem thanks for trying it and tell your friends to come and try it! - so the experience was great fr me! Oh and they gave me some vouchers free too!

 

[iaing]

I had a Crosstourer for a couple of days when they were launched and I loved it. The only thing that stopped me buying it was the amount I've lost on my 18 month old VFR1200.

I just wasn't willing to do the same again so bought an '07 1200GS and kept the VFR too. Most of the fun for half the price! Could do with the Honda power though.

The dealer indemnity is fairly normal in my experience, and not unreasonable if I want to runaround on one of their bikes.

 

[Packer]

Last BMW demo bike, a couple of years ago, was a £600 excess.

More recently Moto Guzzi was £700 for a V7 demo (it was a disappointing bike) and Honda was £1,000 for a NC700X demo (a very impressive good value bike).

 

[Davy F]

My post in another, slightly more enlightening , thread on the Crosstourer;

Crosstourer

And my own thoughts.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303960

The driveline is not as smooth as the GS and overall the Honda did not feel to me to have the quality of a BMW

Can't say I disagree more. The shaft is superbly smooth, especially compared to the clunky effort of the GS, especially around town. Plus the Honda's finish seems much better all round. As most would say, 'Typical Honda'. But then with two quids worth of fuel.............