Hesitant potential new owner

[Jonny]

Hi all,

I'm off to test ride a R1200GS tomorrow at my local BMW dealer with a view to buy if no issues crop up. Apart from the piss taking I'm currently getting from my mates for being a 25 year old with a GS I've got some hesitations on the new bike which I'm hoping I might be able to get some advice on from you knowledgable buggers.

So the bike seems like a really good deal. 2007, 27k miles and up for £6000. My issue is I've been keeping an eye on this bike at this particular dealer for a while now. I actually test rode the bike for the first time back in in July 2014 when it was up for £7000. At that time I took the missus with me as we wanted to do more 2-upping and sods law when we stopped to fill up half way through the test ride the thing wouldn't start as the battery was dead. Not a big issue, someone from the dealership came out with another one and we carried on the test ride on that. The bike at this stage was a little bit tatty. A few marks on the paintwork, a visible bit of scraping on the right engine block and a corroded front engine cover. In the end we decided we didn't have the cash for it and I wanted to sell my ZX6R privately to get the most money I could for it despite getting a good trade in price.

Fast forward two months to September 2014 and the price dropped to £6500 so I came back on my own and test rode it again. Fell in love now that I was on my own and could really give it some beans and finished the test ride wanting to buy and still part ex my ZX6R as I was struggling to sell it. Problem was the trade in for my price in 2 months had plummeted so I ultimately had to kick it in the head till I could sell the ZX6R.

Fast forward again to this week April 2015 and the bike is STILL at the dealership. Price has now dropped to £6000 and the front engine cover has been replaced and I finally sold my ZX6R over winter for a decentish price. I went in with the other half and arranged to test ride for hopefully a final time tomorrow on Friday with, as I said, a view to buy. The issue I have is, why the hell is this bike still sitting there after a year? Is there something glaringly obvious that potential buyers have spotted and been forced to walk away from that I'm not knowledgeable enough to know? From what I could see, £7000 from a BMW dealer back in 2014 seemed a fair price, and £6000 this year seems a bit of a bargain?

Please GSers, help me! What am I missing, why on earth hasnt this thing sold yet? Is there anything I can check that others would have seen that turned them away? Anything to really go over on the test ride to make sure it ticks all the boxes? Also is the £6000 a genuinely good price or is it actually only just becoming reasonable and thats the whole issue?

Thanks in advance all

 

[Wrinkly]

Hi Jonny and welcome,

I sometimes don't think there is any reason why some bikes hang around in a dealers,they just do.

I part ex'd a 59 plate 1200mu at a main dealers,mint bike with fsh and no faults.

26mnts later they still had the bike for sale.

Steve.

 

[Jonny]

Hi Jonny and welcome,

I sometimes don't think there is any reason why some bikes hang around in a dealers,they just do.

I part ex'd a 59 plate 1200mu at a main dealers,mint bike with fsh and no faults.

26mnts later they still had the bike for sale.

Steve.

Thanks Steve, hopefully just me being a bit paranoid then!

 

[Fluffmeister]

Welcome chap.

The price could well have been affected by the influx of later Twin Cam GS's that have come in as some people have moved onto the WC Model, so it could just be simple market forces at work. When I PX'ed my Twin Cam GSA (90th Anniversary) for the LC, the day I dropped it off a guy was asking me about it, got a phone call from the salesman asking about my new bike and he told me some bloke who had been talking to me in the car park came back a couple of days later, test rode it an bought it. No rhyme or reason to it, but it may just be the fact that there are more later Twin Cam hexheads coming into the market, hence the price drop.

Great solid bikes though, genuine jack of all trades.

Fluff'

 

[Jonny]

Welcome chap.

The price could well have been affected by the influx of later Twin Cam GS's that have come in as some people have moved onto the WC Model, so it could just be simple market forces at work. When I PX'ed my Twin Cam GSA (90th Anniversary) for the LC, the day I dropped it off a guy was asking me about it, got a phone call from the salesman asking about my new bike and he told me some bloke who had been talking to me in the car park came back a couple of days later, test rode it an bought it. No rhyme or reason to it, but it may just be the fact that there are more later Twin Cam hexheads coming into the market, hence the price drop.

Great solid bikes though, genuine jack of all trades.

Fluff'

Cheers Fluff! Hopefully the bike gives me no reasons not to become the new owner tomorrow then!

 

[stonehenge]

Jonny,

Stick a link up for the bike and let us have a look to give you an opinion.

 

[Jonny]

Jonny,

Stick a link up for the bike and let us have a look to give you an opinion.

Good point! This one here:

http://www.cannon-bmw.co.uk/approve...olnDealerID=10069&currentCh=WB10307A07ZU61191

 

[Fluffmeister]

Some sensible mods there, the Adventure screen is almost £300's worth (New) for the additional bracket and Screen itself, GSA Rocker cover protectors (£140) and it's got luggage, ABS, Computer and Heated grips (As a WC Owner, that's a sore point LOL) if it's straight and rides well, I can't see what's not to like.

 

[stonehenge]

That looks ok to me - I assume that they will give you the full 12 months BMW warranty on that. If not, insist on it. They have replaced the front cover and I take it that the scrape on the right is on the cylinder head cover, which is the adventure type - and is doing its job! At nearly 8 yrs old, it is going to have the odd paint issue. Good to see that luggage is included. Make sure that the panniers expand properly (don't stick) and the bags are still there. i also assume that as it is a BMW dealer that all the books are with it and it has a full history. Steve

 

[Jonny]

Some sensible mods there, the Adventure screen is almost £300's worth (New) for the additional bracket and Screen itself, GSA Rocker cover protectors (£140) and it's got luggage, ABS, Computer and Heated grips (As a WC Owner, that's a sore point LOL) if it's straight and rides well, I can't see what's not to like.

It's looking good so far then! cheers for the quick rundown Fluff.

Another question then if I can, as the price has just been dropped again and I think its a fair price, I'm not planning on haggling much if anything. BUT is it unheard of to try and wangle in a few extra accessories to the deal? I'm thinking secondhand stuff they have laying around or off some of the other used bikes? I spied an Akrapovic end can I liked the look of on another GS, and I really really want a top box as the missus commented how she liked the extra safety net behind her. Either way I guess it doesn't hurt to ask!

 

[Jonny]

That looks ok to me - I assume that they will give you the full 12 months BMW warranty on that. If not, insist on it. They have replaced the front cover and I take it that the scrape on the right is on the cylinder head cover, which is the adventure type - and is doing its job! At nearly 8 yrs old, it is going to have the odd paint issue. Good to see that luggage is included. Make sure that the panniers expand properly (don't stick) and the bags are still there. i also assume that as it is a BMW dealer that all the books are with it and it has a full history. Steve

Thanks Steve, great points to ask tomorrow. Hadn't thought about the inner bags in the panniers. The scrape though is on the actual cylinder head, looks like the cover has been replaced at some point I guess. Not that I think it makes a massive deal of difference.

 

[MikeS]

Looks OK to me if you prefer to buy from a dealer, it might worth looking privately though just in case someone local to you has a nice low mileage GS for similar money.

The key to buying privately is to look for a bike that has been well cared for, you can normally tell this by the condition of the bike and talking to the seller.

You could put a wanted ad on here too.

 

[Jonny]

Looks OK to me if you prefer to buy from a dealer, it might worth looking privately though just in case someone local to you has a nice low mileage GS for similar money.

The key to buying privately is to look for a bike that has been well cared for, you can normally tell this by the condition of the bike and talking to the seller.

You could put a wanted ad on here too.

Thanks Mike, good advice there. Thing is though, this one was the cheapest I could find for year and milage including private sales!

 

[Bungy]

Well worth checking the service history to see if it has had an oil change on the final drive as my very similar bike with similar miles didn't. I have recently bought mine and it has a few minor paint issues that i will correct over time but overall i am very pleased with it. Quite a step change from a ZX6r but they are still good fun.

 

[Jonny]

Well worth checking the service history to see if it has had an oil change on the final drive as my very similar bike with similar miles didn't. I have recently bought mine and it has a few minor paint issues that i will correct over time but overall i am very pleased with it. Quite a step change from a ZX6r but they are still good fun.

Thanks Bungy, I will make sure I check through the history for the FD stuff. If it hasnt, is it worth trying to get them to do it?

Big change from ZX but honestly when I last test rode it I loved it. Currently riding a VFR750 so its semi setting me up

 

[phooey]

Thanks Mike, good advice there. Thing is though, this one was the cheapest I could find for year and milage including private sales!

Hi Jonny,

I bought exactly the same bike ( year, colour and kit ) save adv screen and head protectors in December. Advertised at 6295 I offered cash 6,000 and accepted. It had 18,000k with full BMWSH but service was due which included belts. They serviced and changed belts which saved me £300.00 prior to collection.

Its a really good bike. But if you really trawl autotrader, MCN and on here you will find a better bike for that money. Depends how quick you need it. CASH is KING and you can bet the dealer wants rid as it is depreciating every day sat in his showroom.

Be advised it has the slightly less powerful engine pre 2008 ( something like 5 bhp IIRC ) a negotiating card.

That said the bike it replaced was a 2008 and sod all difference I can tell.

Enjoy

Chris

 

[Jonny]

Hi Chris, thanks for the reply!

Do you mind if I ask you if that was a BM dealership?

Seems like same price with 10k less miles, so potentially some wiggle room there for me or more battering for accessories I'm after. I'll be making sure the services are up to date and if not negotiate that in, seems like common advice so far!

 

[phooey]

Hi Chris, thanks for the reply!

Do you mind if I ask you if that was a BM dealership?

Seems like same price with 10k less miles, so potentially some wiggle room there for me or more battering for accessories I'm after. I'll be making sure the services are up to date and if not negotiate that in, seems like common advice so far!

There are quite a few low miles bikes out there, just have to be patient. Mine was in excellent condition and 1 owner from new. Pictures on yours not enough detail for me to see the condition to compare.
I missed a belting deal on a private bike just before buying this. Sadly he had just taken it to the dealers to trade in. Much newer bike, 1 owner, lots of 'farkles' full luggage and similar miles. If you haven't been looking for at least a couple of weeks I'd not rush in as there have been such huge numbers of these bikes sold they continually come up second hand.

Not a BMW dealership but that often means they aren't charging you just to walk through the door
Good luck.