Is the bike a keeper?

[jojitsu]

Hi folks, just thought I'd put out the question.. My personal situation is that I'm about 2 years into a 3 year pcp on my 14 plate GS LC TE, had a new engine fitted a couple of months (with about 8500 miles on the bike) ago due to paint corrosion..

A part of me thinks that it has a lovely new engine that could potentially last me many happy years to come (even if the paint does eventually start to go again, it's only aesthetic and could easily be touched up), but another part of me says that due to it being a complicated and expensive BMW, when the electrics etc start to go wrong I won't have deep enough pockets to keep on top of it (one toddler at home and another baby on the way!), and that maybe I should, when the 3 year pcp is ending, go for an arguably more dependable Jap bike with conventional suspension etc, that won't really on overly expensive parts and labour cost from BMW Motorrad..

I do really enjoy the bike and would probably pay off the balloon payment at the end of the term (£7k ish) if I thought it'd be a low hassle bike in years to come, but even things like shafts drive servicing as opposed to a new chain and sprocket worry me a tad.. Maybe a newer yamaha MT10 or a similarly aged KTM 1190 ADVENTURE R with conventional suspension and a chain drive would be a better 'keeper'...

What are your thoughts?

 

[Rich1150]

If you like it keep it. I intend to keep my 2017 GS for ever.
Well at least until I fancy something else ��

 

[AP11 LAD]

Had five BMW bikes over last few years including present bike a 17 model year gsa. Personally I wouldn't dream of keeping any newish BMW bike unless I purchased an extended warranty each year. I love the bikes to ride but experience has shown that when something goes wrong, they cost a fortune to fix. I'd trade it now for a new one again on pcp. Otherwise consider spending the money the final payment will cost and buy a bike outright. Older GS bikes were more reliable and easier to fix

 

[Engineer]

Get a new GS every 3 years and buy it outright so you have no restrictions and the bike is 100% yours - that's my advice.

 

[JulesDive]

Get a new GS every 3 years and buy it outright so you have no restrictions and the bike is 100% yours - that's my advice.

Do you move accessories / extras from one bike to the next one?
I was just wondering... I've had my GS LC for 2 years... Have added quite a few bits and pieces. I would not necessarily want to go through the re-customisation expense / time etc too often!

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

 

[Arsey]

As others have said,nobody seems to keep an LC GS unless they keep a warranty going,simply due to the appalling quality of the finish,as you unfortunately found out when your bike needed a new engine,despite being less than 3 years old.
If I had such a bike,I would definitely get rid as I wouldn't have any faith in it,having to rely on a warranty all the time.But if you like the bike and are happy to fork out on extended warranties then do it.

Or perhaps get rid and get a 'classic' like a nice low mileage KTM 950 Adventure ? Won't lose much value,is well made and shouldn't go wrong or need engines replacing !!

 

[jojitsu]

Get a new GS every 3 years and buy it outright so you have no restrictions and the bike is 100% yours - that's my advice.

That'd be too expensive for me, my current gs was a year old low mileage bike when I took out the pcp, £11,700 me thinks, with a £750 and £142 per month over 3 years.. Getting to the point where I would probably like to buy a reliable keeper and have it for a good number of years..

I really do like the gs but I'm not a die hard BMW guy so any make is good for me if I like a particular model.

 

[jojitsu]

As others have said,nobody seems to keep an LC GS unless they keep a warranty going,simply due to the appalling quality of the finish,as you unfortunately found out when your bike needed a new engine,despite being less than 3 years old.
If I had such a bike,I would definitely get rid as I wouldn't have any faith in it,having to rely on a warranty all the time.But if you like the bike and are happy to fork out on extended warranties then do it.

Or perhaps get rid and get a 'classic' like a nice low mileage KTM 950 Adventure ? Won't lose much value,is well made and shouldn't go wrong or need engines replacing !!

I had a KTM 950 SM before the gs, after a long stint of 1000cc sports bikes, and a great bike it was too.. But I do like the refinement of the gs and take confidence in the abs and traction control.. Hence the idea of a 1190 adventure R with conventional but excellent wp suspension.. Shame the gs does not have a better track record for longevity as it'd be a great long-term bike.

 

[MrMcNamara]

Hi folks, just thought I'd put out the question.. My personal situation is that I'm about 2 years into a 3 year pcp on my 14 plate GS LC TE, had a new engine fitted a couple of months (with about 8500 miles on the bike) ago due to paint corrosion..

A part of me thinks that it has a lovely new engine that could potentially last me many happy years to come (even if the paint does eventually start to go again, it's only aesthetic and could easily be touched up), but another part of me says that due to it being a complicated and expensive BMW, when the electrics etc start to go wrong I won't have deep enough pockets to keep on top of it (one toddler at home and another baby on the way!), and that maybe I should, when the 3 year pcp is ending, go for an arguably more dependable Jap bike with conventional suspension etc, that won't really on overly expensive parts and labour cost from BMW Motorrad..

I do really enjoy the bike and would probably pay off the balloon payment at the end of the term (£7k ish) if I thought it'd be a low hassle bike in years to come, but even things like shafts drive servicing as opposed to a new chain and sprocket worry me a tad.. Maybe a newer yamaha MT10 or a similarly aged KTM 1190 ADVENTURE R with conventional suspension and a chain drive would be a better 'keeper'...

What are your thoughts?

Bought mine 2 years ago with 4k on the clock (main dealer) Had a new 2015 engine & gearbox fitted under warranty now with 10k on, very clean, corrosion & fault free. Based upon very high mileages of previous boxers I have owned / great reliability, mines going to be a keeper. Small improvements over the last few years dont warrant the cost to swap what is in reality just a plaything, ready to go when I am in the mood

 

[Neil W]

Said it before with the LC models that yes okay there have been reported clutch/gearbox problems ,alternator failures and switchgear problems plus the known corrosion issues but as a long term keeper it will be the electronics /can bus related to the suspension/engine management /led headlights/onboard computer /cruise control etc etc that will cause the bikes to fail as they get older and it will be those that ultimately mean that unlike the thousands of 30 year plus airheads that are still going strong there will a lot less LC's left despite more of them being sold .

 

[WaterMonkey]

Said it before with the LC models that yes okay there have been reported clutch/gearbox problems ,alternator failures and switchgear problems plus the known corrosion issues but as a long term keeper it will be the electronics /can bus related to the suspension/engine management /led headlights/onboard computer /cruise control etc etc that will cause the bikes to fail as they get older and it will be those that ultimately mean that unlike the thousands of 30 year plus airheads that are still going strong there will a lot less LC's left despite more of them being sold .

Complete speculation!!

 

[WaterMonkey]

I'm in a similar situation jojitsu. I bought a 2013 TE 18 months ago from a dealer for £8.4k. It had 32k on the clock but the engine only had 15k. In the last few months I've had another engine fitted due to a very small amount of corrosion, despite being out of corrosion warranty!
So I now have a bike with 600 miles on the engine, clutch, gearbox and swingarm. Apart from the suspension there's not much else on the bike that is affected by mileage.
I'll probably keep mine but keep the monthly warranty for peace of mind, although I'm in two minds about keeping the warranty at the mo since the suspension isn't covered and the engine came with a two year warranty!

I rode a 2016 model last year and to be honest there was no difference in the bikes!
Think I got a bargain

 

[fatnfast]

Complete speculation!!

Agreed, the pre lc models still had ESA, TC, cruise control, etc and seem to be reliable enough for many to buy out of warranty.
At least the final drive seems to be finally sorted on the LC and there does not seem to be an abundance of riders being left stranded by electronic failure.
I'm still glad I hung onto my 1150 as well though......

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Or perhaps get rid and get a 'classic' like a nice low mileage KTM 950 Adventure ? Won't lose much value,is well made and shouldn't go wrong or need engines replacing !! If you ask Tunneruk nicely he might post up a couple of pics of his, he'll take convincing as he hates posting up photos of it ....

Oh Martin you know me so well, go on then, seeing as you were so polite

_MG_9061 by tunneruk, on Flickr

_MG_9054 by tunneruk, on Flickr

 

[jojitsu]

I'm in a similar situation jojitsu. I bought a 2013 TE 18 months ago from a dealer for £8.4k. It had 32k on the clock but the engine only had 15k. In the last few months I've had another engine fitted due to a very small amount of corrosion, despite being out of corrosion warranty!
So I now have a bike with 600 miles on the engine, clutch, gearbox and swingarm. Apart from the suspension there's not much else on the bike that is affected by mileage.
I'll probably keep mine but keep the monthly warranty for peace of mind, although I'm in two minds about keeping the warranty at the mo since the suspension isn't covered and the engine came with a two year warranty!

I rode a 2016 model last year and to be honest there was no difference in the bikes!
Think I got a bargain

Yeah, bargain indeed.. Mine didn't need a new swingarm but a 2017 engine and gearbox is good to have! I've tested the current 2017 bike and as said, very little difference (biggest and best chance is the better heated grips!). Gotta say when my 3 year term ends paying off £7k for the bike will probably seem a great price and I doubt there will be many better value used £7k bikes around! Time will tell..

 

[jojitsu]

Oh Martin you know me so well, go on then, seeing as you were so polite

_MG_9061 by tunneruk, on Flickr

_MG_9054 by tunneruk, on Flickr

Very nice!

 

[malcopopolo]

I am running a 63 plate with 16k with no warranty...

I intend to keep mine. Just remember to save the £400 PA extended warranty cost. Your mileage is pretty low and you should achieve several years trouble free which will pay for repairs. Also as the bikes become even more common, independent mechanics will soon become more skilled to repair. As regards suspension, you dont have to fit BMW. You could probably fit Wilburs albeit with a mechanical adjustment.

Also with the high level of thefts, Ebay is awash with second hand parts...

Enjoy - My next bike in about 10 years and will probably be an 800cc Triumph or equivalent. A little lighter and hopefully more economical to maintain and run.

Remember the biggest cost is depreciation, so to minimise it, is to keep your vehicle for as long as poss. We are still running a 13 year old car which we have owned from new and will do for at least two more years!

 

[Arsey]

Oh Martin you know me so well, go on then, seeing as you were so polite

_MG_9061 by tunneruk, on Flickr

_MG_9054 by tunneruk, on Flickr

It's looking good still !

I had the full size version !!

But even that was small compared to my SuperEnduro

Sorry for thread creep OP !

 

[XPilot]

Sorry Malcopopolo, but don't you think we should all be boycotting the buying of stolen parts on eBay? Can't believe you would suggest this as a long term option for anybody to save money

 

[Flaming T]

I bought my 14 plate GSA last September. It now has nearly 13k miles on the clock and I see no reason to change it. I'm off to the Black Forest for a few days with some friends and this is going to be the perfect chariot for the 1600 mile round trip. So far (says he touching wood) there are no signs of any corrosion issues so I must be one of the lucky ones. I can honestly say, I believe I will only sell it once I can't handle it out of the garage anymore. These bikes shouldn't be this good, but they are.