Is the hexhead the current used bargain?

Pukmeister said:
My 2008 Hexhead GSA was a tough bike that is still going strong somewhere under a new keeper.
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My main bike is a 2007 (non servo ABS) hex GSA. Relatively low mileage (75k) but still going strong.
Compared to other BMW bikes I had it is the one that required more extra maintenance (errr... drive shaft) and has some minor gremlins (fuel indicator, etc.) but it has also been used hard. Love it.

They are great bikes. Relatively "light" on power compared to more modern bikes. I don't care about that much, always had slower bikes and it's fun to make a slow thing go fast, not so much the other way round :D
But I was talking with a good friend recently, he too has an hexhead, and we were questioning/considering about the improvement in "rideability" on more recent bikes with more advanced setups/suspension etc.
Again, not bothered that much, but I've ridden a few recent bikes here and there over the years and – yes – difference is there :)

Sadly, insurance premiums don't seem to go down that much despite the lower value of the bike over the years.
 
The Hexhead GS does have some fairly common faults
Fuel strip on early models
Driveshaft issues and rear boot water ingress/final drive failures
Alternator failure due to corrosion
ABS pump irregularities & faults
Ring antenna and fuel pump issues

1200 - More faults & issues ….than 1100/1150 GS which I reckon are the last of the durable GS models, for longevity
 
People over-paid A LOT during the scamdemic. And now the gimmick of an old, clunky, heavy GS is over, they want shut..

There are a lot of hex heads about in fairly good condition which keeps the market competitive and prices low(ISH).

It also doesn't help that keeping a 15 year old GS on the road isn't any cheaper than working on a new one... Minor repairs can easily swallow £1000 very quickly.

I've got a soft spot for the 2010-2013 twin cams. I want one. But I'm not paying £6000 for a 15 year old bike that probably will need a shaft, abs pump, slave cylinder and fuel pump to keep going for another 15 years.

For me, the 2015/2018 LCs are well priced now. They're a very good bike. Without the needless complexity of a shift cam but with the early gearbox/clutch issues sorted out from the first gen of LCs.

And they're often cheaper than a twin cams hex head.

I've had a fair amount of early hex head 1200s. Whenever I ride them now, I don't feel any desire to go back to them..
 
AutoGS, was that £7k offer for the XR the total after settling any finance left over, or is the total they were willing to offer you ?

It sounds like either they didn't want the bike as its hard to resell, or they weren't that interested in making a sale on a newer bike (perhaps monthly targets already met for their bonus).
 
I bought my Hexhead in the States with 30 k miles. Rode from the top to the bottom of the Americas which was 31 k miles all it did was the final drive bearings.
With the lack of dealers over there I wouldn’t have wanted something bloated with tech for sure.
 
Pukmeister said:
AutoGS, was that £7k offer for the XR the total after settling any finance left over, or is the total they were willing to offer you ?

It sounds like either they didn't want the bike as its hard to resell, or they weren't that interested in making a sale on a newer bike (perhaps monthly targets already met for their bonus).
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I bought it cash and that was the price before negotiating a 24mdl xr

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk
 
MotoRevive said:
People over-paid A LOT during the scamdemic. And now the gimmick of an old, clunky, heavy GS is over, they want shut..

There are a lot of hex heads about in fairly good condition which keeps the market competitive and prices low(ISH).

It also doesn't help that keeping a 15 year old GS on the road isn't any cheaper than working on a new one... Minor repairs can easily swallow £1000 very quickly.

I've got a soft spot for the 2010-2013 twin cams. I want one. But I'm not paying £6000 for a 15 year old bike that probably will need a shaft, abs pump, slave cylinder and fuel pump to keep going for another 15 years.

For me, the 2015/2018 LCs are well priced now. They're a very good bike. Without the needless complexity of a shift cam but with the early gearbox/clutch issues sorted out from the first gen of LCs.

And they're often cheaper than a twin cams hex head.

I've had a fair amount of early hex head 1200s. Whenever I ride them now, I don't feel any desire to go back to them..
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LOL

reality check :)

I'd never touch another LC after the lemon experience i had with mine in 3 years of ownership

2016 LC BMW approved used

18 months off the road , sitting in a dealers workshop

Replaced -

Fuel filler pot assy
LH switch cluster
New throttle grip unit
New throttle grip harness
New rear shock (not covered by warranty)
New cam sensor (also not covered by warranty)
New ZFE - 6 months lead time for a new one !
New fuel pressure regulator (not warranty either)
And the icing on the cake
Breaking down on the way to have some additional retrofit work done!
New throttle body

The warranty parts were just short of £2K and thats without labour
The non warranty items cost me £1100


Add to that approx 60hrs worth of phone calls to get the above sorted thats another £900

I paid £8.5k for an approved used

I got 4K back 3 years later

My 06 31K Hexead by comparison

New starter motor £250
Rear drive rebuilt

My 11 21K TC

A 24K service



This is my lasting recollection of my LC ownership
LCb.jpg

So long , farewell, aufedershien, Good bye

​

And my TC ownership

IMG_20230814_204605.jpg

Guess which one makes me smile ;)
 
Paid 4.5K for my 2010 Hexhead last year, still got less than 25K on the clock.

I can see where its going to age. You know the bolts and bits that look OK now but you know its going to get crusty there. So I just pay more attention to those spots with the cleaning.

Given up on the TPMS thing for now, as ideally I need to take it to someone that knows BMW's but doesn't charge BMW prices.

Other than that its a nice clean tidy thing I wish I had more time to ride.
 
Santa-2512 said:
LOL

reality check :)

I'd never touch another LC after the lemon experience i had with mine in 3 years of ownership

2016 LC BMW approved used

18 months off the road , sitting in a dealers workshop

Replaced -

Fuel filler pot assy
LH switch cluster
New throttle grip unit
New throttle grip harness
New rear shock (not covered by warranty)
New cam sensor (also not covered by warranty)
New ZFE - 6 months lead time for a new one !
New fuel pressure regulator (not warranty either)
And the icing on the cake
Breaking down on the way to have some additional retrofit work done!
New throttle body

The warranty parts were just short of £2K and thats without labour
The non warranty items cost me £1100


Add to that approx 60hrs worth of phone calls to get the above sorted thats another £900

I paid £8.5k for an approved used

I got 4K back 3 years later

My 06 31K Hexead by comparison

New starter motor £250
Rear drive rebuilt

My 11 21K TC

A 24K service



This is my lasting recollection of my LC ownership
View attachment 325677

So long , farewell, aufedershien, Good bye

​

And my TC ownership

View attachment 325678

Guess which one makes me smile ;)
Click to expand...
It sounds like you had a rough ride with that one. It's certainly not the usual experience..

It sounds like a mix of very bad luck and awful diagnosis and repair procedures.
Some of the items you've listed , I have genuinely never seen or heard of being replaced for failure at main dealers.

I've known hex heads with worse though. They have their own problems. Just as expensive and irritating.

I guess it's all a lottery.
 
notoriusb.e.n said:
Paid 4.5K for my 2010 Hexhead last year, still got less than 25K on the clock.

I can see where its going to age. You know the bolts and bits that look OK now but you know its going to get crusty there. So I just pay more attention to those spots with the cleaning.

Given up on the TPMS thing for now, as ideally I need to take it to someone that knows BMW's but doesn't charge BMW prices.

Other than that its a nice clean tidy thing I wish I had more time to ride.
Click to expand...
TPMS...

If you don't want to pay £100+ for a new sensor or bother trying to bodge them and fit a new battery, just pull them out and put rubber valves in.

The bike can be plugged in and told to remove the RDC sensors
 
I had my last Hexhead GSA for ten years.

It got cleaned whenever it was dirty, but was used all year in all weathers....It got ACF50 and FS365 in Winter.

A few fasteners went rusty such as frame bolts (torx socket holes) which were cheap to replace and had the bike looking like new again. The only thing that corroded and I didn't sort was the cracked powder coating on the bent footbrake lever, I straightened it but should have repainted it or replaced it.

With a modicum of care these bikes can easily be kept looking and running good.
 
Prior to buying my 1200rLC i was tracking the latter caponord's. They are still in or around the same price they were 3 years ago. £5900 - £5750.
They are few and far between and hardly any have done more than 18k mileage. I'd say that is a bike that holds its value.

The LC GS's are overvalued, hence after a test ride on the R - I loved the engine, and it was in my price bracket. So I bought it. 2 grand cheaper than an equivalent GS. The LC gs is overpriced for what it is - you're buying the dream, that has the same sleep pattern. I am not saying its a worse bike, or a rubbish bike. Just that it fits exactly what people think they need...Wants v Needs. My 1200 R has had lowered pegs fitted, larger screen, and bar backs...Same ergo now as a GS, Same Engine, much less attractive to scrotes and rides quick enough for me.. Its a 2015 and had fsh with only 12k on the clock and cost £7300...An equivalent GS in the same engine, but different clothes was around the 190/11K mark. I can live without heavy metal boxes on the side..
 
I had a 1250GS out a couple years back and i cant say i was that impressed. The electronics were just too much, where i am we have a lot of single tracks with gravel a plenty, it caught me out giving it the beans on here as the traction kicked in and just unsettled it which was very alarming. The old Twin Cam doesnt have this and its just so planted. Also the price, this was a brand new one at dealers and had a good 3 hrs play on it and just the overall package and price i couldn't justify.

Funny when i went back and i know the salesman pretty well he smiled and said i totally agree with the feedback. He has gone back from a LC to a 2012 GS and loves it..
 
adventuredon said:
Prior to buying my 1200rLC i was tracking the latter caponord's. They are still in or around the same price they were 3 years ago. £5900 - £5750.
They are few and far between and hardly any have done more than 18k mileage. I'd say that is a bike that holds its value.

The LC GS's are overvalued, hence after a test ride on the R - I loved the engine, and it was in my price bracket. So I bought it. 2 grand cheaper than an equivalent GS. The LC gs is overpriced for what it is - you're buying the dream, that has the same sleep pattern. I am not saying its a worse bike, or a rubbish bike. Just that it fits exactly what people think they need...Wants v Needs. My 1200 R has had lowered pegs fitted, larger screen, and bar backs...Same ergo now as a GS, Same Engine, much less attractive to scrotes and rides quick enough for me.. Its a 2015 and had fsh with only 12k on the clock and cost £7300...An equivalent GS in the same engine, but different clothes was around the 190/11K mark. I can live without heavy metal boxes on the side..
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There's plenty of good 15 plate 1200GS around for £6-7k.. probably double the mileage though. But you'll get a low miler with nice extras for £8000.
 
MotoRevive said:
TPMS...

If you don't want to pay £100+ for a new sensor or bother trying to bodge them and fit a new battery, just pull them out and put rubber valves in.

The bike can be plugged in and told to remove the RDC sensors
Click to expand...


Can you just as easily add sensors if you have a GS911 ?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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