is there a market for a "simple" R1300GS?

r1200rt

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given the launch of the R1300GS, and all it's "tech", this got me thinking about how popular would a "basic" version be

i mean..

analogue dials (no TFT)
ABS (front only)
fuel injection
starting with a normal key

but no other electronic aids/gadgets etc (no ESA, cruise control, rider modes, radar thingy, automatic lowering, BMW assist, electric screen, TPS, collision warning etc etc)

how well would this sell?
 
r1200rt said:
given the launch of the R1300GS, and all it's "tech", this got me thinking about how popular would a "basic" version be

i mean..

analogue dials (no TFT)
ABS (front only)
fuel injection
starting with a normal key

but no other electronic aids/gadgets etc (no ESA, cruise control, rider modes, radar thingy, automatic lowering, BMW assist, electric screen, TPS, collision warning etc etc)

how well would this sell?
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An interesting question. When I ordered my first 1200 GSA LC I wanted the base model. No frills. The dealer said he would order one but on the understanding that they really wouldn’t want it back come trade in time as customers wanted all the options. I ordered one with most of the options and quite enjoyed it. I’m now on my second RnineT which I’ve GS’d as I like their relatively simple spec.
 
I think people who want the non tech, no frills versions are in the minority.

Personally i want the top of the range with every bit of tech on they can fit on it... then ill take it home and fit more myself!
i think most people do.

If you do long trips like me, then all the toys help.
I lhad bikes through the 70s and 80s, i don't want a bike like that now lol
 
if all the electronic options came as extras that buyers had to pay extra for.....how many would opt for them? do people really want them? or do BMW add them to inflate the price/profit?
 
r1200rt said:
if all the electronic options came as extras that buyers had to pay extra for.....how many would opt for them? do people really want them? or do BMW add them to inflate the price/profit?
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Probably not that many if the buyer intended trading it in at some stage which I guess many/most do as those "extras" AFAIK add little or nothing to the trade in value which is based on the model you've bought without the add ons. If I'm correct the original owner is then just gifting all those extras to the dealer to make their trade in easier to sell. If you're buying a keeper then any extras you add are for your use/benefit so make sense if you don't want everything included in the higher spec model(s).
 
I wonder what the profit margin on the GS is, compared to other manuacturer's similar models (African Twin etc)
 
r1200rt said:
I wonder what the profit margin on the GS is, compared to other manuacturer's similar models (African Twin etc)
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No idea but they must make enough to sustain their business and develop new models, though I'd guess the dealers make most of their money from PCPs and servicing?
 
I tried to order a base spec twin cam in about 2010. Dealer just flat refused saying they wouldn’t waste an allocation on such a spec and that they wouldn’t want it back in three years time, even though I said that wouldn’t happen.
Maybe I’m amongst the few that really don’t want any of that shit. I prefer to ride my bike, not be taken for a ride by it. I want my input to be what matters, not have some tech take over if I get within 20% of getting it wrong….in it’s opinion.
And oddly enough I never seem to be left behind when I’m out with a group.
 
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Littledumptruck said:
I tried to order a base spec twin cam in about 2010. Dealer just flat refused saying they wouldn’t waste an allocation on such a spec and that they wouldn’t want it back in three years time, even though I said that wouldn’t happen.
Maybe I’m amongst the few that really don’t want any of that shit. I prefer to ride my bike, not be taken for a ride by it. I want my input to be what matters, not have some tech take over if I get within 20% of getting it wrong….in it’s opinion.
And oddly enough I never seem to be left behind when I’m with with a group.
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I'm with you there. Heated grips and ABS are about as techy as I want. Set the suspension on my twin cam when I got it and don't think I've touched it since.
 
ricardo said:
I'm with you there. Heated grips and ABS are about as techy as I want. Set the suspension on my twin cam when I got it and don't think I've touched it since.
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Yes to the grips, always fit them to whatever bike I’m on. But not actually that fussed about ABS either. My old R850GS and Blackbird don’t have it, my Pan and Tenere do. Done thousands of miles on these and others and never felt I missed it on those without.
My latest van has some kind of anti skid aswell as abs, poxy thing stopped me having some fun on a nice wet n greasy roundabout the other day, engine just died half way round and wouldn’t pick up till I’d straightened back up.

I‘ve said this before, what I’d like them to do is upgrade the UrbanGS to a touring version. Add the option of panniers and top box and a better screen/fairing/nose cone.
 
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We’re all different

The one thing I love on my 1200 is the electronic preload adjustment, I do a lot of 2 up riding and often with luggage too so for me that feature is golden

I would love the automatic upy / downy suspension of the 1300 to make life easier getting on, getting off etc, especially when loaded

I do use cruise control and I like it but I definitely don’t want ACC which I hate

I dont need riding modes,

I’m not bothered about a TFT screen, I’m fine with analog. If they’d integrated a GPS into it that would change the situation but they haven’t, that seems like a major omission to me on a new model :nenau

ABS and heated grips, yes

Electric windscreen might seem a bit unnecessary but they are very nice once you’ve had one :)
 
Littledumptruck said:
I tried to order a base spec twin cam in about 2010. Dealer just flat refused saying they wouldn’t waste an allocation on such a spec and that they wouldn’t want it back in three years time, even though I said that wouldn’t happen.
Maybe I’m amongst the few that really don’t want any of that shit. I prefer to ride my bike, not be taken for a ride by it. I want my input to be what matters, not have some tech take over if I get within 20% of getting it wrong….in it’s opinion.
And oddly enough I never seem to be left behind when I’m out with a group.
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I bought a base spec twin cam GSA in 2011. ABS and heated grips. It was a great bike and no problem trading for a KTM.

Can't say I ever missed the electronic bollox that brings nothing to the ride.
 
r1200rt said:
given the launch of the R1300GS, and all it's "tech", this got me thinking about how popular would a "basic" version be
Click to expand...
As leadfarmer says, we're all different (thank goodness).

If I was in the market for a 1300 I'd definitely go for the basic option. The electronic aids hold no interest for me and I far prefer simple analogue gauges to tft screens. I'd even have to think whether I really needed the heated grips..!
 
Littledumptruck said:
I tried to order a base spec twin cam in about 2010. Dealer just flat refused saying they wouldn’t waste an allocation on such a spec and that they wouldn’t want it back in three years time, even though I said that wouldn’t happen.
Maybe I’m amongst the few that really don’t want any of that shit. I prefer to ride my bike, not be taken for a ride by it. I want my input to be what matters, not have some tech take over if I get within 20% of getting it wrong….in it’s opinion.
And oddly enough I never seem to be left behind when I’m out with a group.
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I ordered a basic spec Triple Black TC GSA in 2012, didn’t even have ABS and I loved it, very little to go wrong.

I moved away from BMW in 2021 as I wanted a basic 1250 GSA but with heated grips and this wasn’t an option, to have heated Grips I had to have a ‘pack’ of stuff I didn’t want for £1,500.

Spat my dummy and bought a KTM, which happens to have more toys 🤦‍♂️
Still have a basic 1150GS in the garage though, heated grips no ABS.
 
I had a 30yr Anniversary 1200 GSA TC (2010) with full luggage) with approx 42k on the clock. It had no ABS or ESA etc and I sold it for not much less than I paid for it 4 years before. I searched the whole country until I found it and travelled to Manchester then back to Devon to pick it up.

When I traded it the dealer said he wasn't aware it didnt have all the bells and whistles however the bike sold in the first week when others with all the tech didnt.1200GSA_50.jpg
 
no ABS on a 2010 model bike? was that even legally allowed then?
 
r1200rt said:
no ABS on a 2010 model bike? was that even legally allowed then?
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No idea but it didnt even have the switchgear for it so I guess I struck lucky and the bike didnt look like it had modified when I bought it from a main dealer. I thought it was 2013 it was made mandatory
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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