It's ordered

[fatone]

UK Basque, if I may ask, where did you buy yr GS?

Was it Durruty in Bayonne or the Lescar dealer? If so did you get any sort of deal or, God Forbid, customer service?
Knowing bike dealers in these parts, trying to find any of them that smile, are interested in selling or maintaining bikes or helping motorcyclists, is a rare thing indeed.

 

[UKBasque]

Was it Durruty in Bayonne or the Lescar dealer? If so did you get any sort of deal or, God Forbid, customer service?
Knowing bike dealers in these parts, trying to find any of them that smile, are interested in selling or maintaining bikes or helping motorcyclists, is a rare thing indeed.

No problem - I bought it from Durruty. I originally talked with the sales bloke who was very friendly and helpful. I went back for a test ride a couple of weeks later - he was on holiday but the guy in charge of the workshop looked after me. No problem with a test ride, very enthusiastic about the bike and plenty of time for me.

I tried to get a deal but they offered me either some clothing or a top case - I went for the latter that is listed as €373 fitted.

Funnily enough, I emailed Lescar to see if they would offer me a better deal. They took 16 days to reply!

I replied that I had just bought it from Bayonne - I think Lescar had a bike coming soon and they may well have passed it on to Durruty - thats why my bike is coming earlier than expected, I think.

All in all been happy so far with Durruty - do you have experience of them or other dealers in these parts?

Are you living round here?

 

[fatone]

I live in the Béarn (a lot like Devon). Bikewise I have a sweet 748 Ducati and a fantastically excellent VRSCB with Screamin' Eagle pipes, immaculate condition, 2000 miles, which is for sale. So any folks out there want to try out the Harley 'experience' at a bargin price, I'll happily take it back to the UK!
Sale proceeds will go towards a new GS. Had a 1100 couple of years back which I shipped to the US for a coast to coast blast. Which was nice.

 

[UKBasque]

I live in the Béarn (a lot like Devon). Bikewise I have a sweet 748 Ducati and a fantastically excellent VRSCB with Screamin' Eagle pipes, immaculate condition, 2000 miles, which is for sale. So any folks out there want to try out the Harley 'experience' at a bargin price, I'll happily take it back to the UK!
Sale proceeds will go towards a new GS. Had a 1100 couple of years back which I shipped to the US for a coast to coast blast. Which was nice.

I'm living in the Pays Basque, not far from the Béarn border - in a village called Bardos. Have you got some favourite roads in the mountains for me to try?

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Running in your new GS

If you want to have an interesting journey running in have a trip over to Vienne ( just South of Lyon ) and spend a night or two with us. You can run in at 4000 rpm which is not too much below the legal limit. We could even arrange the first service at a very good dealer in Lyon if you wish.
Hope you have ordered the heated grips because you will ride this 'bike throughout the winter.
Otherwise the standard panniers are excellent, the tank bag is very good and I have fitted the standard BMW 'crash bars.' If you are going to buy a new U lock make sure it is the right one that will fit under the seat.
Best of luck, Brian
(Insurance - I pay 495 euros with AXA - but only after some tough negotiation. I have my house, two cars and a caravan with them. They asked 596 at first so I got a lower quote (for the whole lot) from Macif and AXA agreed to the new figure. Insurance has come down this year in France as a result of fewer accidents.)

 

[UKBasque]

If you want to have an interesting journey running in have a trip over to Vienne ( just South of Lyon ) and spend a night or two with us. You can run in at 4000 rpm which is not too much below the legal limit. We could even arrange the first service at a very good dealer in Lyon if you wish.
Hope you have ordered the heated grips because you will ride this 'bike throughout the winter.
Otherwise the standard panniers are excellent, the tank bag is very good and I have fitted the standard BMW 'crash bars.' If you are going to buy a new U lock make sure it is the right one that will fit under the seat.
Best of luck, Brian
(Insurance - I pay 495 euros with AXA - but only after some tough negotiation. I have my house, two cars and a caravan with them. They asked 596 at first so I got a lower quote (for the whole lot) from Macif and AXA agreed to the new figure. Insurance has come down this year in France as a result of fewer accidents.)

Thanks Brian - I'm a bit busy at work right now, so have to do the running in bit by bit - thanks for the offer - sounds superb, the idea of crossing France on a GS!

I have gone for the heated grips - originally, I had the idea I would just be a "fair weather" rider, but I can see that going out of the window!

I've been looking at insurance just now - I have a quote of €496 (surprisingly close to yours!) - though I have to fit an alarm. Do you need an alarm with AXA?

Do you know what make of U lock fits under the seat?

I found a GS site in France - http://www.pasdegaspillagedevirage.com/ - have you ever had a look? I had a quick look around and ukgser.com seems a lot more active and informative, but there may be some France relevant stuff on it.

Cheers,

Dean.

 

[fatone]

I'm living in the Pays Basque, not far from the Béarn border - in a village called Bardos. Have you got some favourite roads in the mountains for me to try?

Mountain roads are not all they’re ‘cracked’ up to be. Often they’re good going up but not going down the other side - for example St Jean Pied de Port to Iraty is great going up but the other side down thru Larrau and to Tardets the road is narrower, more abrasive and slower. So recommendation is to turn back from Iraty and go back down the same way. Same applies to Arette to La Pierre St Martin – go up to the ski station and turn around.
Laruns up to Col D’Aubisque is great at the moment on account of the Tour de France but it’s hard work on the other side, so again, stop at Gourette, lunch and come back down the same way. Of course timing is key; after the snow the roads are well-rutted so it’s better to wait until after the Tour de France when they’ve sorted it.
But there are some lovely roads on the plains. Mourenx to Navarrenx then back up to Orthez is a particular favourite. Windy (as in bendy rather than flatulently), not busy and a few hills make it a great run.
On the 1100 I found it’s not easy dealing with hairpins. Too high on the seat, too heavy generally and hard on the brakes (no ABS) so it would be interesting to see how the 1200 fares. Obviously even harder work on the VROD but a POP on the 748.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

GS in France

No; AXA do not require an alarm (which I think are a dead loss anyway) but they (& most others) do require tatooing of all the bits (which the dealer will do without too much expense) and you will not be assured against theft if your 'bike is not locked up with an approved U - So make sure that the one you buy is in their list. The U fits under the seat without the solid locking part so it is just a question of the distance between the sides. I paid a lot for my previous one (which doesn't fit) so I don't stow it there. In any case I always find it difficult to put the seat back in place - who doesn't ? - so I stow it, with padding, in the tank bag. No doubt we'll hear more from you - best wishes, Brian

 

[Sir James]

Had to be done really - ordered my GS12 today. Expected arrival Oct 9th - counting down the days! Those sweet mountain roads in the Pyrénées are waiting for me...

Need to sort myself out with Tobinators.

Also, anyone know of a decent seat I can take my kids on? They are 4,6 and 8 - and yeah I'll be careful.

P.S. I was correct in assuming the blue ones are fastest, right?

That seat your looking for is called a three piece , it's better if you get a leather one cause sweats and fast food wipe straight off , if you make them squash up you might get 5 or 6 kids on , however it might be noisey , but a remus exhaust would drowned them out . JB.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Advice freely given !

Don't seem to be able to contact you direct - give me a ring sometime on 0474854995 and I will ring you back on my free ADSL system and we can have a natter. Winter here today but summer promised for the rest of the week ! Best wishes, Brian Vienne 38