Its sad, but I've given up caring!

[oxforshirerider]

Never thought I'd say it, but I have fallen out of love with my GSA!......and not all of it is its fault!

I use my GSA for commuting around 75 miles each way (150miles per day) in all weather, so its fair to say I use it! However, I've also done this in the past on a Suzuki GSXR750 and Triumph Tiger 800 over 10 years......and to be honest I am now starting to give up on the GSA.

Its my second GSA in 3 years, as the first one was stolen. The other day, I found my current GSA lying on its side and surrounded by police who had just chased off (but sadly not apprehended) another theft attempt, in a completely different town. Luckily they didn't get away with it, but locked up with Pragmasis chain, bike pin, disk lock, alarm and tracker was not enough to stop them trying!......they broke the steering lock and cut at the metal work on the bike (not the locks) to try and free it, leaving me with hefty bill!

So, owning one is a test of nerve as to whether it will be there when you get back to it. I lost money replacing the first one as insurance never covers the full cost including pannier racks, boxes etc.... So I am out of pocket because of thieves.

My GSXR750 and Tiger were never targeted in all my years of ownership, so the GS is a thief magnet!

Coupled to this, I've had over £7k of work done under warranty on my latest GSA and still it is a corroded mess, riding it through winter with a regular ACF50 and cleaning programme is not enough to protect it if used on the harsh roads all year round. It already looks old, whereas the Tiger and GSXR750 that went before it never looked anything like as damaged by wear and tear.

SO.....I have fallen out of love! I ride it because it is comfortable and capable, but I no longer love riding it. Now it is a tool and no longer feels special! Cleaning it is now a chore I do to try and keep it in as good nick as possible, rather than something I want to do. I don't choose to ride it anymore, instead I'll take the car if possible!

Its sad, but its true!!!!!!

 

[Warlord]

Fuck me, I'm going to send you £200 invoice for my Counselling time after that.

Book an appointment next time, I've got stuff to do !!

 

[twizzle]

if it's a scruffy wreck, then don't clean it - the thieves will leave it alone.....

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

get an old cheap TDM 900 for a daily runner and keep the GSA for week-ends and holidays.

 

[malcopopolo]

get an old cheap TDM 900 for a daily runner and keep the GSA for week-ends and holidays.

Have to agree, get yourself a cheap hack and keep the BMW for special days. I use to run a faser 600 for my 70 mile round trip commute. When i got back on the GS it felt as good and agile as the first day i got it.

the fact is that modern bikes with eco paint will not fair well in winter.

 

[developer]

Have to agree, get yourself a cheap hack and keep the BMW for special days.

The problem with this (for me) is that I always want to ride the one I bought - that's why I bought it.

As an analogy I bought a fast estate and not a van and and a sports car, because every time I went out, whether work or pleasure I wanted to drive my performance car - if I bought a hack bike in your circumstances it would likely sit in the garage as it's "second best".

It's a sad and mad world when we have to make these decisions

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Try a F800ST. Bargain second hand prices, belt drive which I found very good, good performance and very economical. If you get one that doesn’t cost much it wouldn’t matter if you never cleaned it.

 

[Warlord]

I bought a £3000 Bandit 1250.

I use that to park in camp fields, and overnight, and in towns, and at biker festivals, or anywhere that might be dodgy.

Some people on here think I'm paranoid, but this OP story is exactly why I do it.

My GSA is never left in town is always locked, even at cafes and meeting places McDonalds/Starbucks. But I'm always nearby when I go out on GSA.

Its just a sign of the times.

 

[Warlord]

Saying that, my Bandit is still a very nicely modified bike and I'd be gutted to see it gone.

But £3k is better than £17k when sorting it all out. Regardless of Insurance.

Motorcycles are too easily stolen or tampered with.

 

[Pukmeister]

Given up caring you say?

I would just get rid then if I were you mate, lifes too short.

Enjoy your fast comfy car, plus it will be nice to be able to console yourself with music and aircon when you are sat in traffic.

 

[MaDPRoFF]

Mine is going for the same reason of a Corroded Wreck, and that is not using it much in the winter, it has taken me hours and hours to clean it, remove bolts and re polish etc. to get it to a new look, and that is with washing and protecting it. BMW have no interest and call it environmental issues, My Dealer had a whole wad of folders all warranty issues on his desk all related to corrosion, I for one will never buy another BMW, Loved the Bike, but not looking at in the garage corroding away next to a 2015 Ducati Multi, 3 x milage, used in all weather not a spot of corrosion on it.

 

[Wonkey donkey]

Is it the bike or where you live that is the real problem ?

 

[snaponphil]

I totally see where you are coming from..
I’m not giving up on mine tho, it’s worth taking the easy bolts, nuts, screws & rubber straps off & drop a bit of clear spray grease on suspect parts, on a security point of view I don’t use the steering lock anymore as the damage is expensive, fit a tracker (Biketrac) & leave it vulnerable, if it goes thieves will be caught.

 

[red rocket]

Sorry to read about your bad luck. I can only try and imagine how gutted you were with having the bikes either stolen or fucked up being stolen .Hope you regain your mojo soon on what ever you ride

R.R.

 

[snaponphil]

These scroats (professional wankers) are increasing the insurance premiums for our bikes, nothing’s safe anymore, the police don’t give a monkeys, took them 9 days to send a forensic unit to my mates house & they never open the van doors except to issue us with a crime number.. they’re understaffed & haven’t the resources to follow the hard leads.

We are a pussy nannied country, politically correct, f*** that, lets get to the ways of parts of Spain & Russia, out come the batons, ever wondered why there’s very little violence,.? The ‘bouncers’ take no shit... e

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Bad form with ***** ruining such wonderful things.

Bought a showroom model F800GS with 700km on the clock, less than 8 months old and one fork leg was destroyed with rust within weeks. Initially told it’s not covered under warranty but then argued it’s clearly a fault as the other leg is fine. Now I use afc50 after every 500km and she’s mint !!! Takes a fair beaten too with the odd off road tumble and my fat ass wild camping with the kitchen sink on the back

 

[malcopopolo]

The problem with this (for me) is that I always want to ride the one I bought - that's why I bought it.

As an analogy I bought a fast estate and not a van and and a sports car, because every time I went out, whether work or pleasure I wanted to drive my performance car - if I bought a hack bike in your circumstances it would likely sit in the garage as it's "second best".

It's a sad and mad world when we have to make these decisions

You have to have the mindset, work bike and play bike

 

[Weird Bob]

Look. Like me you are getting older and using a bike to commute is going to take the shine of it for you. Having it nicked or interfered with is only going to exacerbate that.
Had a car nicked that I really liked. Got it back and repaired but just didn’t feel the same about it, same when I’ve accidentally thrown a bike down the road. Funnily I don’t mind if it goes wrong occasionally (as long as it doesn’t leave me stranded) and I don’t have to foot the repair bill.

Get yourself a bike that you like (so maybe a change from a GSA) and use it to commute when the mood takes you and use the car the rest of the time.

 

[Deleted account 230523001]

THe UK is not fit for purpose, consider moving.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I commute on my GSA because I want to commute on a bike that I enjoy riding, but every day and in all weathers and eventually the love goes.

So now I mix it a little, if the weathers really shyte I take the car, when it’s hot and I’m in jeans I cruise in on one of the other bikes - My GSA is now being a little more pampered and the loves back