Just Demo'd a 1200GS...

[Hawk]

I'm sorry, but you have a very specific problem just at this moment in time which is unlikely to last too long. The problem is that all BMW dealers are trying to clear the country of all 1200GS models ready for the launch of the 'new' model next year. As such they are giving healthy discounts which make secondhand bikes at this time non competitive.
My dealer has been selling two new 1200GS's a day for the last two months. Even they have shifted little or no secondhand bikes.
I was talking to them today and they were saying when these deals finish soon that sales of secondhand bikes will pick up again.
Not good news for you at present but its not permanent doom and gloom.

Very good deals to be had on new bikes. For the sake of £500 compared to used it's a no brainer unless you're skint. I'm glad I wasn't looking to buy early on in the year when they would have been asking top dollar. Discounts are at least 10% off. Anyone buying tomorrow should get at least that. And, lets be honest, it is a farking good bike at 10%+ off.

 

[bumpy]

Discounts are at least 10% off. Anyone buying tomorrow should get at least that. And, lets be honest, it is a farking good bike at 10%+ off.

Certainly is.

I was due to pick mine up tomorrow, but the dealer rang to say it was ready this afternoon, so I rushed over to get it. Was half way home when I realised my insurance only starts tomorrow.
That was a very careful trip

 

[oofmeister]

What a lively bunch - nice to get so much feedback. My thoughts are that I'd be very surprised to find that BMW don't have another bunch of money in the pipeline for next month. I'm off down to another dealer tomorrow to have a go on an 1150 - just to ensure an objective decision you understand.
The 800GS looks mighty tempting for next year, so a miley 1200 or 'classic' 1150 might be the sensible place to put money for now with a view to losing minimum money between now and next summer. Decisions decisions...I'll let you know what sort of deals are on offer for next month!

 

[bumpy]

What a lively bunch - nice to get so much feedback. My thoughts are that I'd be very surprised to find that BMW don't have another bunch of money in the pipeline for next month.

I think that there will still be deals to be done after September, but in the case of the 1200GS the factory production seems to have finished and the only bikes available are those in the system, so getting your choice of colour and spec becomes ever more difficult.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

@ Bumpy

Since most of these bikes still have warranty, only the first batches are out of it.

The first 18 months of sales are out of warranty.

out of warranty means you gotta pay for it.

BM are pretty good with goodwill when out of warranty (though it does depend, I suspect, on your dealer and how you handle the issue).

 

[desperate dan]

Its horses for courses really. Iam mega fussy and keep my bikes for years. My last bike was a 98 ZZR. I finally had to let her go as the 112,000 miles were starting to show. I allways buy new and over service them and generally coset them. With a new one you know its been run in properly and not dropped thrashed or abused. But if i only kept them for 12 months or so i would buy second hand.


Anyway new ones smell LOVERLY

 

[Tricky]

I tried to sell mine (an 05 model) which I bought a year ago second hand. The best offer I had would have lost me 30% in that one year of ownership.

To be honest owning and running a bike is hardly a rationale process.

If you’re not happy because you ‘feel’ something’s going to fail at some point, then get rid of it and buy something your happy with. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The dealer is more important than the deal

"BM are pretty good with goodwill when out of warranty (though it does depend, I suspect, on your dealer and how you handle the issue)."
I know I have said all this before but your choice of dealer is very important - wherever you live. I ride 30+km past my nearest dealer to get mine serviced where I know they are reliable; No problems so far with my 2004 1200GS, now in its fourth year.
Is there a better bike that I should buy? It is nicely run in with 15,000 kms on the clock. I think I will at least wait until the 800GS appears.