Just supposin.........

[wildoat]

Hi everyone, my first post, have been lurking for a while!

Haven't had a GS for a spell, had two r1100gs years back which I put a total of 80,000 on the two combined, loved every mile, anyway............

I have a budget of approx£10,000, can be stretched a bit, not much.

Would you opt for a late, low mileage 1200gs air/oil cooled(with lots of goodies fitted) or choose an early 1200LC, perhaps a more basic bike.
I've been looking at all the classifieds and it seems the latest bikes are mighty expensive, curious to know what you guys would do in my position, really appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Here's a shot of my last GS which I loved, literally

 

[Neil W]

Its a bmw , number one rule buy the latest incarnation possible of the older model (the development has been done and all the problems sorted) rather than an an early version of its replacement.

 

[Wreford Miles]

I had an 1150 for 13 years and 75K miles, I nearly went down the LC ADV route but instead bought a year old 90year special edition of the last model with all the bits. It's a very good bike with character like the 11XX bikes.

The LC is a very good bike but you'll not be disappointed with the last of the TC's - IMO

Did I see another 90 year for sale on here the other day

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Plenty of top spec GS & GSA Twin Cams around with full luggage for less than £10k

 

[Wreford Miles]

Whatever you end up with it will be a backward step from that lovely 1100

 

[wildoat]

Thanks guys, appreciate your thoughts and recommendations, there is also a huge amount of choice these days which doesn't make it any easier!

cheers

 

[Wrinkly]

Get yourself a nice T/C, with luggage if needed. Everybody seems to want ESA, so if you can, find one without and stick on a pair of 'Ohlins'.

I've had both T/C and W/C and in my opinion the T/C is a much nicer bike. Don't be seduced by the figures, in the real world the W/C is no quicker than the T/C.

Or....

Find yourself the best 1100 you can. With your budget that should leave you plenty to purchase another really nice bike.

Early 1200 (some very nice sorted one's about)....Moto Guzzi Stelvio.... I've just bought a mint 2004 VStrom for under 3k and it's a lovely bike.

Having said all that if you do only wish to purchase one bike, 10K will allow you purchase and sort a 1200 T/C to the very best order.

Enjoy your search.

Steve

 

[wildoat]

Get yourself a nice T/C, with luggage if needed. Everybody seems to want ESA, so if you can, find one without and stick on a pair of 'Ohlins'.

I've had both T/C and W/C and in my opinion the T/C is a much nicer bike. Don't be seduced by the figures, in the real world the W/C is no quicker than the T/C.

Or....

Find yourself the best 1100 you can. With your budget that should leave you plenty to purchase another really nice bike.

Early 1200 (some very nice sorted one's about)....Moto Guzzi Stelvio.... I've just bought a mint 2004 VStrom for under 3k and it's a lovely bike.

Having said all that if you do only wish to purchase one bike, 10K will allow you purchase and sort a 1200 T/C to the very best order.

Enjoy your search.

Steve

Thanks for your suggestion Steve.
That's a really interesting idea, reckon I could get something pretty special in the end!
Slightly concerned about the fragility of the clutch and ease of replacement compared with the newer bike.
I do tend to rack up the miles on my bikes so long term maintenance issues need to be considered.
cheers
Tony

 

[Mutley]

Its a bmw , number one rule buy the latest incarnation possible of the older model (the development has been done and all the problems sorted) rather than an an early version of its replacement.

Wot he said

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Plenty of top spec GS & GSA Twin Cams around with full luggage for less than £10k

Wot he said....get the best Twin Cam you can.






Or......for £10k you could get a new Africa Twin.

 

[Rockred]

I have a 1200 GS TC 2012 for sale fully loaded spec wise with panniers top box ,tank bag, it has done 12,000 miles and is UK spec bought new from Jefferys and full dealer service history . Reason for sale is. I booked with Sgt Bilco for the coast to coast USA trip early this year, shipped the bike to the UK early May for loading into the container to go to the US,the bike would be away for appox 4 months, so not to be without a bike for the summer, I bought a WC so that I could tour Spain and Portugal before and after the US trip, with a view to selling the TC when I got it back to Gib. But I fell out of a tree when the ladder folded and I fell 10 feet onto concrete and broke my heel, so never made the US or the other ones I had planed. The bike will be back in the UK round about the end of this month. It will be much less than £10,000. If you are interested drop me a PM. The bike has had a good holiday but done no miles in the US.

Thanks for reading. Ian.

 

[DING-DONG]

I have a 2010 twin cam that I'm selling September, it's done 12k touring miles so it's hardly used but it looks like it's done 2k tho and full BMW service history in fact its been serviced yearly regardless of the miles so it's actually been over serviced, it's absolutely immaculate, I've always brought new so I'm extremely fussy (OCD) it's fully loaded with every extra, plus lots more.

Full luggage (3 boxes varios) sargent seats, Quickshifter, cruise control, mudsling, puig hugger, pazzo levers, fork protectors, gsa screen, screen deflector, Hid lights, led spots, TT mini rear rack, frame bungs, bevel guard, head protectors, kleihn headers, BMW Akro can, hilltop mapped, beak spoiler, wheels-sump guard and odd bits n bobs powder coated satin black, all bolts polished stainless/titanium, bike its fully ventureshield film protected so there not even a stone chip anywhere, I've even ventureshield the fork legs and rear drive and there lots more.

It's minta then a mint thing.

Quickshifter

 

[Fanum]

I'd spend 4k on the best 1150GSA I could with 20-30k miles on it, then another £1000 on Wilburs or Ohlins, then spend the other 5K on fuel and a bloody good couple of long trips away

Quite genuinely.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Buy Ding Dongs keep it for a few years then fit some Ohlins and you'll have a keeper

 

[UpgradeAl]

Buy Ding Dongs keep it for a few years then fit some Ohlins and you'll have a keeper

Agree. Get the latest and best twin cam you can find (preferably triple black). Then RIDE it, rather than spending all of your time cleaning it - that's what it is for. Have any of you ever thought of the cost of the time you spend keeping it mint in relation to the eventual sale price difference between immaculate and "in good shape for its age"??

I got mine 2 years ago at three years old, with 3k miles on and full spec for £9k (from a a BMW dealer, even..). It's now coming up to 23k. Really glad I chopped in the single cam for it - no more servo misbehaviour to worry about.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Ding Dong....do you fancy a couple days free B&B in Aberdeen while you clean mine

 

[wildoat]

Without a doubt the best presented and specced gs I've ever seen.
I have however bought a triumph tiger explorer, I'm hoping looking forward my experience of dealer care will be better than BMW!
Honestly had I seen this before I bought the Triumph I'd almost certainly have bitten your arm off for this stunning machine!
Between you and me and the fence post I'm not sure I'm smitten with the tripple engine configuration, it has oodles of power but has a slight vibe thing that the GS's dont!

 

[Spinpeg]

Its a bmw , number one rule buy the latest incarnation possible of the older model (the development has been done and all the problems sorted) rather than an an early version of its replacement.

Good advice here.

 

[JimmyMac]

FREE and ABERDEEN in the same sentence? I'm away to get my eyes checked!!! LOL

JimmyMac