My brother bought an SA and now I'm tempted to the orange side...

I did pop along to Premier Bikes, and found their salesman to be uninterested in selling to me. I also went to the Honda dealer in Abingdon, because I was considering a Crossdresser, and found the salesman there to be equally uninterested.
I went to the BMW dealer and found them to be professional and keen to sell to me. I do like the integrated satnav, and other fripperies; I think the gearbox is shit and the gearshift assist I could do without; I think the engine is crude, but plenty fast enough; I commute all year, so I'm glad about led lighting and asc and abs and flashing brake lights. But most of all I like having a dealer who gives a toss.
There are many reasons people end up with the bikes they ride, some less obvious than others

And this is what BMW do so well, there sales model is 2nd to none.

In fact the worst experience i have ever had was at PH motorcycles near gatwick with the KTM dealer there, more interested in his cheesy chips than selling a bike.
 
I agree with Giles regarding the importance of a bike having character and soul.
After two years of GS ownership I'm bored shitless with it.
Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliantly functional and practical appliance but totally uninvolving.
Anyway, I've got a date with an 1190 Adventure demo bike on Friday so we'll see.
Can't wait!
 
Yep thats right, there are loads of magazines for all bikes, go read any of them i bet you can find either a picture of a BMW or it being referred to in about 30% of of the magazine in some way or other. All of which get paid loads in advertising by the way, they possibly couldn't be honest if anything was wrong.

"I don't buy GS's just because they have the features I listed, they are great to have, but are one of the many reasons why I go for the GS every time."

Im sure there is such as LED Lights, Keyless ignition, If you had said shaft drive, comfort, dealer experience you have a valid argument.

Just so you know, i find my SA really comfy, KTM Verwood have a great atmosphere to it with really friendly staff ect, the coffee machine is not as good as BMW Alton mind and they dont have cake and biscuits!

As for your last coment you are the one who said go look at a KTM dealer to look at build quality on a demo, go figure!

You dont work for BMW by any chance?

Exactly. The features are one of the reasons why I buy the GS. This isn't the right part of the forum to go on and list them all, but the ones you mention are included, along with many others.

My example about KTM build quality was a crap one, admittedly, but I wouldn't struggle to find one with corrosion issues, as I'm sure you could find a GS with the same issues if you wanted to.

We could go on all day with this.:D At the end of the day, loads of people like the GS, loads of people obviously like the KTM alternative. The KTM is taking a few sales away from BMW. That's a good thing.:thumb
 
Exactly. The features are one of the reasons why I buy the GS. This isn't the right part of the forum to go on and list them all, but the ones you mention are included, along with many others.

My example about KTM build quality was a crap one, admittedly, but I wouldn't struggle to find one with corrosion issues, as I'm sure you could find a GS with the same issues if you wanted to.

We could go on all day with this.:D At the end of the day, loads of people like the GS, loads of people obviously like the KTM alternative. The KTM is taking a few sales away from BMW. That's a good thing.:thumb

If there was a like button.
 
Led lights yes if you fit them.
Keyless no thank god, makes it harder to steel.
Integrated sat nav, no but then the dash that you can actually read tells you everything.
Quickshifter, no, big deal, I have a left hand and clutch leaver that I only need for downshifts.

Does the gs have 160 HP, a gearbox that is so good you can barely feel it?
And while we are at it the current year gs doesn't have active suspension or corner stability control, never mind hill hold start or MSR.
The garmin 590 is a much better gps than the nav v (uprated zumo 660)

Keyless exept for the nav V cradle and cases

With a gearbox and clutch like the 1290 who needs a quick shifter

I do miss the telever(you get used to it in 9 years) and the semi active suspenion on the GS it seemed more composed
What I don't miss is the shitty service Bmw give

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-N910F met Tapatalk
 
both are great bikes, id have the KTM like a shot..if it didn't look so shite :blast
 
The GSA is a great bike. The KTM is a great bike. They are both aimed at a similar consumer.

You pays your money and you makes your choice!:beerjug:
 
Three cheers for Nutty. I enjoy reading about KTM's more than BMW's and he does help keep the thread going.:beer jug:

The answer is obvious - a KTM and a GS. Neither are perfect, both tick different boxes. i have been a KTM owner for just a couple of weeks, and while it is only the modesty powered and gadget free SMT ( I don't even have a petrol gauge!), I find myself using it more than the WC at the moment. I think either an 1190 or SA in my future is inevitable.
 
£16 grand for a KTM SA..... Crazy money :rolleyes:

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Save yourself a load of dosh and buy the 1050 instead ..... £6k buys a lot of fuel and biking trip.:thumb2
 
£16 grand for a KTM SA..... Crazy money :rolleyes:

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Save yourself a load of dosh and buy the 1050 instead ..... £6k buys a lot of fuel and biking trip.:thumb2

Not the same badass engine though !
 
Not the same badass engine though !

A couple of tests I've read say the 1050 is the pick of the bunch, smoother than the 1190, as quick as the 1290 up to a ton and clearly much better value. I'm sure the power is a blast , I quite like the 130bhp of my Crosstourer but Often I just end up gassing it between corners , arriving at the next one too quick, braking , then blasting out again. 100 bhp is all you really need unless you are two up and loaded regularly :thumb
 
both are great bikes, id have the KTM like a shot..if it didn't look so shite :blast

Eye of beholder stuff, I personally don't think you could claim the GS is a looker by any stretch. Aesthetics only go so far relative to functional ability, but it would be a bloody boring existence if everyone was assimilated into the same cloned mindset. ;)
 
Sigh .... ...............................

Given the choice, I, like Clarkson, want the passion. I want the character. I want the soul, I want a bike that makes my bollocks stir, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Learn that Nutty FFS :rob : !!!!!

Giles, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember our little chat about how the GS was once a cool, iconic, left field bike????????? How it was spoilt by all, sundry and their dog having to have one because MCN said they should??????????

Please , please, PLEASE do not encourage them to go Orange.

Let's keep it our little secret.................please :kissy2

Nutty, KTM's are shit. Really. Especially the big V's. They are especially shit. Please don't buy one. You'd hate it because they are shit :)

Andres
 
A couple of tests I've read say the 1050 is the pick of the bunch, smoother than the 1190, as quick as the 1290 up to a ton and clearly much better value

I wouldn't disagree ..... I rode the 1290 SA and 1050 back to back and preferred the 1050 apart from the mirrors, indicators and cast wheels

I liked the fact you could use all of the power most of the time which it simply isn't possible to do on the SA
 
I wouldn't disagree ..... I rode the 1290 SA and 1050 back to back and preferred the 1050 apart from the mirrors, indicators and cast wheels

I liked the fact you could use all of the power most of the time which it simply isn't possible to do on the SA

Ahhhh, but................the 1190/1290's have a button for that. You can press the button and it engages '1050 mode'. You can use that most of the time if you so wish.

Then, when the mood takes you, you can press the button again and engae 'full on nutter mode'.

It's nice to have choices :D

Andres
 


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