New or old ?

[Manofleisur]

Is it just me but having purchased for me a new 2007 reg RT and loving it I get the feeling on here that New is really only the way to go !!!
May I say I am very happy with what I have and prior to getting my bike always thought BMW's were built to last many many years. Hence my surprise to find that a lot of people thinking they must have the latest model or they will be left stranded when there old bike gives up the ghost.
Or is it just me who thinks that a good second hand bike is a good investment for many years to come ???

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

New is the way to go, for most

Desirable new bikes, with loads of gadgets - that most don't use

2 years warranty

Attractive finance packages (not cheap though)

Just swap every 2 years and keep paying £200 per month for the benefits - what is not to like

Only expenses are servicing and tyres/fuel/insurance

 

[Manofleisur]

£200 a month !!! Plus the bike is never yours as you just keep paying year after year. Perhaps I am just old fashioned but like the fact the bike is payed for and it is all mine.

 

[Manofleisur]

Another thought has just occurred to me in that if you are swapping every 2 years you never truly get to ride a fully loosened engine gearbox etc. Like I said I am just old fashioned.

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

Having had both, I must say that at present, I prefer the new on a regular basis. For ownership also brings with it possible expensive bills in terms of things that break and sadly whilst the BMW brand name is quality, some of the items that leave their factory may not match. Many RT users have had problems with fuel strips, final drive and corrosion and there are loads of electronic gadgets that may just plain need diagnostics that are beyond most non full time garages or main dealers. I want to ride the bike as often as possible and not get involved with the servicing or maintenance. I think that when I get more time in my life I may well get an older bike to play with, (and when I don't want to pay the fees at main dealers) but for now new suits. As to loosened motor and drive train, I think my RT with 6500 miles is pretty well run in, when riding in the twisties or country roads, its often revving at 6500-7500rpm, (60 in second) and it (IMHO) is a much better ride than the previous RTs.

 

[Engineer]

New every time is the only way to go for me, no PCP or hire purchase nonsense either - if I don't have the cash at the time of purchase then I get a low interest bank loan - the bike is then all mine from day one without restrictions. I do a fair number of miles as it it my main transport so I want a dependable machine with good dealer backup - no desire or time to faff about in the garage mending stuff these days, life is too short

 

[Engineer]

Another thought has just occurred to me in that if you are swapping every 2 years you never truly get to ride a fully loosened engine gearbox etc. Like I said I am just old fashioned.

Depends on how many miles you ride each year.

 

[Manofleisur]

Very true on the miles I will do and also not my primary form of transport, so can treat it as a hobby. I can fully understand going the new route if the bike is your main means of transport. As you may guess from my user name I have the luxury of being retired.

 

[fatnfast]

I'm greatful for all those who buy new and trade in every few years. A couple of months ago I picked up an immaculate 2011 RT with just 11k on the clock, big spec and FSH. The previous owner had not only taken a big financial hit, but also obviously cherished the bike, so many thanks to whoever they are .
I did buy from a BMW dealer, so paid more than a private deal (although not by very much) and therefore it has the bonus of a pretty good warrenty as well.

You may possibly get mechanical issues with an older bike, but its unlikely to cost the thousands of pounds you loose in depreciation on a new bike as it rolls out of the showroom.

I dont really get pcp finance: you put down a big deposit, pay a couple of hundred quid a month and at the end of the term either pay another chunk of cash to keep the bike, or start all over again (but with possibly a smaller deposit and larger payments next time). Or give the bike back!!

If I had to have a new bike I would go down Engineers route for sure, and the bike would have to be something special and a long term keeper (like my 1150gs bought new in 2002 ).

So to all who have bought new, please look after your bike as I may well be the next owner

 

[tuftywhite]

I have a 1983 R100RT which I'm very happy with.

 

[Manofleisur]

I have a 1983 R100RT which I'm very happy with.

So my idea is a good one then !!! By my reckoning I have 34 years life left in my bike Loving it

 

[stever1]

New is the way to go, for most

Desirable new bikes, with loads of gadgets - that most don't use

2 years warranty

Attractive finance packages (not cheap though)

Just swap every 2 years and keep paying £200 per month for the benefits - what is not to like

Only expenses are servicing and tyres/fuel/insurance

Plus you get to watch it corrode away in front of you in no time at all. Various suspension complaints. Battery problems and more beside.

fixed it for you.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Plus you get to watch it corrode away in front of you in no time at all. Various suspension complaints. Battery problems and more beside.

fixed it for you.

I used to sell BM's and its a simple lifestyle and budget choice... Buy new, take the hit but have more backup and bigger service bills... You get the latest spec but pay a combination of depreciation, ownership and miles...

Buy used and have far less depreciation but virtually always some niggly bits to fix... I have always bought used for cash and have mostly serviced/fixed things myself whether its a BM or something else... No bike is problem free and a few hundred pounds a year is a good average for most people if you do some miles...

This year its an 07RT and the list is front wheel bearings, rear FD seal with possible FD rebuild in the future... Now brake discs... The bike was worth it, is a pretty good one, but nothing comes for free... Sometimes I wonder if I can be arsed with fixing things but I always stick with it... There may be a time when I don't...

You take your choice and either way, it works for you....

 

[Manofleisur]

So at the end of the day buying used is not such a bad idea then, also gives you a good feeling to have a sweet running old bike that you have looked after lovingly over many years.
I must say when I was younger I always bought new but in my later years like the idea of buying used.

 

[Dennis the Menace]

Buy new or used what ever you want, got my first BMW in 1974, had one ever since, airheads, bricks, oil heads, single and now LC, never had the same model twice and for me the new model was always better than the old model.
Since the release of the 1200 in 2004 the bikes have come on in leaps and bounds in terms of tecknology and performance, but sometimes as you get older that's not what you want or need