Question from a new guy

[JohnnyBoxer]

Senator,
A drop of £9000 to £5600 on the V-Tec VFR , is more than I could stomach!!
This year I swapped my 24,000 mile 2000 W 1150GS (no ABS , but heated grips) for another of the same - 2002 1150GS for £1750 at a BMW dealer.
Apart from the fun on a GS , I couldn't afford to run another Jap bike in depreciation alone.

 

[stewart]

Flyers Predicament

Went through the same exercise myself in April this year, do I keep the VFR or do I go for the GS1150 no contest really as has previously been stated the bike really puts the fun back in riding especially if you don't keep falling off the bloody thing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards Stewart

 

[paulm]

just a thought

just sold my GS (shame but will have another one soon) and also have an older 'blade in the garage (for track days)

but my "main" bike, which i love to bits is the R1100S - much of the character of the GS but with a sportier feel

it does lack the upright "Land Rover" riding position of the GS but it's a great bike and might be another interesting alternative to the GS particularly for someone coming off a VFR

the S does have usefully more grunt too!

enjoy those test rides

 

[City Slicker]

Senator,
A drop of £9000 to £5600 on the V-Tec VFR , is more than I could stomach!!
This year I swapped my 24,000 mile 2000 W 1150GS (no ABS , but heated grips) for another of the same - 2002 1150GS for £1750 at a BMW dealer.
Apart from the fun on a GS , I couldn't afford to run another Jap bike in depreciation alone.

I got quoted 6K trade in on a 2001 abs @ 28k+all the trimmings - not very good but comparable to the VFR.

Why do people perpetuate the myth that the GSes hold their value? - they plummet like a stone if you put any mileage on them.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

City Slicker
Depends which dealer you ask - when it comes to 'trade-in' time I usually ring 6-10 BMW dealers for a price and they can vary between £1000 -1500 on the value of your old bike, depending on new bike axailability, have they got any 2nd hand ones in stock , time of year etc.

You've got to set your deal up right and I've never bought off the same BMW dealer twice .

Your bike with everything on was about £8500 or thereabouts new and you were offered £6000 , after 28,000 miles so £2500-2600 isn't too bad , better than a loss of £3000-3500 on a 2002 VFR with 2000 miles on it. Wouldn't you agree?
At least you've had the use on your bike.

 

[MikeO]

Why do people leave the 'extras' they've bought at great expense on the bike when they trade it? When I traded my Pan for the Adventure, the dealer was quite happy for me to take off the top-box, Corbin, non-std screen, Baglux etc, without reducing the trade-in price. I sold these through the Pan Clan & made another £400. Most dealers, I'm sure, would feel the same about kit fitted to a GS, so long as you replace the original kit.

MikeO

 

[guitarman]

Flyer, I had a VFR for 3 months a couple of years ago.

I hated it.

It was uncomfortable (the palms of my hands hurt like hell after 100 miles and my bum after 150 miles).

Petrol consumption and fuel range were appalling for a bike that pretends it can tour. I don't want to stop every 140 miles and get less then 40 mpg cruising at 90.

It had a chain (urgh).

Wind protection was no better than the GS and there was more to damage when it fell over as it did regularly because of the f-ing side stand was crap.

Get rid of the VFR and get a GS. You'll get from A to B quicker as you won't have to stop for petrol so often and your pillion won't complain as much.

Basically it wasn't much fun. I did 2500 miles in two weeks in France over all sorts of roads and that was enough for me to decide it had to go.

I'm much better now though.

 

[TimD]

Flyer

I have a beautiful Ducati 996 SPS in my garage alongside my 1150 GS.

I need to sell one of them to finance the building of a microlight.

There is absolutely no question of my parting with the Beemer!!!

For all its quirks the GS is the finest bike I've ever owned...

 

[THE PICT]

Used to have an 89 VFR.Great bike in my opinion ,comfy,reliable and fast but not as great as a GS.

 

[Flyer]

Many, many thanks, you guys, for telling about the GS.

Anyone want to buy an immaculate red 1998 Viffer???

Flyer.

 

[Sailor]

Indicators

Originally posted by Andy Leeds UK Try to ignore the odd bits like the awful indicator system,

I have always thought that BMW have the best indicator system of any bike, and still do.

The reason that they attract so much criticism is that thet are unfortunately not the norm, and consequently not familiar to many who have spent a long time riding other makes.

 

[BAKERMAN]

[

But the GS is another story , my 2002 GS has got the footpegs ground off and scraped to the rubbers.

How do you manage that, need to see to beleave, picture please, Johnny boy.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bakers - I'll post a pic in the near future if you want -once i've ventured out to the garage.
Believe me, it's quite easy -once you get over the initial fear of leaning it over.
I find it difficult in the UK, as the roads are too bumpy and tarmac crap in general,but in Europe especially when you're riding day after day and the roads are better - you just crank it over,use a bit of countersteer - bingo, the pegs go down and if you're really brave the plastic scuff guards on the heads (still to manage this yet , but I reckon you could do it on a track - I've seen it done on a GS).
ASk Legger about 'peg-scraping' he's usually following and seeing the sparks.

 

[BAKERMAN]

We have a local roundabout that the boots are a bit scuffted.

White Power on the rear seems to jack the back up making pegs a bit higher.

 

[retroman]

Re: test rides, its essential that you get a nice long test ride because the first half hour is weird. After that, make sure you've an understanding partner and/or bank manager because its highly likely that you will be completely hooked.

I went to the NEC this year but it was a bit of a waste of time. I just wasn't interested in all those shiny bikes, not when I'd arrived on a GS which I reckon is the perfect all round bike.

That being said, I wouldn't mind a 250 KTM for off road buffoonery but in all other respects the GS is the best bike I've ever ridden. Fit a Remus pipe and y-piece and you are really laughing ....

Ride safe

 

[BawdyMonk]

Bland is a good descirption of a VFR, I've had the pleasure of VFR's for the past 4 years, old 750 and '99 800, I went to look at the latest and i just can't get a tingle any more, I often hit 150mph and do the twisties but to be honest if the only way you can get a buzz is by laying it on the line, it's time to change bikes, thats working on the theory that you can't be lucky all the time...
After trolling around all the bike shops, surfing the net, reading the mags I popped into a BMW showroom and got bitten, even the girlie wants me to get a GS Adventure, and she was having orgasms sitting on a ZZ1200R!
I'm trying to get a test but not easy on an Adventure or ordinary GS, I will be getting my arse on my own BMW by March though. until then I'm reading these sites almost every day!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bland is a good descirption of a VFR, I've had the pleasure of VFR's for the past 4 years, old 750 and '99 800, I went to look at the latest and i just can't get a tingle any more, I often hit 150mph and do the twisties but to be honest if the only way you can get a buzz is by laying it on the line, it's time to change bikes, thats working on the theory that you can't be lucky all the time...
After trolling around all the bike shops, surfing the net, reading the mags I popped into a BMW showroom and got bitten, even the girlie wants me to get a GS Adventure, and she was having orgasms sitting on a ZZ1200R!
I'm trying to get a test but not easy on an Adventure or ordinary GS, I will be getting my arse on my own BMW by March though. until then I'm reading these sites almost every day!

For a test ride , try CW @ Dorchester - they should be able to oblige and seem to be one of the best dealers in South West.

 

[BawdyMonk]

Thanks when I get back I'll look up the "Good" dealers for some goodies, but I live near Ayia Napa, Cyprus