re-liability

[thosoneill]

just been thinking of the attributes over honda and bmw - smooth in line four motorcycle with no vibration - ancient opposed twin which would rattle you to death - should i really consider going back 2 bmw - sensible replies please

 

[wully]

You are considering it...

Go to Motorrad in Bishopbriggs and get a test ride for an afternoon.

Then go to Victor Devine and try and get a sensible conversation

 

[Thunder]

You are considering it...

Go to Motorrad in Bishopbriggs and get a test ride for an afternoon.

Then go to Victor Devine and try and get a sensible conversation

What he said, plus how many Honda forum members would get up at 20 to 6 on a Saturday morning to reply to your question?

 

[wully]

Getting up?

I thought you were on yer way to bed

 

[red1]

Depends what you want?

Adventure style? Then the Varadero is a very good touring machine and if like 99.9% of GS owners you don't go off-road then it will serve you and a pillion very well. Loads of stomp from the v-twin, very comfortable and a 200-220 range from the tank. Heavier than a GS and the front suspension needs firmer springs (£80 ??). And you can buy an '07 with full luggage and low miles for arounf £7K.

Smooth 4 cylinder? I've done 24K in last 18 months on a K1200GT SE. 154bhp, all the toys. Great touring machine ...... resale value drops like a stone!! Pick up a low mileage 07 for under £10K .. that's £4K off the new price.

Reliability? The Varadero (19K in 19 months) never let me down, nor did the 1300 Pan (29K in 2 years) that followed it. The K1200GT never left me stranded, but had lots of mechanical warranty work much like a lot of 1200GS's.
They say buying a BMW is best because they retain their value best. Don't believe it. The only place you'll get a good price on a GS is here on this site from the "tossers". Try a PX with a dealer and find out the sad truth.

 

[thosoneill]

Reliability? The Varadero (19K in 19 months) never let me down, nor did the 1300 Pan (29K in 2 years) that followed it. The K1200GT never left me stranded, but had lots of mechanical warranty work much like a lot of 1200GS's.
They say buying a BMW is best because they retain their value best. Don't believe it. The only place you'll get a good price on a GS is here on this site from the "tossers". Try a PX with a dealer and find out the sad truth.

mmmm food for thought - makes me think i should stick with the honda cbf1000abs - i did like my gs1150adv for the short time i owned it however it does seem that the new gs1200 has had a lot of faults since its inception

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I bought a new Honda blackbird in 06, broke down and needed a complete wiring loom within 5 weeks and 1400 miles, I went back to the trusted 1150.

 

[oly]

I had a varadero. Went to france on it- it fell apart - bag of Sh**e.
Sold it whilst in reims having lunch. 3 weeks total with it. went back to bmw

 

[red1]

I bought a new Honda blackbird in 06, broke down and needed a complete wiring loom within 5 weeks and 1400 miles, I went back to the trusted 1150.

No model is 100%, it's just the Japanese get a lot closer to it than BMW.

How many Honda Pan 1100/1300 shafts have you heard about that have collapsed since 1992? (as a % of sold)
How many BMW shafts? (From one of the shaft drive pioneers!)

 

[red1]

I had a varadero. Went to france on it- it fell apart - bag of Sh**e.

Oh wow a Varadero in bits in France.

Methinks you speak bollox!

 

[John Armstrong]

No mention of the video yet, what is the world coming to

 

[biggles12]

Just had to do it for you then

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukAhlxl4hmM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukAhlxl4hmM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

How many Honda Pan 1100/1300 shafts have you heard about that have collapsed since 1992? (as a % of sold)
How many BMW shafts? (From one of the shaft drive pioneers!)

How many pans have you heard of with the swingarm rusting through





Only playing

 

[Gecko]

I had a varadero. Went to france on it- it fell apart - bag of Sh**e.
Sold it whilst in reims having lunch. 3 weeks total with it. went back to bmw

I had a Transalp , went to France on it - I nearly fell apart - bag of sh**e vibrated and buzzed so much - it was the most painful bike I have ever ridden . Got home and sold it immediately .
Wouldn't even think about getting rid of my GS1100 .... it's just not an option.

 

[oly]

talking bollox?
Why dont you do one to some jap site

 

[Twotter]

Test ride, test ride, test ride....

Used to have an 1150GS and now have a Varadero - it's all good baby

 

[Zundapp]

Bikes are a bit like crash helmets, some feel 'right' to one person but to someone else it's 'shite'. But most folk can get along pretty well with anything. Especially if it gives you a buzz just riding it!

I've had both Hondas and BM's and both have been just what I wanted at the time, but there's no doubt, the Honda's have been the more reliable bikes.

And the Varadero is maybe the most comfortable adventure style bike, perhaps because the suspension is quite soft - and it doesn't need gel inserts or a Corbin seat. Or maybe it just fits my arse!

 

[Wicker]

A couple of transalps were on tour with me in Morocco. Bikes were heavy, not taken offroad, and dog slow (although this may have had a lot to do with two riders) but you did get the feeling they were underpowered compared to the GS, etc. There may be a good bike hidden in the Transalp but as a package it does nothing for me and would not be in my dream garage e.g it is neither a particaulrly good road bike, and is too heavy / underdamped to be genuinely offroad capable.

BMW GS and ADV have had a bit of a bad press about EWS and fuel pump failures, etc however I am hoping that BMW learn quickly and that those early bikes which have been recalled for warranty fixes should now work properly.

It cannot make sound business sense for BMW to incur high recall costs, risk damaging its reputation and for customers to walk away from what is still their best selling bike. Hopefully the latest GS models supplied in 2009 will simply not have these problems.

 

[oly]

Does anyone know where the Honda varadero forum is so i can go and abuse
them.. even though I havent got a honda and never intend too

 

[Zundapp]

Does anyone know where the Honda varadero forum is so i can go and abuse
them.. even though I havent got a honda and never intend too

Good plan - it's soo quiet over there!

I'm frequently in BMW dealers staring at GS's, cos I really want to want one. What immediately puts me off the appearance of the bike is the beak. I think it looks absolutely weird, but I'm probably missing the point somehow. Is there a real reason for the beak?

On holiday in Germany (on a borrowed GS650) I saw a parked up big GS in Hanover and the guy had taken the beak off and replaced it with a sort of mini BMW grille. I thought it was a big improvement, but I'm prepared to be flamed!