second hand or not to second hand...

[bigkuri]

Hi Guys,

First of all - thanks muchly for "knowledge by proxy" as in my several months lurking on this site picking up GS stuff... great resource.

I need a bit of help; in the dilemma of if to buy a brand new ADV or a second hand one....

I've today got the big grin of someone who's taken 1200s, GSs, ADVs, KTMs for a spin over the last week; and the ADV is for me. Nothing comes close for tons of reasons (for me anyway).

The question is: Should I buy a brand new ADV, all needed is Enduro box and heated grips; or go for a "fully loaded" second hand one at similar price?

It seems that all the second hand ones have been kitted out with kitchen sinks et al, and that this hugely inflates the price.

Any experience with dealers welcome!

Ta!

PS - buying on HP. And cannot buy private as swapping BMW car for bike and only realistic way to do deal.

 

[Kropotkin]

Unless you want to experience the feeling of a thousand pounds disappearing in a puff of smoke as you ride the bike off the dealer's forecourt, buy second hand. The initial depreciation hit you take just for being the first name on the ownership paper is out of proportion to the joy of getting a virgin bike. Plus, you have to spend time carefully running the bugger in. You can probably still get a very good guarantee on a second hand bike from a dealer as well, so the risk is nominal.

Oh, and personally (but this is me), I wouldn't go HP. I would attempt to only buy for cash, but if you really must go with borrowed money, look around for the very cheapest personal loan you can get. You can also use this as a bargaining weapon, to try and cut the price on the GS. Plus, salespeople are more eager to make a sale at the end of December, when it's bonus time....

 

[MikeP]

True you take a loss as soon as a new bike is registered. I wouldn't buy a new car for that reason but am happy to with bikes. Something more personal about bikes I think?

True you may find one with loads of goodies already fitted but again because motorcycling is somehow more personal, it's nice to put the extras YOU want on it rather than what was somebody elses personal requirements/taste. You've only got to look at the variation in the personalisation of owners bikes on this site to see that no two are the same. You may end up selling the bits that someone else has fitted to part fund the bits that you want.

Buy second-hand if you can find a bike in the factory spec you want, then buy the add-ons.

I bought new because I intend to keep it for some time. I just didn't want to ever say to myself "I wish I had found one with this instead of that!"

(Just my view )

 

[Kropotkin]

I bought new because I intend to keep it for some time.

This is absolutely true. If you think you will be keeping the bike for any length of time (i.e. several years), then depreciation becomes far less of a factor, because you will be losing a fair amount of the value anyway, through age and mileage. But putting age and mileage on a GS is the most rewarding way of losing money I have ever found!

 

[bigkuri]

Thanks for the replies - guess even in asking my question I kind'of new my true thoughts - which is to buy second hand.

It's the wee voice in the back of my head saying "new and shiney and all yours..." thats the problem!

My daily commute is 90 miles round trip, so any bike won't stay new for long!

Now the trick is to find a secondhand one that does not have kitchen sinks included!

 

[SQD8R]

Yep, Buy new and kiss 30% good-bye. But buying used and considering the model you are choosing I wouldn't be concerned with customer care since most owners are very good with their bikes. If you look @ the post regarding the Adv's used in that Round the World documentary you'll see they can take alot. That said I wouldn't pay too much extra for ancilliaries that you don't need but they don't want to split from the bike. Baggage. 1/2 price at best. Other crap, not needed especially if you aren't goingto be abusing it off-road.

 

[Alphason]

Hi Guys,


PS - buying on HP. And cannot buy private as swapping BMW car for bike and only realistic way to do deal.

Rather than HP why not get a 0% Balance Transfer credit card deal and deposit the balance in your current account? Set up a direct debit to pay off the minimum each month and pay off the lot just before the deal ends. You can get up to 12 months interest free and then balance transfer to another card if necessary, or pay it off with the money you've put aside to pay it off over the previous 12 months.

BUT.....YOU MUST BE DISCIPLINED IN YOUR APPROACH:

MAKE SURE YOU CAN AFFORD THE REPAYMENT OTHERWISE THEY'LL STING YOU FOR INTEREST AS SOON AS THE 0% TERM ENDS.

 

[schnauzer]

It seems that all the second hand ones have been kitted out with kitchen sinks et al, and that this hugely inflates the price.

Note that on the late 2003 onwards adv's you get the big tank black engine and engine bars as standard, I'm not sure how common the low 1st gear is...... perhaps we should have a poll!!

 

[richie]

HAs to be SH

 

[Fanum]

If it's a keeper, buy new.

I looked at quite a few good S/H ones and the feeling of a new bike, plus knowing I'd always be niggled by the (albeit tiny) imperfections of even a nice S/H one made me buy new, even with the price difference.

Haven't regretted it for a second......it's mine and always has been.

 

[BTBR]

Note that on the late 2003 onwards adv's you get the big tank black engine and engine bars as standard, I'm not sure how common the low 1st gear is...... perhaps we should have a poll!!

Black engines are now the only option that you have and engine bars are still an option. But trying to find a new one with a low first gear is like trying to find hens teeth!!

Handguards however, are no longer an option, they are now included in the price.

But cop this, BMW no longer supply a full tool kit anymore Apparently it is to do law suits against them, coz people have the tools in which to remove things, like brake calipers for example. Hence, they have now removed most of the tools from the kit, including the puncture repair kit and the two CO 2 cylinders I hasten to add.

What a crazy world we live in, ah????????????

BTBR

PS
If you are thinking about a buying new one, there will be a price increase from the 1st Jan 2005, around £300 I think if you have heated grips, ABS and the crash bars as options.

 

[Jon]

But cop this, BMW no longer supply a full tool kit anymore Apparently it is to do law suits against them, coz people have the tools in which to remove things, like brake calipers for example. Hence, they have now removed most of the tools from the kit, including the puncture repair kit and the two CO 2 cylinders I hasten to add.

What a crazy world we live in, ah????????????

BTBR

That's 'kin mad!

Get a quote from Motorworks for one and knock it off the price?

 

[mikeh501]

That's 'kin mad!

Get a quote from Motorworks for one and knock it off the price?

When did this rule come in then?? I bought my new Adventure in late July and its got a puncture repair kit/ C02 etc etc.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Also worth considering buying new if you use the bike a lot for business and you can get the VAT back.

Paul

 

[bigkuri]

I think that the BMW dealer may have solved my problem for me! It’s like these guys have such an easy time of selling BMW bikes that they don’t really seem to want to close a deal.

All they have to do is find a second-hand ADV without having every single bloody accessory known to man; and so under £7.5k. Do they seem to give one? Nope. Am I asking for an impossible thing? Admittedly though – the last two BMW’s I’ve owned I bought private (650’s).

Especially a bugger as at the minute the dealer is looking at making a double whammy from me – profit on car (from whoever buys it), and profit on bike (from me). Shame, as they’re both alright guys for a chat. I think maybe that people that want BMW’s *really* want one, so just walk in and buy – these guys don’t have to do the usual sweetening tactics?

I’ll give them a couple of weeks chance then go somewhere else I think. Time to look more at that “Dealers” section on this site! Vimes of Guildford seem okay? (I’m in London)

Cheers all for the suggestions on stuff – my finances are weird as hell in the UK as all my banking if offshore and so while HP is more expensive; it’s one hell of a lot simpler. Not helped in that the car was a “work hack” and so paid for under lease deal so no real value in it to me now as trade value = settlement.

 

[Spanish Bob]

BigK

I bought new. My first new bike ever. If I could have found a good one in Spain I would probably have bought secondhand, but entering the secondhand market in Spain is a bit like buying electrical good from the Trotter Brothers (and I am talking about the official dealers! outside it gets worse). Additionally I think the bike is not very common in Spain.

However it didnt worry me as I have no plans to sell this bike. Quite the opposite I hope to do half a million on it. If you intend to keep it, the buy new or secondhand decision is not very important on price. I suspect you will end up being opportunistic and if you find the right thing at the right time second hand, then secondhand it is, if not then new.

Just remember buy it in silver or you´ll end up a doddery old git taking wobbly fotos like Gotterdamerung!


Good luck with your search

bob

 

[Steptoe]

Quite the opposite I hope to do half a million on it.

i take it you mean pesatos, not miles

 

[bigkuri]

However it didnt worry me as I have no plans to sell this bike. Quite the opposite I hope to do half a million on it. If you intend to keep it, the buy new or secondhand decision is not very important on price. I suspect you will end up being opportunistic and if you find the right thing at the right time second hand, then secondhand it is, if not then new.

Yeah - plan to keep it, as my daily commute is so big (100 miles) and so any bike won't be "new" for very long! Tempted to get a new one - but would expect dealer to "deal". Will wait and see, maybe they will play ball.