Thanks me hooked...

[tunnie]

I saw a BMW GS 1150 in town, from a local garage, but they wanted £20 for a half hour test ride

So i rang up BMW Oxford and asked about a test ride, and how long they would be. Answer was fine & how does 4 hours sound?

I borrowed a standard BMW GS 1200 for 2 hours and a BMW GS-Adventure 1200 for 2 hours as well.

I am sold!!! I soooo want one

Taking the GS out first, it felt heavy and cumbersome just moving it around the dealer, but within 5 minutes on the road i was hooked, it silky smooth to ride. Bags of torque, very, very, VERY comfy.

In the lanes i found myself going faster than i did on my MT-03

Its very, very well balanced, and found myself sweeping around the corners with ease, and speed!! Looked down at one point and i was doing 75, when usually i would do 60 ish on the MT. (roads i know)

Its deceptively fast, you don't have to try, its just so manageable and found myself flying through the twisties really enjoying it.

I felt safer than i do on my MT, it has bags and bags of torque for safe over taking, and i filtering was easy!

The dealer gave me a very, very attractive finance deal, was very hard to walk away, but i did.... JUST.

Some pictures:

Greasy breakfast to start me off...

Trip computer said it did 51mpg

Standard GS

GS - Adventure, with bigger screen, tank (33L) and longer wheelbase

 

[Beemerman59]

Just go back tomorrow and sign up - you won't regret it!

 

[tunnie]

Just go back tomorrow and sign up - you won't regret it!

Thing is i see cheaper ones here and on AT, but i do like the fact they give 12 month warranties on 4 year old bikes, which cover everything! (apart from consumables)

Must say first rate dealer is BMW Oxford, he also said the fuel pump issue was down to water sitting on top of the pump which causes it to short? Not at issue for me as its garaged.

 

[Bryn]

Must say first rate dealer is BMW Oxford, he also said the fuel pump issue was down to water sitting on top of the pump which causes it to short? Not at issue for me as its garaged.

The regulator can get a puddle around it if you're over zelous with the soap and water

The latest standard 1200's have had their fuel tanks re-designed to put more of an angle on the reservoir holding the regulator, so it should stop water pooling... doesn't apply to the GSA though ....

 

[tunnie]

Ahh right, thanks

They were keen to sell me one, he was going to throw in a GSA seat as a freebie, (was looking at a GS) and knock £200 off a set of BMW Panniers, and a bigger screen for free too

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I saw a BMW GS 1150 in town, from a local garage, but they wanted £20 for a half hour test ride

Ridiculous.
Hope you told him to FEK OFF !

 

[tunnie]

Ridiculous.
Hope you told him to FEK OFF !

What annoyed me more, is i am local to the garage. I bought my MT-03 from there for 2.1k, so they know i have money, but still demanded the £20.

He said you can test ride it, if you buy it.

 

[Stewart H]

What annoyed me more, is i am local to the garage. I bought my MT-03 from there for 2.1k, so they know i have money, but still demanded the £20.

He said you can test ride it, if you buy it.

You must remember to pop by on the GS/A that you bought from elsewhere
Stewart

 

[Decompressing]

er....pannier sets are free on promotion at BMW dealers on newly registered GS's and GSA's until 30th September....that's not esp generous at all....

(picking my spanking new GS in a week and a halfs time...excited and nervous (with breakdown cover at the ready!?)

Marc

Ahh right, thanks

They were keen to sell me one, he was going to throw in a GSA seat as a freebie, (was looking at a GS) and knock £200 off a set of BMW Panniers, and a bigger screen for free too

 

[Taff]

I saw a BMW GS 1150 in town, from a local garage, but they wanted £20 for a half hour test ride

Ridiculous. Hope you told him to FEK OFF !

When I asked to test ride a 1150GSA at Rydales, Cardiff I was told they didn't allow that. The exact reason was "those bikes sell themselves". The trouble is, he was right. I ended up buying one unseen privately. Stupid thing to do I know, but I was lucky and it was one of the best bikes I've ever had.

Just like you Tunnie, it wasn't as if they didn't know me. I'd bought a brand new 650 Dakar (funnily enough, they did allow me to test ride one of those) from them just the year before, which they serviced for me. Perhaps he just thought I was a crap rider.

 

[(RIP) Geriatric Germ]

When I asked to test ride a 1150GSA at Rydales, Cardiff I was told they didn't allow that. The exact reason was "those bikes sell themselves". The trouble is, he was right. I ended up buying one unseen privately. Stupid thing to do I know, but I was lucky and it was one of the best bikes I've ever had.

Just like you Tunnie, it wasn't as if they didn't know me. I'd bought a brand new 650 Dakar (funnily enough, they did allow me to test ride one of those) from them just the year before, which they serviced for me. Perhaps he just thought I was a crap rider.

You were a crap rider Duncan thats why you and your brother plus his mate couldn't/wouldn't keep up when I led from the West End up over the hill to Tregaren but seem to remember ya got a lot better when you were tipped the wink of a mint GSA
As for Rydales and the planks that ran it well the fact they dissapeared says a lot does it not?

 

[tunnie]

er....pannier sets are free on promotion at BMW dealers on newly registered GS's and GSA's until 30th September....that's not esp generous at all....

(picking my spanking new GS in a week and a halfs time...excited and nervous (with breakdown cover at the ready!?)

Marc

I was looking at second hand bikes not brand new....

 

[Stewart H]

I was looking at second hand bikes not brand new....

Dont rule out the earlier 1100/1150 bikes, they are excellent as well
Stewart

 

[STUBBS]

Dont rule out the earlier 1100/1150 bikes, they are excellent as well
Stewart

even better find an 850

 

[tunnie]

i've only sat on the 1150, not ridden one. But i could tell straight away it was heavier, and that was without any fuel in it.

Looking on Autotrader the GSA version is around 4-5k?

I personally prefer the looks of the 12, but i will try and get a ride on the 1150

 

[tunnie]

add to that, the power of the 1150 is less, i felt the 12 could do with a little more!

This was the first big bike i rode, never ridden anything over 600cc, and i thought i would scare myself but i did'nt.

I felt so at home on the 12, just flowing around the corners.