Wait for the new w/cooled BMW or defect?

[JH]

Yes Romford. I've just pinged Ken a message. Your best bet is to try and find a cancelled order. Deposits at the moment are sbject to confirmation after test ride anyway. I haven't done that yet and am due to pick the bike up maybe before Easter. What colour would you be looking for?

I have been quoted OTR 7-10 days and I am looking for Graphite, but I have been offered a Blue one, and these were supposed to have sold out! The Factory Built Launch model, is not certain, however any bike will be spec'd the same - and still plus 'incentives' I quite fancy the lighter, smaller fruitier Arrow can...

See what tomorrow brings....

 

[Stonker]

Sure. Have you seen all 3 colours?

 

[harry]

My biggest worry is that the nice warm air over my feet will no longer be present with W/C model.

 

[JH]

Sure. Have you seen all 3 colours?

Yes, I did not fancy the Blue, I have had a black bike one before last, so Graphite suits.... Something I should know

 

[Stonker]

Not at all. For me, the graphite is my least favourate (maybe because my BWM that I had all the probs with was the same colour) but colour choice is of course personal. The black has a great sparkle in it anf I think the blue looks stunning but there are plenty of people around that like the graphite so you won't be alone if you go that way.

Who's offered you a graphite one, Laguna? That may even arrive before mine! But I didn't want the launch model

 

[ianran]

I do wonder how you peopel make it through the fecking day, Should I eat because Im hungry? Should I go to the toilet?? Should I keep breathing??

Man up and grow a pair, spending 11K on a bike and you can't do it on your own?? Good grief no wonder the country is fecked!

 

[Wapping]

I do wonder how you peopel make it through the fecking day, Should I eat because Im hungry? Should I go to the toilet?? Should I keep breathing??

Man up and grow a pair, spending 11K on a bike and you can't do it on your own?? Good grief no wonder the country is fecked!

You miss the purpose of these threads. It's not indecision. It's wanting to tell the world at large that they are going to buy a new motorbike. But, in a momemt of modesty, they disguise this quite simple fact behind a smokescreen of self effacing uncertainty.

They have already crossed the thorny pit of asking their wife if it's alright, or we would ever have heard.

 

[Rasher]

My "plan" was to buy a used GS over new to see if I liked these types of bike (coming from Large Sportsbikes) and then get a newer / better one if I did a couple of years later - which is about now

I originally considered a switch to the Twin Cam and thought if this coincided with the new WC jobbie there would be plenty around at good money.

My problem with all things GS is reliability, I certainly would not trust a new model from BMW, and to a lesser degree it still seems same old issues (plus a few new ones) haunt the twin cams making them a bad long term bet - expensive to run if you have to pay BMW service rates and buy warranty every year (Or risk the huge costs of a relatively likely major failure)

Anything Jap will almost certainly be pretty good for reliability, the Honda engine is nice and generally Honda's are pretty bullet proof, just hope it rides nice!

The Tenere also looks a safe bet, the Nick Saunders 50k in a few weeks is not something an early 1200GS would have managed without eating several FD's and suffering FPC / EWS issues. I am sure these will do 100k with no bother - plus easy home servicing and dealer rates half that of BMW if you don't want to do the work yourself.

Triumph are a long shot for me, servicing costs are higher and I don't trust them as much as Honda / Yamaha not to have launched a Lemon, or to provide good warranty backup - something BMW do well (but still no good if you plan to keep the bike longer than the warranty period)

I need something that won't depreciate badly if I want to swap again in two years (rules out anything brand new - but leaves room for ex-dem and one stupid owner) and will be viable to keep on the road for 5+ years if I have not got the funds to upgrade again in two years (by which time the Triumph / WC BMW should have proved themselves - or not)

The Versys is a cheapo parts bin special (yet barely any cheaper than a GS)

I think if I could afford a new bike every two years I would just buy a new GS and flog it before the warranty expires or it reaches 20k.

As it stands I reckon I will ride the Triumph and Honda, still prefer the GS and buy a Yamaha for the reliability (Plus plenty around at good money)

 

[Packer]

....crossed the thorny pit of asking their wife if it's alright, ...............

What is this "asking their wife if it's alright"? Please explain what is involved as it may explain my wife's behaviour when I came home with a new BMW having not mentioned it to her previously.

Who thinks that BMW will up their game in terms of quality and reliability for the new wc? If not I won't be having one for sure.

 

[Stonker]

Yes, I did not fancy the Blue, I have had a black bike one before last, so Graphite suits.... Something I should know

Let us know how you get on today (you might even like it). I got a reply from Ken this morning, I think he will able to do something for you if you want to go that route. They really are a top dealership

 

[APE]

Rasher - I assume your current bike is your first GS ? I've owned three. The first was an 1150 which was fairly reliable but did develop a final drive problem after 50k miles.

The second was a 2006 GS which was a nightmare for warranty claims - luckily I extended the warranty otherwise it would have cost me a fortune. Still a great bike.

Now on a 2010 GS which has had one problem in 2 years. Best GS I have ridden and very pleased with it. I'm not going to extend the warranty on this one - cant live my life on 'what might go wrong'

If its your preferred ride I don't understand why you wouldn't get another one - it would probably be 100% reliable - and how will you feel if your Yam breaks down after 6 months

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Rasher - I assume your current bike is your first GS ?

Don't start him off FFS You'll hear all the tales of things that might happen but in reality haven't

Rasher really loves his bike and is out there now with his poloshing rag drooling over his Wilburs

 

[ianran]

Rasher - I assume your current bike is your first GS ? I've owned three. The first was an 1150 which was fairly reliable but did develop a final drive problem after 50k miles.

The second was a 2006 GS which was a nightmare for warranty claims - luckily I extended the warranty otherwise it would have cost me a fortune. Still a great bike.

Now on a 2010 GS which has had one problem in 2 years. Best GS I have ridden and very pleased with it. I'm not going to extend the warranty on this one - cant live my life on 'what might go wrong'

If its your preferred ride I don't understand why you wouldn't get another one - it would probably be 100% reliable - and how will you feel if your Yam breaks down after 6 months

You had to open the door There will be no stopping him now!!!!

 

[APE]

A lot of posts for someone who's been here for only 18 months - surely they're not all negative

 

[JH]

I do wonder how you peopel make it through the fecking day, Should I eat because Im hungry? Should I go to the toilet?? Should I keep breathing??

Man up and grow a pair, spending 11K on a bike and you can't do it on your own?? Good grief no wonder the country is fecked!

Ian, easy mate. The whole point of a forum is so people can post things and seek views, like chatting down the pub about stuff, otherwise the forum would only really have a 'For Sale' section and factual features and would be boring.

A lot of people don't post that often because of retorts like yours. You assume an awful lot and you couldn't be more wrong. You yourself have had posts asking for opinions advice and didn't receive such hostility We have lost many members because of some very opinionated posts, it has been a long standing issue here. My post wasn't meant to piss you off but merely invite constructive views, sorry you didn't feel so inclined.

You miss the purpose of these threads. It's not indecision. It's wanting to tell the world at large that they are going to buy a new motorbike. But, in a momemt of modesty, they disguise this quite simple fact behind a smokescreen of self effacing uncertainty.

They have already crossed the thorny pit of asking their wife if it's alright, or we would ever have heard.

Wapping, Thank you I couldn't have put it better.

What is this "asking their wife if it's alright"? Please explain what is involved as it may explain my wife's behaviour when I came home with a new BMW having not mentioned it to her previously.

Who thinks that BMW will up their game in terms of quality and reliability for the new wc? If not I won't be having one for sure.

I am very lucky, she would never say no However, I made the very same mistake once when I bought my GSXR and she found out only when she went to the freezer and saw the sparkly new addition to 'our' fleet. She said I had been overly presumptuous, so learning from this I always mention it first. If the Triumph wasn't so obviously a Triumph interpretation of the GS I would keep the GS as well, but this is not really justifiable. Anyhow my 'consideration' to the wife has already paid off

Let us know how you get on today (you might even like it). I got a reply from Ken this morning, I think he will able to do something for you if you want to go that route. They really are a top dealership

Stonker, I was out at a fund raising dinner and auction event last evening. I entered the spirit of things a tad too much I was a little tender today, so the test ride has been moved to tomorrow. I feel gutted as I wished I had both drunk and bid a little less and come home at a reasonable time I lost a great day today....... I will keep you posted though.

 

[Stonker]

Oh dear....not rollong your trouser leg up were you?

Where are you going for a demo? I didn't think Lagunas did them on a Sunday (unless they're making an exception to get them all in?)

 

[Blobby]

You miss the purpose of these threads. It's not indecision. It's wanting to tell the world at large that they are going to buy a new motorbike. But, in a momemt of modesty, they disguise this quite simple fact behind a smokescreen of self effacing uncertainty.

They have already crossed the thorny pit of asking their wife if it's alright, or we would ever have heard.

This made me laugh as it's so very true of just about all of us. Well put.

 

[Stonker]

I wonder how much the WC version will weigh? Or will they make savings elsewhere?

 

[JH]

Oh dear....not rollong your trouser leg up were you?

Where are you going for a demo? I didn't think Lagunas did them on a Sunday (unless they're making an exception to get them all in?)

No, nothing of the sort, just heading up some fund raising for a new classroom for the village school, if you have any spare cash feel free to send it. I have worked too long with those who have been members of such organisations for other than honourable reasons, and they have put me right off joining any such 'club'

I had no problem getting a Sunday test ride at Laguna, it was for the whole afternoon.

It is as expected very nice. '10% more' is the easiest way to sum it up.... More Power, More weight, More Speed, More Presence and More Fuel consumption. A good solid handling bike that felt very planted, with an unobtrusive shaft drive system and a very very instantaneous throttle response, due to the electronic system employed.
I thought the brakes a little shy of the GS's and the front end being conventional, was, well not that of the GS. Whilst the OBC was comprehensive but not intuitive, it would take some getting used to.

The bike had about three hundred miles on it when I got it and the computer suggested 47 mpg average. I only reset the trip on the last leg back and it was showing 45 mpg over that period, but there was only fast B road work, no cruising or steady speed stuff.

Good fun I enjoyed it. Lets see what they can do to convince me eh?

 

[JH]

I wonder how much the WC version will weigh? Or will they make savings elsewhere?

Make no mistake it is quite a big beast, but once on the move it is very fluid and balanced.
One of the reasons I posted was to see if anyone had any good info on whats is proposed. I have heard the W/C has been delayed to ensure that BMW get it right and they have been 'surprised' by the gains made by Triumph and are making sure that they have incorporated all they can.

Weight will be the issue. I think the Explorer is better compared against the GSA than the standard GS. I understand that Triumph might even be bringing out their own 'A' version in time. If it incurred any more weight it would be 'interesting'..