What to buy (new bike)

[Neil W]

Well my darling wife has said that I can have a new bike at the end of the year to replace the R1150 GS, Its a big chunk of money and will have to be kept for 10 years or so ,but the question is WHAT ?

It will have to be a similar bike as I've loved having the GS for the last 8 years , I want something with a bit of range as well (it made it much easier last year on the continent with the Adventure tank fitted). Options are :

1. R1200GSA , base model with panniers,heated grips ,computer NO ESA/ABS etc probably £12500 to £13000 if the free panniers are available at the end of the year. Question though is will it be replaced next year with a watercooled model. Residuals are high BUT everyone seems to have one.

2. KTM 990 either the Dakar, standard or R model £9500 ish plus panniers , heated grips etc BUT not that good a range and perhaps TOO offroad orientated. Been offered local dealers demo for the day

3. New 2011 model Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX, looks very pretty, big tank, panniers , ABS, computer, hand guards, heated grips and possibly Sat Nav will be in with cost of less than £12,000. initial reviews are all very good and it will be individual BUT will Guzzi still be around in 5 years time and what will the long term reliability be like. Again offered a demo bike for a day next month.

4. Yamaha 1200 Super Tenere, looks nice, shaft drive, (not sure of the tank range) but it is bloody expensive, new model without any extras is over £12,000 on the road so with panniers etc probably the same price as a GSA. Benefits are that I have a very good Yamaha dealer on the doorstep and have been offered their fully loaded demo bike (original se model) for the day and possibly at a good price .

5. Now to throw a cat amongst the pidgeons, our local Triumph dealer confirms that the new Triumph 1200 Tiger Adventurer will be at the NEC, 1200 cc triple, single sided s/arm, shaft driven with a huge tank apparently a grown up version of the new 800 XC. No prices or final specs though.

Looks like I'll be busy test riding bikes in August

 

[JJH]

I have heard about the triumph and just to stir things up a bit aprilia are brining out a new capponord. Now I had a capponord before and I had no problems at all and I am waiting to see what the new one will be like. I had a triumph trophy 1200 and it gave me endless grief. If triumph came out with the best bike in the world I would need a lot of prsaudeing. I had a blast on a new 800 and it was lovely but I just could not get over my previous experiences. JJH

 

[gspod]

Nice position to be in - good luck

 

[columbus]

Is the 1200 Honda Crossrunner not due out at the end of the year?

 

[Neil W]

Problem is it looks Minging Ugly and will no doubt be very proficient but have no soul or character

 

[Diamaduk]

Dont forget the Mutley strada, lots of go and looks good

 

[Rasher]

1. R1200GSA , base model with panniers,heated grips ,computer NO ESA/ABS etc probably £12500 to £13000 if the free panniers are available at the end of the year. Question though is will it be replaced next year with a watercooled model. Residuals are high BUT everyone seems to have one.

Do you care that everyone has one? and seeing as 8 years after the 1200 launch the design flaws are not yet ironed out would you trust a brand new model from BMW???

2. KTM 990 either the Dakar, standard or R model £9500 ish plus panniers , heated grips etc BUT not that good a range and perhaps TOO offroad orientated. Been offered local dealers demo for the day

Does not look like a good two-up tourer to me

3. New 2011 model Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX, looks very pretty, big tank, panniers , ABS, computer, hand guards, heated grips and possibly Sat Nav will be in with cost of less than £12,000. initial reviews are all very good and it will be individual BUT will Guzzi still be around in 5 years time and what will the long term reliability be like. Again offered a demo bike for a day next month.

Could it be less reliable than a 1200GS

4. Yamaha 1200 Super Tenere, looks nice, shaft drive, (not sure of the tank range) but it is bloody expensive, new model without any extras is over £12,000 on the road so with panniers etc probably the same price as a GSA. Benefits are that I have a very good Yamaha dealer on the doorstep and have been offered their fully loaded demo bike (original se model) for the day and possibly at a good price .

Try one and wait for the bargains when they have a warehouse full of onsold ones at the end of the year, I reckon a few mods may make them very good, will try one myself at some point, if the price was right and I like the bike it could be my next steed - should be relaible and cheap to maintain (compared to BMW's / Guzzi's etc.

5. Now to throw a cat amongst the pidgeons, our local Triumph dealer confirms that the new Triumph 1200 Tiger Adventurer will be at the NEC, 1200 cc triple, single sided s/arm, shaft driven with a huge tank apparently a grown up version of the new 800 XC. No prices or final specs though.

I will not change bikes until I have tried the next Triumph, again it is likely to be more reliable than a GS and should also be cheaper to maintain the triple engines are a joy, I really hope this bike will provide a riding experience and ergonomics to match the GS.

Be interested in the 1200 Honda as well, all I want is a 1200GS without the unreliability and high running costs, although I could live with the stupendous servicing costs if the bloody electrics and mechanics were not so shite - something the Honda / Triumph / Yamaha won't suffer from (or at least to anywhere near the same degree)

The BMW residuals on current models may also take a spanking if any of these new kids start stealing GS sales and leaving loads of PX'd GS's floating around.

Hold fire if I were you!

 

[Neil W]

Got to admit I do like the look 1200 GSA having ridden a hire one it was impressive BUT the reliability of the 1150 hasn't been superb and the 12's still seem to have (expensive) problems. Most importantly in my experience with them (and that of a number of work colleagues) my local BM dealer couldn't seem to give a F*** about their customers and as far as I'm concerned aren't bike dealers merely a small bike franchise squeezed in between a large corporate BMW car dealership and a similar Mini site.

I think I've probably already written off the KTM ,Ducati Multistrada etc as I don't want chain drive and poor fuel range so I hope the Guzzi is as good as its preliminary write ups.

As said the yamaha may fit the bill but pillion leg room is supposed to be limited with the standard 'Shad' panniers and according to my local dealer they aren't going to be discounting them any time soon. In fact prices are apparently set to rise.

 

[Rasher]

As said the yamaha may fit the bill but pillion leg room is supposed to be limited with the standard 'Shad' panniers and according to my local dealer they aren't going to be discounting them any time soon. In fact prices are apparently set to rise.

I guess warehouse space must be pretty cheap right now

The Japanese always ditch last years models at low prices when they are unsold, often dealers are given discounts to help shift them, often tied in with pre-registering (so it looks like they sold them this year, even when punters are still picking them up the following July)

Not noticed the European manufacturers doing this as much, but it is a safe bet that if Yamaha have a stack of them left in December some deals will be available - I certainly would not want to pay top dollar for one right now.

Good luck with the Guzzi It's gotta have more character than the Yam.

 

[Neil W]

Well trying a GSA demo next Thursday and the Super Ten the following day, unfortunately Guzzi being typically Italian haven't got round to making the new Stelvio NTX's yet never mind supplying them to their dealers.



Apparently though the base model Stelvios will be in a fortnight ago, last week, next week or at the end of the month or maybe sometime this year ?????????? according to what the factory is telling dealers who have ordered them

 

[FatAl]

I replaced my GS1150 after six years and 30,000 trouble free miles with a Moto Guzzi Stelvio two years ago. No regrets at all, loving it and apparently a lot more reliable than some of the 1200's and 800's mentioned on this site. A pal also replaced his GS1150 adventure with a Stelvio not long after me, again he loves it. It stands outside uncovered all year and never fails to start, reliability of these bikes is no worse than BMW's.

 

[Neil W]

New Stelvio does seem nice BUT will they ever arrive

 

[Timolgra]

Take your time and get the very best low mileage 1150GSA you can find, spend the considerable surplus on trips over the next 10 years

 

[Neil W]

Well had the Yamaha for a couple of hours today with my wife on the back, I was basically trying it to discount it as an option BUT was very pleasantly suprised.
GOOD POINTS:
The engine is a cracker, its good in touring mode and absolutely flies in sports mode.
Transmission is superb with a very slick change.
Handling is very good the bike is well balanced and hides its weight very well, it's really good at low speed around town and excellent for pottering about at legal and sub legal speeds, high speed the handling is also excellent better than any 1100/1150 or 1200 I've tried.
The suspension is really good the front end is very planted at speed and compliant at low speed.
Seat is good as are the rest of the riders ergonomics.
Level of finish also appears better than I first thought.

BAD POINTS,
Tank range isn't really going to be enough.
Panniers are an absolute joke, they're far too small and mounted to high up so as they interfere with both the rider and pillion getting on and off the bike
Pillion riding position is according to the wife too much like a sports bike, she is only 5'4" and was complaining that the footrests are too high and far back for comfort
It should have heated grips as standard
The rear brake pedal is too small and mounted too near the cases.
I found the screen much better than my standard GS one and as good as the MRA on it now, but my wife complained regarding being buffetted quite badly by the air flow over my head from the lip of the screen.


That said it is good enough to be kept in the running BUT only if the prices drop , it is a superb £10,000 bike but not that good a £13,000 one. For the same price I will be able to buy a 2011 model GSA , with luggage , heated grips, onboard computer and get it painted the colour I want and still have £500 left.

Yamaha really need to look again at their pricing on this one.

The quest continues

 

[richie]

Take your time and get the very best low mileage 1150GSA you can find, spend the considerable surplus on trips over the next 10 years

or just keep the one you have, is there something wrong with it?

Ohlins and adventure tank, you are a winner....

 

[Neil W]

Now't wrong with my GS , new clutch, uprated suspension, adventure tank etc, just that I've owned it now for 9 years and fancy a change . I retire in a couple of years time and want to have a new bike fully sorted for then as I intend to spend a lot of time touring on the continent

 

[Neil W]

Well tried the 1200 GSA today in absolutley torrential weather conditions and was reasonably impressed, it went well for a bike with only 34 miles on the clock (felt the same as the Super Tenere in sports mode).
I Didn't push on too hard due to the weather and the £2500 complusory excess on the test ride insurance.
Only problems were that the bars were set too far back for me and I couldn't find an ideal setting for the ESA on the short test.
Seat is typical GS (not as good as the Yamahas) but the luggage is vastly better as was the pillion accomdation for my wife.
The spec i wanted with luggae , panniers rails and the comfort pack is less well specced than the Yamaha but £600 cheaper with the current free pannier deal.

I think despite the rave reviews that the mags are giving the Stelvio NTX I might give just it a miss as E Mails to the importers and Guzzi Italy as to when they will be on sale or even imported have been ignored.

 

[tomboy07]

hey dude, I have a street triple, and without a shadow of doubt it is the best bike i have ever owned. I commute to work on it, and it is such a pleasure. I am close to 50, and have had all manner of bikes from 16 till now. I have absolutely no doubt, that triumph will be onto a winner with their upcoming 1200.

 

[GS TRV]

Now't wrong with my GS , new clutch, uprated suspension, adventure tank etc, just that I've owned it now for 9 years and fancy a change . I retire in a couple of years time and want to have a new bike fully sorted for then as I intend to spend a lot of time touring on the continent

Keep what you have for touring then and buy something entirely different

 

[ronnie69]

Benelli Tre K Amazonas ?

not tried one but they look ok and are much less common than some other models, if that floats ya boat.