What would you do??

[oddshapedballs]

Guy's, looking at a 57 plate with 17k on and FSH and 08 plate with 34k on and FSH (it has the newer bits - different top bodywork, final drive drain plug at the bottom etc).....both are the same price, or as near as makes no difference, which one would you buy? ....and why?

 

[autogs]

08 for sure,slight revisions on engine and gearbox should also have an led tailight which avoids the corrosion issue on the earlier ones.

 

[Neil W]

Condition,condition ,condition

I Recently saw a 14 plate gsa wc at a dealer , less than 6000 miles on the clock and it was a total shit tip, damage to all the panels , rims gouged , filthy and in horrendous condition.was in much worse condition than the ex bmw off road school bikes.

Obviously check numbers, tyres etc but a badly kept low mileage bike is not necessarily a bargain . I wouldn't discount the older bike if the condition was the same

 

[Pukmeister]

I would buy the "Model Upgrade" version with the higher mileage, maybe with a bit of haggling if possible.

 

[seahorse]

+1 for the 08. 34k is still low anyway.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Depending on condition, I'd go for the 34k one. It's probably just run in by now.

My 32k 2005 GS runs better than my 17k 2005 GS that I had.

 

[oddshapedballs]

Not at all worried by the mileage, I had a SC with over 100k on it.

The 57 plate is in lovely nick, the 08 is a little more worn but both really nice bikes. The 57 has had the same owner from new and I've spoken to the indy who's done all of the work on it for the last 6 years and all is spot on, the 08 has only had 3 owners so far but is the upgraded model, and therefore I'm wondering if that's the better one to go with.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

08 is the better bike. It is when they started to get them right although there is still a few failure points still there.

 

[oddshapedballs]

The general consensus appears to be that the 08 is the one to go for as it's the upgrade. Thanks for the advice guy's, I'm going to have another look at both tomorrow and make a decision tomorrow night.

 

[Bendy toy]

I know my broken record can get tiresome, but the 08 and 09 bikes do have questionable paint on the steel frame parts. Look VERY closely at the rear frame for signs of rust under the paint. Use that as a bargaining chip because other aspects of the later bike still make it the better one to have.

Mine has now got powder coat (but paint would also do) over a conductive zinc base coat so its now way better protected than any ex factory bike.

When you get it home drop the final drive back to stir up the trunnion bearing grease and change the GD oil. Its also worth undoing the shock and cycling the swing arm over a wide range to again recirculate the bearing grease. All versions have rolling bearings that dont like small oscillating movements.

 

[Dahoum]

What price are they going for?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I know my broken record gets tiresome, but the 08 and 09 bikes have questionable paint on the frame psrts. Look VERY closely at the rear frame for signs of rust under the paint. Use that as a bargaining chip because other aspects of the later bike still make it the better one to have.

They all have questionable paint on the frames and engines from the start of the hexheads through the TC and from what I read the wc doesn't seem to be any better.

 

[Yonkyo]

+1 for the 08 model, mine was totally bullet proof with 31k on the clock.
The rear shock might be a bit tired though, so check the condition.

 

[oddshapedballs]

Going for the 57 plate, it's got a full history, one owner, I've confirmed all servicing vs mileage with the guy who's looked after it, and apart from two thumb sized bits of corrosion it's mint, 17k on the clock and due to there being a little play in the rear bearing the dealer's going to have a new set put in FOC
The 08 plate has 34k on it and on much closer inspection has had a much harder life from it's three owners, a minimal but even spread of corrosion over a lot of the casings/around fastenings and the thick end of £1,000 more in price kind of sealed the deal on the 57 plate for me.

Just hope the 57 will be as reliable as the one I got rid of at a pinch over 112k.

Happy days!

 

[Rockred]

Enjoy your new bike.......

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Well my 2005 has been reliable over it's 43k. The early ones were just fine. It's just that you very rarely get to hear about them.

 

[Bendy toy]

The 08 on has better internal bearings in the final drive. But my 08 at 50K needed a full rebuild by Mikeyboy.