Wheels, extras, insurance?

[B-Road Explorer]

My first post! Hello everyone

I'm in my early 30s and have been riding bikes since I was 18. I'm currently on my second VFR750, having been on VFRs for the last 9 years. But I've been thinking about a GS for at least the last 4. Between my increasing age and the '08 spec changes I finally feel the R1200GS and I are in the same place if that makes sense?

I commute on the bike sometimes (45 miles each way), and 3 or 4 times a year I go camping for the weekend, usually 200-400 miles from home. I prefer country roads to A or M roads (hence the screenname), and indeed I have wrecked the bodywork mountings on my VFR from the shock of about 10,000 pot holes too many.

So I'm booked for a long test ride, and I'm hoping I'll want to buy the bike. If I order, I need it soon for a planned trip, so I'm trying to do as much groundwork as I can before I ride it. The biggest stumble so far is spec.

I'm used to the fun of the spec list as I drive a BMW car. But I'm not sure what extras are worth having, which are essential for a good price when you sell it, and what some things do. So finally, some concrete questions:

1 - Wire wheels look pretty cool, but is that the only advantage? Why are they supposed to be better off road? Do they give you less unsprung mass? Are they as good as alloys when on tarmac?

2 - ESA sounds interesting, I've never adjusted the suspension on my VFR for loads or pillions, and I can think of times when I wish I had. Is it really worth having or just a cool toy?

3 - Tobinators - I've read about these miracles, and just wonder, are they still necessary on the 2008 bike?

4 - Brackets, crash-bars, tobinators, headlight guards, the extras pile up. How do people deal with these when they get insurance? If you put a bracket for you new GPS on, or add a running light, do you get right on the phone to the insurer? I got a quote today, and inevitably got asked if it would be different to factory spec. I didn't know what to say. The spec list comes back into this - if you have a premium pack or wire wheels do/should you list all this?

5 - Adventure, well it definitely looks cool but it's the standard GS I've always had my heart set on. I'm put off by the extra weight, and most of all I think I'd feel a total fraud and get a ribbing off my mates because I have no intention of crossing deserts - I haven't even /seen/ Long Way Down. But I'm still tempted. Are there good reasons, technical or financial, to go for the Adventure instead?

OK that's a lot of questions to be starting with! TIA for any advice

 

[miles away]

well first of all, welcome to the site, i'm taking delivery of my adventure on sunday...... very excited!

Spec wise, you need to decide which options you want, which you need, and which will add to resale value.. most people go for the premium pack and the dynamic pack, which gives you almost every extra, including
ESA
heated grips
abs
traction control
fog lights
pannier rails
tyre pressure control

esa seems pretty cool. its just one button which you use to set the bike for the amount of weight you have on board and the terrain you'll be riding, ie one person, two persons, and or luggage. you can choose comfort, sport, and off road.
some people say heated grips and pannier are a must.
it depends what you'll be using the bike for. I test rode it and it was miles better than the 55 plate zx10r I had before. It was really comfy to ride, and felt really cool.
depending on how much you want to spend on lights, crash bars etc, it might be just better to buy an adventure.... you get spoked wheels with the adventure as standard... the adventure's not too much heavier than the gs.
take a test ride on both, see what you think. either way you wont be dissappointed. like everyone else says, dont worry bout all the problems mentioned on here. nobody ever mentions the positives!!!!!!!!!

as for insurance, as far as i know, if an item was fitted as part of the factory options, you dont need to inform your insurer. but you will need to tell them the value. ie the standard adventure is £9995, if you have a kitted out bike with panniers, then its technically not modified, but its worth about £13000. as long as they know this, you should be ok, but any extras you put on, should be declared, however small they are. the insurer will try his best to worm out of a claim if you never declared something.

 

[oly]

I agree. The esa is a good option and will help resale value. Also most bikes coming from the manufacturer are fully loaded. hence if you buy a low equipped model you may have to wait longer ( GSA)
The gsa is heavier but only when pushing about. Ride it and the weight disappears imo. Plus all the bits you dont get on the standard gs are worth every penny. If you wanted to retro fit them it would cost a fortune.
Someone is bound to come along now and say i am talking bollox

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Ordered

Thanks for the replies

I had my long test ride on Saturday, greatly enjoyed it, and I guess the salesman could see all over my face that I was gonna buy one. Bike ordered. I went for a R1200GS (non-Adventure) with the comfort pack and varios. I should be getting it around the 1st of July, just in time to get the fist 600 miles done, serviced (booked already) and then off on my planned trip to Cornwall (an 800+ mile round trip for me). I wasn't looking forward to that on the VFR, but I'm relishing the prospect on the GS.

Now all I have to do is decide whether to keep the VFR or not (1995, 55k on the clock, showing its age)!

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site

I think once you get the GS the VFR will spend more and more time in the garage anyway.... that'll make your mind up for you

Enjoy your first trip on the new bike