Who intends keeping their GS

[Joe narvey]

I had a 1290S for a test ride yesterday. I loved the engine/box, but as an overall package the GS (for me and my riding) was a better bike - shame as I wanted an excuse for a new bike...

Stop it, I’m grieving!

 

[Mr Bean]

Stop it, I’m grieving!

Have you taken a test ride on the KTM yet?

 

[beaver]

Thats why when I bought mine I looked long and hard to get one without ESA... you can fit very nice shocks if required to a std bike, but mines fine for now... just a few turns on the knob when the Mrs get's on and we are off.
I have ABS and Traction as it comes with it... but thats my lot
So hoping the electrics don't let us down... whats the engine / drive chain good for in miles... will it do 80K plus like my old R100RS??

 

[Nutty]

I'm on my second GSA. TB second time round and I'm just over a year in. A series of events have made me go off the marque to some extent. Bearing in mind they don't come in cheap.
My first one traded in at 2 years. On the next one the dealer was unable to programme my remote alarm fobs (From the K1600) because BMW had removed the option from their software. Thus rendering the factory fit alarm a total pain in the arse in auto set mode. That really annoyed me. Their response to a complaint even more so.
Then they introduced the factory fit hill start assist feature soon after I bought mine which I would have liked but not prepared to pay the exorbitant amount the are asking. Its only a download after all.
I do like the bike but somehow BMW have an uncanny knack of somehow making your very expensive purchase seem out of date very quickly thereby diminishing the experience.
I know all manufacturers do this to some extent as part of their marketing strategy to encourage those that can to keep changing on a more frequent basis. Yes its your choice to do so if you wish. Still don't like it.

The constant updates from BMW really do fuck things up for current owners, residual wise. KTM are much better, 18 months in with my 1290, and there haven’t been any important updates.

 

[Mr Bean]

Why only move forward in big steps, why not offer incremental improvements - if that makes sense?

 

[Warlord]

I'm keeping mine.

The GSA (2017) is a very good road touring bike. Does everything I want it to. Invested in the BMW tools to service it myself, including Cam and valve checks. So intend to keep it for years now. Really enjoying owning this bike so far.

The Africa Twin (2017) is a very good off-road green laning scrapper, excellent backup bike. I'll be buying this at the end of it's PCP Contract and I love the DCT Autoshift.

The Bandit 1250 Streetfighter (2010) is a great Summer naked hooning around bike. Cheap as chips to run and maintain, absolutely back to basics bike, so I'll be keeping that as well.

Any more than three bikes just won't get used. So I'm done.

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

If mine doesn't give me any problems, I will be keeping it most likely.

Suspension problems? They will change it. If it goes afterwards, aftermarket, no ESA. End of.

Thousands and thousands of these bikes are sold every year and all anyone ever listens to or write about are the ones that go wrong. The rest are riding their bikes.

The 1150GS may have been better built, have less electrics and therefore less to go wrong but when these go well (as they mostly do), they're unbeatable for those of us that quite like them.

If you prefer KTM, then get a KTM. Then go to a KTM forum and count the number of posts saying, "How can a prime manufacturer produce this shit..." "This went wrong at xxx miles", "I got rid of mine and bought a xxxx." "My brakes failed at...." "this doesn't do (such and such) as well as my xxxx used to" "Maybe try a xxxx"

Then take the number of KTM/Honda/Suzukis on the road and divide them by the number of bad experiences and I bet you what........

 

[beaver]

So how long will they if looked after... Over 100 k ??

 

[twizzle]

So how long will they if looked after... Over 100 k ??

Easy.... Drain man has nearly 100k on his LC..

 

[the woodster]

Yep, I'll be keeping my 2017 GS TE. It will more than likely be my last bike. If the ESA goes then I'll look for non-electronic replacements from Ohlins. I can't really imagine another bike that I would want.

 

[GB.]

2015, keeping it, last bike I think I’ll ever own.

 

[beaver]

Yes, intend to keep mine.. It cost me £8K and its always got to be worth £5K.. so nothing lost...
And lots of spares about for not a lot of money as there are so many of them....
For someone as tight as me, its the ideal keeper

 

[twizzle]

Yep, I'll be keeping my 2017 GS TE. It will more than likely be my last bike. If the ESA goes then I'll look for non-electronic replacements from Ohlins. I can't really imagine another bike that I would want.

I'm with you here - mines a 2018 Rallye - It's great to ride, a better bike then I'll ever be... plenty fast enough ( For me) and like you i'll fit AM Suspension when/if mine goes tits up ...... I suspect by then some clever soul will have worked out a retro fit for the TFT back to Analogue clocks....... Assuming the TFT is a problem......


I need to up my Retirement planning now so this was my last "Hurrah"

My last GS - sold last year was 21 years old - if this one lasts i'll be 76 so it will be TMAX time!!

 

[beaver]

if this one lasts i'll be 76 so it will be TMAX time!!

Old guy at the port when we were coming home from France had something like a TMAX.. he tours France, Spain and Italy on it every year.. think he said it was 500cc.. loved it... was a bit of a shed, but had done 75K or so... got to take your hat off to him

 

[g.s.john]

07 1200 GS 52K Wilbers suspension changed the seat, screen, new FD and a GSA tank so given the amount invested this is a keeper.

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

That was probably Arsey, he looks older than he is.

 

[Engineer]

If your partner lets you..............

She has no say in the matter.

 

[MrMcNamara]

When I bought mine, I had a twin can for a few months, but it had problems, then bought my 2015 11K miles GS as a keeper... I have other bikes but it took the place of my 1200 mk1 Bandit that I'd had for 17 years..... is it worth of the position?... who's intending to keep their's?

Had mine 3.5 years bought at a year old cash from main dealer. Had new engine & gearbox as original was locking up in 3rd gear. No other issues whatsoever apart from global fork recall. No corrosion whatsoever - just washed & dry Garage stored on a standard charger. I have tried pretty much all of the BMW options just in-case I fancied a change but nothing else has its presence or character. its my 5th boxer going right back to an R80RT which is now 'Romeo' a custom bike created by 7 ages motorcycles, this is perhaps the only bike I would swap my gs for to get back. Take a look at Romeo, she's a bit of a looker

 

[beaver]

Romeo is quite nice.. I did a R100 similar about 10 years ago.. they are great stripped... you'd think taking stuff off would not cost you much to do LOL

 

[Pukmeister]

Old guy at the port when we were coming home from France had something like a TMAX.. he tours France, Spain and Italy on it every year.. think he said it was 500cc.. loved it... was a bit of a shed, but had done 75K or so... got to take your hat off to him

Don’t knock the Tmax without trying one. I’ve had mine almost a year now and wouldn’t swap it, it’s not as quick as my GSA but it’s no slouch either and is the handiest bike I’ve owned.


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