You're all a load of lucky b*******!!!! :-)

[loggamatt]

I've been riding just over a year now and have a Suzuki DL650 (which I love, and is a vastly underrated bike!). Starting to think about buying a bigger engined bike, so had a test ride of the Triumph Explorer and the new GS yesterday. The Explorer was ok... the engine was lovely but maybe a bit too refined and characterless. Obviously it was a lot more powerful, but in most respects, I didn't feel it was a vast improvement over my DL650.

But the GS... oh... god, what a bike! I absolutely bloody loved it. Felt from the first minute like I had been riding it forever, was that easy to get to grips with, which I attribute to it carrying its weight lower than the Explorer. The braking was unbelievable, as was the ride and handling with that fancy electronic suspension.

I am annoyed by this, however, as the Explorer would have been affordable in the nearish future because of cheap finance deals... whereas BMW's finance is so expensive, that it only really makes sense to buy one if I have the cash saved for it, which will take a while!

So in the meantime, thought I'd just pop on here quickly to say I'm vastly envious of you all!!!

 

[1157]

Now go and try to track down a far cheaper option being a remapped twin cam and you maybe be able to trade up to a bigger bike without having to donate a kidney

 

[loggamatt]

Maybe

To be honest though, I hear lots and lots of bad things about the reliability of the old GS. I know many here will defend it to the death, but I personally would only buy one with a warranty to begin with... that way I can judge for myself how reliable it is without the risk of paying to repair it if it does go wrong.

Also, I like all the gizmos on the new one! I do lots of big motorway mile trips so the cruise control in particular would be really nice to have.

So my plan is to stick with my DL650 for another year or two while I'm saving, then take the plunge into BMW ownership with a nice shiny brand new GS... just hope time passes quickly!

 

[Packer]

They may have sorted the clutch issues and refined what I think is a godawful gearbox by then as well.

 

[loggamatt]

Yeah, I must admit that finding neutral on my test ride took a little getting used to! I got better at it by the end of the ride, but I admit the gearbox was the bit I was least impressed with. Everything else was stunning though!

 

[dave hendy]

Maybe

To be honest though, I hear lots and lots of bad things about the reliability of the old GS. I know many here will defend it to the death, but I personally would only buy one with a warranty to begin with... that way I can judge for myself how reliable it is without the risk of paying to repair it if it does go wrong.

Also, I like all the gizmos on the new one! I do lots of big motorway mile trips so the cruise control in particular would be really nice to have.

So my plan is to stick with my DL650 for another year or two while I'm saving, then take the plunge into BMW ownership with a nice shiny brand new GS... just hope time passes quickly!

I have had 6 BMW, never had one out of warranty or extended warranty, wouldn't risk it

Never seem to give confidence in the reliability stakes although I love riding them: Tried to find a Jap bike I like as much so far nothing comes close enough

Keep saving and give one a go

 

[original_concept]

Maybe

To be honest though, I hear lots and lots of bad things about the reliability of the old GS. I know many here will defend it to the death, but I personally would only buy one with a warranty to begin with... that way I can judge for myself how reliable it is without the risk of paying to repair it if it does go wrong.

Also, I like all the gizmos on the new one! I do lots of big motorway mile trips so the cruise control in particular would be really nice to have.

So my plan is to stick with my DL650 for another year or two while I'm saving, then take the plunge into BMW ownership with a nice shiny brand new GS... just hope time passes quickly!

meh... Fall 2008 purchased (2009 spec) model: used up to 90K (cosmetic write-off), in three years. Rear bearing replaced at 18K under warranty.

Fall 2011 purchase (2012 spec - all the buttons and more) model; currently up 40K... front cover warranty claim for paintwork.

So, nothing to worry about IME, I consider the GS to be the bike version of a diesel.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I am annoyed by this, however, as the Explorer would have been affordable in the nearish future because of cheap finance deals... whereas BMW's finance is so expensive, that it only really makes sense to buy one if I have the cash saved for it, which will take a while!

You don't have to use BMW Finance.

I have got 2 bikes from main dealers using Close Motor Finance, who beat BMW Finance on both occasions.

 

[loggamatt]

That's interesting... anyone know a BMW dealer that uses Close Finance? It would have to be a lot cheaper than BMW's finance (which was something like 14%) for me to consider financing it though... especially when you keep in mind that a lot of the competition are offering 0% finance deals! 5% - 7% would be the most I'd be able to afford I think.

 

[Andy Michael]

Have a good talk to the dealer first, when I was looking at the new LC APR was 14% told dealer it was to much so they dropped it to 7% and came up with a much better package than I been offered at another dealers earlier that week!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

You don't have to use BMW Finance.

I have got 2 bikes from main dealers using Close Motor Finance, who beat BMW Finance on both occasions.

You can only do that with straight HP

If you want BMW Select, with a guaranteed residual.................then you'll more than likely have to use BMW Finance

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I have had 6 BMW, never had one out of warranty or extended warranty, wouldn't risk it

Typical of the new style BMW rider...............BMW Marketing will love you, you're their dream customer

However I am not, it is easy to see through the schmooze

 

[loggamatt]

Glad to hear there's possibly some room for manoeuvre in these quotes. I wouldn't be buying right now either way, but was thinking about the Triumph Explorer being possibly affordable for the 2014 riding season. Had resigned myself to waiting until the 2015 riding season instead to get the GS, but I may have a go at shopping around next year to see if I can make it affordable after all.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Glad to hear there's possibly some room for manoeuvre in these quotes. I wouldn't be buying right now either way, but was thinking about the Triumph Explorer being possibly affordable for the 2014 riding season. Had resigned myself to waiting until the 2015 riding season instead to get the GS, but I may have a go at shopping around next year to see if I can make it affordable after all.

I know what you mean about the explorer, very ordinary with maybe one exception of the engine. Try financing via sainsburys bank etc, very cheap interest rates so a 4 year loan works out relatively cheap and will put you in a stronger financial position than a dealer pcp 3 years down the line. Flog your bike on ebay and go nearly new as a cash buyer. Might work out cheaper than you think.

The 2010 gs onwards is a sorted and pretty quick bike imo....of the two i have owned there have been no issues in 10k miles. You will prob prefer it to the explorer so might be worth a try for nothing.

 

[loggamatt]

There is hope yet then!

Not sure how I feel about buying ex-demonstrators though... I imagine most people who have ridden them will have ridden it like they stole it, like I did yesterday! Not the ideal engine run in procedure I would imagine...

 

[BBB61]

Typical of the new style BMW rider...............BMW Marketing will love you, you're their dream customer

However I am not, it is easy to see through the schmooze

Johnny strikes again with yet another judgemental and condescending comment about another poster

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Now go and try to track down a far cheaper option being a remapped twin cam and you maybe be able to trade up to a bigger bike without having to donate a kidney

+1

 

[loggamatt]

It kind of makes sense to be worried about the reliability of a new GS when you think about it though, doesn't it?

My Suzuki DL650 is bullet proof... but there's nothing clever or radical about it. It's a good yet old and proven engine, conventional components, what's to go wrong?

Whereas the new GS is filled with clever and cutting edge technology which is part of the reason why it's so good. But that means there's a lot more to go wrong. That's why I'd make sure I had a warranty if I bought one, it's not an insult to the brand, just seems to be good common sense when there's so much new technology involved

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Johnny strikes again with yet another judgemental and condescending comment about another poster

Just like a lot of your posts too, Bob........You're teaching me too well





BMW Motorrad have 'designed' this 'trait' into their marketing strategy and it's typical of their new class of rider

New entrants to BMW, attracted by lighter and more powerful bikes - that are inherently more technical

BMW Select Finance to 'tie' people into the brand with attractive monthly payments and generous residuals

Servicing by date & mileage and service light indicators, advising riders that it is time to come into the dealer

More technical software based bikes, that can't be fixed outside the Dealer network

I'm not saying it's wrong, it's just an observation and most riders attracted to the brand in the last 10 years, fit the BMW corporate strategy and BMW have done a cracking job, to lead by example for other manufacturers to follow

 

[loggamatt]

Ah yes, I think we're kind of in agreement Johnny.

I totally have been suckered in by how impressive it was to ride, and some of that I put down to the fancy technology. But the fancy technology also worried me enough that I would only buy it with a warranty.

Everything comes at a cost... I think the joy of riding what I consider to be the best in class may be worth the financial cost of having to ensure I'm always backed up by a warranty.

To be honest, if reliability was everything to me I'd just stick with what I've got... DL650s don't break ever.