Hi Everyone
After years of wondering what all the fuss was about a mate let me take his GS out for a spin and I now get it completely.
I've been riding a 1999 Blackbird for the last few years and have been around Europe with friends on GS's, V-Stroms and similar bikes and it's only now that I understand how uncomfortable I've been! Maybe at 47 years old I've finally got to an age where the cramps have got to a stage I'm willing to compromise, but time will tell if I still want to ride the Blackbird for shorter journeys or not.
So it only took one 20 minute ride for me to express my interest in buying my mates bike, which is a R1200 GS Adventure Iconic with just 1,200 miles since April 2016. Being a mate, I got a deal (I think), but it's hard for me to judge as I can't find any others for sale. I see a few GS Iconics for sale and there was briefly one GSA Iconic up for £16,995 (from memory) but any advice on how the price should compare to similar GSA TE's etc would be very welcome. I paid about GSA TE money, but got genuine panniers, topbox, Navigator V and BMW helmet with Bluetooth all in for the price, so I'm guessing I haven't been fleeced at the worst.
First impressions are great, I love the way it goes and stops and it's remarkably agile for such a bike. The information from the Navigator is awesome although I haven't figured out all the features yet. I'm a big fan of cruise control in a car but this was my first experience on a bike. Is it normal that it feels like it's surging some of the time. The speed isn't changing noticeably but I can either hear or feel it seeming to accelerate slightly whereas in a car I'd only expect to hear that if coming to a hill etc. I wonder if it was the wind either affecting my ears or maybe slowing the bike therefore making it open the throttle slightly? It was quite a blustery ride home so maybe I'll find it different next time.
The bike is due it's first annual service having only had it's running in service so far. Any ideas what I'll expect to pay for that? Does it need to go to BMW or can an independent BMW specialist do the same job?
I'm sure I'll have numerous questions next week, but I'm probably not able to play with my new toy this weekend as I haven't mentioned to the girlfriend that I've bought a new bike yet!!! It'll be frustrating knowing it's in the garage waiting to be ridden but better than listening to the lecture I'm bound to get
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Brian
After years of wondering what all the fuss was about a mate let me take his GS out for a spin and I now get it completely.
I've been riding a 1999 Blackbird for the last few years and have been around Europe with friends on GS's, V-Stroms and similar bikes and it's only now that I understand how uncomfortable I've been! Maybe at 47 years old I've finally got to an age where the cramps have got to a stage I'm willing to compromise, but time will tell if I still want to ride the Blackbird for shorter journeys or not.
So it only took one 20 minute ride for me to express my interest in buying my mates bike, which is a R1200 GS Adventure Iconic with just 1,200 miles since April 2016. Being a mate, I got a deal (I think), but it's hard for me to judge as I can't find any others for sale. I see a few GS Iconics for sale and there was briefly one GSA Iconic up for £16,995 (from memory) but any advice on how the price should compare to similar GSA TE's etc would be very welcome. I paid about GSA TE money, but got genuine panniers, topbox, Navigator V and BMW helmet with Bluetooth all in for the price, so I'm guessing I haven't been fleeced at the worst.
First impressions are great, I love the way it goes and stops and it's remarkably agile for such a bike. The information from the Navigator is awesome although I haven't figured out all the features yet. I'm a big fan of cruise control in a car but this was my first experience on a bike. Is it normal that it feels like it's surging some of the time. The speed isn't changing noticeably but I can either hear or feel it seeming to accelerate slightly whereas in a car I'd only expect to hear that if coming to a hill etc. I wonder if it was the wind either affecting my ears or maybe slowing the bike therefore making it open the throttle slightly? It was quite a blustery ride home so maybe I'll find it different next time.
The bike is due it's first annual service having only had it's running in service so far. Any ideas what I'll expect to pay for that? Does it need to go to BMW or can an independent BMW specialist do the same job?
I'm sure I'll have numerous questions next week, but I'm probably not able to play with my new toy this weekend as I haven't mentioned to the girlfriend that I've bought a new bike yet!!! It'll be frustrating knowing it's in the garage waiting to be ridden but better than listening to the lecture I'm bound to get
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Brian