Maybe trading my V-strom 650 for a 1200GS

[the_undecider_imp]

I must really hate myself, be looking to make my life more challenging, or I have lost my mind. Why would a perfectly rational human being get rid of a perfectly good, reliable bike for something with a less than stellar reputation for reliability? Must be that new bike itch!

While the V-strom is a great bike, it's just too vanilla. I thought I might be fine with that as my CB1100 is much more engaging and exciting. For me, a motorcycle is supposed to put a huge smile on my face. While it is pleasant, the V-strom doesn't excite and lacks character. It's unremarkably good.

One of the perks as a finance Manager at a motorcycle dealer is being able to take a bike home for the weekend should I desire. We have had a 2011 BMW R1200GS for a while and nobody has taken any interest. I've long been leary of owning any Euro motorcycle due to the maintenance costs and reliability concerns. I think I know what I might be getting myself into, yet I don't care.

This one has been farkled pretty nicely and I can pick it up pretty cheap such that I probably won't loose much money should I only keep it a couple years. I will also buy a warranty for it to protect myself.

The handling and ride on this is amazing! The electronic suspension adjustment is really neat and the servo assist brakes blow my mind. I quite like the boxer twin and how it feels. The power is fantastic! I feel like I have so much more control of the bike as if it's an extension of my body.

I will ride around the next couple days and see if the novelty wears off. If not, could be an expensive test ride.

[redbirds_imp]

I understand your desire for this bike. I rented a 1200 GS for a day while in New Braunfels a few years ago. It's just as you describe. I considered trading my Tiger 1050 for one but could not justify the expense nor did I wish to take on a new bike with no dealer within a hundred miles.

[url=http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/stumpshooter/media/Motorcycles/20110614_20_zpsq34yitzq.jpg.html]

[Capo]

Eurobike Maintenance costs and reliability concerns are overblown. There are certainly examples of nightmares, but for the most part, modern motorbikes of every origin are reliable and durable. If you dig it, buy it, and keep a few bucks in a jar for service costs above what you would incur for a Honda. Worth it.


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[curlyjoe_imp]

Hey, if it makes you smile then go for it.

cycleworld has 3 rating categories that BMW always scores high in their comparison tests:

1) smile factor
2) cool factor
3) quality

Typically the Japanese bikes score much lower in these categories. I guess quality must mean "fit and finish"??

[the_undecider_imp]

Eurobike Maintenance costs and reliability concerns are overblown. There are certainly examples of nightmares, but for the most part, modern motorbikes of every origin are reliable and durable. If you dig it, buy it, and keep a few bucks in a jar for service costs above what you would incur for a Honda. Worth it.


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I have always been a DIY person, so oil changes, bleeding brakes, and valve adjustments shouldn't be an issue. I'll have to check into getting one of the scan tools so I can reset the maintenance due date these bikes have. In all honesty, I don't rack up tons of miles, so it won't be all that terrible. I can get a 2 or 3 year extended warranty for a few bucks over dealer cost, so I will have some piece of mind in case something wacky goes wrong with the electronics or the final drive decides to grenade. Final drive failures seem to come up a lot, bet even those seem to be more common on the earlier 1200gs, which this is not.

[4 Paws_imp]

Rode one for seven years. Lots of power, handles decent, eats gravel roads like it was built for them. Off road - a tall heavy beast, but I don't do off road except by accident. Farkles aplenty.
Maintenance? Required. Parts and supplies expensive, special tools needed. So what. Everything is expensive.

It is tall.
Buy it, ride it, enjoy it. Sooner or later a sexier younger thing will come by and catch your interest. At least with motorcycles its not fatal.

[the Ferret]

the fella I rode to Cali with 2 years ago was on a Vstrom 1000. He never really bonded with the bike. Now he rides a GSA1250 Beemer and says he likes it a lot. I sat on it the other day Waaaaay too tall for me.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/March%208%202016%20005_zps5pxrhg9j.jpg.html]

[LongRanger_imp]

The dreaded servo-assisted brakes were long gone by the time that 2011 GS was built. Still, the brakes it does have are awesome. The resale value of pre-2014 boxers is beginning to take a hit as a lot of riders are selling them and upgrading to the new water-cooled boxer. Completely different animal that makes the pre-2014 bikes seem agricultural by comparison. Still, if it floats your boat, remember that life is short. Enjoy it! Don't sweat the maintenance concerns. This is a tried-and-true bike.

Not to be a BMW troll but I've found that people who ride a Telelever for the first time come away very impressed by the level of control and braking power that it gives the bike. Sports-bike riders don't like them because they feel it doesn't provide good road feel, but I'd argue that on bad pavement or in aggressive braking situations, nothing is better.

[the_undecider_imp]

the fella I rode to Cali with 2 years ago was on a Vstrom 1000. He never really bonded with the bike. Now he rides a GSA1250 Beemer and says he likes it a lot. I sat on it the other day Waaaaay too tall for me.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/March%208%202016%20005_zps5pxrhg9j.jpg.html]

I'm 6'1" w/:34" inseam and this (not the Adventure) GS is tall. Combined with the wide saddle wings, I don't flat foot with the saddle in the tall setting.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

the fella I rode to Cali with 2 years ago was on a Vstrom 1000. He never really bonded with the bike. Now he rides a GSA1250 Beemer and says he likes it a lot. I sat on it the other day Waaaaay too tall for me.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/March%208%202016%20005_zps5pxrhg9j.jpg.html]

Your agility never ceases to amaze me. Then again, you are "the ferret." But how did you ever get up there?!