austin
Well-Known Member
My 1200gsa is getting a bit long in the tooth. It’s now at 86,000 miles, very scruffy and corroded and the latest issue in what feels like it’s annual hissy fit is a seized alternator together with some frozen and or sheared bolts meaning I can’t get it off. It’s going to have to go to a professional.
So perhaps tickety tock a new bike. The dilemma is what to get. I took a a 1250gsa out today. Absolutely awesome but at £18500 it’s stupid money and I can’t justify it. It’s a soulless bike too. Plus there’s probably another £1000 or more on panniers and other doo-dahs needed. I did also wonder what on earth I needed 135bhp for (it’s insanrly fadt)and all the modes and many of the other features seem completely lost on me. The LC1200s don’t do it for me either. And overall on BMW’s I am suspicious of their longevity due to wafer thin poor paint.
I love the look of the new Moto Guzzi V85TT But at “just” 80 bhp I do wonder whether there will just a few too many occasions when the 20-30 extra on my 1200 would be sorely missed. Still I might ask for a test ride. Nearest dealers are Denbigh or Thirsk.
Crf1000 and it’s ATAS bro are quite appealing but when I looked at them were very small for pillion+ lots of stuff. Very low payload limit iirc.
Vstrom . Hmmmm. It would forever be compared to my 1200 and I don’t think it would be in its favour. I know Steve likes his big bird but I can’t honestly say I have ever thought, hmmm a Vstrom now there’s a bike I could see myself on. Same with triumph tigers , and Yamaha xt1200.
In the adv bike sector not a lot else floats my boat much. I am considering a very different style of bike. Not a Harley but something like a Triumph Thunderbird Storm. -1700cc twin in a cruiser/hot rod package. I would feel a right Pratt on it though. I don’t think it’s a current bike in the uk though.
I am stuck I think. The only bike that I thought would be better than my 1200 was the gsa 1250 but after a test ride I am not sure it is.
I am giving serious consideration to getting Mikeyboy at Overland and Classic to give it a refurb as well as fixing the alternator and fixing a few other minor issues. My guesstimate at costs are something like £500 for the alternator, 20-30 hours to strip and rebuild the bike (he charged my £45/hour two years ago when he did the final drive so prob about £50/he now). Say £1000 to £2000 for labour. Powder coating and parts say another £2000. £4,000 ish gets me a mostly refurbed bike.
Like I said a nice dilemma. Any thoughts anyone.
Or, buy an old restored but emerging classic. Perhaps GS11xx, xrv750. RD350.
So perhaps tickety tock a new bike. The dilemma is what to get. I took a a 1250gsa out today. Absolutely awesome but at £18500 it’s stupid money and I can’t justify it. It’s a soulless bike too. Plus there’s probably another £1000 or more on panniers and other doo-dahs needed. I did also wonder what on earth I needed 135bhp for (it’s insanrly fadt)and all the modes and many of the other features seem completely lost on me. The LC1200s don’t do it for me either. And overall on BMW’s I am suspicious of their longevity due to wafer thin poor paint.
I love the look of the new Moto Guzzi V85TT But at “just” 80 bhp I do wonder whether there will just a few too many occasions when the 20-30 extra on my 1200 would be sorely missed. Still I might ask for a test ride. Nearest dealers are Denbigh or Thirsk.
Crf1000 and it’s ATAS bro are quite appealing but when I looked at them were very small for pillion+ lots of stuff. Very low payload limit iirc.
Vstrom . Hmmmm. It would forever be compared to my 1200 and I don’t think it would be in its favour. I know Steve likes his big bird but I can’t honestly say I have ever thought, hmmm a Vstrom now there’s a bike I could see myself on. Same with triumph tigers , and Yamaha xt1200.
In the adv bike sector not a lot else floats my boat much. I am considering a very different style of bike. Not a Harley but something like a Triumph Thunderbird Storm. -1700cc twin in a cruiser/hot rod package. I would feel a right Pratt on it though. I don’t think it’s a current bike in the uk though.
I am stuck I think. The only bike that I thought would be better than my 1200 was the gsa 1250 but after a test ride I am not sure it is.
I am giving serious consideration to getting Mikeyboy at Overland and Classic to give it a refurb as well as fixing the alternator and fixing a few other minor issues. My guesstimate at costs are something like £500 for the alternator, 20-30 hours to strip and rebuild the bike (he charged my £45/hour two years ago when he did the final drive so prob about £50/he now). Say £1000 to £2000 for labour. Powder coating and parts say another £2000. £4,000 ish gets me a mostly refurbed bike.
Like I said a nice dilemma. Any thoughts anyone.
Or, buy an old restored but emerging classic. Perhaps GS11xx, xrv750. RD350.