Sunday, April 28, 2013

And Then There Were Four. Goodbye BMW

Goodbye BMW

Today, marks the end of an affair with a bike I wanted to like, but it just didn’t click for me. I sold my BMW R1150GS. I spent too much time and money trying to make the GS my bike rather than just accepting it wasn’t a bike for me.

It should have been a clue, that it wasn’t for me when I didn’t update my blog banner to include it. I had it for two years, and now it is going to a better home where it will be ridden much more. In my garage it spent most of its time keeping the other GS (GS500) company. I enjoyed the SV650 so much more.

I’m not 100% sure what I will replace it with, but a VStrom 650 is near the top of the list.

Goodbye GS.

20 comments:

  1. Chris,
    I've just never seen the draw and haven't ridden one, even when given the chance with test rides at the Hiawatha Rally.

    Good luck with whatever is next.

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    1. I'm also stumped with the draw. I tried to love it, but I don't. I think it's the little logo on the tank.

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  2. Congratulations. We knew it wouldn't take long to sell it.

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  3. I have a suggestion, a Super Tenere :-)
    BMW, expensive to maintain, way too many problems.

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    1. thanks, but no thanks George. The Super Tenere is just as expensive and heavy as the GS I just sold.

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  4. Bummer Chris, I originally sought a 1150GS to use as a tug instead of the V-Strom...but the one I found, the owner wouldn't sell it to me, saying I'd ruin a perfectly good bike by hanging a sidecar on it. Yep, anti-sidecar bias....

    dom

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    1. I thought about turning it into a tug as well. I have a friend who has a beautiful 1150GSA rig. Crazy the guy wouldn't sell it to you. Too bad you couldn't get a friend to go back and get it for ya.

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  5. Chris:

    some bikes sing to you, others don't. I have always wanted to ride a BMW so I bought my R1200R. I will know if I like it after this Summer's long ride. I hope I am not plagued with problems but there is no history of problems except for the fuel strip. In any event I will probably end up with the 2014 Vstrom when it comes out.

    I love my current Vstrom which I bought new in 2009. I was supposed to sell it but for now it remains. It is reliable and solid. Check out Stromtroopers.com , many former Beemer owners over there

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. that's a nice way of saying it "some sing and others don't"

      The GS was mostly reliable. The issues I had were due to it's over 108,000 miles. Just consumables that needed to be taken care of.

      Vstrom is super tempting. I think I need to test ride a few.

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  6. Better to part with it than having it sit in the garage with no purpose. Bye, Beemer!

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  7. Buh bye!

    If you don't like it and given the choice don't ride it, it needs to go. This way you can replace it with something you do like. The new V-Stroms have their motors based on the Gladius.

    One of Brad's fellow instructors has one (the adventurer) and loves it - traded his KLR 650 for it. He figured he couldn't go wrong with Suzuki's 0% financing. .......And we know you like Suzukis.

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    1. Yea, I wish I was as good as you. Deciding you didn't like the triumph so quickly. I was much too slow, and put too much time and money into trying to like it.

      I do like my Suzuki! love my yamaha too.

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  8. Chris, you would not be the first rider to ditch a BMW GS for a V-Strom DL650. But, it's all personal and how you fit the bike. As for the DL650, I am starting my 6th riding season with a little over 58,000 on my 2008. I wouldn't trade this for anything ... except maybe a new V-Strom.

    Brent

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    1. lol. glad you're loving the vstrom. I have several friends who have them, and love them as well. The few I've sat on fit me well too. It might be time to go test ride a few.

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  9. At one time I had considered looking for an 1150GS as well but for the same reason as Charlie6. I thought it would be great pulling around a sidecar.

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    1. The few I've seen hooked up to sidecars seem to do the job well. I'm enjoying the extra garage space now though :) I don't have to be nearly as careful when parking.

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  10. Maybe it's just me but Beemer duals remind me of old Jag's. They both require you have a warm and trusting relationship with your mechanic and a responsible owner knows that for any length ride the bike will need a period of quiet rest at the mechanics. And since you were not ready for this sort of sharing of the cycle experience you were not drawn to ride it.

    I never really thought you'd click with it. It's just too different a critter from your SV.

    Interesting thing is that the VStrom 650, the R1150GS and the Super Ténéré are all within ~100 lbs of each other and the Super Ténéré is the heaviest. Having not ridden any of these, Wonder if the VStrom has a significantly lower center of gravity to give it a lighter feel.

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    1. The vstrom is 100lbs+ lighter than the gs, and I have ridden both. I prefer the dl650. More than just the weight, it fits me. The gs always felt too big. The ergos were wrong, and I spent too much time trying to make them right.


      Not sure why you bring up the super tenere. I have never been interested in one.

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