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To trade or not...

2K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  richw 
#1 ·
I have a 2012 Vee with 3,000 miles, totally stock.
However, I've got bad moto-lust for another.
It's a 2007 BMW K1200 GT, 8,600 miles,
optioned out with heated grips, heated driver
and passenger seats, electronic windshield,
factory GPS, electronic suspension, and
a 2 Brothers carbon fiber exhaust can.
We're at $3500 and the Vee.
All thoughts/opinions appreciated.
 
#2 ·
I sold my 07 wee for an 04 r1150rt. Kept the rt for @ 3 months sold it and bought another strom. The bmw is a nice bike. I didn't have any issues with it mechanically, I just preferred the wee. I say ride whatever puts the biggest smile on your face.
 
#3 ·
Think it over!!!!

As noted, ride whatever puts the biggest smile on your face.

Money makes me smile. I would ask myself what the BMW offers me the Strom doesn't. The extra cost is a road trip or two. BMW maintenance is crazy money, that's why I don't own any modern BMW's. I love my airheads, simple, inexpensive to operate, and all around great motorcycles. Kind of like an older,
European Strom.

I would recommend doing some reading on BMW sites like Stromtroopers. A lot of those folks don't seem to be happy. They should know they made the jump.

Just thinkin.....
 
#7 ·
Average Retail per NADA for your bike is $9,160.
Average Retail per NADA for the BMW is $11,280 without the options.

Are those accessories worth the extra difference the dealer wants? No, they're worth maybe 30 cents on the dollar for the cost new as they're 6 years old too.

I would want proof of every bit of maintenance that the owners manual calls for being done, mileage or age......hoses, flushed fluids, etc.

Service on the BMW is going to kick your butt for cost and if you need any parts, you better have a strong heart. Friend's ABS module or similar part went out on his K1200S that was out of warranty.....parts and labor were over $2,400 and there was no way to not fix it due to all the computer tie-in's and such.

And out of warranty BMW is a scary proposition.
 
#9 ·
In that mythical land where money is no object, I'd love to have a BMW in the garage. However, I can't find that land anywhere on Google Earth, so I'm stuck with this one. For me, it does come down to a dollars and cents decision. How much of the maintenance are you able to do on your own? If service charges on a BMW are like they are on a Harley (with which I am more familiar), you'd better carry a defibrillator with you to the dealership when you go pick up your bike. In my case, the nearest BMW service center is an hour and a half from my house, and the next one is two hours, so I wouldn't have a lot of choices if I wasn't happy with a particular dealer. BMW motorcycles don't have anything close to the nationwide system of dealers like HD or the Japanese bikes do. You also have to figure in the insurance costs in your costs of ownership.

I'm the kind of guy whose joy of ownership is tempered by how much the object of my joy is costing me. Probably the reason I don't own a boat, or a more exotic car than a Camry. The Vstrom seemed to offer (for me) the best fun return for the investment. However, if you're the kind of guy whose lust is stronger than his frugality, then get the BMW, because that's the one that you WANT.
 
#10 ·
I think it's whatever makes you happy.


BUT...

I want a GS terribly. I just can't justify the initial price tag and the money they want to upkeep those things. My JAP bike runs and starts every time (at least so far) and has cost me nothing more than tires, gas and a few other basic maintenance items.

I had to deal with the budget at my work concerning 5 RT-Ps and I can tell you nothing that says BMW is cheap!
 
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