Update bike(s) ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SkodaMart
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SkodaMart

SkodaMart

I currently have a tidy 2005 R850R and a 2002 R1150GS.
I have a fair few vehicles to maintain and sadly both of my ageing bikes are misbehaving.
The R850R ignition switch is playing up, sometimes the rear light illuminate sometimes they don’t. (The wiring is sound, I realise the wire can break due to handlebars moving).
The R1150GS battery has died, only 2 years old, despite regular maintenance.
(I suspect it might be draining more than it should be).
So question is, do I keep my lovely old pseudo classics or do I buy one more modern machine such as an Africa Twin or R1200GS.
I’m 6’3” which is the reason for choosing large machines.
Will I regret it?
Am I just swapping one set of problems for another?
One final point is neither of my bikes have ABS.
Interested to hear your thoughts.
(Both my bikes are picture in ‘show us your bikes’ on this forum)
Thanks in advance.
 
Neither of those bikes seem to have insurmountable problems. Is this really just you looking for justification to upgrade? (I've done it many times myself!)
If you like them, then sort those issues and keep them. If you're not overly handy with mechanics/electrics there are loads of non-dealer specialists that I'm sure wouldn't charge the earth.
Depending on where you are in the Manchester area, Rainbow Workshops in Penistone is run by Steve, and ex Allan Jeffries tech and is where I take my bike. Really good, relatively cheap and won't mess you about.
I've had both 1150GS and 1200GSA(LC) in the past. I'd happily have another 1150GS, but probably not a 1200GS. I miss the 1150 far more than the 1200.
 
Luke said:
Neither of those bikes seem to have insurmountable problems. Is this really just you looking for justification to upgrade? (I've done it many times myself!)
If you like them, then sort those issues and keep them. If you're not overly handy with mechanics/electrics there are loads of non-dealer specialists that I'm sure wouldn't charge the earth.
Depending on where you are in the Manchester area, Rainbow Workshops in Penistone is run by Steve, and ex Allan Jeffries tech and is where I take my bike. Really good, relatively cheap and won't mess you about.
I've had both 1150GS and 1200GSA(LC) in the past. I'd happily have another 1150GS, but probably not a 1200GS. I miss the 1150 far more than the 1200.
Click to expand...

Thank you, this helps.
I don’t have anything to compare my bikes with.
I think I may regret it if I sold them.
They are worth less than 1 modern bike combined anyway.
The link to the mechanic is also helpful.
The GS needs the modified clutch kit fitting (longer splines) and I will probably struggle to do it myself with my available space.
 
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Yeah I was thinking along the same lines as Luke there. Once you've got a place to take them that you can trust, the unknowns start to reduce and I reckon you'll feel a lot better knowing that you'll have them back working better than ever :).

Side note: are they sat on a charger? I'd say get one or two (if you are very lazy!) of those and leave the bikes on charge. For the last year or so I've been switching my one between bike and car every few weeks.
 
Thanks for the input guys.
It can be a bit of a faff fixing them at times - the GS needs new throttle/fast idle cables.
I do feel however that I would regret selling them sooner or later.
Modern machines are lovely but they aren’t as DIY friendly and that’s the main deciding factor for me.
 
Sounds like they just need a good service, older bikes tend to be easier to work on and more reliable due to being simpler. Newer bikes can have a whole host of electrical gremlins which can seriously affect the bikes.

I’d stick to getting the old issues sorted as they sound fairly simple issues, and keep hold. Unless you’re trying to justify buying a new bike, in which case second hand bike values are currently up and you may get a decent trade in value.
 
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