Hey all,

So I currently have a bmw 800gs sitting in the shed, and it's currently sitting there with little use.

I bought it in mint condition, without a single scratch or mark on it anywhere. As such I'm almost scared to take it out anywhere. Obviously road riding is fine, but I wouldn't take it out in the wet, or off-roading. The other day it fell of it's side stand (parked on a hill), and snapped the screen costing about £200 to replace it.

Anyway, based on how little I've actually been using it, I'm toying with the idea of just selling it and buying something else. I see it as a lot of money to be sitting in the shed, whereas I could buy something older for half the price, and then not be worried about hammering it, or be worried that it's losing value sitting there doing nothing.

Also I want to get handy with spanners, so that when I do eventually do a big trip (Mongolia is my highest priority), I can fix (or diagnose) problems if they arise. I guess with the beemer it would be more a case of finding the nearest dealership?

Anyway, do you think it's a bad idea to 'downgrade', should I just stick with the current bike and appreciate it's advantages for when I do eventually do a big trip on it.. or should I just weigh it in and replace it?

Cheers
-agour

I presume you mean an F800GS, how about selling it and buying an R80GS? Little or no depreciation, easy to maintain and perfectly up to a trip to Mongolia.

Plenty of good options, xr650/600/400. Suzuki dr650 or drz400. Klr Kawasaki. Yam tenets or xt 600.loads of other options but all those offer simple mechanics and are more than up to the task. I wouldn't even dismiss a lightweight 250 and learn to travel light.

If your big bike sits in the shed get something light and get out and enjoy it. Plus you'll have a stack of cash left to do the trip.

My yam ttr250 has been all over it owes me nothing and always puts a smile on my face.

Bit left field but how about a Ural 2wd sidecar outfit

No point in having a bike you're afraid to enjoy. I've been there too many times myself.

You watch your pride and joy depreciate while having only 20% of the fun you could be having.


If it's the trails, wilderness and adventure you crave, you have to be willing to take some bumps and scrapes.


And don't think of it as a downgrade. A cheaper, rattier, simpler bike will have OOOOODLES more character and fun than your Bavarian sausage machine.

That my friend.. Is an UPGRADE.

Grab yourself a Dommie off Ebay and let her rip.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I hope you don't mind me suggesting the problem is you, not the bike. The F800GS is perfectly capable of doing the sort of journeys you envisage. But going to somewhere like Mongolia will require you to 'man up' and you need to even ride in the rain. So you need to overcome your concerns.

Do you have any biking friends who you can talk to?

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

It's not that I'm scared of riding in the rain or anything, I'm all for it. It's just that I didn't want the salt on the roads to damage the bike if I didn't have time to wash it (stupid I know). And no to bike related friends, I guess I'm still new to this area. I am going to HUBB ireland in two weeks though, so I'm sure there will be plenty of knowledgeable people there!

I also know that it's more than capable of the journeys, I'm just babying it too much for my liking.

Yeah. that's what I was thinking Ted! And whats a dommie?

I was looking at the DR's stu, but I'll definitely have a look at the others too. I nearly bought a ttr250 the other day for dicking around on and greenlaning and such, but bought a ktm 200 instead.

I probably should have mentioned that too - that I bought a ktm 200egs to take greenlaning so I wouldn't trash the beemer. Which the more I think about it, the more silly it is really. The best thing to do would be ride the 200 for a while so I'm used to off-roading, then just take my normal ride out there so I get used to riding the trails on the machine that I would end up taking to far away lands.

I agree, best sell off your BMW F800GS. It'd be a shame to take it traveling and see it trashed and worth very little at trips end. And have you ever tried to pick it up out of the mud with 40 kgs. of luggage on it?
I'd prefer something lighter, less expensive and more suited to a Mongolia trip ... something somewhat expendable.
That trip will be HARD on any bike you take. Why take a £10K BMW F800GS?

Good move to get some off road training in on the KTM.

For a travel bike for a Mongolia trip perhaps something in the 400 to 650 class is a good choice? A good 250 could do it too, but requires clever packing and traveling super light, something noob travelers are not great at.
Traveling light is an Art!

Unless you go looking for the toughest off road routes, a well set up 400 to 650 could be really good in most conditions. I ride a DR650 Suzuki. Love it after 60,000 miles of reliable travel in all conditions.

But XT's, KLR's, DRZ's, XR's ALL are good.

With the big money you'll get for your BMW you could even opt for the new
CCM with the 450 BMW motor in it. It's expensive and unproven but looks good. I personally prefer something a bit more comfortable for doing long days. The CCM is off road focused ... but very trick. But travel is not about
"Trick". It won't be a race.

If me, I'd bank the cash, buy something inexpensive and good. Spend the balance on your traveling ... where it should be spent!

Maybe you can ride a few different bikes, see which suits you. They will all feel a bit heavy off road after the KTM dirt bike! But remember, you've got to carry you whole life on board ... hard to do on a dirt bike.

A Dommie is a 650 Honda based on the XL/XR series ... and TED has a very nice one for sale! Buy it and go. It's ready if you are.

Given that you have the ktm. I would sell the other bike and enjoy the ktm. Ride it, tour it then sell it and buy a classic adventure bike and set sail.

There are so many useable bikes out there at a good price the world is your oyster. The best thing about spending 2grand or thereabouts on a bike is that no matter how you treat it (use it/enjoy it) the bike will hardly depreciate, pick the right one and you could tour the world on your investment.

Whatever you do enjoy the ride

+4 Stop shopping start riding.

Your near mint, three year old BMW is worth Three grand cash. You've left Five grand in the garage to rot. Any other deal involves a dealer, a new bike and the same process over and over again. It's the dealers job to grab that 5 grand sat rotting in your garage by telling you not to ride and spend your days buying preservative stuff to keep his future stock in good shape.

A trashed three year old BMW is worth two grand cash to people who like doing up bikes or just want that model. The dealer will play the fool and tut and carry on and eventually take it on the chin and make you a deal anyway.

Either go ride it or give up bikes and play the stock market. You'll only ever loose money on bikes.

Personally I avoid second hand bikes due to the bodging of previous owners. I buy new but run to destruction unless I make a mistake and buy one that doesn't fit. By the time I've consumed a bike I've saved up for the next one.

Andy

There are cheap flights to Kiev on Wizz air from Luton. No visa for Ukraine.

Here's a dealer that sells Jianshe (basically Yamaha) bikes in the south of Kiev, I was there today. (Foxwell motors. Kiltseva Rd, 4A) They know what they're doing and are helpful.

Купити мотоцикли в Україні по низьким цінам. Продаж мотоциклів в Україні дешево с доставкою

These bikes look good (comfortable, light, practical, economical..)

Мотоцикли : Мотоцикл JIANSHE JS125-6B

$950 USD, YBR125 analogue. The Jianshe factory also makes the Yamaha bikes, the ones that are sold in the UK I guess (?). In China these cost about $700, or about $900 with a Yamaha badge. Quality is beautiful.

Мотоцикли : Мотоцикл Loncin LX200GY-3

$1300 USD, Honda XR125L copy but with a 200cc engine. Loncin is the biggest manufacturer of motorbikes in China. They make engines for BMW (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/n...650gs-engine-/). Quality of this bike seemed ok, perhaps be ready for some minor problems (fast wearing wheel bearings, chain etc.)

There is also a Suzuki DR200 analogue available, or will be soon, made by Qingqi (Chinese Suzuki). About $2000 USD. Tank only 10l.

You could go via Dnepropetrovsk, nice city. There's even a good highway most of the way. Then cut up north to Kharkiv and cross into Russia, avoiding the trouble in the East. Was out there a couple of weeks ago, no problem at all. Or go via Crimea, border is open as far as I know, although maybe not for foreigners? Make sure you have a Russian visa (and maybe an Uzbek one?). Knowledge of Russian helpful. :-)

I think if you get the Jianshe it should be able to do 10,000 km with just some basic maintenance. Maybe just have the valves adjusted after 500km or so, which any mechanic can do if you know the clearances. Adjust the chain, change the oil, fix a couple of punctures.

Edit: An Australian friend has been all over Mongolia on a Chinese 125. The locals also drive Russian Izh 2-stroke 350cc bikes. So I guess a small 'standard' bike would get you most places you would want to go.

I would not contradict anyone who says lighter is better. It's easier to pick up, and as it's cost less to begin with you'll not worry as much about dropping it! Having said that, if you can try the off road training in Wales. I went in 2013 and was amazed at what the F800 is capable of doing when you have a little more confidence! Throwing someone else's bike around with abandon gives you the confidence to ride yours better, and more sensibly, off road. I fired theirs into a tree in third whilst going uphill! the whole experience gave me much more confidence with mine.

Priced any used bikes at BMW dealers lately? 3 grand!?
If no more than 2 to 3 years old, I'd say it's worth double that. New BMW 800GS goes for what? Around £10K?
Fact is, BMW hold value more than any other bike on the market. Obviously, a private sale will bring more than selling to a dealer. Dealers are crooks, no news there.

If truly mint I'd estimate a nicely equipped 800GS to sell used for £6 to £8 UKP no problem, depending on age.

Even beat up, high mileage BMW's bring very high prices. Quite amazing really what folks pay for them.

Bodging? I've not seen many BMW owners doing much "bodging". Most BMW's see only a dealer work shop.

If not a BMW, then don't buy a "bodged" up bike. I do agree with this part and never buy a bike that has been "customized" or "fiddled' with a lot to make it "better".

But virginal used examples are not that hard to find.

Sure, buy new ... and throw away £1000 as soon as you ride away from the dealer. No thanks. A carefully considered second hand bike is always preferable. Why take that initial depreciation "hit"?

I was talking e-bay value to get cash. At a dealer you get a years warranty, protection under the sale of goods act, " free" coffee , smarmed at by lizards / the warm feeling of joining a premium brand, the opportunity to be sold finance etc. Prices are higher but not what they would give you in folding stuff.

All those Scotchlocks BMW dealers use to mount Charlie lights are not my idea of long term reliability.

Not saying anyone needs to follow my lead of course but I still think the last person to make money on a bike was Lawrence of Arabia's lawyer. Converting cash to memories is better value.

We also have the MOT. The depreciation hit to me matches the three years I don't have to argue with grease monkeys over how my horn is strident while the one they'll sell me to get a certificate for another year isn't. I'd actually pay the bribe to stop them messing with my set up, but we don't do basic corruption in the UK it has to be under the radar.

Andy

I had an F8gs bought as a "lightweight" alternative to the ubiquitous 1200GS. I hated every mile on it and yes I did thousands of miles on and off road. I was scared of dropping and damaging it too. Not because i need to man up but because it always felt like it was about to catch me out and dump me in my ass both on and off road. And the cost of replacing all that pretty adventure plastic doesn't bare thinking about. I was really pleased to see the back of it. Too tall too heavy vague handling and fragile. I'm importing a nearly new DR from the states after considering all the options. If you fancy that let me know.
Ps. Ireland meet was a blast. Definitely be there again next year. In fact going over again in three weeks for some more of that scenery and friendly hospitality.

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have fun with your helmet!

I had my Bonneville from 2004 to 2012. I think I paid something in the 4-grand sort of area. I rode it off road and in the snow. It was an utter hoot except for the odd bit of hassle with the coil.

I used to get pulled up by the typical Bonneville polishers for my dinged silencers and general filthy appearance. They’d also shake their heads because I’d run semi-knobblies rather than Avon Roadrunners or whatever they thought looked right. I’ve had them wanting to call an ambulance because I’d lost an indicator (but gained a Transit van mirrior!) days earlier. I did end up buying new silencers off e-bay, but they weren’t that expensive as everyone wanted loud and shiny not standard with the odd scratch.

After 8 years of not giving a **** the Suzuki dealer gave me £1300 for it. I think he sold it to a guy who probably put a lot of time in but basically just did a deep clean and sold it on e-bay for £2500. This guy told all sorts of half truths and I wouldn’t have wanted to live with the come back, but I think the figure says something.

£4000 less £1300 divided by 2900 days gives a cost of 93p a day. I can live with this.

The same figures for the Suzuki which I found didn’t fit me give a scary £2.00 a day . The error is not in how you keep it (only issues when sold were a lightly scratched hand guard) but how long.

My 14 month old V7 is now parked outside. It has semi- knobblies and my wife has written “Dirty Boy” in muck on the tank

Enjoy that DR, bikes for riding are way more fun.

Andy