Adventure-Sports sales dip in April UK registration figures

Never could figure out why the BMW GS sold so well in the UK, unless you planned to go overseas on a major trip,whats the point. Now that  the Charlie and Euen travel video phenomenen has faded away the market will be flooded with low milage Beemer GS's.The US market is full of 1200's selling way below what people paid.  Anybody who has dropped a fully loaded GS a few times or got one off the road in remote sandy or boggy terrain will quickly realise they are way ,way too heavy and bulky for solo travel.

Posted: 12/05/2010 at 01:37

People who don't like the GS have usually never riden one. I have had mine for 4 years and it goes off road, does a 40 mile commute every day, goes for a frantic  Sunday thrash with a wide variety of other bikes and also has toured throughout Europe. They are ultra reliable and robust not to mention great fun. It is a hooligan bike around town with it's excellent low speed balance and watchtower view.

 Oh and by the way I love my sports bike as well but to say whats the point about any bike amazes me. I will happily sling a leg over anything with two wheels rather than sit in a tin box. I'm a biker and love all bikes.

Perhaps you will understand what the point is now.

Posted: 12/05/2010 at 17:02

IMO GS sales have dipped...Because the new 'Multistrada' has arrived!

It isn't a perfect GS alternative - But does give defecting sports bike riders a serious alternative....

Joe's dad makes some good points: But surely they apply to all Adventure Bikes not just the GS?

Safe Riding. 

Posted: 12/05/2010 at 18:40

I have owned a GS for 6 years and travelled very long distances and taken it on some of the remotest tracks in the world.I also have a Hayabusa and a couple of standard bikes and enjoy riding all of them. My point still stands,Anybody who has dropped a fully loaded GS a few times or got one off the road in remote sandy or boggy terrain will quickly realise they are way ,way too heavy and bulky for solo travel off road .If theres 2 or more riders who can help each other out when you drop one, no problems. I am no weakling but I can tell you,after uprighting a fully loaded one a couple of times in boggy or sandy terrain,you wish to hell you'd bought something smaller and more nimble.I've never used mine much for commuting, its too wide and cumbersome for lane splitting,

Posted: 13/05/2010 at 01:52

I'm with Joe Barker on this. Owned a 1200GSA for a year, did 10k road miles on it. Tried a bit of off road & too big, too heavy. The GS is a great bike but flawed in 2 ways. Quality/reliability - mine wasn't reliable and the corrosion on it was the worst on any bike I have ever owned (btw I've owned a Yamaha & Aprilias....) BMW response was I hadn't cleaned it with the right stuff - only their recommended cleaners guarantee to clean off the road salt apparently. You should only embark on off road stuff if you have 2 car loads of support. The standard toolkit doesn't even have the necessary to remove the wheels. Around the world? Around suburbia to the dealer for a coffee more like.... I've  got a KTM now - its a far far better bike.

Posted: 14/05/2010 at 00:13