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I'm going to test ride the new GS1200 this week. Bike sounds impressive. Would you take the chance on a first year bike?

Zombie Master wrote:Would you take the chance on a first year bike?

Are you asking me or Duane?

My R65 was technically a first year model. It had one fork tube that couldn't be fixed with a new seal. I got a new tube under warranty. The old one makes a great breaker bar.

You can't wait until next year when the second year comes out?
What happens if no one buys any first year models? Do they make any the second year?

If it was me, I'd wait a year or two for them to get the bugs worked out.

Or you could buy a 2012 GS, the bugs should be thoroughly worked out on the last year of the air/oil cooled GS. Mine's been great so far. Dealers might have some smokin' hot deals on '12 models.

I bought a first year Goldwing 1000 in 1975. It was a totally new design. The brakes were recalled and they changed the pad material. They worked great dry and not at all wet. The recall fixed that. I had a drive shaft u-joint go bad at about 50,000 miles. That was the only problems I had with that bike in 9 years.

I quit riding for 22 years and went back with the airheads. What a shock.

Honda, although not immune to First Model Year Disease, seems to be one of the best. BMW is more inconsistent: they have some great first model years, and some pretty sketchy ones. Most of their good first years are less ambitious redesigns, like the Hex Head, although, in spite of SteveD's experience, the K100 was considered by many to be one of BMW's best first year models, and almost everything about it was new. I guess he didn't get one of the best ones.

If you want to be safe, I agree with the 2 year recommendation, or even more so with the 2012 GS recommendation. But, if you want the new bike, buy the new bike. I wouldn't let it stop me if I had the money and really wanted the new GS.

Major Softie wrote:in spite of SteveD's experience, the K100 was considered by many to be one of BMW's best first year models, and almost everything about it was new. I guess he didn't get one of the best ones.

You can write that again!

I bought it and rode it out from the dealer. The speedo didn't work. U turn.
The ignition black box lost 2 cylinders worth of output. Limped home.
Muffler cover fell off (almost).
Fuel pump failed.
Speedo was replaced..can't remember the reason.
The gear display didn't work. There were others which were small things mostly forgotten.
Worst of all...big end bearing was replaced at 5 months and about 20K kms.

That was all fixed. I ran it back in a bit then promptly parked it in the radiator of a HD ute on the Towong Gap hair pin coming back from the Kosciusko Rally at Geehi! GoodFuckinRiddance!

I worked at a dealership from June 1989 to June 1990. I saw A LOT of those K instrument clusters go through the shop.

Steve in Golden wrote:If it was me, I'd wait a year or two for them to get the bugs worked out.

Or you could buy a 2012 GS, the bugs should be thoroughly worked out on the last year of the air/oil cooled GS. Mine's been great so far. Dealers might have some smokin' hot deals on '12 models.

The older Gs's are actually more money than the new ones. I really like the idea of the wet clutch serviced from the front. The amount of electronics is daunting. I guess I would be in the trade in every 3 years ownership and keep in warranty. I've never wanted to do that, but as I'm getting older it's starting to make sense. I will keep my airhead.

SteveD wrote: ....then promptly parked it in the radiator of a HD ute on the Towong Gap hair pin coming back from the Kosciusko Rally at Geehi! GoodFuckinRiddance!

Now, that's commitment! Most people would have traded it in or sold it.

Chuey