It's possible I have a problem.......

[Perazzimx14]

Just bought my 16th Hexhead R1200GS/GSA today. Actually the #11 and #16 are the same bike. Sold it last year to a fellow upstate. He put 206 miles on it in the last 11 months and posted it f/s sale a couple of weeks ago. Reached out to him came to an agreement on price and just got back from picking it up.

[guzzisteve]

NOT a problem but an ADDICTION !! my idea anyway.

[Huzo]

I used too be the same, I enjoyed the rush of the act of aquisition, more than the ownership.
I would not be surprised if it’s the same endorphin that we feel when we pursue a potential “relationship”…
It’s the thrill of the chase, more than the conquest. I once saw a movie called “Two For the Money” in which a recovering gamblaholic Al Pacino, described what made him tick.
 He said that winning the prize was not the ultimate reward, it was the thrill as the dice was tumbling that gave him the hit…Once he scored, he didn’t value the prize.

[Perazzimx14]

I used too be the same, I enjoyed the rush of the act of aquisition, more than the ownership.
I would not be surprised if it’s the same endorphin that we feel when we pursue a potential “relationship”…
It’s the thrill of the chase, more than the conquest. I once saw a movie called “Two For the Money” in which a recovering gamblaholic Al Pacino, described what made him tick.
 He said that winning the prize was not the ultimate reward, it was the thrill as the dice was tumbling that gave him the hit…Once he scored, he didn’t value the prize.

Motorcycles yes, once they are fully serviced and no longer need my attention I get bored with them and the get sold/traded.  Women not so much. Same one of those since 1995.


I do have a soft spot in my heart for my 2nd GS I ever bought. It’s a nothing special 2007 R1200GS that is my favorite. It has weathered 20 or so other bike that became and went. It like an old pair of broken in work boots.

[sdcr]

Just bought my 16th Hexhead R1200GS/GSA today. Actually the #11 and #16 are the same bike. Sold it last year to a fellow upstate. He put 206 miles on it in the last 11 months and posted it f/s sale a couple of weeks ago. Reached out to him came to an agreement on price and just got back from picking it up.

Are the Hexheads that good?
Do the rear drives last?
Any issues with fuel sensor strips?

[inditx]

Well my insurance guy, not sure he was unbiased, said I was a connoisseur when I tried to share my addiction problem with him so, lets just settle on the fact that you sir are a connoisseur of GS's and motorcycles in general. 
inditx

[Sykestone8886]

No you don’t have a problem, 06 1200 GS the best bike I’ve ever owned !!!

[Clifton]

You have 16 Hexheads? Or you have owned 16?

[Perazzimx14]

Are the Hexheads that good?
Do the rear drives last?
Any issues with fuel sensor strips?

Yes, if they had electronic cruise they would be perfect, from me at least.

Seem too, while not flawless failure is not rampant

Yes, I have experienced fuel strip failure on several of the bikes. Not all Hexheads have fuel strips. Early Hexheads had fuel floats. I cannot for the life of me understand why BMW did not go back to floats once it was obvious the fuel strip was bad technology. An adapter plug or switch pins around in the existing plug and clip on a fuel flat, done! TBH I have come to not trust the fuel gauge and/or fuel counter anyways twice now on my 07 I've run out of fuel with the dash showing at least 18 miles to empty. Resetting the trip meter at fillup is the best practice to knowing how much fuel you have and how long you can go until you need more.

iABS-III Servi assist is another biggie for some. It is another failed tech that unfortunately plagues the 2004 - 2006 variants. It one of those its not a matter of if it fails but rather when it fails you have limited choices on what to do. There is a company in Europe that does rebuild the ABS pumps (Module Master in the US of A does not) for around $1000 + shipping, too expensive. BMW does/did sel new ABS pumps $2,900, excessively expensive. Or you an bypass the ABS pump and go back to traditional non-ABS brakes which incidentally ABS was an option on motorcycles of this era and they were available w/o ABS directly from the factory. To bypass the ABS pump takes a couple hours and less than $1 in material to make a jumper for the front circuit using 8" section of 3/16" rigid brake line. For the rear circuit you can rework and existing brake line for free or you can buy the factory fitting for around $150. I choose the free method. Also some choose to remove the ABS all together to shed about 7lbs of weight. I used too do this now prefer to just let the pump in the bike to save making backing plates and new mounts for the computer portion. Just disconnect the brake lines and remove them. Suck out any remaining brake fluid and let the rest alone. Shedding 7lbs on a 500lb bike is like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic hoping it would sink slower.

You have 16 Hexheads? Or you have owned 16?

No, the most I've owned at any given time is 5. Currently have three (3) a 2007 GS, 2008 GSA & 2020 GSA.

[Clifton]

Just many similar GS's over the years. Currently only two Hexheads GS's and a water 1250, no you don't have a problem...... perfectly normal. :)

[tazio]

Motorcycles yes, once they are fully serviced and no longer need my attention I get bored with them and the get sold/traded.........

It is possible you have a problem.. though not in this area.
I commend you for keeping these bikes, and others, on the "ACTIVE" list for future owners!

[Calculon]

You can take comfort my friend in the fact you are not alone.  Nice looking bike!

[chuck peterson]

[Perazzimx14]

14 days and 1 mile later its onto its next steward. I did manage to media blast and repaint the crash bars while under my care this time. Looked much better,

[SmithSwede]

I think you are looking at the wrong guy as having a “problem.” 

Why does somebody buy an expensive motorcycle and then ride it only 206 miles over the course of a year?

I may have bought and sold a lot of motorcycles in my time, but I dang sure RODE and ENJOYED them thoroughly.   

206 miles???

[Perazzimx14]

I think you are looking at the wrong guy as having a “problem.” 

Why does somebody buy an expensive motorcycle and then ride it only 206 miles over the course of a year?

I may have bought and sold a lot of motorcycles in my time, but I dang sure RODE and ENJOYED them thoroughly.   

206 miles???

I only rode it 1 mile and then sold it 

The writing was on the wall when the guy bought it last year. He has 2 or 3 young children, wife and a small business. It was hard enough for him to carve out 3 hours to come and pick up the bike the day he bought it. I didn't imagine he'd ever find time to ride it and from the odometer, he didn't.

[Trogladyte]

So have you got 15 of them now? Or do you sell one when you buy one?

My problem is different. I'm not good at disposing of bikes. I mostly keep them, write them off, take them apart and never manage to get them back together. or they get stolen. Over the decades this has more or less reached equilibrium, as I only have 5 bikes in the garage, four of which have two wheels. There is another in the shed. And then there's the minimotos, but that's another thing.

[Guzzistajohn]

That's what I told the dude @ the liquor store the other day.

He told me we're not alcoholics, we're enthusiasts! 

[Perazzimx14]

So have you got 15 of them now? Or do you sell one when you buy one?

My problem is different. I'm not good at disposing of bikes. I mostly keep them, write them off, take them apart and never manage to get them back together. or they get stolen. Over the decades this has more or less reached equilibrium, as I only have 5 bikes in the garage, four of which have two wheels. There is another in the shed. And then there's the minimotos, but that's another thing.

On several occasions I have had up to five (5) R1200GS's at the same time. Last week I had one (1) R1200GS, one (1) R1200GSA, one (1) R1250GGS and one (1) DRZ400. This week I have One each R1200GS, R1250GSA and a DRZ400. Next week could be an addition or subtraction....how knows what'll happen. 

[Clifton]

This week I have One each R1200GS, R1250GSA and a DRZ400. Next week could be an addition or subtraction....how knows what'll happen.

Maybe it's time to add a R1300GS?

[Huzo]

<br / 
I like this one, that’s exactly the bike I took from London to Nordkapp in 2015.


20,000 k on that trip, bike was faultless after the recall done in London and the rear bevelbox seal in Oslo and the dashboard warning light in Brno.
But I would not hesitate to have one again if every Guzzi in the world suddenly ceased to exist.
They do give you confidence.

[Perazzimx14]

<br / 
I like this one, that’s exactly the bike I took from London to Nordkapp in 2015.


20,000 k on that trip, bike was faultless after the recall done in London and the rear bevelbox seal in Oslo and the dashboard warning light in Brno.
But I would not hesitate to have one again if every Guzzi in the world suddenly ceased to exist.
They do give you confidence.

I cannot remember what I had for dinner last night, but I remember when my wife and I when to the North Carolina to buy this bike. It was cold and we ran into snow on I-81 near rocky gap. We had reservations at nice hotel and around the corner was a Carabbas. I had sausage peppers and onions, and it was not that great. I also had a gin and tonic and a Yuengling Lager. Forget what the wife had. Next morning we met the seller a nice older gentleman that was in a hurry as he had to take his granddaughter to karate. He lived in a very nice house and his driveway was on an incline curved to the left into his garage. We made the deal loaded the bike and we headed home. We stopped for breakfast at a diner but cannot remember what I/we had. Got home around 2pm.

This bike was bought right before - hit and I thought the bike market was going to collapse. It ended up going bonkers. The bike sold to a younger guy from York PA later that year.

Funny how I can remember silly things like details froma  bike ourchase years ago.   

[Huzo]

I do willingly admit, that when you are at 71 degrees North, the temperature has not been above 5 degrees C for 8 days and your home is 18,000 km away, reaching out to the starter on a BMW R1200 GS does give you more confidence than a Moto Guzzi.
But I went back the following year on the Norge and it all went very well.
However the PERCEIVED superior reliability of the GS is a very welcome thing.

[Perazzimx14]

I do willingly admit, that when you are at 71 degrees North, the temperature has not been above 5 degrees C for 8 days and your home is 18,000 km away, reaching out to the starter on a BMW R1200 GS does give you more confidence than a Moto Guzzi.
But I went back the following year on the Norge and it all went very well.
However the PERCEIVED superior reliability of the GS is a very welcome thing.

While my GS have proven reliable, they are not bulletproof and have some shortcomings. Be that as it may I love the fit, feel, performance and handling of the Hexheads it was like they were built for me. The 1st time ever rode a R1200GS was after I bought it and got it home. Threw a leg over and it felt like a well broken in pair of work boots.

[Snowman]

It is like a GS shelter, BMW humane society for wayward motorcycles.
QUOTE "You can take comfort my friend in the fact you are not alone."
 
This is correct, those 'special' hospitals are all over the country.     

[Perazzimx14]

Maybe it's time to add a R1300GS?

If I ever buy a 1300 it will be a few years down the roads after the 1350 or 1400 is released. I bought my last new bike in 2009 and am not likely to do that again. I don't like taking the enormous financial hit for the privilege of putting the 1st miles on it.