Joe85

Apparently *pinch of salt* there’s a wider issue with people struggling to get insured on the new GS, because BMW haven’t released certain details to insurers to slow them to appropriately price insurance.

FFS.

17 hours ago, Joe85 said:

Dropping the S1000R off tomorrow. Will leave the GS at the dealership for another week for a ceramic coating and a dash of PPF on the painted parts.

 

Hopefully ride it home next Saturday, although they’re absolutely lathering the roads in salt at the moment. 

I got to caress it for a few minutes.

Dropping the S1000R off tomorrow. Will leave the GS at the dealership for another week for a ceramic coating and a dash of PPF on the painted parts.

Hopefully ride it home next Saturday, although they’re absolutely lathering the roads in salt at the moment. 

I use the connected ride app, if you combine it with the cradle you can you the BMW wheel to control your phone too, which is pretty cool.

My personal experience is that BMW’s app is superior to any normal satnav app like Apple or Google Maps… until you want live traffic. Apple/Goofle maps are unbeatable for that, imo.
 

Like most satnavs, you download the map data to the phone. My favourite feature is “winding routes” setting which takes you on the most obscure route from A to B. 
 

I’m not to concerned with vibration, quad lock’s AVM solves that, to be fair.

I get why people may want a dedicated satnav, I’ve just never got spare cash to weigh out for one, always felt like there something more exciting to buy for the bike. 

I’ve been touring in Europe several times with just the phone with absolutely zero issues.

Hundreds on a dedicated satnav just seems unnecessary to me.

Thought I do a quick multi-bike policy check on an S1000R and a 1250 GSA - £1400 with Bennents. That's pretty decent.

Gerbing are running 20% off their heated clothing and gloves this weekend with code BF2023.

Some good discounts to be had. I'm tempted by the heated trousers. Brought the gloves, jacket and socks last year and they're absolutely marvelous, especially the socks (although a faff to get on and connected). Everything connects to the jacket, so you adjust the heat levels for the jacket, socks and trousers through the controller. The gloves have built-in, independent controls.

I have to say, having taken a car to the ribs, they do take a particularly long time to heal - it inhibits so much of what you do normally. But i just cannot bring myself to buy one. Like Dave, it just feels like far too many layers, although i say this in ignorance having never tried one on.

Rather annoyingly, Rukka has stopped including thermal liners in their jackets and trousers. They don't even include an attachment zip so you can transfer over older thermal liners. Bit low, that.

12 hours ago, Gerontious said:

I don’t do this often, but as I’m at work with the rampaging schizophrenics. Nobody will either notice. Or care.

 

£1,800 for insurance deserves a loud “EEK!!”

 

I thought. What are you? 19?? But clearly you’re not a new rider. What’s going on?

 

first year my insurance for the AT was £270. Now, 5 years later it’s £110.

No garage. No security. City centre postcode.

 

£1,800!!!   I’m tempted to gibber for dramatic effect. 

 

I get bent over at the moment. The GSA was £800 a year, which is far more reasonable. The S1000R was £1200. I've 6 years NC, no rider fault accidents, and zero points/convictions. The bike is kept in a locked garage too.

Must be my location and proximity to bike crime in London.

Twats.

3 hours ago, bonio said:

Too right . And perhaps a touch of ?

So what would you say makes it so much better than the 1250? 

PS Congratulations of course. A touch envious tbh.

It just a bit more naughty, a bit more exciting. It has that something that gets the blood pumping when you give it a bit of throttle. There was always something ‘meh’ about the 1250. Great for touring, superb actually, but for a bit of fun on a weekend? Nah.

New 1300 just felt fun to ride.  I feel like I could enjoy commuting on it. Something I could never do on the 1250 (Adv).

Insurance are tearing my pants down, though. £1800 quid! Part exchanging the S1000R softens the blow a bit.

Sportsbikeshop currently running 20% off of Rukka.

56 minutes ago, Mawsley said:

Light?

 

Sorry but no.

I should’ve added “when moving”. 
 

Incredibly agile thing.

3 hours ago, Pie man said:

Oh FFS. We're nearly in December, don't be having any silly ideas of a winter tour. 

It was on my mind, haha. I need to go to Frankfurt next week for work, but you’re right - I can’t be doing that again.

1 hour ago, Steve_M said:

Whatever.

It’s true, though. If all was fair, then any points you have, or claims on your policy would only be applied to one bike also.

Anyway, in light of this attempt at legalised theft, I’ve decided I’d rather just trade the S1000R (again). 
 

In your honour I’ll be sure to read the small print, just to make sure they’re not ethically sneaking in some other outrageous money making clause.

27 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

50% of my parents are dead but I’m sure 100% would be.

 

In the mean while, reading the documentation at renewal means there are no surprises. It’s long been insurance practice to have separate no claims for each vehicle /  policy. It’s not a con, it’s not even slightly shady business practice… it’s a contract that we, as policyholders, sign up to. Some with their eyes open, some with a jaundiced perspective. 
 

 

Nonsense. 
 

I’m legally obliged to take out motor insurance to drive my vehicle on the road - that makes it a racket, legalised extortion. “No claim's” isn’t some finite resource that needs to spread sparingly throughout the country. It is literally an imaginary discount applied because you can demonstrate that you have not claimed insurance on your policy in that period.

There is literally nothing preventing me using it across multiple policies other than pure greed and profiteering from insurers.

Similarly, car no claims cannot be used on a bike policy, yet car claims must be disclosed. Rancid practices.

It’s a con. Still, well done you.

12 minutes ago, peepae said:

Thanks, you've inspired hope  - did you change your tyres at all or had 4 season tyres? Ice is my biggest worry.

Nah. Just went for it. Sadly got caught out by snow once back in the UK, but in France it was great; the weather was dry, which helped.

I did a four day jaunt to Paris this time last year. It really is a beautiful time of year to travel on European roads, just a shame about the temperatures. 

Frosty farmers fields, stretching for miles, glistening in the mid-morning sunlight. Stunning. I’ll see if I can throw up some footage.

I would advise heated gloves, instead of or in combination with heated grips. They’re a game changer for sub-zero temperatures. I also had a heated jacket and socks, and that allowed my to ride all day in sub temps ranging from -4 to 5 deg like it was summer.

Some may see this as risky, but for maximum enjoyment, I would suggest avoiding motorways and enjoying the backroads.

Good luck!

1 hour ago, Steve_M said:

Which is why, on every renewal or new policy, I read the documentation which, I suspect you didn’t.
 

 

And I’m sure your parents are especially proud of you for doing so. Congratulations.

Why you think this relates to my post, I have no idea.

Today I learned that you can only use your no claims bonus on one policy at a time.

Con artists.

Test ride the 1300 GS today. What a preposterously awesome bike. Wheelies for days, fast, light and nimble and still comfortable. 

Ended up buying a Trophy edition. Pick it up Saturday. Oh dear.

XCP for me, too.

Here's some Friday entertainment for you all. Don't think I got around to posting this at the time. Having just crossed back over into the UK following a 4-day trip to France back in Dec 2022, out of nowhere the weather decided to dump a tonne of snow on the A2. I had to ride 50 miles in that shit, the hardest ride of my life. Enjoy my utterly woeful attempts to navigate the snow (thank funk for crash bars).

FYI - the Quadlock mirror mount is a perfect fit for the GPS bar on the GS. A very cheap way of mounting an iPhone or other phablet if you have the right case.