Trying to justify a 2nd bike...

Trying to justify a 2nd bike...

Author
Discussion

Martylaa

Original Poster:

199 posts

196 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
So I have a BMW R1250GS as my bike, it does everything I need really well and its perfect and comfortable and is bloody decent on the twists and turns at decent speeds.

I've had 2 bikes before at the same time and I never can justify having 2, I barely do 2000-3000 miles a year (although this year I'm have a lot of tours planned). Having to pay 2 lots of insurance, then servicing costs, space in the garage etc etc is a pain then the cost of buying a second bike as well...

However I've had my head turned by the new Thruxton FE in Green, what a stunner, but it's £15k, i'lll be lucky to do 1500 miles a year on one and I know I'll get caned if I wanted to sell it later on.

But I can't stop thinking what a great second bike it would be...

Crudeoink

735 posts

66 months

Monday 8th April
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Buying a brand new bike as your 2nd bike is probably a bad move, especially if you're only going to do minimal miles. Why not buy a 2nd hand one, scratch the itch and take less of a spanking on the resale?

Martylaa

Original Poster:

199 posts

196 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Can't not agree with your point tbh, I'm thinking maybe its best to hold off a year or two and just run the one bike then maybe pick up the last version of the Thruxton when someone else has taken the hit and maybe added on a load of extras, instead of paying all that money on a brand new one...

pcn1

1,252 posts

226 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I've run 2 bikes for many years. Only do about 2000 miles between them.

1 is a 2019 1260 Multistrada, too much power, too much money but has all the toys.
The other a 2006 885 Triumph Scrambler, carbs and absolutely no rider aids apart from a neutral light.

Multi bike policy, only tax the scrambler for the summer and do most of the spanner work myself. Its not a big financial drain and they both make me smile when I ride them.

If I had room, I'd add a 3rd bike. And don't even start me on the car collection I'd like biggrin

moanthebairns

18,184 posts

205 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Martylaa said:
So I have a BMW R1250GS as my bike, it does everything I need really well and its perfect and comfortable and is bloody decent on the twists and turns at decent speeds.

I've had 2 bikes before at the same time and I never can justify having 2, I barely do 2000-3000 miles a year (although this year I'm have a lot of tours planned). Having to pay 2 lots of insurance, then servicing costs, space in the garage etc etc is a pain then the cost of buying a second bike as well...

However I've had my head turned by the new Thruxton FE in Green, what a stunner, but it's £15k, i'lll be lucky to do 1500 miles a year on one and I know I'll get caned if I wanted to sell it later on.

But I can't stop thinking what a great second bike it would be...
I didn't need a 5th bike last November and I sure as fk didn't need a 6th come December. But here we are, would posting on a bike forum, asking people who have a few bikes themselves resulted in a different result?

Put it this way I only bought a bike I didn't need that I haven't ridden yet because some bd posted the link to it being so cheap on here.

The prosecution rests.

bogie

16,614 posts

279 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I have 3 bikes, the tourer gets the most mileage ...for touring and general day to day use, through winter etc Probably 3-4k miles a year. The most sporty one is a fine sunny day bike and does 1000-1500 miles a year. The cruiser has done the most miles about 33k because I've had it the longest and used to do a few thousand miles a year on it before I bought the more touring optimised bike. It probably does 1K miles a year now.

Thankfully I only have room for 3, whilst still having space to store all my gear and work on one bike. If I had more garage space I would probably fill it with more options, although if it got down to just hundreds of miles per year I would have to question why bother. I'm not a bike collector, I like riding them.

Having 2 bikes that are for different purposes I fully understand, and it should be easy to justify thumbup

Steve Bass

10,364 posts

240 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
Martylaa said:
So I have a BMW R1250GS as my bike, it does everything I need really well and its perfect and comfortable and is bloody decent on the twists and turns at decent speeds.

I've had 2 bikes before at the same time and I never can justify having 2, I barely do 2000-3000 miles a year (although this year I'm have a lot of tours planned). Having to pay 2 lots of insurance, then servicing costs, space in the garage etc etc is a pain then the cost of buying a second bike as well...

However I've had my head turned by the new Thruxton FE in Green, what a stunner, but it's £15k, i'lll be lucky to do 1500 miles a year on one and I know I'll get caned if I wanted to sell it later on.

But I can't stop thinking what a great second bike it would be...
I didn't need a 5th bike last November and I sure as fk didn't need a 6th come December. But here we are, would posting on a bike forum, asking people who have a few bikes themselves resulted in a different result?

Put it this way I only bought a bike I didn't need that I haven't ridden yet because some bd posted the link to it being so cheap on here.

The prosecution rests.
Same.. Im up to 7 in some form of functional condition and another few in crates...

You don't need to justify more than one bike if it's what you want....

The persecution rests....

The Selfish Gene

5,582 posts

217 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I would argue a new bike for 2nd is the perfect choice...........as it'll retain as much value as possible due to the low mileage and the fact you'll obviously cherish it, and keep it in perfect condition.

Also if it's something you want, then why not?

I've done similar things many times, and there is nothing like having a really special machine just because.


PurpleTurtle

7,596 posts

151 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I've got three bikes and have done for nearly 20yrs, but two of them are becoming a bit of a pain in the backside tbh.

Funnily enough I'm mulling over chopping all three in for a 1200GS.

My riding profile has changed considerably since the pandemic; I've gone from being an every day bike commuter (10 months of the year) to a couple of times a month. I really don't need the extras and they are just taking up far too much garage space. Hard to get rid when you love them, though!

moanthebairns

18,184 posts

205 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
PurpleTurtle said:
I've got three bikes and have done for nearly 20yrs, but two of them are becoming a bit of a pain in the backside tbh.

Funnily enough I'm mulling over chopping all three in for a 1200GS.

My riding profile has changed considerably since the pandemic; I've gone from being an every day bike commuter (10 months of the year) to a couple of times a month. I really don't need the extras and they are just taking up far too much garage space. Hard to get rid when you love them, though!
What else are you going to put in the garage, patio furniture over the winter?

Gixer968CS

703 posts

95 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I have 3. I recently sold my GS1200, which I put 25,000 miles on over 5 years. I'll probably average a few more than that on the replacement (GS1300) as the 5yrs on the 1200 included Covid when we couldn't get out much. I bought a Ducati Monster 1200R new in March '18 and that's covered about 6k miles in total. I also have Honda VTR1000 SP2 that will probably do c500miles a year maximum.

3 very different types of bikes and I think the mix kinda makes sense, but it is extravagant and tbh from a pure capability perspective the GS does everything you need. But, it doesn't deliver as much fun (and especially noise) like the other two. The Ducati is the fun one and the SP2, whilst also fabulous to ride, is more of an ornament than a mode of transport. I could sit and look at it for hours.

The admin is a bit of a faff I suppose and I don't think I'd have more than 3.......

Martylaa

Original Poster:

199 posts

196 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I keep looking at it and thinking its just a work of art that belongs in my garage...

black-k1

12,177 posts

236 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I've never been able to justify having a second (or subsequent) bike beyond "I want one", but it hasn't stopped me having them.

Chipchap

2,611 posts

204 months

Monday 8th April
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I currently have 2. One ultra modern and 1 40 years old or thereabouts.

I went out out 2 weeks ago and did 250 miles on my brand new R1300GS and easily managed 250 miles on it with multiple stops riding with friends.

On the solo leg home I asked myself "Do I really need 2 bikes as the big GS does everything and anything that I could want in a bike"

The big Honda CBX is a beautiful thing and in magnificent condition but in reality if it sees 500 miles this year that will be a lot.

I think my initial thoughts are right. The big old Panzer does it all so well.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Bob_Defly

4,061 posts

238 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Do it.

Mr Dendrite

2,340 posts

217 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Martylaa said:
I keep looking at it and thinking its just a work of art that belongs in my garage...
Don’t look at me. Look where I’ve ended up.
I know I should sell the green one now I’ve got the TFC, but….


BishBosh

452 posts

231 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Martylaa said:
I keep looking at it and thinking its just a work of art that belongs in my garage...
Nothing wrong with that at all and totally agree with your sentiments. Which is why I too have a garage queen to admire....

Get it done. love


.

spoodler

2,192 posts

162 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
Serious question that you need to ask yourself... Justify to who?
Workmates? Parents? Neighbours? If so, why, they've got their own lives with their own choices to make.
Partner? Fair enough.
Yourself? You only live once and you'll be old before you know it... There ya go, justified!

Joking apart, do like those Thruxtons.

barryrs

4,554 posts

230 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
I justified it by telling myself that my Aprilia RSV was an appreciating asset, so it made perfect sense to keep it and get a CB1000R Black edition to sit alongside it smile

The Selfish Gene

5,582 posts

217 months

Monday 8th April
quotequote all
just for clarity on my comment above, I've gone from 13, to 7 - and I'm finding it a challenge!!!!

biggrin

not really a challenge - but I do have a bike for most occasions (not quite all)