Off Topic » OT: Would you buy a new bike right before winter?

Was planning to add a GSX-R750 to the RS, just for those times (often) when all I want is a twisty sprint up the canyon that's 2 miles from the house. With the RS, while it's pretty sporty in the twisties, I feel its primary mission is longer, more leisurely rides.

The local Suzuki dealer has what I want on order, but now it looks like it'll be here just before winter really sets in, meaning the bike would sit in the garage for 4-5 months, going nowhere and using up those warranty months up-front. Then there's the insurance cost for that time period.

I face a dilemma, because the GSXR is the uniquely-painted 40th anniversary model and it's unlikely there will be one available come spring.

Understanding that the usual response to questions like this is, "if you really want it, get it now". But it's not like I "need" the GSXR...it's a "nice to have, not need to have" purchase.

What would you do?

Are you getting a huge/significant discount on it? I had the same issue with my BMW. I didn't come close to using up the mileage on the 3-year warranty, so I had to hope nothing would fail based on distance and not time. Didn't stop me from buying it.

I'd say what counts is that you put enough miles on in the first year to determine if there are any obvious defects that need to be fixed under warranty. A few months of non-use won't make a difference.

It would get significant use starting in spring, so any issues would become apparent during that period. It's also a bike with a long history of being essentially "bullet-proof", so not really worried about that.

No discount as far as I know, which brings up another point: People might differ with me on this, but in the next 6 months I believe a major global economic downturn will hit, rivalling if not exceeding the severity of the 2000 crash and the 2008 crash. The world is over-leveraged, consumers are in serious debt, with some indications that about 67% of consumers live paycheck-to-paycheck. In financial markets, the current "AI" rage has boosted margin debt to record levels and market capitalization-to-GDP to over 220%, another record. As in 2000, companies with little to no earnings and revenue are seeing their stocks rise stratospherically simply because the company indicates it's somehow involved in "AI". This is not normal, and there won't be money for a government bailout this time, without creating crushing inflation.

The point of all the above is...waiting might be prudent, even if I can't get the 40th anniversary model. Structurally, the regular GSX-R is exactly the same as the 40th, except for color. Leaning toward waiting, given the above.

But life is short. Buy the new bike, you won't regret it. Come the apocalypse you can use it to escape from the ravening hordes. Maybe also invest in some ordinance.

I often buy a new bike this time of year, more by how it works out than by planning. Often I can get the running-in mileage done by the time spring comes round and the first service is booked in.

We bought or 2022 bikes October 26 2021.
We're about 3 hours from the dealer. Most of our BMWs were purchased during the winter so we had to wait for dry roads and above freezing temps.
The temps were in the teens when we returned home with our 2003 K1200RSs.
It was mid winter when our 2011 K1300S bikes came in. Bought those from Iowa City 180 miles away.
We lucked out when the dealer offered to put them in a enclosed trailer and deliver for a cheap charge.
Debbie told me to stop buying bikes in the middle of the winter :)

This was Jan 18 2011
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A few hours later we got more snow.
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Lee...the look on Debbie's face says it all...you are a motorcycle fanatic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

It makes no difference to me as any new bike I bought, March August and November all had 2 or 3 year warranties and each wasted the same winters months warranties. Each had the same static salt avoiding wait and whether it is the start of ownership, after a few months or 8 months later the result is the same.
If the item, any item, is that you wish for then why not? Provided the usual cost, financial or personal is within your limits then that's ok.

I've bought most of my bikes in late January or early February, including my RS. If you don't mind buying last years model, the deals can be significant.

Bought my 1250 in February in Saint Louis, had to trailer it home and wait a couple of months before I could ride it LOL
Chris

Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #7

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Lee...the look on Debbie's face says it all

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I'm sure this discussion happened elsewhere with UK based members having the short end of the stick when it comes to insurance costs but compared to everything else - is it an amount you care for in the US? If it's the bike you decided to get anyway at some point and in the limited color scheme that would make you happy.
My RS was a 6 month wait (color choice) and I drove it off the dealer lot on a foggy damp late December day with an ear to ear smile and went out every relatively sunny/warmer weekend I could, and if it sat for 3 weeks of below freezing I wasn't bothered just happy it arrived.

As for the warranty I assume you've got 2 years? More? If something is really 'bad' you'll notice immediately or spring latest, the few months won't make a difference and Suzuki's reputation is for solid reliable engines without much fuss as far as I know.

Hell, having the time and space for a 2-bike stable is a joy of itself no? :D

I ordered the RS in early 22" and waited all summer for it, without hardly any word and I picked it up on the 31 of august. Got a little riding in though and then promptly broke my leg on the ice with the bicycle. which slowed everything down somewhat. But I was still glad to just have the RS as back then they seemed hard to come by and it is a special one, that I don't mind just having a few miles on it, still showroom condition, a garage queen ...
And I got the GS in Feb this year but it is the kind of bike you can ride around a lot in the winter so that isn't that big of a deal I guess. All my trucks were bought just before they launched the new ones for what ever year it was. I always seem to buy at the end of the model year, even if the truck is used ...

I hate to rub it in but when I bought the GS, the insurance company ok'd it and did not charge me anymore for the second bike, in spite of both bikes being on full coverage dues to financing. Then later on this summer I renewed and there was still no extra charge for the second bike ... They even cover the /5 too so I paid about 650 to renew for the whole year for all three ... by my standards that makes having two newer bikes very doable, have been bought on time of course....
the company is Foremost, and it is thru Farmers insurance technically .....

Zitat von paleolithictech im Beitrag #14

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I hate to rub it in but when I bought the GS, the insurance company ok'd it and did not charge me anymore for the second bike, in spite of both bikes being on full coverage dues to financing. Then later on this summer I renewed and there was still no extra charge for the second bike ... They even cover the /5 too so I paid about 650 to renew for the whole year for all three ... by my standards that makes having two newer bikes very doable, have been bought on time of course....
the company is Foremost, and it is thru Farmers insurance technically .....

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