[Noel]

I really appreciate your comments and appreciate your both restricting the opinion down to the question at hand, the D-ESA question, which doesn't always happen I will need to act pretty soon else someone else will is what it comes down to. The price negotiated is reasonable, but becomes overpriced due to the shipping charge to my location. I've found Incognito Express as a transporter, and the cost will be right in there at $1000, but apparently they are reputable and fully insured w/ no deductible. I need to research this topic more carefully if the deal goes thru.

Thanks!

 

[Noel]

Ok thanks Eric I will check them out. I don't know what Incognito does but they say its an enclosed double trailer and is fully insured w/ no deductible for troubles.

 

[Noel]

I'm getting chilly feet this morning--I think it was a couple of horror stories on transporting bikes that had me re-looking at the math. The RTLC I'm scheming on is a 2014 w/ under 300 miles, ASC, ABS, heated seats/grips, Cruise, TPM, but no D-ESA & no GPS prep. I absolutely did not want the audio package, the chrome (ugly to me) muffler, hill-start and shift-assist--could care less about these! So it's a great fit for me essentially, plus I love the Quartz Blue Metallic color a lot. But the transport cost and uncertainty had me relooking at the math over ordering one locally--about $1500 more to do this here at my local shop sans the lovely color, but I'm OK w/ Platinum Bronze, and that cost addition would double the warranty to 3y and also include GPS prep which I think would be great to have considering the Nav V can be controlled w/ the thumbwheel, and of course undo the transport issue. If the Headlight Pro add on is the spinning LEDs that look very attention getting I can add that for $250. I'm getting convinced ESA isn't worth the cost really.

I've made a counter offer and if they take it I still might do this, but I doubt they will take the offer.

 

[Noel]

Life is short, get what you want, Noel.

Well, I'm trying. I really like the Quartz Blue color but it's 2400 miles away! It's ok I'm taking my time and have to have something in the hangar by no later that about April 1 so I have time to tease out any issues for a long trip in June. It's all good I'm learning a lot about different issues.

Cheers n thanks

 

[Noel]

Oh sure Jon, did you want to ride along? [sure]

 

[Noel]

Best I could get them to is $16,000 + CA tax so around $17,450 OTD. This has to do w/ the fact the '14 although used, is essentially brand new mileage-wise: less than 1/2 way to the 600m service. Now add shipping or fly and ride and we're up to around $18,300+. No way I'm going to take vacation time to hack out a mid winter ride of over 5K miles, nope not quite that nuts yet! If this deal was local or even anywhere within a day's ride I'd do it as I truly love the color, but it's overpriced w/ the transport issue. I've asked them again to go down on the price to help tease me back into considering shipping so we'll see. Heritageshipping out of Stockton looks decent and quoted me $840 door to door. It would cost just under $2K more to get a '16 model w/ same feature set except GPS Prep would be included, full warranty, local patronage, etc. So it's not looking so good because of the transport cost and other related issues.

 

[Noel]

OK thanks Eric I'll keep it in mind. I have to also consider the GPS prep thing, and I've asked the shop to find out if that's doable by the dealer and at what cost--this jacks up the price again but I'd like to know it's an option if I decide to go there at some point. Here are pics of the dash w/ and w/o GPS Prep. The idea of having GPS where it is including power supply in the prepped version versus somewhere else plus being able to control it with the wonder wheel is a bit of a no brainer--for me that is:

 

[Noel]

Notwithstanding the low mileage, you'll be facing two years of depreciation right away on a 2014 model. It's less cash out of pocket than a new model, to be sure, but in my view not such a bargain.

The hefty shipping charge effectively kills the deal as a good deal. I've countered back w/ my original offer of $15,000 and if they take it I still may do it mainly because I really love the color scheme and the rest of the features beyond GPS prep are spot on--still need to learn what it takes to add GPS prep. They don't want/need to finance my hefty shipping charge so my guess is they will hold fast with what they said they would hold fast at which was $16,000. With several folks who have commented on D-ESA it's seems about 50:50 as to what it really provides beyond the theoretical and replacement cost is very hefty when it finally goes. I guess there's always extended warranty but I don't know if ESA would be covered in any policy--sounds potentially like a consumable. Plus, I understand it may not be possible to adjust preload manually if and when D-ESA goes, so you're stuck w/ a mandatory repair for that scenario--rubs me the wrong way unless the value of D-ESA is so good it's worth that. My fantasy is I will keep the next purchase for a touring machine for a long time, plan to keep my lovely GT for around town and around my common day rides here it's work great for that as well know, especially in our warm climate. If and when someone finally comes out w/ my dream cycle which I'm betting will happen I'll sell both GT & RTLC and go back to a one-bike does all solution.

 

[Noel]

Good Lord that is way better pricing then and that was before the shipping issue. This bike is not on the west coast but is way closer to you. Their initial price was around $16550, I offered $15,000, and this was their return comment:

'Unfortunately you’re asking for a $1600 price drop on the most prime piece of real estate on our sales floor. Because of your shipping costs I will help you down to $16000 before $250 documentary and California 7.5% sales Tax.'

I countered offered the same $15,000 so will see what they say. The bike you describe Rich is easily $2,000+ more retail except this bike is essentially unridden at under 300miles, so by the deal at your local shop this offer should be closer to $14250 or so.

 

[Noel]

Noel, why would an out-of-state dealer charge you CA sales tax? I'd think you'd pay CA sales tax upon registering the bike at your DMV. Perhaps the rules have changed. Anyway, good luck with your negotiations. Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

My bad Eric--the dealer wasn't necessarily going to charge me sales tax, but at some point there would be sales tax. When I am comparing deals I'm just looking at the whole picture.

 

[Noel]

And if your decision wasn't complicated enough....

http://www.revzilla.com/common-trea...a+updates+the+FJR1300&utm_content=12/26+-+CT+Digest+104&utm_campaign=12/26/2015

It's always been in the mix for me but the 650lbs, higher CoG & 145HP seem like too much to handle for me. I think if I had a couple more 10's of thousands of miles under my belt or was a few years younger and stronger I'd have settled more on that side of the two choices as I do like the looks of it. Changes for '16 model are favorable in general, in particular the slipper and softer clutch, the color is pretty decent too. 6 gears will help it a little at sustained high speeds but it was so smooth anyway a few more RPM doesn't hurt that machine. Would much rather have seen TPM added and 40 lbs removed! Still haven't completely ruled it out but because I'm hell bent on not buying the standard US 'Premium' equipped RTLC I will have to place a custom order quite soon to get it here by April 15 or so. I guess the assumption is US consumers only want the pigged out model so that's all you will find except for this rare bird I found across the country.

 

[Noel]

I just learned of this patheticness from an RT forum. I posted the question after discovering the Sena 10R is a fine solution for music and nav using my iPhone:

So this means if you want convenient waterproof storage w/ charging capability you apparently won't find it in an RT not equipped with audio/BT. I'm checking w/ the used '14 shop to see if perchance BMW changed this in 2015 which I have to imagine was not the case but I'd like to find out for sure. If the '14 has cubbies then w/ or w/o I may choke down the shipping charge. I guess they thought it thru and decided to kill the idea of convenient smart phone charging so that would-be buyers would have to cough up $1500 for the bloody premium audio package to have that capability. In the audio/BT equipped models there is a USB charge port in the RHS cubby. Bastages!

 

[Noel]

Noel, visit www.powerlet.com for iPhone charging cables. You should be able to find a solution that connects to the accessory socket or directly to the battery.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

Thanks, but that's not the issue. I'd like to be able to keep my phone charging in a waterproof compartment. I can charge the phone every evening in a motel but what I'm aiming for is maintaining its charge while riding.

 

[Noel]

I looked at the owners manuals for 14 and 15.
They all show a lockable storage compartment on the left side, only on the right if it has audio package.
They also note not to put heat sensitive electronics in either during summer months, possible heat damage.
You would probably have to add a charging port for the left pocket. In the past they used a common harness so there might be a power source zip tied to the harness somewhere, a matter of finding it's location.

When my wife was looking for a new car she came across the same silliness, to get something you wanted you had to get 6 things you didn't.

Howard--thank you kindly for that, and the bit about temperature issues during the warmer months too. Anyway, you've dispelled the big issue w/ the other guy's comment about both sides having locked down covers. OK, it's still in the mix then. I WILL NOT buy an RT with audio just to overcome that nonsense--gets my goat! Easy enough to add a USB socket on the left cubby so that's good enough. Cheers