How many GS's is too many GS's?

[Gorminrider]

I WANT THEM ALL...

I wonder if that's what cat-ladies say....

It gets expensive keeping multiple motorcycles on the upkeep

but yes, it's often the vet bills that finally overwhelm them.

[bwringer]

Definitely an 1100GK for me. I had the chance last year but dragged my feet and it sold. These bikes have a tendency to show up again for sale so I'll keep looking.

That is an interesting point -- if you're a longtime GS-er and you idly peruse CrackList off and on, you'll tend to see the same bikes pop up locally more than once. There was a burgundy 1100G that orbited Indianapolis for several years; I looked at it a couple of times with or on behalf of others. It was in pretty darn good shape, but did need all the "usual" stuff (petcock, intake boots, valve clearances, tires, brakes, yada yada). I don't know if anyone ever did the right things with it. People tend to have the misconception that an old bike will be a cheap way to get riding, and many are not willing to spend the money and time to get it right.

Real life for me (somewhat less than Jay Leno levels of cash or garage space...) is that three motorcycles, each with different mission profiles, is just about right. I've had as many as five and for several years only had one. With three, I can keep ahead of the maintenance, insurance, batteries, tires, etc. and all get ridden often enough I don't get goopy gas or dried-out seal issues.

It tends to bug me when there's too much overlap. I've had my current fleet (see signature below) for quite a while because the balance is just about right.

- One vintage bike. My GS850G is sort of my "forever" bike. That's the core motorcycle I'm keeping until they haul my carcass off to the pyre or you can't get hydrocarbon fuels any more. What's a little weird is that I have absolutely no desire to get another GS. I've worked on and assisted with lots of GS projects for others (just got a major basket case GS850GL project on the road, in fact), but I'm not really interested in another. If this bike burned to the ground or something I'd very likely look for another, but I don't want another GS.

- My V-Strom is my long-distance sport-tourer (despite the marketing wank, it's NOT a dual-sport; muuuuuuuch too big and heavy for that sort of thing). With all that room and hard luggage, it's sort of a two-wheeled pickup or minivan. And since it's a 2002, a little beat up, and it has 110,000 miles on it, it's an extremely capable and dead-reliable bike but it's "worth" almost nothing. So there's a certain freedom with that; even if I didn't ride it much, it's not costing me much either. It does take up a hell of a lot of space.

- And my KLR fills the dual-sport role, of course. I've had tons of just plain stoopit fun on that thing (also a few distinctly unfun situations, one involving a swift-moving river and another a seven point buck...). I know what I'm doing fairly well on pavement, but off-pavement I'm honestly lousy; I enjoy the challenge and I think I learn something and become a better rider in all situations every time I ride the KLR. It's also dead reliable and capable, but it's beat up and "worth" almost nothing. So again, there's a certain freedom to that; it's like having an old pickup where you can just toss crap into the bed without worrying. Oh well, I fell over again because I'm crap off-road. No big deal.

[cowboyup3371]

Although space is not technically an issue for me, time and money are. I have two bikes and though the Bandit is fast becoming my long-distance bike, I love hitting the local twisties on the 550 - something about really able to get into the curves being easier on the 550 than the Bandit at the moment. I just don't seem to have the available time to really spend a lot of time on both right now thanks to my older 3 kids being gone from home more and my youngest still requiring supervision (15 but disabled). I can't imagine having anymore at the moment as I just won't get to use it. However, I still want a GS700ES

[Mr.humbucker]

I have five right now: 2 x 81 GS550T in fine roadable shape, an 83 GS850G road ready and two 82 GS650G's. One GS650G I am doing a near complete restoration from the frame up and the other is currently a parts bike that I will likely restore or customize at some point. For me the wrench pulling restoration is where it is at as I love the learning curve that comes with it. Learning from the "pros" here on GS Resources has been fabulous.

The way I view this is these old bikes are usually quite affordable as has been mentioned here but often in need of work. For me there is also an emotional draw as my first bike was an 81 GS550T hence my interest in the GS models. I ride very little due to time and the fact traffic in our immediate area is no fun to negotiate the older I get.

The literal bottom line is I have less money in these five GS garage fillers than I would in one new bike. The other factor is bikes here in British Columbia over 25 years old cost only a few hundred dollars a year to insure verses a new bike which would cost around a thousand dollars last time I checked. The only caveat on the collector plates is they can't be used to go to and from work.

Would I buy more? No, five is plenty and I will sell a few in the future but likely always have a project on the go.

[wymple]

Old bike insurance in Iowa is cheap. I pay 127 bucks a year for a 1981 850 Suzy and a 1984 Guzzi, combined.

[GSXR7ED]

Friggin' love your garage...that your wife had a part in building!

I have (2) 750T's but I've been naughty and neglected my riding "T".

Comprehensive insurance for the year in Delaware is about $112.

I bought my "T" for $475 and have put more than $1500 into it. I'm gonna keep it (as well as my parts "T") for as long as I can. Parts bike was $275 and worth it!


Ed

[cowboyup3371]

Old bike insurance in Iowa is cheap. I pay 127 bucks a year for a 1981 850 Suzy and a 1984 Guzzi, combined.

I'm paying $200 a year full coverage on the 2007 Bandit and $12 a year in liability only on the 1981 550T

[93Bandit]

I'm paying $200 a year full coverage on the 2007 Bandit and $12 a year in liability only on the 1981 550T

I pay $30/month in MI for state minimum liability for the 83 850... And that's substantially cheaper than my auto policy.

[Dogma]

I need to get down to a single GS. A single bike, really. All three of mine get used the same way, when they get used. The 1000G is going to be the keeper. At least, there's nothing else I'd rather have right now. I thought maybe the ZRX could take its place, but that relationship never took root for reasons I don't understand. The KLR crew in Bedford might get me to add one of those. We'll see. I need to make room first, and there's still work to be done.

[KillRamsey]

Only have room, time, and money for 1. Bicycles are first priority around here, and they get what little garage space I have. The 1000G is relegated to the driveway, under a cover. My ideal bike would've been a newish Honda cb1100, because it would require almost no wrenching. My beloved 2007 FZ6 was like that... 52k miles from new, and VERY little time with the hood up. But the hondas still go for close to $6k, vs. this 27,000 mile GS for $1,700. So I'm here, learning, thinking, and carefully planning what I may need to do to it. Right now it runs wonderfully, just that darned oil-into-airbox deal when it's cold. If it's valve seals, fine, I can do it. If it's rings, .... I may just chalk it up to "character".

[Grimly]

I'd have one more GS - an 1100G, whether that be GK or otherwise, I'm not fussy.
If there were more Cavalcades sold in Europe I'd have one of them too, or instead.
What I'm seriously thinking about is making what would be more-or-less my own Cavalcade, out of one of the lazy-ass big V Suzuki cruisers and fully dress it with plastic.

[GSXR7ED]

Only have room, time, and money for 1. Bicycles are first priority around here, and they get what little garage space I have. The 1000G is relegated to the driveway, under a cover. My ideal bike would've been a newish Honda cb1100, because it would require almost no wrenching. My beloved 2007 FZ6 was like that... 52k miles from new, and VERY little time with the hood up. But the hondas still go for close to $6k, vs. this 27,000 mile GS for $1,700. So I'm here, learning, thinking, and carefully planning what I may need to do to it. Right now it runs wonderfully, just that darned oil-into-airbox deal when it's cold. If it's valve seals, fine, I can do it. If it's rings, .... I may just chalk it up to "character".

I only have room for one in our two-car garage...and I park it so my wife pulls into the garage and sees it on center stand. She says we have too many shelves...but they're all organized...she's said she's taken them out of her sight and ignores the clutter...

I have my second "T" (parts bike) in our shed...wife doesn't do yard work so she don't go in there!

I would hate to store my Moto outside and covered. I've neglected her but at least she's in the garage.

Ed

[gustovh]

I have found my limit, just check my signature.

[Joegs1100gk]

Don't think I can fit anymore in. Haha! IMG-20180805-05969 - Copy.jpg
Historic reg is great. I couldn't afford to full reg these. I seem to have a love affair with the GK. Had one or two since about 1993 (I think) and toured a large chunk of Australia.
Bought and sold a few other bikes. I tend to keep them long term though. Maybe its just a romantic ideal I once had, that a little bit of is still there.

Trevors garage is great, but needs more bikes hehe.

How many is too many? There's always room for one more.

[mhobryan]

It's come up a few times .... but time is also definitely a constraint; equally as much as time and money.

Between my wife and I, we have 5.5 bikes (the .5 is a shovelhead chopper project currently in pieces.). We are fast approaching a space crunch, definitely a time crunch. That said, I would probably like to add a 650G to the mix - had one a few years ago, but could never get the carbs sorted even after multiple cleanings, and fresh O rings. The 650's with the same power as an 850, and lighter weight are more performance oriented. I will most likely replace the 850GL at some point; leaking base gasket, and not feeling tearing it down that far. But it is a hoot to ride; spent many a quality hours sorting it last summer.

If I had my druthers, I would like to add a few more UJM's of other makes to the mix. I saw a late 60's Honda about 2 years ago ...IIRC think it was about 350 cc's very simple street bike, LOADS of patina; they were asking less than $1k for it. That would have been a fun little bop around town bike. Love the look of the old V-Max's, and think an old nekked 'Wing would be really cool too. Oh yes, and I think a 750 or 1100cc Honda Magna would have to be in the stable well. My first bike was a 750 Magna - gotta have that first bike. Oh, and yes...my kick start rigid shovelhead project up and running too!

Dang, think I need to build another shed....