What colour schemes are we in the colonies getting?  I prefer the black and yellow myself.

I agree the bike does look good Alex and sitting on it I had no problems reaching the ground. All I need to do is stop the bike where there are no pot holes beneath my feet.I thought the bike looked much better than the photo's I'd seen.Henry says they have 10 pre-sold. I wonder if we'll end up with the long delays to delivery like they do overseas in some places.The new 650 looks pretty good as well. You have to wonder if the new 650, with spoked wheels and the motor more standard 800 as opposed to being detuned would have been a good seller. It would put the 650 in more of a Scrambler league and people who weren't so tall would have a pretty confortable adventure bike.I thought the centre stand (and side stand) was pretty impressive. There was a comment about the brake hose running from one side to the other on the front wheel. It's looped in the air about three inches above the guard. On some bikes they run it right up under the front fairing and back and on the Ducati's they take it over clipped to the mudguard. You have to wonder if it's prone to getting hit where it is.But like you said a nice looking bike and I'm looking forward to being able to ride it. It looks like it would be a nice bike to own.

I saw an F800GS, in black and yellow, in the flesh at Ruapuna on Sunday last.  The mechanic from 'Rides brought it out and I had a sit on it.  It looks awesome frankly, quite tall which suits my long legs but the main stand looks as if I made it, if you know what I mean.  It's like a 1200gs on a diet, I've read a good article on them and they say the fuel economy is amazing. I think $20,000 is a bit steep especially when it was parked near a 2008 GSXR750 👿 that costs $16995 (full fairing and all that) anyway, I wouldn't say no to one. 😎

yeah but the technology difference between bmw & sudszuki, well ask yaself

Please go out and buy one, and let me buy it from you in three years.

Good plan to get your hands on a clean bike  :-D. I've bought my bike new 5 1/2 years and 91000km ago. It hasn't depreciated a cent, as it's not for sale. I bought it to enjoy and use as often as possible and it still makes me as happy as the day I've bought it. It now has a slightly used look to it, but I prefer to call it patina. You are right of course, buying and selling bikes is a good way to lose money, even if you're a dealer :-). The trick is to buy one you really want and like, then spending a bit of money on it every now and then is not nearly as upsetting.

I'm with you.  However when I do buy a bike, I look for a bargain and don't buy it unless it is.  You end up waiting for a bit but it's worth it in the end, means you can sell it for a good price.  Case in point the 2004 1200GS for sale on this site, I'd love to buy it as I thinks it is for sale at a great price, however 'er indoors wouldn't tolerate my buying two bikes in as many months.  My habit of changing bikes like Daffy changes his underwear ie: every eighteen months to two years, is wearing thin in this household without increasing the frequency!!!

My habit of changing bikes like Daffy changes his underwear ie: every eighteen months to two years, is wearing thin in this household without increasing the frequency!!!Hey Muppet, my underwear habits are not to be discussed on such a public forum.The F800ST I had was only a few months old. There are lots of people who buy a new bike without really knowing what they have got. They sit unused in the garage for a few months, then get sold at a far better price than new.Buy a bargain F800GS, it'll be worth it. Then keep it forever, or until the next wonder model arrives.

and