Author Topic: Is the upgrade to LC worth it? (Read 2955 times)

Brucet · « **on:** November 22, 2017, 03:01:19 pm »

Hi All,

I only have owned my 2011 oil cooled GSA for around 2 months now but have been offered a really good deal on a new 2017 LC GSA. My bike is in really good condition, with only 35k on the clock and honestly I dont know if it is worth upgrading to a LC.

For those who have upgraded from oil cooled, please let me know if you think its worth it to upgrade.

Thank you

Draadwerk · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:03:00 pm »

Seriously???

Brucet · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:07:14 pm »

Yes Im serious. Is it worth the extra R130k or R140k that I would have to pay in?

(sorry if its a daft question but its an honest one)

DirtRebell · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:10:28 pm »

I was bikeless. Upgraded to an LC.

Definitely worth it. IMHO.

Antois · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:14:21 pm »

If you plan to use the bike then definitely yes, but if just for looking at it then no.

BikerJan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:32:40 pm »

Quote from: Brucet on November 22, 2017, 03:07:14 pm

Yes Im serious. Is it worth the extra R130k or R140k that I would have to pay in?

(sorry if its a daft question but its an honest one)

I bought a 2012 oil cooled 1200, which I loved, then I upgraded to the 2013 LC, who gave me so much trouble that it was replaced with great assistance from the dealer in 2014. I love my LC, but am not sure whether it is worth R 140 K more than an oil cooled bike?

It also depends on your available budget for toys, if you have the money, why not, the LC is definitely much better than the oil cooled bike.

Brucet · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:35:08 pm »

Ok you oaks are no help

Thanks BikerJan.

I do plan on using it although i have only done about 3600kms on a trip and about 3000kms of traveling around GP in the last 2 months. .

Beebop · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:51:30 pm »

Only you can answer that question.
Does your riding require any of the features of the LC ?
Are finances not an issue ?
What are you getting for the extra $$ ?
Will it still make sense 6 months after the "upgrade"
I struggle to justify the expense of something just because its new, especially
if what I have is doing most of it already, but thats just me.

Jughead · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:54:13 pm »

IMO it depends on what type of riding you intend doing.

I have the 06 Aircooled Adventure, my wife has the new LC Adventure. I get to ride both back to back.

If you intend doing long distance on tar or good gravel then LC is OK.

If you are going to do the more adventurous routes with slow speed technical stuff, stick to the ac bike.

Gear ratios are totally different, the older ac bikes having a much lower and torquer (spelling) first gear with lots of low down power. Lc also stalls VERY easily, which the AC doesn't.

I will NOT trade my bike for an LC.

AntVan · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:56:41 pm »

Quote from: BikerJan on November 22, 2017, 03:32:40 pm

Quote from: Brucet on November 22, 2017, 03:07:14 pm
Yes Im serious. Is it worth the extra R130k or R140k that I would have to pay in?

(sorry if its a daft question but its an honest one)

I bought a 2012 oil cooled 1200, which I loved, then I upgraded to the 2013 LC, who gave me so much trouble that it was replaced with great assistance from the dealer in 2014. I love my LC, but am not sure whether it is worth R 140 K more than an oil cooled bike?

It also depends on your available budget for toys, if you have the money, why not, the LC is definitely much better than the oil cooled bike.

I almost never had serious issues with the old oil cooled GS. Then I bought an LC and kept both. I had some issues with the LC and the costs were higher, but still I stopped riding the oil cool. Eventually I stopped riding the OC. So, the short answer: make up your own mind.

The OC would have ran up in kilometres in any case and would have started costing me money in any case.

Brucet · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2017, 04:01:15 pm »

Thanks Beebop. That makes sense.

- My riding right now probably barely requires the features of the AC version.

- The bike will not be financed.
- Mainly a newer more up to date bike. But Im actually not sure hense my question if it is really worth it. I rode one a short way and could feel its seems a lot smoother and obviously has much more power and the cruise control appeals to me.......
- Nothing ever does. Im currently building a wide body M3 GTR race car. Thats almost as stupid as you can get (mind you any race car is pretty stupid i guess).

Thanks Antvan. When do you think the AC start costing money? Over 100k or over 50k or? Just to give me an indication of how long i would have.

alwyn_gs · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2017, 04:04:01 pm »

As jy die cash flow het - doen dit

Was baie bevooreg om n 2016 LC ADV te kry en het my 2010 AC getrade met 143k km...

Die LC is soos oos en wes verskillend van die AC. Die AC se trekker 1st rat en die droee clutch is lekker tegnies, maar die LC is "ligter" om te ry...

Kom daarop neer ek en die LC het nog nie afgekak soos die AC... Maar tyd sal leer

AntVan · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2017, 04:04:34 pm »

Quote from: Brucet on November 22, 2017, 04:01:15 pm

Thanks Beebop. That makes sense.

- My riding right now probably barely requires the features of the AC version.
- The bike will not be financed.
- Mainly a newer more up to date bike. But Im actually not sure hense my question if it is really worth it. I rode one a short way and could feel its seems a lot smoother and obviously has much more power and the cruise control appeals to me.......
- Nothing ever does. Im currently building a wide body M3 GTR race car. Thats almost as stupid as you can get (mind you any race car is pretty stupid i guess).

Thanks Antvan. When do you think the AC start costing money? Over 100k or over 50k or? Just to give me an indication of how long i would have.

Don't know .Never got there. But what I can tell you is that an '05 will cost you less than a '13 LC model with similar km.

Dawid S · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2017, 04:47:41 pm »

I had a 2009 R 1200GS and then the 2014 R 1200GS.

As said the difference is like day and night.

AntVan · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2017, 05:12:29 pm »

Quote from: Dawid S on November 22, 2017, 04:47:41 pm

I had a 2009 R 1200GS and then the 2014 R 1200GS.

As said the difference is like day and night.

This is agreed with. The reason why I never rode to oil cooled was that the LC was just so much more fun. Dis lekker maar dit is nie sonde nie.

VaalBaas · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2017, 10:42:26 pm »

Quote from: Brucet on November 22, 2017, 03:07:14 pm

Yes Im serious. Is it worth the extra R130k or R140k that I would have to pay in?

(sorry if its a daft question but its an honest one)

In this lies the real question, but I am sure you and only you know the answer to this.

MHO. If you want to trend, trade.... if you enjoy the ride , enjoy the ride

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

Omninorm · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2017, 03:36:29 pm »

Well I had a 800GS, then later I went to a dealer with the intent on purchasing a nice 2011 Oil/Air cooled 1200GS. Liked it, but thought maybe I should go for the 800GS again...then dabbled a bit, then they offered a ride on a 1200GS LC. I rode it home with it 2 days later.
It's almost on 50 000km now (2015 model Trophy Edition)
No issues whatsoever.
If you don't have either the LC is definitely more bike in what some might feel important areas. Faster, more powerful, looks much much better imho (personal opinion), better lighting, better sounding stock, exhaust on the correct side, the clutch is easier and cheaper to access since you dont have to take the whole bike apart.

However, If you already had a paid off aircooled, to go and get the bits of extra power extra agility, extra looks etc - only you can tell. For some people some things are more important than others.
If you rode the LC properly you would know it's just much more fun to ride than the Air/Oil cooled.
Also for me the looks...

Where the oil cooled looked a bit old school odd.

Is it R160 000 better. I dont think so... but then you are also getting a new bike with warranty and and, for all that. So comparing an old bike 2nd hand with a new one is a bit of silly thing to do, since a new air cooled would have been much more expensive than your trade in. Compare your Air Cooled with a 2014 model or so LC with similar mileage and the price is much much closer and then I'd say yes it's worth the extra.

Brucet · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2017, 03:42:52 pm »

Thank you Omninorm. Why do you say the LC is more fun than the OC model.

Thanks again for all the replies and advice.

Omninorm · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2017, 03:47:43 pm »

Quote from: Brucet on November 23, 2017, 03:42:52 pm

Thank you Omninorm. Why do you say the LC is more fun than the OC model.

Thanks again for all the replies and advice.

It feels nimbler, turns quicker and it feels and has a lot more when you turn the right ear.
Funny enough offroad i also like it better than the one aircooled I tried, although thats an unfair advantage since it wasnt my bike it was a 2009 model of a friend. They are both heavy pigs though.
I do however like the cable throttle better than the LC's ride by wire.

Brewed_Coffee · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2017, 03:54:03 pm »

... and the 21" front wheel conversion is easy on the air-cooled