1 - Is it the bike for you?; 2 - Cost considerations; 3 - Living with a BMW GS; 4 - Relative values; 5 - Before you view; 6 - 10min evaluation; 7 - Key points; 8 - Serious evaluation; 9 - Auctions; 10 - Paperwork; 11 - What's it worth to you?; 12 - Do you really want to restore?; 13 - Paint faults; 14 - Lack of use problems. 15 - The community; 16 - Vital statistics.
Peter Henshaw has been an enthusiast for anything with wheels since he was a child – everything from bicycles to 500hp tractors. He was Editor of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure for five years before going freelance, and now contributes to a whole raft of transport magazines and websites, including The Vintagent (motorcycles), A to B (cycling) and Tractor (as it says …) as well as editing Vintage & Classic Motorcycle. But this petrolhead is becoming increasingly green – now doesn't fly, doesn't own a car, rides the most economical motorcycle on the market, and for local journeys uses a bicycle or pedelec.
"If you're looking to buy a used BMW GS, this is one handy book. If
you're not, it's pretty well useless, but there you go. It'll fit
in the pocket of your average touring jacket ... It's only 64
pages, but it's jam-packed with information. There's a list of
websites, books, clubs and auction places. It's a great idea." -
www.bikeme.tv "Henshaw's writing is concise and his points are also
well illustrated with plenty of colour photographs. This is the
book to have in your back pocket if shopping for a GS." - Inside
Motorcycles
Ian Kerr for inter-bike.co.uk, 2008
This is the latest in the essential series from Veloce Publishing
and written by well-known journalist Peter Henshaw. The small
soft-back A5 format is designed to be slipped into a jacket pocket
to be available as an invaluable handy reference source when
looking at a machine with the intention of buying it. Viewed in
that light, the book like all the others in the series, gives the
reader sufficient knowledge and confidence to view a machine and
investigate any areas that might prove costly without the knowledge
imparted in the book. As a pre-read for those intending to
purchase, it is also excellent and it points you in the direction
of other more in-depth publications or specialist websites should
you want to go further. Good use is made of experts and technicians
who know the flaws in the various models and you also get a good
idea of what the running costs will be like. Likewise those riders
who have clocked up serious high mileage on the models also
contribute to the informative text, which is totally independent of
the manufacturers input. My only slight criticism of this
particular book is that more care could have been taken with the
photography. This at times, gives the impression of a series of
snaps quickly taken at a dealer, rather than images planned to
illustrate the points being made in the text. However, this is just
a small point as the book does exactly what it sets out to do at a
very reasonable $19.95, which could be money well spent.
Review from Classic Bike Guide, June 2008
UK magazine OK, so, you're tired of the flashy hyperbike scene and
fancy something different. The retro scene and old motorcycles has
started to appeal but the problem is you're completely new to old
motorcycles and know nothing about them. Yes, you've seen them
about and have probably even heard of a few of the makes like
Triumph and BSA but beyond that ... well. What do you do to find
out if the scene will suit you and what bike could be the one for
you? A useful first step could well be one of 'The Essential
Buyer's Guides' by Peter Henshaw and published by Veloce Publishing
if you're fancying a BSA twin or a Triumph Bonneville - OK and BMW
GS as well. The buyer's guides are not an in-depth look at every
machine, that would be difficult in a 64-page 7 11/16in x 5 7/16in
soft back book. Instead they are squarely aimed at the newcomer and
advise on model changes, recognition points, pitfalls and other
things to be aware of when seeking out a classic. A long time
classic owner will find the information fairly run of the mill but
if you're just starting out then it's all new and after reading
'The Essential Buyer's Guides' you should be able to spot a Bonnie
from a T'Bird or an A7 from an RGS.
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