No disrespect intended, but I don't think you understand.

Hammer #1 is proven, its faults all known, can be repaired by most shops, parts can be rigged...and it continues to pound nails.

Hammer #2 is not proven, all its faults are not known, many known faults can not be repaired by most shops...and needed parts could leave this hammer not pounding nails for several weeks, and even longer.

Do you want to pound nails or look at a pretty bike?

Some people believe that a new fancy bike impresses others, and it may to some degree, but not experienced travelers.

Go with your dreams, live life. Blinders have a habit of falling off as you learn.

The AT is a beautiful looking machine (well to me anyway....)

Seriously both bikes are worthy bikes, maybe write down all the pros and cons in a list and see what one has the most cons.

...or draw out from the bank the difference in cost between an AT and a GS and say to yourself I can have this GS or I can have this AT AND this big lump of cash!

Stop hankering after bikes?!?

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't think we ever grow out of that!! ;)

Then again, thats what biking is partly about: really being passionate about it all.

Which ever bike you get, I bet you'll still want to tart it up a bit. One thing I do admire is a bike, perhaps an older model, that has really been worked on to make it THE tool for the job: always looks like the rider has been tweeking with the benefit of experience so that every accessory, bracket and bolt-on is exactly placed and chosen for a reason.

Ironically, my old 1150 GS was almost there, although my mods had not been very adventurous, or particularly technical.

I'll be honest I was in the sameboat, and I went with my heart not my head! I am the one riding it, and I have never looked back and yes you will want to keep adding parts.

GS versus AT
 

Yesterday I bought a R1100GS (that is still in Sweden) as my wife wants to join me on my trips. Riding two on a AT is not very nice .The AT is a great bike, I know as I have a RD07 in my garage at the moment. The AT needs very little maintenance to run but adjusting the valves is a real task. Fortunately you don´t need to do that very often after they have settled.
The things I would look out for is the wheel bearings and seals. The seals often makes grooves in the spacers that has to be replaced or machined. I changed the whole set of bearings on my AT last summer with about 50K on the meter and most of the bearings were nearly shot. What was earlier mentioned about the fuel pump has not happened to me(yet) and I think corroded couplings are to blame for the destroyed regulators. Once a year I would strip off all plastic and treat all electric connectors with cleaner fluid. Hope that I will have as little problems with my Beemer as I had with my AT.:thumbup1:

it seems
 

Well, it seems you have your heart set on the BMW... go for it then! and enjoy your trip.... get in some practise at dismounting the luggage, and remounting it. they are far easier to pick up unloaded! Remember Charlie n Ewan?

Martyn

Hi all,

I guess the decision has been made for me.
I went out to buy the AT, but it got sold.
Anyway I'm waiting on the new '08 GS adv to arrive in about a month coz here in Q8 they are still selling an unused 06 GS adv for full price.