Having moved bikes for a living for some years just spare a though for the poor sod who has to get that thing in the back of a van and out the other end.....I used hate the 1300 version with a passion never mind a 1600
The freezing cold morning that my GS was going into Vines (for its last ever service with them as you will see) it just refused to start. I had anticipated this and had turned it round on the icy drive the night before and had the Optimate on all night to boot. Still no go. New battery methinks.
I shoved it out of the estate and onto the main road into town, a nice long downhill with little traffic. Should be a doddle. Nope, not a peep from the bugger.
Phoned my breakdown service who sent a man from the north of Oxford. Not North Oxford Garages, just north Oxford. I went home and after climbing the bloody hill in full gear, stripped off, had a shower (the second that morning) and waited for the arrival of my knight in greasy armour.
I rang NOG to see if they had a new battery on the shelf. The nice man went and checked and said yes, two on the shelf and he would put one aside for me...
I also rang Vines, because that was where it was ultimately going. Yep, loads of them in stores...
The nice man arrived to take me back to the bike and when he got out of the van I was amazed. He was only about 5 feet tall but was built like an All Black full back. I was surprised his van only had ramps and not a lift but he simply put the GS under his arm (almost literally at 5' alongside a GS) and ran up the ramp with it without even breaking sweat or stride. 'You've done that before...' 'Three times! Since midnight...'
Anyway, given the choice he said he would get more money for taking me to Vines than back to Oxford so off we went.
Of course, Vines didn't have a new battery ('we can have one here for you tomorrow sir' 'thank you, and where do I sleep tonight?') still tried to charge me for four spark plugs for a single plug bike and I never darkened their door ever again.
So, size isn't everything when it comes to moving bikes (although Richard makes it look easy peasy) and experience seems to be the winning hand.