Any one have opinions on the quality of BMW bikes. Lot of feed back I have seen on the internet is that the quality is no longer there and also they are an expensive machine to have repaired. I have seen good prices on some late model bikes, especially the water cooled K models.
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BMW motorcycles opinions on quality
- Thread starter Tallone
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might check internetBMWriders, think it is IBMWR site, not sure.
I've had old air-cooled twins for almost 30 years, so I have no input on newer models, but obviously like what I have.
NOTHING is inexpensive to have shop repaired.
Virtually ALL newer bikes of every make require some computer diagnostic equipment to work through the chips that run the newer, more reliable bikes. The computers are expensive, thus shops are expensive.
You live in a world that replaces parts rather than repairing them. New parts come with a logo. Logos are expensive.
New bikes, generally, run longer, perform more consistently, and deliver excellence of acceleration, braking, and drive train quality.
Have fun looking. Long ago, I was there. Fun time.
Kis
I've had old air-cooled twins for almost 30 years, so I have no input on newer models, but obviously like what I have.
NOTHING is inexpensive to have shop repaired.
Virtually ALL newer bikes of every make require some computer diagnostic equipment to work through the chips that run the newer, more reliable bikes. The computers are expensive, thus shops are expensive.
You live in a world that replaces parts rather than repairing them. New parts come with a logo. Logos are expensive.
New bikes, generally, run longer, perform more consistently, and deliver excellence of acceleration, braking, and drive train quality.
Have fun looking. Long ago, I was there. Fun time.
Kis
They are a great bike but overpriced mostly due to the high euro.
You can usually find a similar jap version for cheaper like the new Kawi concourse rather than the new BMW touring 4 cylinder. I think that is the K model?
The new twin GS model is awesome and rather cheap though. I love my Honda 919.
You can usually find a similar jap version for cheaper like the new Kawi concourse rather than the new BMW touring 4 cylinder. I think that is the K model?
The new twin GS model is awesome and rather cheap though. I love my Honda 919.
I dont own a BMW but know people that do. I also ride about 95% or the time. The K model are not as popular as the boxers. The boxers seem to be better build. Yes they are more expansive to repair and take care of. If you drop it the parts price would be up there. If you dont mind me asking. What exp do you have riding??? and what are you going to use the bike for??? Oh yea how tall are you. Those things are TALL.
Sasha
Sasha
I do like that K model touring bike. It is a beautiful autobahn burner. If they have been discounted I would definitely want one if it was the same price as the Kawi Concourse.
I mean 170HP with all the BMW touring gear like thumb warmers ,GPS electronic suspension.
I don;t think the quality is any less than the Boxers just they are not as well loved by the BMW aficionados. I like the new parallel twins especially the new GS which is much more handy and good for city riding. The K model is perfect for city to city and freeway commuting.
I mean 170HP with all the BMW touring gear like thumb warmers ,GPS electronic suspension.
I don;t think the quality is any less than the Boxers just they are not as well loved by the BMW aficionados. I like the new parallel twins especially the new GS which is much more handy and good for city riding. The K model is perfect for city to city and freeway commuting.
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Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Borman. Long Way Around....watch it. seriously:thumbup:
Yeah i liked that tv series!
:thumbup:
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The opposing twins are bullet proof. That said if you think the bike may "seem" expensive on the front end, then they are definitely NOT for you because that up-front price is not 1-2-3 what you will pay over time for simple, plain, good 'ol routine maintenance. Don't ask me how I know. 
And I will say the same for Ducati (not the bullet proof part, just the expensive part) as well just in case you aren't thinking rationally.
Go with one of the Japanese bikes. They may be less exotic, generally less expensive, and NOT have...personality (read this as "mechanical issues"), but who needs that when you are miles from nowhere on vacation???
And I will say the same for Ducati (not the bullet proof part, just the expensive part) as well just in case you aren't thinking rationally.Go with one of the Japanese bikes. They may be less exotic, generally less expensive, and NOT have...personality (read this as "mechanical issues"), but who needs that when you are miles from nowhere on vacation???
i used to work for a guy who drove (daily, regardless of weather) a BMW bike to work, it had to have been the most reliable bike i have ever been around, i worked for him for almost 3 yrs and he never had any problems with it, other than routine stuff ie brakes & tires, IIRC it had almost 100K miles on it and was ~ 10 yrs old, i personally dont care for how they look (i like suzuki GSxR's) but i must say it was a reliable bike, he swore by them.
I owned a '67 R60, '83 R65, '87 R80.
They are one of the most long term reliable bikes out there, easy to work on due to the openess of the boxer twin design, and have set some of the most outlandish endurence records for motorcycles. Like Danny Liska's run from Point Barrow Alaska to the tip of Tierra Del Fuego, with no breakdowns or problems.
I was a motorcyclist from 1967 to 2002 and had many different brands of bikes. But the BMW boxer twins will always be my favorites. The new ones are technologicly above the old style ones I had. The telelever suspension handles and rides better than anything. It was the BMW that spoiled me, and couldn't ride anyother bike afterward. They felt like junk by comparison. I don't know how or why, but the German bikes do have a feel to them. the '97 superglide felt like a bunch of wired together tuna fish cans to me after being used to the beemers.
It will cost you more to put yourself on a beemer, but its well worth it for the riding exeperiance. Its like the sebaza debates; unless you've had one and used it, you won't understand.
Go for it!
They are one of the most long term reliable bikes out there, easy to work on due to the openess of the boxer twin design, and have set some of the most outlandish endurence records for motorcycles. Like Danny Liska's run from Point Barrow Alaska to the tip of Tierra Del Fuego, with no breakdowns or problems.
I was a motorcyclist from 1967 to 2002 and had many different brands of bikes. But the BMW boxer twins will always be my favorites. The new ones are technologicly above the old style ones I had. The telelever suspension handles and rides better than anything. It was the BMW that spoiled me, and couldn't ride anyother bike afterward. They felt like junk by comparison. I don't know how or why, but the German bikes do have a feel to them. the '97 superglide felt like a bunch of wired together tuna fish cans to me after being used to the beemers.
It will cost you more to put yourself on a beemer, but its well worth it for the riding exeperiance. Its like the sebaza debates; unless you've had one and used it, you won't understand.
Go for it!
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You might like to e-mail Chris Reeve. He knows more about BMW bikes than anyone and he has owned and raced many. He held the unofficial record in South Africa riding between Johannesburg and Durban(his home city) some 365 miles in around 3.5 hours. Single lane road through a mountain range.......!
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Tallone?
From '74 to...er...maybe 2000...not sure, BMW made air-cooled, opposed cylinder twins with disc brakes on the front. Manufacturers of the discs on BMWs have changed, but I wouldn't get one with drum brakes on front.
Displacement? I have a 1000 and a 900 cc. From the 750 to 1000 air heads (no radiator or oil cooling), I've found the most pleasant and reliable power range. Smaller than that and you have to ride at higher rev's, which I find annoying. Within that range, you can lope along at 70 mph with an ease and comfort level that is amazing...it is like the perfect combo of rpm, synchronicity, and power.
My bikes have 140,000 and 125,000 miles on them, respectively. They are not collector bikes, but daily users. They have carburetors, points, voltage regulators...you know, just like the pre-solid state world used to have.
Any air head with 50,000 miles on it is mostly, just broken-in.
My opinion, anyway. YMMV.
Have fun. If you like them, you'll love them.
(I DO admit to liking older twins with big jugs. )
Kis
From '74 to...er...maybe 2000...not sure, BMW made air-cooled, opposed cylinder twins with disc brakes on the front. Manufacturers of the discs on BMWs have changed, but I wouldn't get one with drum brakes on front.
Displacement? I have a 1000 and a 900 cc. From the 750 to 1000 air heads (no radiator or oil cooling), I've found the most pleasant and reliable power range. Smaller than that and you have to ride at higher rev's, which I find annoying. Within that range, you can lope along at 70 mph with an ease and comfort level that is amazing...it is like the perfect combo of rpm, synchronicity, and power.
My bikes have 140,000 and 125,000 miles on them, respectively. They are not collector bikes, but daily users. They have carburetors, points, voltage regulators...you know, just like the pre-solid state world used to have.
Any air head with 50,000 miles on it is mostly, just broken-in.
My opinion, anyway. YMMV.
Have fun. If you like them, you'll love them.
(I DO admit to liking older twins with big jugs.
)Kis
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A guy at work had one, really liked it - but he was getting on a bit and so sold it and got a Burgman Suzuki scooter, says he loves the new one more than the old one, but he no longer tours, just commutes.
I have a BMW coupe, and I gotta tell you the build quality on that is way better than on my Japanese car - however its expensive to run and the service costs, well thats the month I drink work coffee, not bought coffee!
I have a BMW coupe, and I gotta tell you the build quality on that is way better than on my Japanese car - however its expensive to run and the service costs, well thats the month I drink work coffee, not bought coffee!
BMW makes a nice machine. However, as you noted, some people believe they are not getting the quality they paid for.
Even BMW acknowledges that the quality of the motorcycles has declined as they have ramped up production. See link.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/N...ember/1-7/sep0108-bmw-admit-quality-problems/
I guess the biggest concern I have about BMW motorcycles is their sparse network of dealers. Break down in the middle of nowhere with bad oil seals, or bad rear wheel bearings, fuel pump relay, etc. and it can put you out of commission for a couple of days...or longer. Its normally a long, long distance between BMW dealers.
I will be the first to admit that I have never passed a BMW motorcycle on the interstate. Those things FLY by me on my American V-twin.
Even BMW acknowledges that the quality of the motorcycles has declined as they have ramped up production. See link.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/N...ember/1-7/sep0108-bmw-admit-quality-problems/
I guess the biggest concern I have about BMW motorcycles is their sparse network of dealers. Break down in the middle of nowhere with bad oil seals, or bad rear wheel bearings, fuel pump relay, etc. and it can put you out of commission for a couple of days...or longer. Its normally a long, long distance between BMW dealers.
I will be the first to admit that I have never passed a BMW motorcycle on the interstate. Those things FLY by me on my American V-twin.
I bought a 1992 airhead R100R, new. Loved it, no reliability issues for 14 years. Sold it and bought a newer GS because the telelever front end and oilhead engine looked good. Not the same quality, and I was repairing it constantly, sold it the next spring. Now I hear that the new driveshafts and electrical systems are prone to sudden failure.
I sold the GS and bought a 2004 Triumph Tiger. Much better. Bullet proof. Comfortable. Powerful. Smooth. Half the price. This is the one.
I sold the GS and bought a 2004 Triumph Tiger. Much better. Bullet proof. Comfortable. Powerful. Smooth. Half the price. This is the one.
There are a lot of reports on all sorts of riding forums I frequent of BMW final drives failing prematurely, which is a bummer for a premium-priced bike. Something to do with the Paralever setup at the rear maybe.
I ride an '03 Kawasaki Concours, which is a reliable, inexpensive, and competent touring bike that mimicks BMW K bikes a bit, and it's low-tech enough to do my own maintenance. I also have an '05 Ural Tourist sidecar rig, which is a Russian copy of a BMW military bike with WWII origins. It is reliable . . . by 1940's Russian standards! Easy and cheap to work on though, and the most fun of any vehicle I've ever owned.
I ride an '03 Kawasaki Concours, which is a reliable, inexpensive, and competent touring bike that mimicks BMW K bikes a bit, and it's low-tech enough to do my own maintenance. I also have an '05 Ural Tourist sidecar rig, which is a Russian copy of a BMW military bike with WWII origins. It is reliable . . . by 1940's Russian standards! Easy and cheap to work on though, and the most fun of any vehicle I've ever owned.