- Joined
- Mar 18, 2006
- Messages
- 2,860
- Age
- 70
- Location
- Ilkley, W Yorkshire, UK
- Bike
- 2013 ST1300 A9
- 2024 Miles
- 000679
- STOC #
- 2570
I've never really considered the BMW before. That single sided swing arm and shaft drive concerns me - and I've sat at the side of the road with a friend who's final drive collapsed on him. Other issues with suspension breaking also happened to a couple of friends.
But then I've had other friends who have taken their GS to Buenos Aries, ridden down to the souther tip of America and then ridden it up to the arctic circle, and brought it home again. No such issues - but he was one that 2 years earlier had a broken suspension unit on the same bike.
But I haven't heard of any recent such issues. Nevertheless I hadn't bothered looking elsewhere. But @Team2010's and @Mellow's pictures have only just made me start wondering.....'That looks nice. Would I like a new bike.' So I was nowhere near the stage of going to a showroom to sit on one. Just repsonding to a comment that both of them had made.
Another incident where an owner was stuck at a hotel, in Europe. Called BMW and they had a fully kitted out service van out to him within a couple of hours. Had the top end off his right cylinder and retrieved a sock ! (The owner had been servicing it, plugged the inlet port and forgotten to take it out.) The amazing thing was that this was about the 4th day into a tour. No charge, he had bought a service agreement of some sort.
And the can-bus. Not sure about how I would add on my satnav and intercom. There has to be a way.
If I get a new bike, I would probably not service it myself. (Yeah, right). Just buy a service agreement and leave it to the experts. Could I trust them ?? But I'm not getting any younger, and it is getting to be a prolonged effort to work on the bike these days. I do a bit at a time.
Each time I've bought a new bike I have looked elsewhere to see what there is, and decided that there was nothing better than what I had. I did look again a couple of years ago - and no one but BMW were making 'proper' sports tourers. Honda were claiming the Goldwing and the VFR were on offer. Then they brought out the new Goldwing with an ST1300 like nose. I only have two arms and legs. I wasn't going to part with them to buy a Goldwing. The garage and the ramp isn't long enough anyway. Yamaha's response to the Honda Weave issue seemed to be to make it crystal clear that panniers and top box should not be fitted on the FJR1300 at the same time. A touring bike without top box and panniers ? There's novel.
But that BMW does look nice .....
But then I've had other friends who have taken their GS to Buenos Aries, ridden down to the souther tip of America and then ridden it up to the arctic circle, and brought it home again. No such issues - but he was one that 2 years earlier had a broken suspension unit on the same bike.
But I haven't heard of any recent such issues. Nevertheless I hadn't bothered looking elsewhere. But @Team2010's and @Mellow's pictures have only just made me start wondering.....'That looks nice. Would I like a new bike.' So I was nowhere near the stage of going to a showroom to sit on one. Just repsonding to a comment that both of them had made.
Well - that is another concern. What about servicing? I was very impressed with the way that BMW handled that massive recall where those owners that were affected but were on tour were greeted at ferry terminals and their bike swapped out with a replacement. All of the BMWs in the country were taken from showrooms to keep owners on the road while they collected all of the 'dangerous' models.What will we all do if you get a Beemer and start spending your time learning the intricacies of that bike?
Another incident where an owner was stuck at a hotel, in Europe. Called BMW and they had a fully kitted out service van out to him within a couple of hours. Had the top end off his right cylinder and retrieved a sock ! (The owner had been servicing it, plugged the inlet port and forgotten to take it out.) The amazing thing was that this was about the 4th day into a tour. No charge, he had bought a service agreement of some sort.
And the can-bus. Not sure about how I would add on my satnav and intercom. There has to be a way.
If I get a new bike, I would probably not service it myself. (Yeah, right). Just buy a service agreement and leave it to the experts. Could I trust them ?? But I'm not getting any younger, and it is getting to be a prolonged effort to work on the bike these days. I do a bit at a time.
Each time I've bought a new bike I have looked elsewhere to see what there is, and decided that there was nothing better than what I had. I did look again a couple of years ago - and no one but BMW were making 'proper' sports tourers. Honda were claiming the Goldwing and the VFR were on offer. Then they brought out the new Goldwing with an ST1300 like nose. I only have two arms and legs. I wasn't going to part with them to buy a Goldwing. The garage and the ramp isn't long enough anyway. Yamaha's response to the Honda Weave issue seemed to be to make it crystal clear that panniers and top box should not be fitted on the FJR1300 at the same time. A touring bike without top box and panniers ? There's novel.
But that BMW does look nice .....