2009 K1300S

[El Toro]

So this is a relatively new thing, but the little key fob detector is a ring around the ignition. That has a tendency to fall off on the K series BMW's. They've switched the part number now, so I'm not sure it will impact the new K series.

This is the EWS failure that we've also hashed out over and over.

The EWS failure is failure of the antenna ring around the ignition key, and it doesn't fall out, but it can fail.

BMW has started a campaign on this issue, but not a recall. They are replacing the EWS ring at no cost on the request of the owner. I had mine done at the 6000 mile service even though I had not had any specific problems with my original EWS ring.

 

[Tenchi]

This is the EWS failure that we've also hashed out over and over.
The EWS failure is failure of the antenna ring around the ignition key, and it doesn't fall out, but it can fail.

BMW has started a campaign on this issue, but not a recall. They are replacing the EWS ring at no cost on the request of the owner. I had mine done at the 6000 mile service even though I had not had any specific problems with my original EWS ring.

Aaaaah. I could have sworn Russian said his fell off though. And yes, his was replaced at the 6000 mi service, free of charge.

I only have one issue with the BMW service people; they were great people, fantastic to deal with and very communicative. But $100 for an oil change is way too steep. On the bright side, they asked him to authorize it before they did it.

 

[kurt]

This is the EWS failure that we've also hashed out over and over.
The EWS failure is failure of the antenna ring around the ignition key, and it doesn't fall out, but it can fail.

BMW has started a campaign on this issue, but not a recall. They are replacing the EWS ring at no cost on the request of the owner. I had mine done at the 6000 mile service even though I had not had any specific problems with my original EWS ring.

Aaaaah. I could have sworn Russian said his fell off though. And yes, his was replaced at the 6000 mi service, free of charge.

I only have one issue with the BMW service people; they were great people, fantastic to deal with and very communicative. But $100 for an oil change is way too steep. On the bright side, they asked him to authorize it before they did it.

The $100 oil change is not unique to BMW. Four quarts of synthetic oil @ $10/qt, $13 for a filter only leave about 1/2 hour of shop time after taxes etc. I can't believe it's so hard to do my own for less than $40 these days.

 

[El Toro]

I only have one issue with the BMW service people; they were great people, fantastic to deal with and very communicative. But $100 for an oil change is way too steep. On the bright side, they asked him to authorize it before they did it.

You guys are getting hosed on these oil changes. My dealer charges $5.25/qt for the BMW high performance oil, and about $16 for the filter.

I really think there are some lousy dealers out there, and its not marque dependent. Yamahas got them too.

 

[Bluegrass FJR]

I've only seen pictures of the new K1300s - they're supposed to be in showrooms early this year, but, apparently, aren't yet. At any rate, I think the S and GT look pretty good.

On a side note, I'd have to want a Beemer pretty badly to justify getting one - they're expensive (although, I can live with that) and the closest dealers are both about 100 miles away.

 

[garywayne]

I owned a R1100RT which I really liked. I've looked at the new RT's and GS's a lot and would love to have another one but I will never buy one for the following reasons...

Cost....a GS or RT with bags and all is $18,000+

Fear....read way to much about rear drive failures and antenna ring failures (may be overblown..time will tell)

Service...the only reason I got rid of my RT was service issues. It was a 300 mile round trip to get it serviced and if you travel a lot there are whole states where you can't find a dealer. That reason above all others will keep me from getting another one.

Gary

 

[shokdimn]

The 1300 S may have found it’s way to my “dream-sheet”. I really like the looks of the “orange” colored bike. But I haven’t seen the orange in person only in photos. However, I had the opportunity to take the 1300S and a 1300GT for a short 10-mile test-ride about a month ago. I was really impressed with how smooth the “S” was at interstate speed. By smooth, I mean to me, it wasn’t vibey in the pegs, seat, or bars. I was very pleasantly surprised. I test rode a tri/multi color S.

 

[MCRIDER007]

RIDER tested both the K1300S (153.8 HP) and the K1300GT (145.3 HP) in its June 2009 issue. The K1300S got a lot of positive comments, I got the feeling that many of Editor Mark Tuttle's comments about the K1300GT were more about future advertising revenues than his actual evaluation, but his final comment that he preferred the R1200RT was a pretty good summary of his overall opinion.

 

[bmwhd]

We've got two new '09s in our little riding clique (despite the shocking number of same said clique that have been stranded by their BMWs recently): a K1300S and R1200RT. Both purchased by long time BMW guys.

What I found very interesting is the guy that bought the RT spent 300 miles on a K1300GT first (you have to love BMW dealers for those real test rides!). He was shocked by how much he hated the ergos of the GT and the way it handled vs. the RT. He had gone in to the dealership to buy the GT and was quite surprised by how much better the RT fit his riding style (which is LD riding with flare)

 

[shokdimn]

Like the rider that

had gone in to the dealership to buy the GT

That’s “kinda” the direction I was headed. I’ve been eyeing the “S” for a couple of years. But it was the “1300 GT” that I was planning on trading my wing in on. The GT seemed to fit me perfectly and I wanted to return to the ST class of bikes. However, my test-ride of both bikes caused me to change my mind. I wouldn’t have been able to resist the GT if it had been anywhere near as smooth as that S.

Now the dilemma,

the ergos

I’m wondering if “these-old-bones” would be--or could be made to be--happy on an S. The “fierce” orange one of course.

 

[bmwhd]

Like the rider that

had gone in to the dealership to buy the GT

That’s “kinda” the direction I was headed. I’ve been eyeing the “S” for a couple of years. But it was the “1300 GT” that I was planning on trading my wing in on. The GT seemed to fit me perfectly and I wanted to return to the ST class of bikes. However, my test-ride of both bikes caused me to change my mind. I wouldn’t have been able to resist the GT if it had been anywhere near as smooth as that S.

Now the dilemma,

the ergos

I’m wondering if “these-old-bones” would be--or could be made to be--happy on an S. The “fierce” orange one of course.

Well, the gentlemen in question also loves the S but said his neck couldn't take the riding position for long rides.