I can't stand it anymore!!!

[Don B]

Hello,

I am a long time BMW guy moving to an FJR. Had many Yammies over the years but always came back to a BMW. Well, now waiting on an ordered 06.

My rant?.....You guys who claim BMW is unreliable, expensive, etc. Whoever paid $800 for service got hosed or does not have a clue. The most I ever paid was $225 for a Major service. Don't be rediculous. The BMW twins are some of the all-time easiest bikes to work on YOURSELF!!!!!! I had an R100GS, R1100GS, R1100RT, and up until recently an R1150RS. I can do valves and throttle sync by the roadside in less time than it takes most of you guys to whip out the AMEX and pay for your $800 service. Plus BMW has the BEST warranty in the industry. I put of 40k miles on each of my BMW's, riding mostly like I would ride a sport bike(Yes, I had a Y2K R1 so I know.)

Now, why am I going back? Priamrily because the FJR seems like an incredible bargain. I really wanted the new GT, but it's ugly. I also really wanted a new RT(Don't sell it short, it's awesome), but the Germans ARE missing the boat on the cost.

That will do it for now.....

Don B

 

[radman]

Ok.

 

[FJRocha]

Yep, ok.

 

[panthercity]

Yup, welcome and it's all about the motor...

 

[Ignacio]

You guys who claim BMW is unreliable, expensive, etc.

Which guys specifically?

I don't remember saying this and I don't remember the vast majority of this board saying this, so you must be referring to one or a few specific folks?

I like BMW riders and BMW's.

Welcome to the board new guy.

 

[yamaholic]

Don-

Welcome to the board. Easy does it now, your not exactly making new friends.

I think you need to think about this for awhile.

Your experience does not match many others.

Price is not subjective. They are expensive for a bike. PERIOD. I don't mean value...I mean MSRP and actual OTD price. Are they worth the price..that is an individual value decision.

Reliability is likely no different than other brands. But if I pay 50% more for a similar product, I expect better quality and reliability. Remember..quality and value does not equal engineering or brand loyalty. You obviously know a thing or two about how the bike operates, and you've likely hedged off issues, or just got lucky. Just like I'm lucky to not have a ticker.

Again welcome to board and hope the wait for your reliable, inexpensive Yamaha isn't too heart-wrenching.

 

[toophast]

If I remember correctly the last person who did the "beemer bash" ended up being dog piled :assasin: on this board and left :aaskull:

Welcome, and I do happen to think my bike is better than any other ever made--because we're in love

 

[twowheelnut]

Wait a minute.... Iggy, check that IP - is it the same as downn2's?

 

[fjr]

$225 for a major service on a BMW motorcycle? Give me that dealers name. I'll ship mine to him from now on when I need a "major service." :no:

 

[kaitsdad]

Wait a minute....  Iggy, check that IP - is it the same as downn2's?  

Really does sound the same, doesn't he?

 

[Ignacio]

Wait a minute....  Iggy, check that IP - is it the same as downn2's?  

No. Significantly different numbers and don't appear to be even the same region.

.....kind of odd for a FNG to come out guns blazing and sets the Spidey senses tweaking, but I'm cautiously optimistic our new guy is going to be a board contributor.

 

[sparky3008]

In his defense I will say this.

I was having a party at my house. A girl "friend" of mine came over with her new boy friend. My FJR was out front and it started the motorcycle conversation.

One thing led to another and I started talking about my friend who recently bought the Harley who is suffering with Diabetes. He is an old sport bike guy and I was commenting that I didn't think a Harley was his style and completely different and on and on. Well, of course he owned a ******* Harley and took it a little hard.

He never said anything to me but later his girlfriend did. I don't hate Harley's, I do hate some Harley owners but that's a different matter. My only point was for that one particular friend who was suffering with his health and such a big heavy bike and what he use to ride I didn't think it was him. Turns out he loves the bike so I was wrong all around.

Anyway sometimes people can say things, mean one thing and come across something completely different...

I will add I never owned a BMW but I have always found some of them good looking and if not for the price would have owned a few.

 

[arkninjazx9]

raised on rice.....

like rice.....

ride rice.......rocket B)

but dad had a couple german cars....very good cars....

 

[Don B]

Hey Now,

I really am new to this board. I had a new Yamaha Venture Royale that I bought new in 1986. It was awesome for its day. Been a Yamaha guy whole life. First EVER motorcycle that I ever had was a 1976 YZ 100. Wish I still had it.

Anyway, I got a chance to live in France for a year(Don't hold that against me) and took delivery of a BMW on the old Euro Delivery Plan. That was a way cool deal that BMW had. Only way that I could have a bike over there. Put over 10000 miles on that in Europe in 9 months that I had it there. It was an R100GS that made something like 58hp.

I am NOT slamming any one bike. A BMW really is an Aquired taste. Just weird until you get used to it. Then one can see how it really is a riders machine, not some sterile piece to convey you from one point to another.

I guess I got set off by the guy or guys who were in the thread about owning a BMW vs. a Yamaha. To say a routine service is $800 is just rediculous. To justify one over another with absurd claims really gets my blood boiling.

I am very excited to take delivery of the new ride. We could probably write a book on the direction BMW is taking. I think a lot of FJR guys are put-off ex BMW guys. I know I am now one.

 

[Penforhire]

Well, Don, I don't just go around bashing BMW's at every opportunity but as a past owner I have a few bones to pick with them and I am not alone. When someone like you says they are unfairly picked on, it gets a response from me. Feel the need to defend them as a brand?

Then explain to me why I should not complain about (on my 2000 R1200C, all warranty-covered): back rest fell off as I accelerated (very exciting moment, got a recall notice on it about six months late-r), tail-light bezel was replaced three times (two new designs and they STILL didn't get it right), both wheels and a mirror stalk replaced for badly pitting chrome (many apologies from dealer and a change to the Phoenix 3-spokes), a bad ground that took two overnight services and a replaced instrument cluster to fix, exhaust pipe discolored in a solid band near the end cap (another dealer apology), rear shock shot inside of 8k miles (my dealer got really got at apologizing), and the low idle relay replaced or jumpered (I forget which) because it died often at stops.

And this is off the top of my head. I was not alone in my misery. As an active on-line Oilhead kind of guy at least I knew mine wasn't just a lemon. Why should ANYONE pay a premium for nonsense like that? My primary riding buddy tells me his 2002 (or 2003?) K1200RS has been in the shop too much also. He tells me his woes are not uncommon.

And an "acquired taste"? Darn straight. What BMW genius figured the rest of the world doesn't know the right way to switch turn signals? Never got used to that. And that lovely Getrag tranny, notchy as possible and needing special handling to shift properly. My dad's 1973 R75/5 shifted better than that. I suppose I should be grateful they stuck with a standard modern shift pattern?

I'm approaching my R1200C's mileage mark (about 10K miles before I sold that steaming pile) with my '05 FJR, which has not yet required a single warranty service (only saw a dealer to change tires).

 

[zzkenoman]

Welcome on board, it is however getting alittle warm in here..lol

 

[jjsC6]

I never said anything about a BMW except that the new GT will probably be about $6,000 more than a FJR and that would keep me from buying it. I don't criticize anyone for what they buy, and I respect that companies like BMW exist for people who are willing on paying a premium for their product.

 

[black mamba]

I don't think the new guy is Downn2......he appears to be able to spell OK.

 

[vdoguy]

"To err is human, to forgive devine". No man made machine is perfect. But the weird unrequited love we shower on our machines is kinda endearing.

I truly loved my old BMW R100RS. I put on over 180,000 miles without any major work. Sure it had niggles, like blowing regulators every two years, and not starting when temps dropped below 10 degrees celcius, or a sidestand that flipped up without warning causing innocent bystanders to laugh outrageously...

The fairing was the best I've ever experienced and I felt like I was a real mechanic when I did my valve clearences myself in 20 minutes. It was a lot of fun and cheap to run.

That bike was truly light and flickable, and took me on 1000 mile days with ease. I "erred" by selling it, and though I'd always said I'd never have another brand, the FJR caught my eye and my wallet and I've "forgiven" myself.

I've ridden many new Beemers and think they are fantastic machines with technological advances that trounce the pack and engineering "faux-pas" that boggle the mind as well. But I'm not sure that the selling price is truly justified. It seems more to be fixed on a status scale than on economic reality. I just wish that Yamaha would show us here in North America that they believe in their workmanship enough to offer an "honest" warranty of 3 three years. At an asking price of close to $20,000.00 Canadian dollars (including taxes) they are laughing at us consumers.

Still, I am now in "love" with the feejer and hope that it will take me on as many trouble free miles as the Beemer did. And judging from the amount I put on this past season, that won't take long. Sure, the feejer is bit dated in terms of suspension technology, a bit slow steering, but I've learned to adapt to it just as I did to the beemer. I don't miss it anymore... :wub: