Harley Vs. Beemer

[Sierra1]

Now here's a contest that I never thought would have ever happened a few years ago.

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 S vs BMW R 1250 GS

 

[WJBertrand]

Wonder which one goes longer between breakdowns?


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[~TABASCO~]

Wonder which one goes longer between breakdowns?


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YIKES !

 

[Sierra1]

Wonder which one goes longer between breakdowns?

I read the article expecting a report. I was wondering if one, or both, made it through the review. 'Cuz that's exactly what I was thinking. I was disappointed.

 

[Highwayman]

As an owner of both HDs and imports of all kinds (enjoy all flavors).... The one downside between those two (and always a point for me to not own a PA) is HD techs are waaaaaayyyy behind to repairing anything even remotely close to the tech of a PA... They prefer high paying, easy bolt on goodies to relatively simple low tech stuff for their paychecks.... I can only imagine the shuffling and cussing when a PA comes in for warranty, repairs or service.

I'd give the HD the edge for less to own and the edge to BMW for mechanics available to fix it when needed.

 

[Sierra1]

Never thought about that. Beemer's been dealing with their tech a lot longer than Harley. Harley's simplicity actually caught my interest years ago. Easy to change cams and other bolt on go-fast parts almost got me. But after all the money I would have to spend on top of the bike purchase to go fast my FJ was easier/cheaper to go faster.

 

[Highwayman]

The PA has been faring pretty well actually (there has been some dumb stuff too along the way with it the moco should have caught), but relatively a good bike and majority really seem to like them. I do my own work, but if I had a warranty issue, I'd absolutely cringe having it to leave at a HD dealer.

True.... I enjoy my HDs... I will be the 1st to say Ive got waaaayyy too much money into them (especially the bagger) to get them right for me and my style of ripping... I will say though theyve both humbled a few crotchrocketeers in the twisties and some days its been all.worth it in smiles.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . some days its been all.worth it in smiles.

All that counts.

 

[audiowize]

I'd absolutely cringe having it to leave at a HD dealer.

I think these days that may go for more than just HD dealers.

 

[Highwayman]

I think these days that may go for more than just HD dealers.

True.... I feel very fortunate to have been a lifelong gearhead and professional tech for my 1st 15 yrs fresh outta HS in 80s. Acquired a huge selection of tools and experience that keeps all my bikes and vehicles outta the shops.

 

[audiowize]

A few years ago I helped a gentleman in Eastern WA who took his FJR to Desert Valley for a valve adjustment and cam chain tensioner replacement. After three service appointments and over $1500 spent, the bike wouldn't run properly. He was able to bring the bike to me and I rode it around my neighborhood and verified that the bike had no power between 3000 and 6000 RPM, and we ended up finding that the cam chain had slipped a tooth on the crank sprocket (probably during CCT installation). Many of his valves were also quite tight, so the valve adjustment hadn't been done.

A decade earlier that same dealership was instrumental in getting the gen 1 FJR valve guide issues sorted, so this was a major letdown.

...then there was the time the local Penske dealer "rebuilt" my shock and returned it with a broken pin in the rebound adjuster...

 

[Checkswrecks]

...we ended up finding that the cam chain had slipped a tooth on the crank sprocket (probably during CCT installation). ...

We had a lot of that in the Gen 1 Teneres with cam chain tensioner problems. A lot of people went to manual tensioners.