I may be crazy but I traded my Tenere for a new BMW R1200RT

[bmac]

I agree with BMAC threads opinion,, the taller you are the BMW is the more comfortable choice between and RT and a Wing. I would say 5' 10" would be perfect height for either bike,,,,, below 5' 9" and the WING is great,,, over 6' and BMW RT is easy to touch ground regardless of which seat and position it is in. I am under 5' 10" and enjoy both bikes but the Wing was easy to manage coming out of parking lots due to being able to get feet firmly on ground when needed,,, I lent my Wing to friend over 6' 2" and he was so squeezed in on Wing he said no way could he tour,,,, but there are aftermarket seats for Wing that cure that problem.

An aftermarket seat on the Wing did not do it and it would take a ton of extra padding to get the seat height where it needs to be. The handlebars need to be changed as well as they come waayyy tooo far back. My elbows were touching my jacket.

 

[Donk]

Sounds like BMW is trying to do the right thing. All you can ask of a company

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Sounds like BMW is trying to do the right thing. All you can ask of a company

::026:: Hard to imagine anything more they could do to support their customer's in this particular situation. I've never had a BMW, but with a response like this I can see why someone would be loyal to the brand.

 

[creggur]

::026:: Hard to imagine anything more they could do to support their customer's in this particular situation. I've never had a BMW, but with a response like this I can see why someone would be loyal to the brand.

On your first point - certainly.

On your second point, considering the history of major failures on GSs without a peep from BMW, I would respectfully disagree. I think the whole General Motors recall mess has everyone freaking out.

 

[Koinz]

On your second point, considering the history of major failures on GSs without a peep from BMW, I would respectfully disagree. I think the whole General Motors recall mess has everyone freaking out.

::026:: on both accounts

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm going to give the devil his due. If you had never owned a BMW, and this was your first and only experience with how they treat you when there is a problem, I could definitely see someone being impressed with that and becoming a loyal owner.

I've heard enough about BMW issues to know this is not the normal response, and I'm aware that a lot of misery can sometimes follow the purchase of one of their bikes. But in this one very specific circumstance, and I'm impressed with how they are handling it.

Will I buy a BMW due to this specific response...? ) ::025:: Sorry, I made myself laugh. To me, reliability is everything. I'd prefer to have a bike that doesn't need a creative response from the manufacture.

 

[creggur]

I'm going to give the devil his due. If you had never owned a BMW, and this was your first and only experience with how they treat you when there is a problem, I could definitely see someone being impressed with that and becoming a loyal owner.

I've heard enough about BMW issues to know this is not the normal response, and I'm aware that a lot of misery can sometimes follow the purchase of one of their bikes. But in this one very specific circumstance, and I'm impressed with how they are handling it.

Will I buy a BMW due to this specific response...? ) ::025:: Sorry, I made myself laugh. To me, reliability is everything. I'd prefer to have a bike that doesn't need a creative response from the manufacture.

No argument on any of those points.

I'm in the Fixed Operations (service, parts, body) end of the car business, and this whole GM mess has all the manufacturers panicking over every little thing (as they should if it's a safety related system). Interesting to me that it's spread to the motorcycle world.

Maybe this will get manufacturers that tend to keep their heads in the sand to look around a bit now...I'm plenty okay with that!

 

[Koinz]

I thought they used the formula where the bean counters would go over how much it would cost them to fix the problem vs how much they could get sued for. Of course, lowest cost wins. Maybe that's changing now, who knows.

 

[markjenn]

I've heard enough about BMW issues to know this is not the normal response, and I'm aware that a lot of misery can sometimes follow the purchase of one of their bikes.

Insofar as how they handle problems like this, I disagree to some extent. There have been other instances of where they're fairly proactively "stepped up to the plate" and done some pretty extraordinary things with other recalls. And on a personal note, I've had several goodwill repairs on BMWs over the years.

Now its better to have no problem than to have a problem and have it taken care of, but overall, I think BMW does a better than average job of taking care of issues as they arise, even out of warranty. In fact, I'm somewhat amazed they can keep their warranty costs under control given the relatively high frequency of problems that require expensive solutions like this one.

- Mark

 

[Koinz]

And on a personal note, I've had several goodwill repairs on BMWs over the years.

I had goodwill repair once. They covered the part and raped me on the labor.

I think BMW does a better than average job of taking care of issues as they arise, even out of warranty. In fact, I'm somewhat amazed they can keep their warranty costs under control given the relatively high frequency of problems that require expensive solutions like this one.

Sorry Mark, I really have to disagree on your second comment. That's really hit and miss with all the "they all do that" crap they fling at you to control Warranty costs. Its the relatively high freguency of problems that keeps me from purchasing another bmw.

 

[kenbike]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

 

[Firefight911]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

::025:: ::025:: ::025::

Quality? From the manufacturer known more for their design flaws.....and a broken shock issue....

Dude, take the finger out of the fan already!!!

::024:: ::024::

Hey, I had an Adventure. It was a great bike.....when it ran. I always said I could ride across country multiple times non stop with it. Of course, it rarely made it between oil changes and valve adjustments without needing repair but it was nice. As a matter of fact, I NEVER paid for service on that bike. I did the valves and syncs and the dealer always had it for warranty work and always took care of my fluid services as a penitence for the bike's transgressions.

It all started on that bike at just under 800 miles when they had to replace EVERYTHING from the output shaft seal on the tranny all the way to the rear!

 

[Dallara]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

Congrats on the new ride! ::012::

It might not have been the choice I'd have made, but that's what's wonderful about having such a diverse marketplace out there to choose from... ::003::

And anytime you get a new bike it's FUN! Enjoy it and ride safe! ::001::

Dallara




~

 

[XtreemLee]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

Good I knew you would cant resist the pull of the badge huh? Anyways now that you have bought your GSA lets close this thread and you can head over to BMW Sport Touring dot com, just don't say 'poop' they will ban you for life hahahhahahhahahaha.... ::021::

 

[RIVA]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

Just be careful of the ESA. Last Saturday a riding buddy ,who has a five week old GS pulled up at traffic lights and almost dropped his machine as the ESA had hardened his suspension to the max thereby increasing the ride height. His ESA warning light was flashing and he was unable to readjust his suspension to normal. His motorcycle is now at the BMW dealer with a severe software problem suspected and awaiting guidance from The Fatherland.

 

[cakeboy]

for a company like bmw who is supposed to have a reputation for being " bullet proof " they are not doing a very good job ...but there will always be those people who will stick to a brand come what may ..and i am not one of those who dont know what i am talking about as ive had almost every bmw [ new and old ] in there range and due to problems with almost everyone of them i would never touch another bmw ..

 

[Checkswrecks]

Kenbike - Congrats on your new ride. While I personally never bonded with the boxer motor, we rode in a group with 4 liquid cooled new GS's a year ago and I could see why they liked the bike so much.



As for the newest RT - I've sat on a couple of new RTs at a show and in a dealer and they were . . .
nice.


But nothing amazing.


And then saw one in the wild yesterday while riding home yesterday on the DC beltway. (I did say wild.) It was truly . . .
nice.


But nothing amazing.


I haven't actually ridden a new RT yet, but so far the new FJR just feels better to sit on and looks better.

 

[Donk]

I finally got my '14 S10 ES yesterday. My first Yamaha. Put 100 miles on it and love the bike. It's a great bike, but Yamaha could certainly take a lesson on fit and finish from both Triumph and BMW.

 

[hANNAbONE]

Kenbike - good luck with the new iron.
It will be an interesting read on how your time with the new steed goes.
Many of us on this forum have had BMW's and or know friends that have had them.
Everyone has a story about them - good or bad - I can only hope that your story ends positively.
Please chime in as the weeks/months tick by and let us know how the keys feel in your hand.

Ride safe - and post a pic.!!

 

[Big Blu]

I tossed my soul to the devil and came home on a Matte Green with the orange stickers removed 2014 BMW 1200 GSA. If it works out great, if not it will be on the blocks next spring.
It is a very fun, fast, and great handling bike! Not $6000 better than a Tenere but I just like the quality of the design and fit and finish.
I just have to find out for my self why all of the BMW haters are so fired up, I was the kid who stuck his finger in the fan to see what would happen ::013::

Ken, congratulation on your new ride. Hope it brings many miles and many smiles to you. Life is no be defined by the motorcycle we own or the dollars we spend, it's bigger then that.

Ignore the haters, small minded people they are..

Paul