Why I No Longer Buy BMW Motorcycles

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[@mikemerrill175]

I’ve owned 3 BMW’s without a problem over 100,000+ miles.

[@moto-jeff]

Had friends that have had many issues with Beemers, so i wont buy them either. In fact i wont buy any Euro bikes anymore as i've been bitten with reliability issues on them in the past. I only buy from the big four Japanese manufacturers now, they're always reliable and never give me any grief for the years i own them. Had my Yam XSR9 for 5 years now without a single issue. And the same for the 3 yrs i've had my CB5X.

[@kquat7899]

For me, reliability comes above all else. Had a couple of Yam super10s and absolutely no trouble.

[@davidwright873]

that dude paid 34 thousand for that POS....lol...He's shoulda asked me about BMW...ida told him.....

[@williammoses6460]

I’ve owned three BMW bikes, an R50 c1958model year, a 750/5 short wheelbase 1973 bought new and a R100 Classic 1991. Each one was more expensive to own. The performance went up with each and the ride quality went down. A heavy flywheel and Earles link suspension make for a smooth ride. What you give up is acceleration and sporty handling.

[@TheHandyroo]

Great video which confirms my experiences over the years. I've just bought a 2013 R1200R classic with 10000 miles on it and a full service history with no recalls or work other than the service work. I was going to buy a water cooled r1200rs, but was warned off by my non franchised BMW guy about the reliability issues with newer models. I'm lucky to have access to his honest experiences and would advise anyone buying a new or used BMW to avoid the main dealers like the plague once the warranty expires.

[@daveallen8824]

I'm with you - I bought a 2016 1200RT. Great bike, handled great, plenty of power, pretty comfortable, but...It repeatedly went into limp mode for no particular reason and left me stranded. After the 4th time, I was over it. Sold it for a loss and moved on. No more BMW's for me. If I can't depend on a bike, I don't need it. Back to the Japanese for me. I rode a Honda ST1300 90k miles and it never, ever, malfunctioned. Should not have sold it to buy the BMW. Maybe an FJR 1300? In any case, it will be Japanese.

[@jakecrib9971]

I test rode a Honda ST. I have to say it was so heavy in the steering that it felt like a tank. No Thank You ! Yamaha FJR sounds like a good choice, if not a BMW.

[@FxRiderST]

I don't know why it was like that, maybe low tires pressure or something else. I have the ST for 3 years and although it's a bit heavy (but not as heavy as my 2008 GoldWing I had before), as soon as it starts moving its weight disappears and it handles better than some much lighter bikes.

[@Kwhopperfan]

@@jakecrib9971 I’d lean towards a tire pressure issue Or steering head bearings worn or improperly adjusted.. I’ve ridden two ST’s and they were extremely light and flickable in comparison with my own C14 and gl1800 and other sport tourers I’ve ridden and owned..

[@The_Touring_Jedi]

​​@@FxRiderST Probably low tire pressure as you said.ST1300 is when moving agile bike and heavier then RT 65kg which is why RT is maybe even more easier to ride. I would like to have RT 2007 or newer and I can do service myself but then again...I would be probably pissed if I need to fix the damn thing every year. ST1100 is as a Touring bike maybe old(model with ABS and TCS) but I would still go for it as it is one od the most reliable bike I ever had. And I had plenty...

[@malcolmhansen8276]

I have a 2017.5 GS. First BMW I’ve owned, and it has been totally bulletproof to date, and has done 55,000 km of mainly two up touring. I know many with very similar experiences on high mileage BMW bikes. Anything can go wrong with any bike, but I think there is a tendency to pick on BMW in general, and perhaps any “top brand”. Sure, Japanese bikes are hard to beat for reliability, but they just can’t compete with the GS for all round comfort, suspension, handling, luggage, accessories, etc. Not to mention brilliant dealership experience, warranty and support, as well as excellent resale value! You get what you pay for…

[@maldridge7630]

I have had 5 BMW vehicles, including current, and I have realized that in principle it is wrong to buy BMW! They are cleverly engineered to generate after-purchase revenue. They cut cost and have obsolescence engineered into them. Their design discourages owner's DIY servicing. German engineering is great, but so is nuclear power, until it gets into the wrong hands. Only reason I will buy Japanese motorcycle is their reliability and the ability for me to work on them whenever I want. If you cannot see it, what can I say...

[@Jagshemasher]

@@maldridge7630 same as their cars - fun but complete money pits

[@philiprobinson2011]

@@maldridge7630 I haven't owned my BMW long enough to comment on reliability and I agree with you about after purchase revenue, although that is only because of the long list of accessories available. As for servicing/maintenance, annual cost are generally low for the boxer engine. I know I would rather do a valve clearance check or a plug change on the BMW than say a NT1100 and the BMW has no chain to bother with.

[@philiprobinson2011]

Personally, I don't regret changing to a BMW in fact I wish I had done so earlier. The R1250RS has been a revelation. As for Japanese brands generally, I don't dislike them, its just Honda. They seem to be lacking something. Take the NT1100 as an example. No doubt an excellent bike, but quite dull looking in the flesh. The main problem however is with Hondas after sales support, which in my experience is non-existent.

[@malcolmhansen8276]

@@philiprobinson2011 I couldn't agree more. Despite already purchasing a ZX14, when returning to the dealership they just weren't interested. I find ALL the Japanese brand dealerships depressing to deal with. They don't have most bikes, and they don't really want you test riding anything they have. BMW are so far advanced on customer service it's hard to fathom unless one has experienced both. I tried in the past to get a ride on an Africa Twin from a Honda dealer, and may as well have tried flying to the moon. They are just depressing to deal with. Say what you like about BMW, but they are a night and day improvement! Ride anything as much as you like, and NO pressure to buy; just brilliant. And btw, the luggage for my GS wasn't much more than Honda or anyone else charge, and it's much better quality. Lots of bias I'm afraid, from people who just recite anecdotal info.

[@mda1856]

The dealership is a big part of the experience for many of us. I have owned 2 beemers in the last 15 years and loved the riding experience. I hated the terrible attitudes at the service departments at the two dealerships closest to me. I had a 2009 R1200GS Adv that was subject to multiple recalls and BMW will only pay for recall service at their dealers. I have a really good independent shop near me run by a semi-retired BMW master mechanic and I could not use him for any of the recalls. I have a 2021 Africa Twin now that I purchased from a small family owned dealership with a great service department and staff that understand what customer service should be. I'm sure there are some good BMW dealers out there - just not within 60 miles of where I live.

[@redwolfexr]

Yeah, had a minor accident and have to wait 2 weeks just to drop the bike off for an estimate.. which took another week. They estimated it for almost every panel on the bike and all we wanted was the front end fixed. Insurance company and I both tried to get the dealership to just fix the front -- the rest was just 10 years worth of commuting. So yeah, the bike got totalled out and and I bought a Yamaha. It was going to take months to fix it too, so pretty sure they just didn't want to deal with it. THEY had to know what the bike was "worth" and what insurance would pay, after all. The BMW I had before that (2000 K1200LTC) they made me pay to replace the clutch under warranty -- said it was my "overclutching" that caused it to fail at 18 months and 10K miles... I really liked a new bike of theirs, but decided I didn't want to deal with BMW service anymore.

[@hennies9509]

Overclutching???!!! LOL!!!!!!

[@redwolfexr]

@@hennies9509 yeah, supposedly you are not supposed to fully pull in the clutch lever on a K-bike. Who knew? I bet they charged BMW for it too.

[@azriphale]

I just traded my R1250GS for a new Africa Twin Adventure Sports because my local BMW dealer didn't want to deal with selling my imported GS when I wanted to upgrade to the GS Adventure. Went over to Honda and they had no such trouble. Traded out of spite to not give the BMW dealer my service business anymore. Loving the ATAS off-pavement now, though.

[@KuopioKallavesi]

@@azriphale yes spite.. in otherwords childish behavior.

[@Foodgeek]

I've noticed that guys my age (50's+) ride either BMW or Harley Davidson here in Denmark. I guess I'm the odd one out with my Honda Monkey and Honda rebel ;)

[@artmchugh5644]

Same for me and my Ducati multistrada!!!!😀😀😀😀🍺🍺🍺🍺🏍🏍

[@drhkleinert8241]

Thats bec the elder had the money for these over-priced bikes

[@Foodgeek]

@@drhkleinert8241 True. For me it's about also having money for other things 😆

[@boofer875]

Good video. I live in a rural area in SE U.S. After 55 yrs riding I ride Honda Magna. I love it because my first "real" bikes were 500 and 750 Kawasaki Triples. They were reliable considering the way I rode them. Of all the bikes I've owned the LS650 Suzuki Savage was the most fun. One big piston. I think you are spot on with your analysis. We don't like leaving our hard earned property with strangers, because we probably have a better idea of the problem than the dealer does. And young mechanics have to prove they are at least as good a mechanic as I am. Some of us here in the states don't like going hat in hand to ask for warranty work that is specified in the owner's manual. Age and experience factor heavily in our purchasing choices. Ride safe.

[@ellenj8896]

Good vid, and am interested to hear of your experience with the BMWs. I’ve been looking at them but am taking into consideration your thoughts on the bikes. It is very true that the dealerships make a very good or very bad impression, and I’ve avoided BMWs over the years exactly because the local dealership owner is incredibly obnoxious (here in VT, USA). When BMW came out with some smaller bikes (I’m a 5’6” female), my interest perked up, but after seeing your vid, I’m putting BMWs further down on my “want it” list. I’ve had much luck with Kawasaki brand, in particular. Hondas are ok, but I think Kawasaki offers more for the money.

[@davidwright873]

anything Japanese and you can't go wrong....my two cents...

[@The_Touring_Jedi]

​@@davidwright873 Honda is at the top of the list even with new models. New Africa Twin is already tested to almost 450.000km. Honda Varadero model 1999 here in Austria got over 700.000 and still running on original engine. I bought Honda ST1300 with 155.000 without second though was running great. Honda is I would say on the top of the game regardless reliability.

[@ComandanteJ]

You can get Japanese lemons too, when I bough my bike, a '21 Honda CB650R, I was happily riding on the freeway 3 days after getting it out of the dealership, when suddenly I look down to the instrument cluster and the temp gauge was flashing. I was near an exit so I pull the clutch to stop loading the engine and BAM, engine shuts down, probably locked up. I coast to a safe place, ring the dealership, get the bike on a flatbed and a month and a bit later I have a new '22 plate CB650R. The poor thing only had 400km on the odo. And it was a Honda! And with a very robust, proven engine.

[@tonylast7105]

BMW stands for “Bee eM Trouble U”. Had a 2002 R1150RT bought new. Had it for 15 years. Ended up costing me more than what the bike was worth to repair. $3250 for new clutch and master cylinder at 54,000ks and a new ABS unit for $4500 at 56,000ks. I now have an FJR1300 and it is a sensational ride. I will never own a BMW ever again. You are better off with anything from Japan.

[@mattp.7318]

LOVE my FJR1300!

[@nickwf70]

Because Germans think there products are "premium" products.

[@mwkoskamp1]

Is that Australian dollars? Then still this is a lot of money. My 1200RT ABS pump overhaul was about 1300 euro's.

[@theonlyredspecial]

Bee eM Trouble U? Lol 😂

[@TwoHawksHunting]

I haven't heard that interesting definition of BMW. I have heard both Break My Wallet and Big Money 💰 Worries. 😆 🤣

[@leftymadrid]

So true... When you buy a bike nowadays you have to take a peek at the maintenance area where the mechanics work just to see how organized they look, and if they really are professional! Also ask some questions. Ask the mechanic some questions about the bike you want to buy, and see the attitudes of that specific dept. I have OCD and perfection and order is hard to come by, I've had many bikes, expensive Ducati bikes, mostly. And each service was very expensive !! I've learned that it made more sense to get a not so big bike for many reasons... we all know Japanese bikes are solid, some what expensive, but doable. But there are a ton of motorcycle companies in today's market! So I went all the way from 1200cc -1000cc to 350cc!! I figured that 40 horse power would be sufficient for traveling, and other outings... The type of bike that works for you, yep, touchy subject, right!? This for me is most important, it must have... Great gas mileage, heavy enough for me to pick up if I go down, comfortable, reliable, and good looking. And most importantly, that parts and service intervals be affordable. Would you believe that this way I spent 6-9 times less than with a big expensive bike... Not to mention, insurance! In the end it's what ever works for you. I am super glad I came down this road, and to find out a 350 cc is plenty, and way, way cheaper to maintain. All this down sizing played tricks on my brain at first, but at 62 years old, it was a wise choice. Safe riding my friend

[@Scout4x]

I'm in the USA and I just want to buy, drive and service. I think that most people here are that way too. Perhaps some who post on KZbin are the type who replace everything, but not I. I won't buy Chevrolet ever again for reasons similar to the problems you had with BMW. I drive a Toyota FJ Cruiser now. Oh, and before that I had a Mini Cooper (made by BMW) that was shot by 40K miles. All bikes I ride NOW are Japanese.

[@craigfinnegan8534]

I live in Florida and I'm the same way as far as wanting solutions, not problems. A huge amount of Americans do. When the presenter said Aussies are different than Americans in that Americans don't mind warranty hassles, I wanted to write that I guess I'm an honorary Aussie.

[@JohnAdams-xc5yk]

Only one model I hear is made in Japan

[@cgjoe64]

Haha A fellow FJ driver with similar outlook I own 3 Hondas Ana a Yamaha. I want to drive and I need good reliable work when I need it. Mini Cooper was $4480 for a clutch repair at 30,000 miles. It cost more per rotor than the complete set of brake pads and rotors for a Honda civic.

[@lukewalker1051]

Your analogy of Chevy and BMW is flawed. Chevy's are more reliable than any BMW because BMW places complexity and marketing exclusivity above reliability. Chevy's won't cost you a first born to fix and are simpler machines that don't break as much. I too only own Japanese motorcycles and their cars are the most reliable as well.

[@cgjoe64]

@@lukewalker1051 Agree for Chev/GMC trucks, but not cars I usually buy a new GM truck and run I it till it drops. My newest, 2018, is nowhere near as good or reliable as my 1997. I still use my 2012 for ploughing and carrying. The 2012 has constant problems with powered windows. Just looking around, all the GM trucks suffer from rust in the same places. The difference in body panel fit and finish on my 2007 fj with 200,000 on it is remarkable. And then we have the cars. Ford and GM. No thanks

[@johnburns3703]

Great to hear you praising British bikes over BMs. I had a mate who had a 600/5 that we usd to two up all about edinburgh. Grounding the pots on the Mound and such! But we were going to do a French tour on it when the gearbox lunched itself. he bought a new MZ250 and off we went - Edinburgh all the way to france and back. Funny that the MZ even had the same tyre pump as the BM! still they were DKW before the war. i am a Ducati man through and through i have to say, from Sebrings to 999s

[@davidgamari557]

Being a happy BMW owner for over 25 years of 3 models, this video caught my eye, so I thought I'd watch it and learn about your channel. Over the course of my 35 years of riding I've owned a Suzuzki VX800 ('90) , Honda GL1000 ('78), BMW's K100RS ('89), K1600GTL ('13), and my current ride an R1250GSA ('21). Being well into my sixties now it's safe to say I've settled on BMW, and hope to be riding one well into my seventies, or as long as I can. The machines I've owned have always pretty much fit their intended purpose, and that is my primary consideration when it comes to selection. For example I discoved that I was missing some excellent riding simply because I was on a touring bike (K1600). The Northeast US (primarily New England) has lots of trail riding and scenic country accessible by dirt roads, so I moved to an R1250GSA, a tall bike for me with a 30" inseam. And I love it. I never hold a grudge against any motorcycle manufacturer, and I've experienced issues with each of them, none of serious consequence or of a matter that lingered through the ownership. They are machines, and regardless of design and engineering there is always a random smattering of bikes with problems (eg, lemons). And I think that's why I stopped to watch this. Why would anyone devote almost 20 minutes to offer a negative opinion of BMW? Especially after the problems encounred on a bike over 12 years ago? Bikes and technology change in that timeframe. That's why I never hold a grudge. Problems usually get fixed. The story has not changed my mind, and I did decide to subscribe, at least for awhile. I've taken some time to watch other videos on this channel, and find them entertaining and informative. But maybe it's worth throwing a leg over a BMW again sometime.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for taking the time to share your own personal experience David, I do appreciate it and I really appreciate you subscribing and taking the time to look around. I hope you stick around. I wouldn't say I had a grudge against BMW, I feel I covered the R18 launch quite favourably I think it's more of a, not wanting to take the risk, type of view that I have. I have the same view of Tesla's. We've now owned 3 EV's and although I've never owned a Tesla I've avoided buying one purely because of the reputation they have when it comes to having things needing sorting after you purchase the vehicle. It's something that I really don't like and something not worth taking a risk on, in my view. I'm 60 this year and have been buying motorcycles new and secondhand since I was 25 and the Japanese bikes I've bought over those years have always served me extremely well, just buy, ride and service... that's it. I think that's what took me back about my BMW's, I was expecting the same deal. Even though I'm wary of Tesla's I've never made a critical video on them because I've never owned one, I don't think I'm qualified to make that video. But I have laid out my hard earned cash on two new BMW motorcycles so I feel it's fair I'm able to share my own experience. I actually would love try the new BMW R1250RT. I know I would really like the bike but I'm still seeing people having issues with that motorcycle. I think that adds to my current frustrations all these years later. Thanks for dropping a line David, I enjoyed reading your experience and I'm genuinely glad your bikes are serving you well!

[@Dubhghaill]

I would be pissed off aswell, paying 30K for shit to fall apart as iam riding the thing

[@johnambro7181]

That is my next and last bike!

[@donnyo65]

Indeed - I have owned two BMW's, A K75s which i bought as a stopgap many years ago - I still regret selling that! Then my current R1200GSA which I bought new as a retirement present to myself just over six years ago. After the warranty ran out I started doing my own services as I don't trust dealerships and have never had a totally satisfactory experience with them. I am self taught but have been fixing cars and bikes since I was 12 (I'm now 57!) and have learned as I go with everything from welding and body work to engine and gearbox rebuilds. The only issues I've had with the GS are 1) it ate its first battery but after a recalibration and a new battery four years ago its been fine. 2) Output spline seized - a common fault and fiddly to fix but it only cost the price of a tube of special grease and all is right with the world. Every time I ride it I am really impressed with the bike, I am aware of it's shortcomings but they are things that are very minor and don't affect my enjoyment. I have owned bikes from many of the big manufacturers (And a fe of the smaller ones!) in my 40 years of riding and all have their quirks and pitfalls, it's simply a matter of which ones you are prepared to put up with. I am however thinking of selling my GS - not because of any faults but because my dodgy knees and hips make manouvering it a pain these day as its so tall. I'm thinking of going o - another BMW, possibly a Bagger!

[@seniorrider9337]

@@BikesILike I have never had a BMW. I have wanted one since the 70's when the R90S came out, just could not afford one. I have had Triumphs, Nortons, Yamahas, Kawasakis,and Hondas. They were pretty reliable and I learned to do most of the work on them myself. I also watch Shaun at the Vancouver , Wa. BMW shop. I see the prices of the new BMW's and what service costs are and how often he is doing major work on them. The new ones are really hard for the home mechanic to do ANY work on because of all the computers. As much as I would love a new BMW, it would ruin my day to have one with problems. The nearest dealer is 3 hours away also. I now ride a 97 Yamaha 1100 Virago and I do the work on it myself. Stay safe and enjoy your ride.

[@Speedytrip]

I bought a new 2018 R9T UGS, it burned 1L of oil per 10000km. BMW said that anything under 4L of oil per 10000km was considered within normal tolerances, imagine...you no longer need to change the oil, you're always running on new oil! lol To me that was absolutely insane...maybe on a 1940s bike, but not on a 2018. I've often shopped for used BMWs (R1200GS and R1200RT) and the number of bikes that had the clutch replaced and driveshaft rebuilt at around 100000km or less, kept me away. And these bikes are not stunt bikes, they are touring bikes that are generally riden by more mature riders. You can look on Super Tenere or Concours 14 forums, you won't see tons of driving shafts replaced even at 200000km. There's clearly something with BMW where they do not have the same standards as the Japanese bikes, great designs, tons of features, comfort, but once you're out of warranty, what seems like a deal might turn into a nightmare real fast.

[@bobboucher3942]

I fully understand your frustration with your K13S and 1200RT. I would also be upset about those issues. However, my last two BMW motorcycles are the 1987 K75S, and my current ride a 2016 R1200RS. I rode the K75S for over 27 years and put over 160,000 miles (not KM) on it, and experienced no major problems. I have had the RS for just over 2 years now, and have put over 20,000 miles on it. Very reliable, and even confidence-building.

[@bradsanders6954]

A friend says this about his airhead, totally reliable,,,,,,,,,then I looked at the work record he kept on the bike.......4 pages of fine print exact records of parts replaced....wow. Ive ridden a suzuki as far as he rode that BMW, and not one thing broke. Nothing. Nada. Upkeep cost on suzuki was a very, very tiny fraction of his cost.

[@gabidagon]

Riding my 2nd R850R now with 130k k”m and since 2008, love it, only refuling and oil changes.. tried other models and nothing beats it.

[@alithejumbo]

Surprised to see you having all those problems with BMW bikes! My actual (and first) bike is a 750 GS 2021 and I had zero problems with it since a year. I should mention, though, that I will not upgrade to 1250 GS in the future because the price is ridiculous.

[@notfornuttinschaumburg5671]

So, your one year old motorcycle hasn’t had any problems?

[@alithejumbo]

@@notfornuttinschaumburg5671 No problem at all

[@satchitysatch]

The Suzuki v strom 1050 that I ride at the moment blew its rear shock at 1500 miles and I had to wait four weeks for a replacement, it’s now done 6500 and the replacement shock has been fine, the dealership I bought it from have been excellent to deal with. I also had a bmw S1R for around 18 months and never had any issues.

[@BikesILike]

Wow that's interesting! Thanks for sharing that R&R. It just goes to show that in the case of the Suzuki there are exceptions to every rule. Glad to hear the Beemer has been rock solid.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Thanks for sharing this. It is good to know that we all can have different experience. :)

[@tbthedozer]

That service manager probably ended up opening his own shop and has a loyal group of customers because he does the right thing. 😉

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

This guy takes forever and a day to tell a simple story. Nice way to make a 3 minute video into 18 mins.

[@wadeblake3451]

Very interesting perspective. I also liked the Australian vs NorthAmerican take on warranty/recall issues. 16:28 I too have had a couple of bmw bikes, a 2016 k1600 GTL and 2018 1200RT. The GTL started going into limp mode with approximately 30k km.. After the fourth or fifth time, I lost faith in the bike and got tired of having to either fly home and leave the bike in a shop for them to try and figure it out or to staying close to home incase it died. I traded it for the RT. I sold it after a few years just to try something new. By far, best bang for the buck have been Japanese products. More competitive selling prices, less maintenance costs by far, and very reliable. Btw Bmw dealership I dealt with in Victoria BC was excellent to deal with. Bill, the GM, and Bernie, the service manager went above and beyond to deal with my “limp mode” issues but as I said, I simply lost faith in the bike.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

I wonder whether a very low volume niche product like a 1600 ends up being "field tested" by its customers.

[@dawidos117]

@@keyboarddancers7751 it’s evident.

[@teucer4]

You should always adjust the valves before putting a manometer on the throttle bodies. If the dealer said they did this already and the bike isn't running right, likely they didn't do it properly. The only way you can verify if the valves were done satisfactorily is to do it yourself. Dealers do not care. Adjust the values, which is one of the biggest reasons you would buy a boxer bike, and then adjust the throttle bodies according to prescribed procedure. Your bike was fuel injected so there is no way it was a fuel mixture issue.

[@MarkBrown-gc6hr]

I had a german car many years ago that was awesome until the first service. They worked on the fuel injection and from that time on the car had a flat spot when changing from first to second gear. The dealers never managed to get it sorted. Sold it at 150,000km. I now stick to Korean and Japanese too.

[@Krosis_]

Maybe you can specify the car model next time? 1 problem on 1 car doesn't represent ALL german cars

[@bladimirkroutska3707]

I owned the 2008 bmw 650Xcountry.Had several issues with different electronics to a point that it had become dangerous. I spent a fortune at the dealersip but things only got worse.I looked in the internet and found about 130pages of peoples similar complaints.Learned the hard way. Now I stick to Japanese bikes.

[@my.motorrad]

I currently have a 2009 R1200RT and bought it new in 2010. Owning a BMW has been interesting. They require a bit more maintenance than most bikes and it's best if you follow it, whether you do it or the dealer does. In my case, the dealer did the first service, but I've done all the service since and some repairs. What BMW screws up on is in two areas: One, they do stupid design ideas that don't work well in the long run, like a fuel strip instead of a float in the gas tank or plastic throttle body pulleys. Both fail eventually and while BMW gave a 12 year extended warranty on the fuel strip, they don't extend the warranty on the plastic pulleys, which fail and leave one stranded. When they go, it can be an instantaneous loss of throttle control. Then there are the penny pinching/QA/QC with vendors/parts. Water pumps for instance. In my local BMW club, everyone that bought the K1600 when it first came out had at least 1 water pump failure. One guy had 4 and when he went on trips he bought a spare as he didn't want to be stranded. The first R1200 water cooled bikes had water pump failures too. Shock problems, switch gear and on the R1200 liquid cooled, some cam failures, one guy posted in the MOA forum he had it happen twice and he used BMW oil. I've had the fuel pump replaced under recall(the ring fix first), a front ABS cable that wore through on the front rotor, 2 fuel strips and the throttle body pulleys cracked off. When I called BMW about the pulleys, they said have it fixed by a dealer and send us your receipt and we'll see if we'll reimburse you anything. It was 5 years old at that point and the dealer wanted $1400 to fix it. I bought the throttle bodies off of a low mileage salvage bike for $230 and did it myself. Recently, I brought it up on thread on BMW Motorcycles FB page in response to some comments and BMW actually contacted me, but the short of it is, they basically said, sorry you had problems with the bike in the past. All I can say is it will make for a very blunt video. I think BMW makes a very balanced design. Everything works well together in a competent package. Their cars are like that too, but between their odd business model and manufacturing mindset, I'll not buy one again. They obviously don't care. Many folks put in complaints to the NHTSA about the pulleys and even got call backs from the NHTSA, but there's been no movement on a recall. I think the perfect customer in BMWs expectation is one that trades in every 2-4 years and has all maintenance and repairs done at the dealer. For me, that's unrealistic.

[@danreich4320]

BMW tends to spend their time, money and research to find solutions to problems that don’t exist. And then their “solutions”don’t even work. Thereafter, there’s a disgraceful refusal by BMW to accept responsibility. In the end, the consumer pays through the nose. NEVER AGAIN.

[@my.motorrad]

@@danreich4320 It sure the hell seems that way.

[@bradsanders6954]

I had some german friends who followed the "trade it in every 2 years" model. A BMW can be pretty trouble free when its new, so just keep a new one around. Their life ,was their BMW. The cost of a semi major fix or maintenance on a BMW can be Shocking, money cannot matter. I watched guys spend 2800.00 on a service and a tire. Not a problem. If somebody gave me a new BMW I would sell it right off. Life is too short.

[@my.motorrad]

@@bradsanders6954 Trading every 2 years gets expensive, even if you do the lease plan, ride every day or whatever they call it, as you have to have them service it. I know that just to check the valve clearances on a K16 is 4-500 US and then if they need adjustment, double it. The final drive/transmission lube on the newer ones is 65 US a pint. Dealers charge more for tires too, so 2800? I can believe it. I am not a typical BMW demo. I am not wealthy, I don't have a gazillion bikes, I don't trade any vehicle every two years, I don't have the dealer do everything for me and I don't drink Kool Aid. On average I probably keep a bike 8 years. I am on 12+ now. Probably why I made a video, Why BMW needs to F off.

[@allanhughes7859]

Your story is long but good.. Having said that its simple just dont go there they are for the price a pile of crap !!!!!!! Trust me I would rather go or buy from China and that must say something must it not ??????

[@advorlando9855]

There's the riding experience of actually ridng an individual bike, and the the overall affordability experience. When a bike leaves me stranded, i cant get that out of my head. When a bike is giving me troubles and can't afford to fix it, yet i risk riding any way, that preys on my mind as well. Metrics are best for reliability. Ive swooned over BMWs and Harleys but cant pull the trigger on either one. I guess a major part of my riding pleasure is knowing it will take me anywhere and back with no problems. Not to mention thousands still in the bank as well.

[@brankojerbic6040]

I own a 2017 R1200RT and approaching 50k kms. Great bike and no problems. I do change the oil and oil filter in between servicing schedules as i have always done with other bikes I've owned. I also check the bike over on a regular basis. Its very important to have a good, experienced and ocd service "person"...lots of monkeys working at dealers these days that simply dont work at the expected standard and in Oz at Bmw dealers thats no exception. I own a Bmw F30 320d thats coming up to 200k kms and apart from replacing the rear wheel bearings at 160k kms its been faultless. I service the car myself now and change oil and filters every 8-10k kms, its easy. I have had different brands of cars and bikes over the years but they are all only as good as the care given...

[@kefalos739]

I have ridden on motorcycles since I wore diapers. I was fortunate enough in this industry to have my father who owned two motorcycle dealerships and dealt with new and used motorcycles. I have ridden on almost everything. First street legal bike was an xt. I've owned a zx10r, zx14, cbr100rr, Hayabusa, r1, Aprilia rst1000, hd flhr, and I now have a garage full of bikes, half of them being bmw r motors. Not cliche but those bikes are just built different.

[@Reestiboy]

Great Video. Owned many BMW's, mainly GS's. Found them heavy but reliable. My first 1200GS hexhead was a fabulous bike, but started rusting on the frame almost immediately. Dissapointing as i loved that bike - travelled all over South Africa with it, even Lesotho mtns. In Australia, bought the new water cooled 12GS. Engine oscillations drove me insane, BMW told me it was normal. Agter much fightihg they bought the bike back. Bought a 1250GS, drove it 2000kms and sold it. Stunning bikes but i am just done with the dealership hassle and weight of the bike. Now own a Yamaha T7 - what a revelation! Great on road, great off road, perfect bike, perfect engine.

[@androidemulator6952]

The dealership catch-all excuse.."they all do that" ! LOL

[@dionoliveira4058]

Understandably so .....you were far more patient and tolerant than most of us. Re the shock at 1500ks I would had that dealer principal reported to BMW in fact at the first service going wrong I'd have made them collect and deliver and if not 100% satisfied I'd return their bike. No dealership wants the manufacturer taking their dealership away. I'm in Africa and understand what service is.

[@CCitis]

The reason I come back to BMW is…. I love the boxer motor… character and performance. I love the fit and finish. I like the shaft drive. I find they fit me (large person) better than others. If you buy a used one they have features that other companies just don’t have for the price.

[@kruisr7449]

Same here. I fall in love with this Boxer Engine from the first Minute.

[@CCitis]

@@kruisr7449 It's a beauty full of character, and power. I sacrifice some reliability for character.

[@DAVJULART]

I ride a R1250RS and fell in love with the BMW boxer engine when I rode my dad's R80/7 about 40 years ago. Totally with you on the shaft drive.

[@CCitis]

@@DAVJULART I am on a R1200RS. Love it. I imagine the 1250 is even better

[@DAVJULART]

@@CCitis yes indeed. The TFT is much better for my old eyes. I don't have to guess my speed anymore😳

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Had three bmws..an R100RT, R65 and a 2016 GSA1200. Lovedriding them all. The GSA was superb...one of the best I ever owned and didn't have a sigle reliability issue in the 3 years I owned it which was up until 18K miles. The R100RT needed constant fettling and was not thst reliable but thst was back in the 1980s. I've had a 1200 triumph tiger and rhe build quality wasn't up to the same standard as the BMW and I sold that because it developed electrical issues and rhe engine would cut out randomly when warm...not good and scared the whatsit out of a a few times when at speed needing throttle for control. Triumphs here in the uk don't have thd best reliability record. I've gone back to riding a bomb proof old school Aprilia RSVR Mille from 2001. No fly by wire or electronic suspension nor orher overly complex trickery to go wrong. It just works and is pure joy to ride...although my creaking older bones don't appreciate the more racy riding position these days but it's worth a little discomfort as the rsv milles are the best bikes I've owned in over 37 years of biking.

[@dougherbert7899]

I’ve owned 7 of them: ‘77 R100/7, ‘85K100RS, ‘94 R100R Mystic, ‘04 R1200C (sold), ‘08 R1200R, ‘12 R1200R, and ‘13 R1200RT. I do all my own service, the R100/7 has over 100k miles, the ‘08 R1200R has over 80k miles, the R100R and other R1200R both have over 40k. I have nothing but positive things to say, love the performance, love the comfort, have had good luck with reliability.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for sharing your experience Doug. I find this sort of owner feedback to be very valuable.

[@clivegreen7142]

I live in SA and own a BMW GS 1200 that also had the same vibration.. I took it to Bavarian motorcycles in Centurion Pretoria and they removed the front wheel and checked the wheel balancing and found that the rim was slightly bent..it went to a wheel specialist and was repaired, the tyre was refitted and the wheel balanced and refitted...PROBLEM SOLVED..No more vibration.

[@georgeh3778]

I watched your video and appreciate hearing your comments on the two BMWs you owned back in 2010 (R1200RT) and before that (K1300S). I would likely be disappointed in that experience as well. However, my experience has been completely different. My current BMW is a ‘22 R1250 RT and it’s my 15th BMW bike since 1974…..and with 450,000 miles ridden in total. Aside from routine service and tires, and a few minor voluntary recalls, I’ve really had no problems at all. I have NEVER had any of those bikes let me down aside from issues with flat tires or battery. As you say, I have just ridden them and serviced them and that’s it. I’ve had a few other Japanese bikes that have been reliable for sure, but I always felt that they were not even close to being comparable to the quality and capability of BMWs in terms of engineering and performance. I do not think that my experience is either an anomaly or that I was just lucky. The experience that I have had to date with my 15 BMW bikes (so far) has been very consistent with my very high level of expectations.

[@BikesILike]

Great to hear positive BMW ownership experiences George! 👍

[@tedmarakas2626]

George, A decent motorcycle, well engineered and PROPERLY MAINTAINED will last for a very long time. I have a KTM duke 1997 since new, Spaghetti Marelli electrics which are garbage but mechanically the damn thing simply won't die. I have no issues with my Moto Guzzi, Aprilia or my F800ST BMW. However, I go by the book when it comes to Maintenance. I make sure that the valves are adjusted, correct weight and type of oil, plugs, etc.

[@grantbradley5084]

George H, I too have had good luck with my BMW motorcycles with the exception of a fuel pump failure on my 2007 RT, covered under warranty. My 8th BMW is a 2022 1250 RT that I took delivery on last month. I wouldn’t consider any other brand.👍

[@gustavoenriquez1299]

You write about engineering and performance. Most of the models used to use the same air cooled opposed-cylinder boxer engine from 1923 to 2013, which they were forced to change to meet emission demands, impossible to achieve with the old design. I don't think this was high engineering. Nor can I highlight the chassis as a high engineering level element. On the contrary, it always seemed rather basic to me. And about the performance, I do not understand what you mean: Lots of horsepower? Notable fuel economy? It does not seem to me that it stands out for these characteristics. From my experience with GS's, I would say the bike is comfortable and the brand did offer comprehensive solutions before other brands (bags, headlights, customer service, merchandising, etc.) It also has a social connotation that is important to some.

[@michaeldobson8859]

Exactly right. This guy is just a worry wart. Let home love his thruxton and Japanese bikes. He’s happy with substandard design that’s reliable, maybe.

[@hyperchrome8523]

I’ve owned many bikes and also 5 BMW’s. Had problems with only one of them. A K100RS. Many of you may probably think “a WHAT!!!” This bike had issues with the ABS and kept coming back. I’ve run a similar bike with 16-valve’s engine over 100 k/km without any issues. Also the other bikes run fine for more than 50k/km. Sometimes you have to bring a bike in for things you don’t want. A Kawasaki ZZR1400 needed a new frame due to over tightening engine to frame bolts. Today a own a R1250GSA (2021) and it is a great bike. Love the engine and overall performance of the bike. The GS is the most sold bike worldwide The R1200RS and the R1250RS is the most used bike by police in Europe, (don’t know about other areas in the world.) Probably that has a reason. Now 12 years after your bad experience what is in my opinion also, at least for a part the blame of a not so competent dealer you don’t want to buy a BMW again. That fine, buy the bike you want to ride.. but I don’t understand why you made this KZbin for one, it is not very actual. And of course when you sell a lot of units it’s also easy to find someone that can find something bad about them. In assume that in the USA a lot of people bought a Harley Davidson and probably you can find a lot of problems on the web about HD to but you can’t make the conclusion that is bad bike (brand) because some people had a bad experience (12 years ago) But keep riding 👍

[@johnpace7174]

Great video, I agree BMW need to improve on quality control. Sold my 2016 r1200rt to upgrade to twin cam engine but holding off due numerous complaints from other riders of same bike. My '09 gs on the other hand has been flawless. Shaun Smoakes produce fantastic videos, great to watch every single day!

[@mariusverwey2125]

From South Africa, own a 2009 R1200GS, yes expensive to maintain, but if I can get a motorcycle with a shaft drive, I'll buy it. Chain drive for me, is just a constant pain to keep clean and maintain. Have own a couple of bikes, but this one is the nicest.

[@iskinmind7020]

I ride an FJR 1300A, a 2009 model. 50000km on the clock, still rides like new. My neighbor has an Africa Twin and a GS650. He had to take apart the BMW 3 times now in the span of 5 years. Africa (despite being about 30 years old) still runs no problem and he uses it for any long distance travel instead of the BMW. If that is not a perfect example of a qualitative difference, I do not know what is.

[@chrishart8548]

Taking a bike apart 3 times in 5 years is not normal. That's not bmw That's a problem bike.

[@iskinmind7020]

@@chrishart8548 It might be more problematic on average than the rest of BMWs, but it would be foolish not to admit that BMW are very problematic bikes in general past a certain age. If someone is getting a brand new bike and sells it after warranty expires, then there is no problem for that particular individual. But this brand does not inspire long term usage (or second hand market for that matter). There are exceptions to that, like the R1100RT and its variations, but these are rare and far between.

[@NICK-uy3nl]

Having worked with BMW Motorrad engineering in Munich Germany, they like to try new innovations and technologies, it is their corporate philosophy, and with that comes certain service and reliability requirements. IF rock-solid reliability is your main objective, then traditional Japanese brands may be a better choice.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

This is the reason I can’t bring myself to buy a BMW. My top priority is reliability, followed closing by ease of maintenance. I loved my Victory Cross Country Tour for those reasons. The rest of my bikes have been Japanese, with no regrets.

[@frosty3693]

The early K bikes had issues with the rings, when the bike was left on the sidestand (I don't know why they designed it so the engine was upside down when on the side stand???) oil would seep past the rings into the combustion chamber and they would smoke for a while when first started up. I guess you missed the great rear shock shaft debacle where for about a year wait you could not ride your bike until they made new shocks, or you could trade your bike in for a different bike or get your money back. Another person had a new R1250 GS that just quit. He called the dealer and they told him it was a code problem. Something, not critical, was sending error codes to the system and when the cashe filled up the engine would shut down. Fortunately he had a CAN 911 module he could plug in and clear the cashe and ride the bike until he could get it to the dealer. I do not have a BMW dealer near me (140km away) but I get a very bad "vibe" when I have gone there. It is one of those places you would expect to see a card reader lock on the front door so to get in you would have to swipe your credit card to see if your credit limit was high enough to be worth their bother. I would have thought the high price of the BMW would have meant the products were sorted from the start. But apparently BMW keeps making "improvments" and use the owners as "beta testers".

[@michaelmclarney1994]

I was looking at a used 1250 gs this afternoon. Chatting with the dealer he was saying anything approaching 8 to 10 years old is considered old! I also mentioned the shaft drive issues on BMW bikes that get changed under warranty at about 40,000 miles and his reply shocked me. He said that we don't change that many because most bikes are knackered by then and how many people do that kind of mileage on their bikes! I rattled off the list of Japanese bikes I have owned and done well over 60k on them with just oil, filters and valve clearance checks and not missed a beat! Its making me think Africa Twin is the way to go!

[@Speedytrip]

I've owned 2 africa twins, great bikes, but I hate the valve check schedule. Unless you do it yourself, it will cost you about 1000$ every 24000km.

[@tomelder2358]

That dealer was grooming you for a new bike. :-)

[@Speedytrip]

I've shopped for used 1200GSs many times, and every time I changed my mind because of how many I was seeing that had the clutch and driveshaft replaced at around 100000km (google that to see what it looks like you basically split the bike in half for the clutch (on the 1200GS) and the drive shaft can be a 3000$ job, no to mention very expensive ABS modules that fail on older BMW and are also ridiculously expensive to replace. So you might buy a used one for 5000$ and end up paying 5000$ in repairs. The best is to buy a low mileage one, or one that's been over 100000km but that has had everything done already. Engines will last forever, it's everything around it that will cost you.

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@Speedytrip thanks for your input, what you say makes great sense. I'm coming around to Yamaha XT mid size bikes or an Africa Twin as the favourites. As much as I like BMW GS, unless I can find one as you say I'm not prepared to have to save up for repairs. Thanks again 👍

[@AnalogDude_]

Maybe try a BMW R nineT, seems like a stunning bike with awesome noise, DOHC and pretty basic the rest. What makes BMW cool is the parts catalog and easy to find parts if you know the number. There is a BMW promotional video about the R1100RS from 1993 (past, present, future), it toke 4 years to make the new boxer/telelever platform and it shows how they tested all, even going offroad leaving the test tracks with laptops on the tank and case support on the back. The problem could be the attitude of workers for whatever reason making the parts, some are sourced outside. parts/cars made on Monday morning after the weekend is also a very old saying.

[@andrewshore262]

Interesting watch / listen not to mention the complete absence of other road users (I live in South East England), ride a 4 year old V Strom 1000 and yes it’s a budget machine but I kind of know I’ll reach my destination and it’s relatively easy to service etc. So the design is spot on, that said, the materials aren’t the best so you’ll need a really good and regular cleaning regime if you want the thing to last. I reckon it’s a lottery regarding European bikes, you get the very best but if it’s plagued with issues what’s the bloody point……then again you might get lucky and bag yourself a winner. No doubt they look the best and ride the best, but I’m not sure I’d trade that for perceived unreliability, plus they cost big bucks.

[@charleschilders6388]

You absolutely nailed it. I have settled on the 2020 HD Road Glide. After 16k miles, I have had no breakdowns, recalls, or surprises. I would prefer a 2022 K1600 LT but I don’t trust the quality. A dealer is 3 hours away so any annoyance would be a problem. The Harley M8 engine some birth pangs but now reliable and cheap to operate daily. But I still want the BMW. A little crazy?

[@BikesILike]

BMW's will always be desirable motorcycles, your feelings are understandable. I'd happily buy a Harley M8 model as I rate them well for reliability. 👍

[@duanesmith5074]

You switched to HD because of its reliability wow first ever

[@charleschilders6388]

@@duanesmith5074 If Harley owners could just leave their engines, exhausts, and software alone, they would be amazed at the durability. Mechanical engineering is not as simple as bore this, open that, and redesign the other as some advertise.

[@duanesmith5074]

@@charleschilders6388 It has a Harley rider with 450000 miles on money harley's you couldn't be more wrong . Lots of maintenance lots of problems with the old air cooled motor design.

[@wtr948]

2004 was the end of an era for BMW. At this point the bean counters took the company over and quality and design suffered. They are fantastic performers....when they are running. Too expensive to maintain and own.

[@anonimous2451]

Bean Counters nearly collapsed Toyota back in the day. When management starts listening to them instead of the Marketplace and Customers, it always wrecks the spine of the company.

[@platoon1081]

BMW = "Bring Money With"

[@The_Touring_Jedi]

​@@platoon1081 😂😂😂 Correct...

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

@@platoon1081 actually Buy More Warranty

[@macalacalan1175]

I’ve never come across a motorcycle channel (and I’ve viewed a lot) where the comments are so considered and detailed.

[@BikesILike]

I know I'm blessed! I don't delete comments either unless they're scams or malicious as I don't mind people having their say... even if they disagree with me. But I will block someone who is particularly antagonizing or annoying. Over the last few years that's happened maybe 3 times?

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Thanks for sharing your story. I get it. In terms of ride and performance BMWs are on the top. :) Otherwise... on the other hand the story is a lot different. I mean... you can have a lot of problems or none of them but... when you are about to buy a bike, usually you always pick the one you trust as a brand. If you cannot trust a brand, you are not gonna buy it anymore. :) This is just my opinion.

[@geoffmclain2206]

I got rid of my BMW K100 because just to grease the driveshaft components (splines) you had to take the whole rear end apart. I bought an old (1977) Honda GL1000 .......it has grease zirks to grease all the spline on that driveshaft. So much happier with my ancient Goldwing.

[@motozest7856]

So, to summarize: you've had 2 BMWs, one of them was perfect (vibey handlebar notwithstanding, which is obviously something you get on any inline 4) and the other one gave you ONE reliability problem in 25.000km of ownership (the throttle body f*ck up was obviously the result of dealership incompetence). And now, 10 years on, you're still afraid of getting another BMW because of their reliability. Am I getting this right?

[@BikesILike]

That and the constant recalls I seen over the years across the BMW model lineup including gearbox rebuilds on the K series even to this day. And now with all the comments I've seen from the viewers right here on the problems they've had, I am even more "afraid" (to use your terminology)

[@motozest7856]

@@BikesILike You do realize people mainly comment when things go wrong and seldom report amazing experiences, right? And that you'll find horror stories with every single brand, right?

[@BikesILike]

@@motozest7856 Yes. Some more than others

[@ricardolourizela5961]

Only reasonable comment in this whole comment section!

[@bernibeckmann9753]

I have an old BMW airhead(which is great for a classic) but just through hanging around motorcyclists my whole life and reading/watching online I would not buy a brand new BMW. Why take a chance at the price when you know a big part of the price is manufacturer legacy costs? They have to cut somewhere to be competitive. Feel the same about H-D and KTM. Spoiled by Japanese bikes love me long time.

[@stephanM5]

BMW is an acronym for Bring More Wrenches or Break My Wallet. They design everything they build with the idea that it is a privilege and an honor for your car or bike to continuously be in the shop to get repaired.

[@markkeyser]

I've had 4 BMWs beginning with an old K75 ending with an R1100RT and found that while the prices went up the quality slowly went down to the point that I've gone back to Japanese bikes. Dependability it paramount to me - I despise being stranded. I've found the same quality issues with German cars, primarily VW. My first one was a '57 Beetle. The last one was a 2017 Beetle. Again, the prices went up and the quality went down. We've now got a Subaru and a Toyota.

[@franciscotoro9454]

Pity you had such a bad experience with the R1200 RT. I first rode a boxer back in 1970, as a 12 year-old passenger and fell in love with it. I bought an R1200R in 2001 and traded it for an RT in 2007. I have put around 55000Km without an issue, considering it spends about 5 months of the year stored at between -10 and -30 C (I live in Canada). I did have to replace the clutch at around 25000Km but that was my fault as I burned it (long story). I did the work myself and was incredibly straightforward, if a bit long to do. Regarding the dealers, I have also had excellent experience with both of the local ones. I have two colleagues who also own BMWs and their experience is very similar to mine, high KMs and no issues. It does happen that once in a while a bike ends up being built poorly or some components are not up to snuff.

[@samawee]

Sorry for your experience with BMW Bikes, However, my experience has been completely different. I owned my first BMW bike back in 2011 (K1600GTL) & bought another one in 2012 (F800GS) & another one in 2015 (R1200R). As of today, I'm still a happy owner of the 3 of them & thinking to go for R18. I can say that I'm Very satisfied with BMW motorrad products and service.

[@TwoHemiViewer]

I had a K1200GT and had huge problems, leaks - fork seals, rear main seal, clutch slave cylinder which lead to new clutch, diff pinion seal and other assorted issues. In a nut shell I will never buy another BMW.

[@rosewood1]

Great well considered review. I have a 2012 BMW R1200R Classic since almost new and an Indian Springfield since new. I absolutely love my BMW and just couldn't bear to sell it. It's an incredible very versatile hot rod. However it's very complex and a really skilled mechanic is essential also for my safety so it only goes to really good workshops. My Indian is electronically complicated but it's not sophisticated like the BMW. It isn't as well made either in some areas. But the Indian has been very reliable although getting good service is more difficult now than it used to be with the dealership closures. Finding good service for the BMW is in fact easier. Very different bikes. I will have to rebaseline my BMW when I start riding it again to simply know that it's all good. This won't be cheap.

[@mowler8042]

I bought a 2017 BMW R9T it's 7 years in and I've had zero issues, super fun bike will buy bmw again.

[@robertbates1079]

I've been riding bikes for over 35 years ,Japanese and have never had much trouble . Few years back after reading all the rave reviews of bmw rt 's , I was looked to purchase a 2nd hand one . First test ride , broke down ,dodgy fuel gauge, 2nd bike I looked at the screen wouldn't adjust , switchgear common prob or motor £1000 was quoted , then abs light came on .... bought a gtr1400, and now a v strom ,both 100 %reliable over last 6 years. You are paying for the snob badge .

[@georgeh3778]

No, I’m not paying for a “snob badge”. Thats a ridiculous and uninformed comment and I think it’s a little presumptuous of you to say that, especially since you have never even owned a BMW and you only test rode a couple of used bikes (apparently in poor condition) a few years back and that tells me nothing really. It hardly puts you in a position to make a blanket characterization of the Brand. Your comments would be like me characterizing all Japanese bikes in a negative light, but I wouldn’t do that because I DON’T think that. They are what they are and if what you have works for you then that’s great.

[@robertbates1079]

@@georgeh3778 thats a fair comment and your opinion, I was giving my opinion, I was a member of a gs /rt owners group , boy how lots of them moaned about the servicing costs and warranty claims 🙄. But it was several years ago ,and maybe they are more reliable these days hey.

[@robertfetty7001]

Never heard of anybody having much trouble with BMW BIKES

[@grahamrankin5557]

Thank you for your thoughts and experience with your 2 BMW bikes. I'm an old (77) bikie from way back and have had all sorts of bikes viz. NSU, Adler, Jawa, Honda, Yamaha, Montesa to name a few, but in 2007 I bought an R1200GS new, and a mate of mine did the same. We rode together on some planned trips but then my mate had to sell his bike and I was left with mine. I was still riding it when the ABS stopped working, and this was before it had done 10,000km. The long and short was that hydraulic fluid from the brake system had leaked into the ABS computer requiring its replacement, but by this time it was out of time warranty, not distance. BMW wouldn't replace it fully but discounted the replacement cost of the computer card. Not long after, the electric fuel pump stopped working and had to be replaced. Also, during this period, I had to return the bike for a recall to have the rear hub replaced due to fears of cracks developing. By this time, I'd had enough and sold the bike. I never had any such problems with any of my previous (new) bikes, and to say I was disappointed is an understatement. Thank you again for your story.

[@R90scj]

After working decades on several friends older BMW's up to 76, test rode newer BMW's up to 2020 with zero interest of BMW's of 1977 and newer. Only four in the collection that have been trouble free and self maintained. Smallest, 66 R27 a hoot to ride, 70 R75/5 feeling of old classic charm and controls, 75 R90/6 a great highway bike after installing a taller rear drive, last a Daytona Orange 76 R90s with optional taller rear drive that enjoys eating the miles. Simple by choice, easy to maintain not requiring removing a lot of plastic panels. I'd rather own a 91 1000s Moto Guzzi as carbs never stranded me over decades, vs newer BMW's like the out of sync cable linkage on fuel injection friends complained about, I got stuck correcting. If a bike requires dealership attention to maintain, trouble shoot or repair vs DIY I wouldn't own it. .....~~=o&o>......

[@seniorrider9337]

@@R90scj I am with you on the complexity of the new BMW bikes, actually all the new bikes are like that with all the computer controls. If it breaks down, your only option usually is a call for a pick up and transport to the nearest bike shop. That Orange 76 R90 S was my dream bike, but it costs what I was making in a year back then in the Navy. I could buy 4 RD 350's for what the R90 S cost. Love riding, but only have a few years left that I will be able to enjoy doing so. At 74 I will just stick with my reliable 97 Yamaha 1100 Virago. It is not fast, but has a lot of low down torque. Just what I need as I am not fast any more either. Ride safe, ride home.

[@your_royal_highness]

In the past 6-7 years, all I have owned are BMW’s. Current steed is a R1250RS. I had the K1300GT sport tourer and was GREAT on the road. I have generally put bar end weights on my bikes and they generally work. Their bikes are more expensive to maintain than many brands. Both of the above mentioned bikes are and were great sport tourers. RT has a bit more weight than the RS.

[@Propelled]

I put Fasstflex 15° bars on my Super Tenere. No more hand numbness or neck issues. Made all the difference in the world.

[@GammelKong]

Some years back I bought a brand-new BMW K1100RS and except for the horrid oil consumption which BMW told me was inherent in the design of the inline four lying on its side, I liked the bike very much. That was until the dry clutch wore out from playing in the California canyon twisties. As an engineer who financed his engineering degree by working as a mechanic I decided that I was perfectly qualified to replace the clutch myself. I got ahold of the BMW maintenance manual to read over the clutch replacement procedure. I read as far as the SIXTH mention of still another expensive special BMW tool required to essentially remove the entire back half of the motorcycle to get at the clutch assembly, and I threw the book down in disgust. I took the bike to the BMW dealer and threw my credit card at them. 1500 US Dollars later I got the bike back with a brand-new clutch. I immediately sold the bike and have never owned a BMW since. Please don't anyone tell me how privileged I am to own a high-priced piece of crap with inherent and hideously expensive design flaws. I agree with you - buy a quality bike, service it and ride it. I own four Aprilia motorcycles and a Honda, and NONE of them have given me any problems. I still giggle that the Italians do a better job than the Germans.

[@toddstidham8374]

Sad to hear about that rear shock. My '78 Yamaha XS400 still has the original rear shocks with almost 16,000 miles on them (and 45 years) and they still work great and no leaks!

[@mmaaddict78]

I love the oil cooled boxer engine. So easy to work on(unless you have to do the clutch) and very reliable. The engine also has a charming character to it.

[@BikesILike]

The thought of having a classic old beemer sitting in the garage is quite appealing.

[@mmm4638]

Indeed just had one done head to toe and she's ready to go

[@allanhughes7859]

Could not dissagree more a pile of crap in my humble opinion Just like the old Land Rover we all love them but if the truth were said they are also a pile of crap Toyota or Honda is the only way if you dont want a heart attack !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@h.l.3628]

For me reliability is the number one priority. When owning cars, motorcycles, boats, computers and all kind of stuff it is crusial that my time is not spent on complaining or repairing broken "toys". Therefore I went for a Tenere 700 last year. A plain and simple back to basic mc with a well known engine. So far no trouble what so ever (6000 km). Crossing my fingers...

[@kennethwalton5582]

WOW, you’ve definitely brought up some major things to think about. Thanks for expressing your thoughts and experiences.

[@raycollington4310]

Agree 100% with you. IMO BMW quality is dire and the Chinese Loncin engine range are so uninspiring. The older boxers were beautiful engined bikes but those days of quality materials are long gone. I'll stick with Japanese bikes now.

[@georgeh3778]

Don’t understand the “quality is dire” comment. BMWs are known and respected for their ability to perform for hundreds of thousands of miles. Sorry, but the Japanese bikes just won’t do that. Even if they would, parts aren’t available for more than 7 or so years unless you are lucky enough to find them as new old stock. Not saying the Japanese bikes are not any good, but they’re not designed to last for 50, 60, 70+ years like BMWs are. You can still easily buy a 50 year old BMW bike and it will still be worth something 50+ years from now and parts will be available. Can’t do that with a Honda.

[@raycollington4310]

@@georgeh3778 There is plenty of evidence of early BMW product engine failures as result of them fitting very low quality components (timing chains, guides etc) US , UK and European consumer protection groups have plenty of online data freely available that does not read well for them. I have personal experience of this, they shafted me once, I'm not going back for more. Well done to you if you've not yet been a victim. Munich needs to treat its customers with respect and ensure only quality parts are fitted. Alternatively, if they get it wrong, as everyone does, give some commercial support.

[@jake88ci]

@@raycollington4310 Yamaha R1 has had 10,000+ engine and transmission failures = That evidence The Honda cbr 1000RRR ecu burning out , the bike runs so hot it melts oil cooler lines , 2020 model recalled for bad connecting rods ..the bike is a lemon .

[@maxflight777]

Ray , are you a “ retro “ kind of guy 😂….. The Japanese have failed to develop their bikes. They don’t even make a bike that can compete with an RT or GS ! Your post is ridiculous, was it meant as humour ?

[@georgeh3778]

@@raycollington4310 how has the “plenty of evidence of BMW product engine failures”managed to slip by all the owners who have acquired and operated their new and classic BMW bikes for so many years? You say “they shafted me once” and I’m not sure what that means but it does tell me that you have very limited experience with BMWs and you probably lack any significant experience with BMWs. As an owner of 15 BMW bikes for going on 50 years of pretty much trouble free service I’m just not buying your biased and apparently uninformed characterizations . My experience is not unique and I’m not just lucky either. There are far too many very satisfied BMW owners out there (spanning a VERY long period of time) for your blanket statements have any basis.

[@yair1956]

..so with one Bike that gave you hard time you made a decision. Interesting .... let me tell you my experience which is a bit more extensive with BMW, since 1978 I ride only BMW, the hell if i know how many miles I logged, over 3 continents, all kind of terrain & weather, currently on 2017 R1200GSA Triple Black (last May run the Conti divide, my friend, 2016 KTM 1190 that just fell apart ) and this is my 4th GSA since 2010, well, had to admit my 09 GSA to a recall, but other than that not even one hiccups, never let me down, perfect score, and this is why I do buy BMW

[@nigelkite5388]

Thanks for that. I have had an experience of owning a GS1200 , Bloody fantastic bike but due to my age and the time I might have left I thought to get my dream bike a K1600 GTL. Well the bike was fantastic. But due to the riding I did on back roads in WA the rear suspension was just not good enough . So I sold it back to BMW and got a new R1250 GSA . So far have not been happier. But in relation to your comments I brought a Jeep Grand Cherokee 3 litre Diesel. Was told it was a mistake etc. Saw so many bad reviews but ours never missed a beat. So from my view we all might get a bad egg once and a while but in general they are good.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Nigel! My Jeep experience extends to my daughter in law. She bought a Cherokee and I had to deal with the problems she had. When they started talking repair costs running into the many thousands of dollars on the last issue she had I advised her to sell the car. She bought a Toyota Rav 4. Great to hear you've had trouble free motoring from yours! 👍

[@MostlyInteresting]

That diesel jeep is something we never got in the states...sadly.

[@minorityofone1510]

I would not consider buying any bike that requires a dealer visit to merely change the oil (reset the service light). BMWs are these days far too expensive and the GS range look much to lardy for me and I am 6ft and not skinny. I will stick to Japanese bikes!

[@burkestorti4586]

I started motorcycle riding in 1968. It seems modern bikes are much more complicated. More things to adjust & malfunction. Also I finally settled into riding mid size bikes because I realized that I will never have the fastest bike. I'm 74 & mixing with cars on the road seems much more dangerous now.

[@chevinbarghest8453]

I am 74 and you are a young sprog ! I sold my Kawasaki 1000 SX sports tourer (145bhp sit up) 18 months ago. I am a displaced Englishman living in Wisconsin and it's too chuffin hot in Summer (95F) and too cold in Winter 62 degrees below freezing F... In addition, the American idea of a biker is a strutting obese tattooed thug and that isn't me... So no stopping at biker halts. To cap it off the roads are 'grid pattern' with few bends or hills. Boring with only a few darting deer to spice it up. So personal circumstances and location and culture is what it's all about.. I spend my time fettling the cars and tractor now.. I passed my bike tests in Harrogate UK in 1963 and Tampa USA in 2008... Kawasaki is high tech and ACE ! My cars are Toyota ONLY !

[@burkestorti4586]

@@chevinbarghest8453 My other passion was bicycling. Starting in 1980, I started cycle touring & every year I'd go someplace with my touring bicycle. My longest tour was 5 weeks in Italy when I was 50. Interspersed with "push" biking, I did some "motor" biking. I've owned several motorcycle since 1968 ranging from Yamaha DT1 250 Enduro to a Honda V-65 Sabre. I live in central California near San Francisco. I enjoyed cycling the twisting mountain roads on the peninsula south of SF. I now live 100k East of SF where the roads are straight & boring. On the big Honda, I went south to the Mexico border, east into Nevada & north into BC Canada (mid 1980's). In 2008 I drove my Volvo V50 in Europe for 6 weeks.

[@chevinbarghest8453]

@@burkestorti4586 Yeah you are a biker and you have been bitten. I think I have conquered the desire but only coz of the boring roads and extreme climates in Wisconsin. When I lived in Northern England I used to do Western Scotland in a long weekend ! I toured the South of France (Nice/Monaco) via France/Belgium/Germany/ Switzerland/France again via the Alps and the biking was fabulous... I washed my underwear out in the restrooms and dried them by fastening them to a piece of string and trailing it behind the bike at 90mph... I thought "push biking" was an English term? Best all round bike I had was the Kawasaki SX1000. Sit up riding position plus 145hp. HALF the weight of a Harley and HALF the price and DOUBLE the power.... and 150mph...and beautiful aluminum frame

[@burkestorti4586]

@@chevinbarghest8453 In 1988 I did a 4 week bicycle tour of New Zealand. That is where I learned the term "Push Bike". In 1993 I toured the Alps on my bicycle. On week ends there, I had to dodge crazy motor bikes!

[@chevinbarghest8453]

@@burkestorti4586 Excellent ! I did NZ around 1999... Crappy hire car 25 years old kept breaking down.. So did my watch and its on the sea bed at Rangiototo island. After 14 years in the US I have to translate my brain into American ever day. "push bikes" are "pedal cycles" plaster board is dry wall...Spanners are wrenches, boots are trunks and bonnets are hoods.. Electric is up for ON not down and the hot water is the left tap (faucet) not the right..... Then there is the cultural.......laughing at weird names is a definite non-no in the US coz everyone has one (except me)... I mean ....Mrs Hickenlooper ? Whats wrong with Anglo-Saxon 'Sidebottom' or Siddybotham if you are posh ?

[@parans95]

Title of the video should be: 'I'm a sensible man therefore no BMW for me'

[@kawabungah20]

I appreciate your commentary and find that your BMW experiences align with my observations of fellow riders who owned BMWs in the past. I've had a good experience with my Harley-Davidson ElectraGlide which I bought new in 1994. It now shows 100,000+ miles on the odometer with only routine maintenance in it's history. However, compared to BMWs and most modern bikes, it is a very simple machine with a carburetor, push rods and a kevlar belt for final drive. Now I want a new bike that will perform better on gravel and dirt roads. I just bought a Kawi KLR650 as a "primer" off-road tourer, and I have been really interested in the BMW 1250 GSA. However, maybe the Pan America might be worth looking at - even though I'm not certain Harley has the bugs worked out of the design. Of course there's always the reliable Africa Twin or T700. can you buy a Yamaha T7 World Raid model where you live? We can't get them yet in California. Thanks again for your very interesting video.

[@jakecrib9971]

Kent, no offense , but Harley's are an American disappointment to me. Are theyAmerican made? No ! Mexico and other countries supply a lot of their parts these days. One thing I learned from my 2006 Harley Deuce is that you can just breath on Harleys chrome parts and they pit and rust., also, I have a brother-in-law that bought an '07 Deuce after seeing and riding mine, and his clutch shaft bearing went out at 15K mi. Unbelievable ! Never another Harley for me. Kawasaki ? Now Honda, there's a great bike, as well as Yamaha, and Suzuki. I feel you can't go wrong with any of them, but , I am 69 yrs old and have been riding for 56 yrs in the dirt, dual sport, and the road. I have owned about everything out there, British, i.e., Triumph, Norton, BSA, German, Japanese, Bultaco's from Spain, and even Hodaka's. I have ridden Ducati's, and Moto Guzzi's. I am now on my fourth BMW and have found what I consider the, B.est M.ototrcycle in the W.orld. That is BMW ! From their liquid cooled four cylinders to the air cooled boxer engine, I've loved and been impressed with them all. To me no one builds a better bike than BMW.

[@my.motorrad]

I took a test ride on the PA. It has the beans for sure, but it had oddities for me, but I am an outlier. I needed to lower the pegs and the windscreen was nearly useless, but I'm 6'5. I think the M8 engines are pretty reliable. I might buy a HD before I would buy a BMW again. The might is because of the tribal non-sense that goes along with it. I am not tribal about much if anything.

[@Brough1111]

Yeah i pulled up next to a guy and asked how you like your R1200RT he started his rant i dont remember everything he said but i remember him saying the windshield brackets broke at 75 mph and it was a good thing he had a full coverage helmet on or the shield would of knocked me out, the boxer oil/air head is a brilliant concept like the Pazer five at Kursck but like the pazer it fails because of all the bugs

[@peterryan7827]

Loved your video thanks for posting it, I'm somewhat off track here but i was amazed at the roads you were on, and the fact that you could drive so far without the smallest village or shopping center, having never been on a trip to Australia, as a brit on the roads we are so used to being constantly passing through small towns or villages , As for the BMW bike stories ,it must be simply heartbreaking ,when like us here we assume everything german is the best thing since sliced bread ,anyway thanks again,BFN from the uk,

[@BikesILike]

Thanks Peter! Yeah I've met overseas travellers travelling here for the first time and they are amazed at how spread out everything is. It's a big country for sure.

[@MaxFromSydney1]

@peter ryan, Don’t think all Aussie country roads are gun-barrel straight. There are lots of roads that are much better than this! I wouldn’t buy a motorcycle if this was all there was to ride! Lol.

[@peterryan7827]

@@MaxFromSydney1 many thanks for your reply, I really should have made a trip over there to oz, I think what put me off is simply that flight time, but i love hearing all about it from people like yourself, anyway getting back to bikes i have had one fairly recently, but i am 74 and thought it was time to pack it in. but thanks so much for your message,.

[@jakecrib9971]

Don't take one man's experience as The Gospel. There is a lemon or defective mechanical product in everything manmade. I have owned four BMW motorcycles and am still with my fourth, and have had nothing but excellent service from them all, whether liquid cooled four cylinder models or Two cylinder Boxer engine models, they've all been excellent. Nothing unusual or abnormal. Just stick the key in, hit the starter button , and ride, period !

[@gunshipgray4295]

Buy a Harley….

[@johnesson893]

Thanks for that. I bought my 2001 R1100S in 2008 with only 15 k on the clock and soon after BMW found crown bearing issues upon first service with them. Bad start because i loved the bike by then and just forked out to have it fixed after some more refitting drama there. I now do everything mechanically myself (no abs) and in 2022 I couldn't be happier with never another issue, notwithstanding bar risers and footpeg mods bought to get my 64 year old body more upright. Now looking at the 1250gs too but will keep this 1100 as long as I have space to house it

[@michaelmarshall2958]

K1200s and k1300s motorsport also R1200s Bar risers on the R1200s not on both k bikes turning 66 shortly ride all of them frequently

[@jeffhildreth9244]

An excellent, concise, lucid, well presented video. Here is why I no longer buy BMW motorcycles having owned 15 of them dating from 1965 to 1990. I will also disclose I worked for BMW of No America ( the factory.. not a dealership). I was Field Management Training Manager responsible for the North West US and Western Canada in 1982. At that time the company was small and everyone knew everyone else and it was more of a happy club than a corporate machine. I left because of the excessive travel and went on to working for Mercedes Benz of No America. On my list of bikes.. 65 R69S, 1968 R69s, 1989 R69US, 1971 R60/5, 1987 R65 single swing arm, 1974 R100RS, 1986 PAris Dakar, and the final bike that broke the Camel's back. BTW I did the majority of servicing and repairs to all of my bikes excepting the R80GS Dakar and the 1990 R100GS Bumble Bee. The DAkar was a fabulous bike , a joy to own and ride, it had one warranty failing, a front brake decided to quit operating at about 1000 miles. Returned to dealer and repaired. Stupidly when the 100GS came out I thought I had to have more power ( contrary to my life long enjoyment of 600 CCs or less being my favorites) I sold the R80GS Dakar and bought the 100 BumbleBee. It was rough running for the first 1000 miles andwhen taken to the deale rfor its first service I mentioned the choppy running.. They said the service would take care of that. It did not. It still was rough at all speeds and at Idle it was wretched. About as shaky as my 71 Norton drum braker Commando bought new. The differenc ewas the Norton woudl smooth out and go like hell.. the BMW did not. After 3 trips to the dealer I decided to have another dealer look at it. They had it for 2 weeks. When finished and returned to me they gave me some weasel words as to what they fixed. No, it was not fixed. I called BMW "consumer" service ( no longer customer service) they blew me off and said go to the dealer. I went to another dealer BCW in SF. By this time the situation had gotten worse. They had it for a week and returned it. Yes, it was different. Now it got roughly 30 miles per gallon and burned out the head pipes. I took it back to the selling dealer. He replaced the head pipes. We did this twice in another 1000 miles. Seemed a little better but this is not a bike I would consider living up to BMWs historical reputation and tradition. We are now up to its next service. Up to this point I had not taken the bike out on the road on any long trips. It still shook and got lousy fuel mileage. I took it on a 600 mile trip. Three failures. The rear brake quit entirely and it had a death wobble at anything over 60 miles per hour. I nursed it back home. Took the bike to the dealership and gave him my list and informed him that I would not accept the bike back until everything was corrected. I also said that I wanted him to contact the field service rep and I was simultaneously going to call BMW Corp "consumer service" . My call to BMW... The robotic woman who answered the phone may just as well have been working for a company producing lampshades or veeblefetzers. No nicey nicey, no greeting just an attitude of "how fast can I get rid of this person". Consumer service ( they were no longer "customer service" ) answered the phone with the same enthusiasm as MS Grouch.After I explained my situation, she said I should call the dealer and have them involved. She was not listening and failed to accept that several times I had to tell her the bike was at the dealership. I then asked to speak to the Customer Service Manager and explained I was a former BMW employee, and knew and worked with this person. She abruptly said " Mr XXXXX is not in a customer facing position, you will have to go to your dealer." I did go to the dealer , I finally reached my no more Mr Nice Guy position, we are now adversaries. I demanded immediate resolution. A couple weeks passed by (luckily I had my R60/5 to ride) and I got a call and the bike was ready. The shake was slightly diminished, the death wobble was minimized a bit but uncontrollable and unacceptable. It had some new components and scratches where there were none and grease in places it did not belong and the bike was dirty.. no one took the time to clean it up before returning it to me. The headlight did not work and a tire had been replaced that did not match the original. I waited while they fixed the headlight and put on a matching tire. More weasel words. Enough. I sold the bike at a great loss. No more BMWS... the bikes and the company were far too much alike my experiences with 2 new Moto Guzzi LeMans... I will never dealer with them ( PIAGGIO) again. Imagine BMW on par with an Italian bike company . I have another story of a German BMW rider who bought the same bike in Germany, had it outfitted by his selling dealer to take a trip from New York, up to and across Canada and then on to Alaska. I met him in the Inyo National Park/Forest in 1992... He told me the story approximating my experiences which caused him the loss of his 90 day vacation and his complete and utter disgust with BMW at all levels. He never completed the trip. He was stranded in Alaska on the Alcan. He flew back to Germany. The bike was shipped back and repaired in Germany. He waited another year and completed the trip on a Kawasaki KLR which he deemed flawless after many thousands of miles. Were I to buy a new bike I would consider Triumph or Japanese made in Japan.

[@BikesILike]

Thanks for sharing your experience Jeff! I read every word. Unfortunately your story, like mine has been repeated far too often in this comments section. There are a good proportion reporting trouble free running, which is great to hear. At least some people are getting the experience they paid for. The goal of my video was to purely share my experience and explain why I don't buy BMW's as I get them recommended to me often. But the overwhelmingly strong response to this video has revealed their is indeed a greater underlying problem with build quality/testing and customer service that BMW really needs to address, in my opinion. The ratio of bad to good is just too great from what I'm seeing here. Hopefully rational heads at BMW will someday read what is being reported here and take steps to steer the ship in the right direction. Your experiences would have been particularly stressing for me and a sad way to end your love for the BMW motorcycles you'd owned. Thanks again for sharing Jeff.

[@RoeyHaviv]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I considered the k1300 when shopping but went for a VFR1200F, I own a BMW X1 and its been very reliable but when something does need to get repaired it’s very difficult to DIY and expensive to have it done. I’m enjoying the Honda very much.

[@BikesILike]

I actually considered and test rode the VFR1200F when I bought the K1300S. It seems we were both on the same page. 😉

[@edwardroberts8761]

I don't like the clunky gearbox and torque reaction in town. But on the road they're OK.

[@stevelawrie9115]

I have been riding my K1300S since 2014. It has always had great experiences with this bike, it's done almost 140,000kms now. There are better dealerships than others, the last one charged $1100aud for it's 130,000 service, fair enough. Three weeks later I pulled over because the temperature was running really high. Fluid was running everywhere. It turns out that the thermostat had seized, something I would have thought they'd picked up on the big service. This cost $750aud. Apparently, according to the dealer, there have been some other expensive jobs that need to be done on the bike, some that I have decided to take to auto electricians, etc that have costed one tenth of the cost quoted buy the BMW dealer. I don't know, the K1300S might be running too well, so there's no real need to buy another one and they've decided to try to drag a new bike out of the old one? Really disappointed with BMW, until recently, I thought they were the best.

[@lucsmeets4789]

Do you experience vibrations at 4000 revs on your K1300S? I didn’t have that issue.

[@stevelawrie9115]

@@lucsmeets4789 Nah, after a while it settles down. They do a few things that may raise an eyebrow but it's nothing to worry about. On a cold morning the cam chain has a quick rattle on start up. It takes a second for the oil to kick in. For the uninitiated it can be concerning but it's really nothing to worry about. Just be careful starting on winter mornings.

[@hankgs]

Opinions are like @ssholes, everyone has one.... That being said, I currently ride a WC 2016 BMW GSA... I've put 30K hard and fast miles on it, but I miss my 2002 R1150GS- (I've had 8 GS models over 25 years) I will be selling this Water Cooled version and searching for another '02 GS- Best bike I've EVER owned...

[@Star-ty1nx]

Thanks for your video and comments. However, I’m surprised that you experienced handlebar grips vibrations with the K1300S. In 2008 I bought a brand new R1200RT and my main complaint with it was vibration in the grips, especially at ~4000 rpm. One day I drove to a BMW dealer to test drive the new K1300S. The K-Bike 4-cylinder engine was so smooth (no vibrations) and responsive I became so fascinated by the bike that I asked the dealer to make me an offer for my 6-month-old RT and I would be buying the K1300S on the spot. The dealer was not willing to give an acceptable deal on my RT and I walked away. I kept it for almost 5 years without any issues. However, upon selling it and while the new buyer was riding it to his home the rear drive failed. Luckily for him and me, I had bought an extended 5-year warranty which was transferable, and it covered the rear drive replacement. After selling the RT I assumed that I would be done with motorcycling. After a lapse of ~ 8 years I studently got hit by the motorcycle bug and purchased a 2021 R1250GSA (40-year paint scheme) with all options for the US market. So far I’m very happy with the bike, and yes I still feel slight vibrations in the handlebar grips, but nothing to compare to what I was experiencing with the 2008 RT. I have fitted the OEM grips with Neoprene Beemer Buddies Grips which almost attenuated all the vibration. I think at the age of 73 this will be my last big toy to enjoy.

[@BikesILike]

I think it could come down to individual engine component balancing. Some engines are going to be smoother than others. My 2010 R1200RT was totally smooth when it came to handlebar vibes.

[@ful48j]

In the modern age, with the very high levels of tolerance of components, there should be no reason why any vehicle, especially from a company that markets itself as a premium brand, that there should be any discernable divergences on new production line vehicles. Even cars and bikes from budget brands don't suffer from this issue. This is bad practice and cost cutting.

[@Cys62]

At that age how do you handle the weight of the bike, any issue?... I m 60 and i plan to ride until i cannot handle the weight no more.

[@Star-ty1nx]

@@Cys62 The weight of my bike becomes an issue only when I must stop. Since I’m 5’7” (1,70m) tall, I got the low-suspension option, and with the low-seat I can almost flat foot, which helps me balance the weight during stops. Of course, I still need to be vigilant on which type of surface conditions I bring my bike to a halt (gravels, incline, wet or oily pavement). I also avoid stopping with the handlebars at an angle. Wearing very sturdy boots helps too, I wear a pair of Sidi Adventure boots all the time while riding. I think age by itself is not a limitation, as long as someone keeps fit. Of course, one day the bike will have to go, but I think I still have some good years in front of me to enjoy it.

[@Cys62]

@@Star-ty1nx thanks for your sharing, most appreciated.... Take care while you're riding...

[@tinolino58]

I had 2 BMWs. Both had their cylinders where my feet belonged. Now I long for a classic 4-cylinder.

[@illiyakuryakin3092]

Nice video and I enjoyed hearing your comments. For sure the initial issue was due to something the dealer did during your initial service. So sorry to hear that. I have a pretty good relationship with my dealer, and ALWAYS request the same very qualified technician to work on it. But mistakes can happen by anyone. Safe riding to you.

[@michaelshankin6320]

I to had an issue with my ‘04 R1150GS. At about 9500 miles the ABS light went on. Dealer quoted me around $3,000 for repair. So I continue riding with this extremely annoying bright light blinking at me, which can not be disabled. Guess I’m a bit soured on BMW as a result.

[@arthurclarke7072]

I’ve had 5 BMWs and the last 1150GS had 12 warranty claims, brake problems/total loss of brakes, fuel leaks, and clutch, which they had to split the bike in half to get the gearbox out! I wrote to BMW asking would they extend the warranty. They replied no, that they built a superior machine, and if I wanted to extend the warranty, I could do so through my dealer. I sold the bike, and have never wanted to buy another BMW because of their Germanic attitude.

[@mohamedsiddig2850]

That’s the price you pay for riding cutting edge technology. You become part of the research and development process. You can buy a good old tried and true BMW model and you won’t have to deal with any warranty or recall work. I’m glad the traction control kept you safe and going.

[@GregsRandomShite]

For both Japanese car and bike workers in factories, work is life. One mistake is their reputation marred forever - both for the individual, and the supervisor. That's why they're so thorough and precise and it's why their vehicles are so much more reliable and better built. Their kind of mindset and work culture just doesn't exist elsewhere. It's a stressful, monotonous work life but the result is great vehicles.

[@BikesILike]

That's a sobering insight Gregs thanks for sharing that. That's tough. I do wonder if that is too high a price to pay when it comes to quality of life for the poor workers.

[@craigfinnegan8534]

I recently read that one of the reasons Japanese citizens who've left Japan don't want go back there is the bland, robot-like character of the people, something that's noticeable just walking the streets of Tokyo or wherever. It matches up with what you said about Japanese workers. It's an ironic thing for most western motorcyclists to hear, since we tend to live to ride (ie enjoy our independence and freedom), not to work like machines ourselves.

[@GregsRandomShite]

@@BikesILike I guess if there's any upside, it is Japan and the workers have a good quality of life generally and aren't exploited like in some countries. It's just the culture there to basically belong to the company, though thankfully times are slowly changing.

[@GregsRandomShite]

@@craigfinnegan8534 That's definitely true. I've worked with Japanese people who feel like they're on a permanent holiday, just because they don't have to conform and can be themselves. That's why so many office workers go out and drink so hard, because they can let go a bit, at least for a little while. The younger generations are breaking free from that way of life more now though and starting to reject the work-til-die culture of old, which is great to see.

[@BikesILike]

@@GregsRandomShite That's really good to hear Greg. I really like Japan and the people of Japan and have a lot of respect for their culture, way of life and the work they do. It would be great if a better balance between work/life could eventually be achieved. 👍

[@fernandlarosche1213]

I had 5 Beemers,the last 3 developed rear drive issues ,leaking shaft seals,play,drive shaft play etc...they even tried life lubrication of the rear end!!.Finally they agreed to a regular 10000 km oil change and added a filling and an oil change screw at the top and bottom of the housing.The service in those so called ,, premium,, establishments is awful.The overbearing attitude of the staff,be that sales and service,seems to be common all over Europe...I started riding on aHonda 60 years ago,I shall go back to Honda...

[@Banditmanuk]

I've never owned a BMW, preferring to stick to Triumph or Japanese brands after a particularly bad warranty experience with a Ducati Multistrada. That bike got returned to the dealer 7 times in 18 months and 13,000 miles of ownership. That had electronic suspension fail, surging, rear brake failure, high speed cut outs, clutch slave cylinder, wrong anti freeze from new causing corrosion to the alloy heads! The whole of the rear braking assembly was changed in the end and it still barely had a usable rear brake. It puts you off a brand even if its all covered by warranty.

[@BikesILike]

Woah! That's really not good. I have to admit Ducati is also a brand I'm wary of because I've heard too many stories like yours Richard.

[@peterboczan2116]

After a 35 year absence I decided to get back into biking so I bought myself a 2005 Ducati MTS 620. Big mistake! Having visited local dealerships they say all new bikes are more reliable, even the ones with "dubious" reputations for reliability ( e.g. anything Italian or European) Now I am not so sure.

[@Banditmanuk]

@@peterboczan2116 Actually my oldest son owned a 620 Multistrada about 10 years ago when I had my new 1200 Multi. His bike was actually quite reliable. The 620 is probably quite rare now.

[@peterboczan2116]

@@Banditmanuk I have never seen another one on the road. Since being taken over by Audi in 2010 the quality and reliability of Ducati's have allegedly improved but if you've had a bad experience it will still put you off.

[@nikoscosmos]

BMW takes the rap for Ducati?

[@tbonesixtynine]

25 years on BMW bikes (R850R, K1300S, R1200GS, R1250GS, R1200R, R18) and 20 years on BMW cars, no real issues other than stuff I had in the past with other manufacturers as well. Failures happen, its not a BMW only thing it can happen to anything mechanic built by any brand. I have ridden honda's (CBR 1000F, CBR 1100XX) and yamahas (FZR 600, TT600) in the past. on The yamaha FZR I have blown my engine on the motorway at 200km/h, but apart from a big wall of smoke, nothing bad happened there.

[@DormanDiaries]

Totally agree, having to return again and again for recalls or warranty work is a real pain. It’s like they think we haven’t got anything better to do. Thankfully not really had that issue with bikes but both our vans have been back time and again. Puts you right off particularly when you get it back not properly fixed. In your case could have been very serious had you not stayed upright!

[@mohamedsiddig2850]

That’s the price you pay for riding cutting edge technology. You become part of the research and development process. You can buy a good old tried and true BMW model and you won’t have to deal with any warranty or recall work.

[@dennisbarraud9962]

His complaint was a vibe that i'm not sure he even talked to the dealer about on one bike then something that seems to have been caused by the dealers service department during a routine service and 1 failure which he says was sorted by the dealer in one visit The bike then ran for 25k odd with no more trouble then he sold it , doesn't sound too bad to me . Skid sounds more like ice than oil , in that it happened in a straight line with no brake app etc and it didn't happen again between then and the 1500 km that he noticed the oil !! Have i had experience with ice - Yes 15 years commuting year round on various bikes - early morning starts in a Valley notorious for frosts !!

[@PRH123]

I was really shocked to hear from a friend who bought a BMW how frequently the brake shoes and discs need to be replaced... and how much they cost.... I've never had to replace a disc on any motorcycle I've owned....

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

One thing that I've always heard about BMW (bikes and cars) and Mercedes-Benz is that people usually unload them right after the warranty expires. That's when things start going wrong and the repair costs are outrageous. My neighbor bought a used Mercedes-Benz AMG that was a few years old. He got what he thought was a really good price. He sold it less than 6 months later because the repair bills were draining his bank account. I find it hard to understand how those two brands command the prices that they do.