Cost of ownership of BMW motorcycles
I was just casually surfing the net for information on BMW bikes, and out of curiosity, wanted to know if BMW bikes are really expensive to own, as everyone says. I came across two nice articles that sums it all up:
1. What’s it REALLY cost to own a BMW motorcycle?
2. Q: What’s it cost to own a BMW motorcycle? A: More than it used to!
I am looking around for a modern sport tourer to ride for a long time, and naturally the R1200RT and ST1300 comes up as major contenders. It is getting all the more confusing, because almost all modern bikes today make regular DIY maintenance a big pain.
I still have my trusty Concours, but for the kind of long rides I like to do, it is getting a little tiring. I love this bike and till date have done all major maintenance with the help of Jeff, a fellow concours rider. I would hate to see this find a good home eventually, but riding comfort is now my first priority in a trip.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Hi Joy, you might want to check out:
http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.htm
although you may have seen it already, in any cae this is what ignited my interest in riding and the DVD of the ride is epic, especially the ‘Road of Bones’ through Russia. They were on BMW’s (albeit off-road focussed ones) and although the cost of ownership wasn’t an issue for them (lucky them) the trip does illustrate the magic of long motorcycle trips much like your blog. Good luck in your search!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:51 am
My friend Paul just got a 2000 Concours for touring and we had the BMW discussion. In terms of cost there really is no comparison—the Kawasaki is and will continue to be less expensive. But it will never be a BMW.
When you say the Concours is getting tiring are you talking physically or mentally?
For what it is worth I find I am happiest when it comes to machines when I get what I want. Cost and utility are one part of the decision but there is a hard to quantify element of aesthetic that does matter to me. And it trumps cost everytime.
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:45 am
I’ve ridden BMWs for many years, my 1996 R1100R has been my only wheels for the last seven - to work, to the grocery, across the country, it has been as reliable as any of the Hondas I had, and it’s only now, as it approaches 90,000 miles that I’ve needed to spend any more money than at the Honda store. Though I’ve often heard it said that the only thing cheap on a BMW is the pilot. This seems to stem from the fact that BMW shop time is not cheap. And BMW parts are not cheap. But these days Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki et al. aren’t exactly giving stuff away either.
Basic maintenance on an R-series (2 cylinder) BMW, like oil/filter, spark plugs, air filter cables, etc. are pretty much the same as any other bike - you could do it yourself. In the case of valve adjustments it’s actually easier - only eight valves and they’re sticking straight out at you at eye level if you’re sitting on the ground.
My best friend has a Concours, it’s his third and he loves it to pieces, but even he will admit to the occasional bout of “Connie Hand” from the notorious grip vibration. The RT will not have that problem, the boxer design (and a real shock in front - no springs in those forks) is very smooth (especially the R1200 which includes a counterbalancer).
They are also among the few bikes with a sixth (for hundreds of thousands) mileage dial on the odometer. They have a tendency to last.
September 8th, 2007 at 2:04 am
What is the best touring bike?
I’ve had a bunch of bikes in my life, and now I’m thinking of buying something to go touring on. Most of my bikes have been sportbikes or standards, and I really like sport touring bikes, but I also …