Comments on: Cost of ownership of BMW motorcycles http://joydutta.com/blog/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/ Joy Dutta on technology, photography, motorcycling, aviation and other things Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:05:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: MotorcycleSMACK.com http://joydutta.com/blog/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/comment-page-1/#comment-19334 MotorcycleSMACK.com Sat, 08 Sep 2007 06:04:43 +0000 http://joydutta.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/#comment-19334 <strong>What is the best touring bike?</strong> 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 ... 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 …

]]> By: coho http://joydutta.com/blog/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/comment-page-1/#comment-18388 coho Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:45:12 +0000 http://joydutta.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/#comment-18388 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. 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.

]]> By: Steve Williams http://joydutta.com/blog/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/comment-page-1/#comment-17198 Steve Williams Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:51:44 +0000 http://joydutta.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/#comment-17198 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 <a href="http://vespalx150.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Scooter in the Sticks</a> 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

]]> By: Rob Mance http://joydutta.com/blog/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/comment-page-1/#comment-16934 Rob Mance Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:47:02 +0000 http://joydutta.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/26/cost-of-ownership-of-bmw-motorcycles/#comment-16934 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! 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!

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