The truth about BMW Rider Equipment - and it´s not good!
 

In 3 words: piece of crap!
The Santiago suits (we got 2!) started desintagrating within weeks of buying them. We got them for our 1 year tour of South America, forking out nearly 2 grand as we expected quality!
Some seams are so badly done that they are coming apart. Especially the lining of the jackets and trousers where many of the seams are coming apart. It makes you wonder what would happen if we were to come off the bike! How effective will the body armour be as it is fixed to the lining. Will it hold? Some zips have broken and most are getting stuck! A real pain in the a*re!
Whatever you do, DO not buy them! They appear to be designed for posing around Box Hill on your shiney, barely used 1200GS on a sunny Sunday afternoon and not for "adventure travelling" as they are marketed. The response from BMW customer services: they will examine them at our return in the UK!!!! Not much use out here.

Savannah boots: Allegedly Gore-tex lined! They take so much water every time it rains (and we are having a lot of rain in Brazil/argentina!) that my left foot is totally soaked within minutes.

And don't expect BMW worlwide cover to do anythng for you. Lots of words but when it comes to action - forget it! Typical big company, they can´t deal with anything that is outside the normal rule book. Computer says no!
Response on the boots: buy a new pair in Porto Alegre (for about 500 pounds thanks to import tax) while a committee takes few weeks to decide if my boots are faulty. No doubt I would never see my 500 quid again after having been already robbed blind by the Porto Alegre dealership (I will put details on this in Workshops forum!)

In summary; unless you are Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman traveling around with a TV crew don`t expect BMW to do anything to replace faulty equipment! SHAME ON YOU BMW!!!! I put them in my Hall of Shame on my website!

HG maybe better
 

Sorry to hear you got duff gear Maria.

I was pretty happy with my Hein Gericke Cruise suit and Tuareg boots I got for my trip. The suit stood up very well and was great in the cold/wet although was obviously too hot for some of the places we went to despite the vents. No problems with zips etc.

The boots stayed 100% waterproof throughout the trip but the stitching on the rubber lever protector bits on the top came apart near the end of the trip and despite my best glueing efforts, I ended up chopping them off as they were flapping about, not a good look. They look like crap now and Edinburgh HG would't replace them either.

I paid £400 for the suit and £150 for the boots.

Still, taking BMW to task when you get back will give you something to do!

Wow...I am so sorry...did you guys have enough time to test them before the trip? I had the same issue with a pair of Lowa boots...but when I got back in the US, the company I bought them from were VERY generous.


Yup...BMW is now doing what North Face has been doing...selling the brand and not the gear. BUT there are still some quality pieces within their selection, unfortunately you have to sift through a lot of crap for Chelsea tractor type folk...


I agree, BMW shops outside of your locality(and I don't mean country), won't honor the service or products purchased at other dealers, even if you present a receipt! Absolute CRAP...

Unfortunately, a lot of these guys including Aerostitch are following BMW's example...thankfully the Japanese are not...
That said, there is still some quality stuff BMW offers, but you have to sift through the crap to find it...don't presume the label/logo in this day and age, provides you any assurance of quality or warranty.

Mottoedde,
Interesting what you said about AeroStitch, I thought this was a premium US brand. I was supprised to see them selling seconds on their website, I may be wrong but I got the impresion these seconds where from the Far East that were not up to scratch. I thought about calling in and buying a Darien jacket but if the quality is falling I might have re-think.
I agree with the decline in quality of BMW clothing, my current suit is falling to bits rather than wearing out. It leaks, zips pulls broken and the velco does not work anymore.

Steve

Wellies
 

I suppose steel toe-capped Wellington boots and a thick pair of socks are no good any more?

Wow! I'm really surprised to here this about BMW Gear. I've always used, and currently on a Savennah2 jacket, ralleigh2 pants and the Savennah2 (AKA Oxtar) boots. All have preformen outstandingly. I guess BMW is taking the Short Way Down in the gear catagory. This thread should be sent directly to their head office. I won't buy anything new from them. I never have actually! I can't tell you how disapointed i am with the direction this once great company is going! This goes for their failing final drives and leaking seals also. I wish Ducati made adventure bikes :)

For those that don't yet know I had a small off the other day, slide for a bit before coming to a stop flipping dog with small child chasing it into the road from between two cars so no choice but to drop the bike or smack the kid. I'm fine the bikes a little scatched up and nothings to broken to fix, but my nice HG Voyager Gore-Tex Suit is killed the armour didn't move and really did it's job well but the suits a right off, legs a little bruised, No Stupid Children or Small Furry Animals were harmed during the crash.

So now I'm in the Market for a new suit, BMW have offered me one for £607.75 inc vat, which isn't to bad (15% off current price), and I was just about to get my Mum to go buy it and ship it to me with my TT kit (when it finally arrives) when I read this thread. And now I'm right the way back to square one choosing a new suit.

Water proof, Wind Proof, Warm, Cool, Must be Crash Survivable and not a Bank killer, any thoughts will be gladly excepted.

Rallye Suit
 

Well, Lee, I did warn you that the Velcro on my 2002 Rallye suit wasn't sticky anymore, didn't I?

Other than that, my newer suit is a good as my 2002 one (so far).

Sorry to hear the Santiagos aren't up to much.
Stephan

BMW still has some quality stuff...I used their Tourguard jacket and Summer pants...and the venerable K75s on my recent trip.

The Tourguard jacket may not get you laid, BUT will take care of you in the deserts, the monsoons, and the winters of hinterlands...its a good jacket and available on the cheap as its not stylish...

Pennsylvania , BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Vespa, Piaggio, motorcycle, dealer, European Motorcycles of Pittsburgh

Research the reviews out there though...as others have opinions too.

Speaking of which...
What ANNOYS me the most about the recent turn of events is that WE the 'adventure riders' who are willing to quit our jobs, put our arses on the line and take on trips like we do, are the ones who get the stiff arm from customer service...WTF?

We're the ones that help sell these products no? Unfortunately the truth to that query is complicated...and not one our community would wants to hear:(

...Well said!
Another brand to try is Rukka, from Finland. Nice stuff, well built and very well reviewed, but VERRRRRY expensive!

Maria, another thing i may sugest is, do some research and call the head office directly, go strait to the top. I've had to do this with BMW Canada with success (warranty issue) BMW will never get the point if they don't here about it. We are the true test platform for their products, and we must be vocal if we feel they are abandoning their commitment to designing the best gear and bikes.
BTW...Skype rules!!

BMW Tourance
 

Unfortunately, I have the same experience with my "Tourance" BMW clothing.
I bought an expensive BMW jacket and pants and then, when I was riding in Norway in the rain, even my underwear was wet.
Now I bought a cheap rain overall and that does the job.

Well you sure got some responses since you started this discussion just 4 hours ago!
You probably don't know about the two actors, you being out on the road; they are still riding BMWs but they are not wearing the clothing - now dressed in Belstaff stuff!
Same name as the original UK trademark but, apparently, made in Italy nowadays.

I hope you get some satisfaction about the poor quality, eventually. :rolleyes2:

Streetguard II
 

Bought the Streetguard II. Totalled the GS last year whilst overtaking traffic and the guy towing the trailer decided to turn right without checking his mirrors!
Whilst knocked out and away with the fairies, the suit and armour did the job and didn't need replacing. (helmet knackered)
Likewise the BMW boots - still 100% waterproof and saved my shins - had broken skin on the shins from the force of impact (shins into cylinders) and deep bruising but the boots did their bit in protection.
In a nut shell - I'm delighted with my BM clothing and boots. All totally waterproof.
Will put them to the big test next year across Russia and back through the Stans...
Cheers
Paul

I heard lots of complaint about BMW apparel.
BMW apparel is for sunny afternoons, that's right, not for extreme conditions.

I used only a System-4 helmet from BMW, after learning Schuberth makes them for BMW, I bought it from Schuberth.

Since I heard complaints I went for Hein Gericke which I am very satisfied. Especially Tuareg series il perfect and definitely weather proof. Prices also not "too high", you get back what you pay.

I was in Amsterdam 2 weeks ago. I went to Hein Gericke shop, I needed summer mesh suits. I bought a good pair for just 180 Euros, in Turkey a guy asked 270 euros for just one mesh jacket !

Bought a Gore tex, weather proof boots for 140 euros and it is perfect, I am using since two weeks.

If you are going to ride in extreme cold/winter conditions, I recommend defifnitely Rukka (as Mr.Ron already did).

Ok, we know fashionable people who bought 1200 GS instantly when it is out of the factory are fond of BMW apparel too (not criticising them, but it is not my way).

Sami