Ok, first up BuMWuh is lower case for BMW (buh, muh, wuh).

Question was asked re 2003 GS1150. I know 3 people in Melbourne who owned GS1150s. All 3 snapped 3-4 rear spokes EVERY time they rode a reasonable distance, either on road or off road.

BuMWuh has always had wheel problems. In '79 I crossed the Sahara on an RD350 - closely followed by 5 frenchmen. One on an XT500, two on R90/Ses and two on R90/6s (GSes didn't exist at this time).

The two yammies with steel rims and spokes got through unscathed wheel wise. All four BuMWuhs "squared" their alloy rims and broke many spokes, requiring COMPLETE wheel replacement.

In addition, two of the BuMWuhs snapped their front forks clean through at the bottom triple clamp and ALL four snapped their rear subframes. Neither Yammie had any fork, suspension or frame damage (the closest thing to frame damage that I sustained was breaking the rear engine mounts). I was also carrying a steel chest containing tools and luggage and a 50 litre plastic fuel container + 10 litres of water ALL mounted on a rack aft of the rear wheel and acting as a giant lever to bend the rear frame (if it could).

I'm not surprised to hear about BuMWuhs having problem with cast wheels either - they simply design their bikes for aesthetics (to some) and not practical use.

As you have probably surmised by now, I believe BuMWuhs to be HIGHLY overrated. In essence, you pay twice the price of the Jap equivalent, for what is really only half the bike (in other words you're paying four times what they are worth)

I've just finished my China ride on a little local 125cc ROAD bike with cast rims. The worst damage I have had is snapping the luggage rack and four punctures. I know that a BuMwuh could NEVER have made it through those same conditions without requiring major repairs - witness the Around the World ride by 2 clowns on BuMWuhs and their frame snapping issues in Mongolia (and their wishes that they could have been on an a local "little" bike like their fellow rider rather than riding something that needs a stepladeer to climb aboard).

Yes, I've ridden them (best thing about them is the huge lean angle) but would NEVER contemplate owning one. I owned a 7 series car once and that was enough to turn me off for life too.

Garry from Oz.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman