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  #1  
Old 22 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
I will never ever buy a bike within eighteen months of initial launch.

I will never ever buy a bike within eighteen months of initial launch.

...
(should be 100 lines but you get the idea)
Tim
Too right. See:

R1100R/GS shock corrosion
F650 stalling and surging
R1150 brake servo's
Moto Guzzi FI
R1200 security key antenna...

And so on and so on.

I'll hold my hands up and admitt I'll let others do my research. I too used to have more money than sense, but after a while you trade one for the other.

The other rule IMHO is to look for the manufacturer who had a poor reputation for quality and made a huge effort to improve rather than the one trading in past glory. I find my Triumph and my dads Guzzi way better built than any BMW I ever owned (Carbed F650's and R1100's) and hear post 2006 Urals are close to BM airhead indestructability. Time for BMW to get off their pedastal and start working at it again IMHO.

Andy
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  #2  
Old 22 Mar 2009
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Unfortunately I must agree with you all. BMW is trying to copy Japanese styled bikes. The new bikes dont look like it suits the BMW badge. I dont like them at all. They are slowly moving away from building traditional BMW bikes.
It is a move they might regret in the future.

I like my 1150GS, although not perfect, its a bit more 'traditional' and less plastic.

Johan
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  #3  
Old 3 May 2009
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Originally Posted by jc View Post
Unfortunately I must agree with you all. BMW is trying to copy Japanese styled bikes. The new bikes dont look like it suits the BMW badge. I dont like them at all. They are slowly moving away from building traditional BMW bikes.
It is a move they might regret in the future.

I like my 1150GS, although not perfect, its a bit more 'traditional' and less plastic.

Johan
If thats what the majority of people like , thats what they will build. Im all for the looks. I guess its an age thing, cause I think the older style of bmw bike were ugly. I never took a second look at one. I guess its all about vanity
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  #4  
Old 19 May 2009
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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Too right. See:

R1100R/GS shock corrosion
F650 stalling and surging
R1150 brake servo's
Moto Guzzi FI
R1200 security key antenna...

And so on and so on.

Andy
I note that four out of the five topics are the electronics that people keep saying makes bikes more reliable ?? so what gives?. If all goes well I shall soon be the owner of an Enfield. Thankfully the entire electronic ignition system ( black box and sender unit) cost £45, so I shall be able to afford to carry a spare system.
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  #5  
Old 20 May 2009
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A BMW bashing thread that has been up for two months and we haven't heard from Mollydog? You're slipping Dog

I have ridden airheads since forever and I really want to like a new BMW. They are great performing bikes, but I can't get around the fact that I can have two reliable Japanese bikes for the same price.
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  #6  
Old 21 May 2009
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Originally Posted by petefromberkeley View Post
A BMW bashing thread that has been up for two months and we haven't heard from Mollydog? You're slipping Dog
.

And there is no argument any more...
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Old 21 May 2009
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Originally Posted by petefromberkeley View Post
A BMW bashing thread that has been up for two months and we haven't heard from Mollydog? You're slipping Dog
Isn't he banned?
Almost all his posts are edited...
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Old 21 May 2009
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Isn't he banned?
Almost all his posts are edited...
Not banned, but currently a "Moderated user". This means a moderator has to ok this user's posts before they go live. Incidently, I didn't put him into this group, nor do I get to read these posts first, before okaying them or not.

Over past few weeks, I've also enjoyed my time on the HUBB much more because all I do now is positively contribute, read for pleasure, research for trips and race other moderators to be the first to ban new spammers.
cheers
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Last edited by chris; 22 May 2009 at 10:31.
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  #9  
Old 21 May 2009
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Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
I note that four out of the five topics are the electronics that people keep saying makes bikes more reliable ?? so what gives?. If all goes well I shall soon be the owner of an Enfield. Thankfully the entire electronic ignition system ( black box and sender unit) cost £45, so I shall be able to afford to carry a spare system.
Enfield, Triumph and Yamaha have all introduced FI systems I know where the software has been right straight out of the box and I've never heard of a failure. New Guzzi's have been fine since they sorted the California and every car made since about 2005 has been electronic FI and a lot more to boot. I've also stopped hearing about both early Guzzi and F650 FI issues, so the upgrades might be late but they worked.

My engineering background is in truck brakes. It was always a lot easier to plug a lap top into a new truck than start messing about with gauges and leak finder on some ancient thing. The old trucks had more issues, it was just that the operators were used to that and didn't get hot under the collar. Having some idiot with a multimeter spend weeks unable to find the blown fuse did wind them up. Now every truck dealer in the country has the software you won't find many that'll buy the old systems. It's a transition phase that IMHO should now almost be over with bike FI.

It's simply better to let someone else try and tell the OEM they got it wrong when they do.

I picked the examples I did more to demonstrate why I won't buy a new model rather than anything to do with the technology.

Andy
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  #10  
Old 21 May 2009
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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Enfield, Triumph and Yamaha have all introduced FI systems

Andy
Point is they 'HAVE' to use FI in order to comply with emissions regulations. ( carbs are open to the air so when parked 'can/might' emit vapour). Nothing to do with costs, reliability or performance.. Certainly not there for the riders convenience. Now I admit, many, probably most would prefer to have the high tech option fitted, but not everyone. I just want it to work, and if it does not work I want to be able to fix it with the bikes original toolkit. Maybe with a few augmentations to the toolkit and spares box. BUT, the tools and spares 'HAVE' to be affordable to carry.
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