Oh and on the subject of modern Beemers, found this relating to the NEC bike show, as a review.
Think the author may have an axe to grind but i do find myself agreeing with a lot
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In the olden days you bought a Boxer, a K75 or K100 and knew that it would take you safely round Europe and not break down. The performance and handling were pretty uninspiring, the switchgear a bit strange and the bike was a bit heavy but it would get you there and back in relative safety and comfort. Put simply, in the past BMW built rock solid reliable bikes that were still good and worth something five years later irrespective of mileage.
And now they build toys. Toys for people with far too much money and no idea of the mechanical nature of what goes on under the designer plastic that adorns many of the new machines. I think what really got me going yesterday was the reverse gear on the latest 1600 GTL. I was quite in awe of the 1600GT when it first came out as I do have a penchant for sport touring bikes. But when the fly by wire throttle goes wrong due to ingress of rainwater, or the other handgrip with all the weird controls goes doolally due to overheating then I begin to wonder. My clients tell me that brake discs that used to last 100,000 miles are now beyond service limits after 15,000 miles. Wheel bearings fail due to lack of lubrication or cheap components. Shaft drives suffer catastrophic mechanical failure and new models get Do Not Use labels due to faulty rear suspension components.
All of this on bikes with a five figure price tag?
And yet people go back for more.
I listened to some Herman on the BMW Stand sounding off proudly about a separate department that BMW have established to develop their custom bikes. I looked at the poxy paintjob, the crude headlamp "design" and the weird concoction that some design lab in Stuttgart have cobbled together and call the NineT. Listen - the Boxer is plain clumsy and ugly and makes a lousy custom bike. No matter what you do with a metalflake aerosol...
I wandered over to the smaller GS bikes to try to understand what is going on with the mid range machines. I asked a potential customer if he understood the difference between an F800 and a F700 GS and he (like me) was simply confused.. F800 is 800cc. The F700 is 800cc. Stupid or what? And then you take a look at the critical components that stick out directly in front of the engine on both of these machines - the oil filter and rectifier unit directly in the path of any detritus thrown up by the front wheel. No bash plate in sight. Great design chaps. Not only does it look minging but it is highly likely to shorten the life of the bike by component failure.
These smaller GS models look cheap and nasty but as they carry a BMW badge they also carry a hefty price tag. Just like the BMW scooters...
OK enough. The water cooled GS is an awesome piece of kit if you want to throw a lot of money at a bike that handles well but it is simply overdressed in the Adventure format. If you want to ride on dirt tracks through Poland I am sure that a massive tank and three munition boxes are a pre-requisite. Personally I prefer a Tiger. But that's the Explorer rather than the Panzer Division...
I did like the RT and I am sure it is a nice bike. The seat is low and there's lots of gizmos to play with. That is if you don't understand what a clutch is and really need the hillstart function. Or a heater to warm your bum. Or heated grips. Get real chaps. The Bike park at the NEC yesterday was empty. All the Beemers with a £20k price tag are on SORN certificates in the heated garages of detached houses... I know this because when you trade in your £20k prized possession with more than 4000 miles per year usage the penalty on the trade-in is punitive.
We really have come a long way from the bullet proof 80,000 mile BMWs of yesteryear...
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Worth a laugh though
