Morning Reads: 12 December 2007

[mika]

TodayÔÇÖs Birthdays / Calendar

BMW in the News

motorcyclenews.com
Picture Exclusive: BMW HP2 Sport launched in Spain

topspeed.com
BMW at the MunichÔÇÖs Olympichalle Offroad Festival

TED: Ideas worth spreading
TED Blog,Conferences, Themes, Talks and Speakers

BMW AG: Share price performance


BMW Press: News and press releases from the official BMW sources

BMW Motorrad Canada

Ride Now! Pay Later!
BMW Motorrad Canada has introduced a limited time offer fall sales program that allows you to take possession of a new or approved demonstrator BMW motorcycle now and begin payments in April 2008. Attractive BMW Financial Services rates are also available. Take advantage of the wonderful fall weather and get on your new BMW now.

Contact your local retailer for full program details.


BMW Motorrad South Africa

BMW F800 St Scoops TopBikeÔÇÖs ÔÇÿBike of the Year Award

SA Hosts BMW Motorcycle Traveller Allan Karl


World of BMW News

BMW joins the party at the Super Cross-Over

Pfeiffer to perform at Race of Champions


BMW MotorSport

WTCC 2008 Calander Confirmed

PressClub USA

BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES RANKS HIGHEST IN LUXURY LEASE SATISFACTION IN J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES NEW-VEHICLE CONSUMER FINANCING STUDY
12/11/2007

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - December 11, 2007... BMW Financial Services of North America, LLC (BMW FS) ranked highest in satisfaction with initial consumer leases for luxury nameplates in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Consumer Financing Satisfaction Study released today.
The top ranking in this study marks the first time * BMW Financial Services has received the highest ranking in this important segment and reflects a 47 index point increase that takes it from seventh to first place. BMW Financial Services is the first financing provider to attain top ranking in both Retail Leasing Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Dealer Financing Satisfaction and Luxury Lease Satisfaction in the Consumer Financing studies in the same year.

"While competitive financial offerings are an important factor in consumer satisfaction, consumers are seeking more from their finance providers. Being recognized in both the Dealer and Consumer studies speaks to the importance we place on the three critical elements of success in business; the dealer customer, retail owner and the manufacturer all having the same expectation of peak performance. Consumers expect competent and courteous finance staff at the dealership, complimented by efficient servicing of their contract for the life of the loan, including accurate billing and prompt attention to questions and concerns," said Edward A. Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of BMW Financial Services, Americas Region.

"Our customers recognize the emphasis we place on their satisfaction and this ranking acknowledges our commitment to them and to process excellence. Given the wealth of choices available to the luxury consumer, we are delighted that so many BMW drivers select BMW Financial Services as their financial services provider of choice," he said.

Initiated 12 years ago, the J.D. Power and Associates' Consumer Financing Satisfaction Study is conducted annually. The study aims to measure and
profile the voice of the consumer as it pertains to the vehicle financing experience, with particular emphasis on four key factors of the auto financing experience: provider offering, application/approval process, payment billing, and customer contact.

About BMW Financial Services
BMW Financial Services was established in the U.S. in 1993 to support the sales and marketing efforts of BMW of North America. Since then, the company has expanded to provide service to markets in multiple countries and continues to evolve beyond its role as a captive finance unit. BMW Financial Services offers a wide range of leasing, retail and commercial financing and banking products tailored to meet the needs of the BMW customer. The company also provides financing to BMW dealers for expanding dealership capabilities and enhancing overall operations. With over $25 billion in serviced assets and more than 700,000 automotive lending customers, BMW Financial Services finances over half of the BMWs sold or leased in the United States. BMW FS employs more than 900 people, including consultants and temporary workers, most of whom are located in the Hilliard, Ohio Customer Service Center.
In 2001, MINI Financial Services was established to provide support for the brand's dealer and customer networks by offering various financing and leasing options.

BMW Group Financial Services also offers an array of exciting credit card products through its subsidiary, the BMW Bank of North America. up2drive.com is a division of BMW Bank of North America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Financial Services NA, LLC. BMW Insurance Agency, Inc., a property and casualty producer, is also part of BMW Group Financial Services.

About J. D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

* BMW Financial Services was also the top-ranked provider in Initial Lease Satisfaction in the Consumer Finance Satisfaction (CFS) Study in 1999 prior to the segmentation of the awards by Luxury and Non-Luxury.


BMW Sauber F1: Website

BMW Motorsport

BMW Yachtsport

BMW Golfsport

BMW Oracle Racing

BMW Sport website


News:

Bike dealers are happier in the UK than US
insidebikes.com
November Bike Sales Up 8%

popularmechanics.com
3 of the Coolest Bikes YouÔÇÖll See This Side of Jesse JamesÔÇÖs Garage

motorcycle-usa.com
Roehr Motorcycles Closer to Produciton

cyrilhuzeblog.com
Harley-Davidson facing The Great Wall of China

MCN video news December 11, 2007<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YqNUCibGwc8&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YqNUCibGwc8&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

visordonw.com
New Batbike up and running

Cage World

Bond, James Bond will be back in an Aston Martin
egmcartech.com
James Bond will still get to drive an Aston Martin DBS

Winding Road is playing a fun game for all of you who are participating in the BMW marketing threads
Windingroad.com
Question of the Day Which BMW Must Die?


Packer News

jsonline.com
Packers Plus Online


The News-Record ÔÇô Gillette Wyoming


Bike Reviews:

bikernewsonline.com
BMW Touring Bikes Reviewed

Harley-Davidson 1200c Sportster Blog
Looking at Beemers


amadirectlink.com
The Kawasaki contradiction: The ZX-10R isnÔÇÖt lighter, it just feels like it

Piaggio M3
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Goa_HYPJKKU&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Goa_HYPJKKU&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>


Adventure Posts:

motoblog.it
Elefantentreffen 2008

Blog Update

Foreign Language Blogs


Gear:

webbikeworld.com
Cool LED Motorcycle Signs

Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City


Riding Skills:

motorcycle-usa.co
Riding Tip: Commitment

Photography / Video:

Links to the Photo Assignment threads:

12/01/2007: Element

11/24/2007: Gratitude ÔÇô Thanksgiving Special

11/17/2007: Triangle

11/10/2007: Harmony

11/03/2007: Pure & Simple

10/27/2007: Open Wide

10/19/2007: Shadow of a Doubt

10/13/2007: Group Dynamic

10/06/2007: Blue

09/29/2007: Evolution

09/22/2007: Balance

09/15/2007: Where I Want to Be

09/08/2007: A Long Way to Go


Technology:

wold.honda.com
Honda Develops Intelligence Technologies Enabling Multiple ASIMO Robots to Work Together in Coordination

TodayÔÇÖs RoadFood.com


Woot

Todays Woot

The Blog


xkcd A webcomic of Romance, Sarcasm, Math and Language

Sluggy Freelance


Bike Candy:

THE END

 

[Voni]

I loved this quote about a Harley blogger's opinion of the BMW line:
http://www.bikernewsonline.com/2007/12/bmw-touring-bikes-reviewed.htm

It's kinda like how a cowboy from Texas takes a look at a Mercedes, and says "nice car, but there's no room for my gun rack."

Voni
sMiling

 

[PAULBACH]

And then there was this quote from a Harley Blog

First of all, any of them are about $20,000, unless you want the stripped down version. The GT doesn't have--and you can't have--a radio. The seat on the LT is about 32 inches off the ground, so the average person can't even flat-foot it, which, I think, is not something you are looking for in an 850 pound motorcycle. And the seat heights on the R and GT are about 30 inches, so you can flat-foot them, but just barely. The GT and RT both weigh a bit less than the sporty, however.

No forward controls. No floorboards, and even if you could get them, your legs would be spread so wide you probably coudn't touch the ground anyway.

Yeah, they have a low center of gravity, and some really cool features like heated...everything, and I'm sure they handle like a dream. And I'm sure the GT's 154 horses are screamingly fast. But I really didn't come away from looking at them thinking they'd be fun to handle in city traffic. Your little tippy-toes come down on gravel and that bike is gonna go down. Uneven pavement? well, good luck with that.

And when they go down, they go down. It's not like a Road King, where, if you drop it in a parking lot, it'll tip over on the crash bars at about 45 degrees, leaving you standing astride it, feeling stupid. If the BMW bikes go down, you're going to say "hi" to Mr. Pavement. Then, shell out lots and lots of money for all the new plastic fairing and hard bag replacement crap. The LT does have pop-off mirrors, though, so you can snap them back on instead of replacing the whole fairing, and it has these wing-like rubber bumpers on the outer edges of the fairing. That should only cost you a couple of hundred to replace, along with the chromey, plastic bumper dealies on the saddlebags.

I guess I was surprised. I hear people talk about them like they're the cat's pajamas, but in real life, they just didn't seem all that great for the money, or fun to tool around town in. I understand they have excellent handling, which is good for the cops, who really need it, and they're probably a blast on the highway, but they just don't strike me as great all-round motorcycles.

Not for anyone with an inseam less than 26" inches anyway. They'd inspire a lot more confidence if you could plant your feet firmly from the saddle, I guess.

Wh are the seats so danged tall?

Have seen similar comments on this forum. I wonder if anyone at BMW ever hears these comments?

Today will be taking a look at the new Buell. Wonder how that inseam will check out after the stratospheric Ulysses?

 

[rkasal]

Maybe the riding position is a little off but the what looks like .50 cals and RPG launchers could come in handy on the bat bike.

Aston Martin, as always, is class and gotta love the winter bikers. I've seen some of their party pictures before in auto mags of all places. Those guys come out of the wood work!

Thanks!


Randy Kasal

 

[rguy]

http://1200c.blogspot.com/2007/12/looking-at-beemers.html
Harley-Davidson 1200c Sportster Blog
Looking at Beemers

You need to read his whole blog..... the shiny chrome that blinded his eye has worn off and he is looking elsewhere. He's probably not a Beemer guy but it doesn't sound like he will be a Harley guy much longer either...... His eye has been wandering like a newlywed hanging out at Hooters.

 

[testinglogin]

You need to read his whole blog..... the shiny chrome that blinded his eye has worn off and he is looking elsewhere. He's probably not a Beemer guy but it doesn't sound like he will be a Harley guy much longer either...... His eye has been wandering like a newlywed hanging out at Hooters.

I read through some of it; the November postings make it sound like he's looking to get a bigger HD. I stopped reading after he started talking about adding something to his bike that would be used as a weapon. In fact, he said he thought they were for looks, and he didn't like them... until he found out some used them as a weapon. Nice. Exactly the type of rider we need out there. It was disappointing because much of his other writing was good stuff.