jconway607
JohnWC
Is it just me, or did anyone else find Wes Flemming's recent article in the ON pretty amazing? His bike has a broken gear indicator. A small part. That leads to a $650 computer (later returned), then to BMW wanting him to buy a $1200 computer, then to the dealership basically saying they had no idea how to fix it, just keep buying parts for it, maybe we'll get lucky. This for a 2005 model.
In the same issue the new F900 bike is glowingly reviewed as having" Keyless Ride, Dynamic ESA, Riding Modes Pro Shift, Shift Assistant Pro, ABS Pro, Engine Drag Torque Control, (!) Dynamic Traction Control, and Dynamic Brake Control." Wow! I had no idea I needed all that to ride a two wheeled vehicle. But my point being that BMW's technicians can't even fix Wes's simple gear indicator on a fifteen year old bike. The end solution for Wes: buy a whole parts bike and transplant everything off it, right down to the key. Okay.... that's a lot more time and interest than I'd have.
The more BMW feels they need to load their machines up with every bell and whistle their engineers can think up, the less attractive they are to those of us not willing to drag our bikes to the dealership for a $2000 repair bill. BMW is still smarting from the Consumer Report a while back listing them as one of the least reliable brands. It's no wonder. It's also no surprise that people wanting the simplicity and ease of maintenance BMW's once had have driven the price of Airheads through the roof. I'm almost ready to go buy a forty year old one myself. BMW can keep the new F900. I wouldn't own one if they gave it to me.
In the same issue the new F900 bike is glowingly reviewed as having" Keyless Ride, Dynamic ESA, Riding Modes Pro Shift, Shift Assistant Pro, ABS Pro, Engine Drag Torque Control, (!) Dynamic Traction Control, and Dynamic Brake Control." Wow! I had no idea I needed all that to ride a two wheeled vehicle. But my point being that BMW's technicians can't even fix Wes's simple gear indicator on a fifteen year old bike. The end solution for Wes: buy a whole parts bike and transplant everything off it, right down to the key. Okay.... that's a lot more time and interest than I'd have.
The more BMW feels they need to load their machines up with every bell and whistle their engineers can think up, the less attractive they are to those of us not willing to drag our bikes to the dealership for a $2000 repair bill. BMW is still smarting from the Consumer Report a while back listing them as one of the least reliable brands. It's no wonder. It's also no surprise that people wanting the simplicity and ease of maintenance BMW's once had have driven the price of Airheads through the roof. I'm almost ready to go buy a forty year old one myself. BMW can keep the new F900. I wouldn't own one if they gave it to me.
