jad01
New member
Saw this on Yahoo this morning: www.yahoo.com/autos/s/makes-most-reliable-motorcycle-100025261.html
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In my limited sample (me and a few friends who ride), the suggested reliability ratings are not far off reality. All my Japanese bikes (one Honda, one Yamaha, one Kawasaki) were all bullet-proof and unbreakable. My BMW has already had a minor issue or three.
In my limited sample (me and a few friends who ride), the suggested reliability ratings are not far off reality. All my Japanese bikes (one Honda, one Yamaha, one Kawasaki) were all bullet-proof and unbreakable. My BMW has already had a minor issue or three.
BMW machines reportedly have a difficult time running on American gasoline (causes all kinds of problems...many dealers attest?)
The sting in any rebuke is the truth.
It's pretty useful to be an owner of German cars as well as BMW bikes.
Fact is, if you do you'll be closer to knowing it's all about the same--German cars are pretty much less reliable than Toyota, Lexus, etc., too.
In addition to the occasional inconvenience, they are likely more expensive to maintain. I wouldn't know, as I'm not for a nanosecond interested in owning a Japanese or Korean vehicle to find out. As with bikes, nothing from the USA is a player at all. Not interested in purchasing the 1950s in 2015. Or something "multifuel."
Now, there is the statement "if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it." Don't think that's quite applicable here, but in my view the fact that Germany invented the motorcycle and the car (and automotive electrics) and has been ahead ever since and simply leads the automotive world quite thoroughly means I want to participate and will budget accordingly. A failed alternator on a Mercedes has been the only on-road failure I've experienced in owning German vehicles since 1970. I live in the part of the country where I can easily get myself 100 miles from anything, but I'd head out in any of my German vehicles. It's of course not about never changing the oil or doing any maintenance or even an inspection and expecting zero problems--that's not realistic. Yes, it was $2700 to fix a commonly occurring oil leak on my OM642. $400 for a fluid change on a transmission that has no fill plug.
Why do I want to participate in the "German experience?" It's the feel. It's the quality. It's the style. It's the commonality, as all brands are pretty similar and have Bosch-standard electrics--a brown wire is a ground on a 1970 Airhead and on a 2015 Porsche. To me, nothing beats the feel of a boxer twin, and pretty much nothing sounds like my Porsche. I'm not driving a refrigerator--that's for my kitchen. Said it before and will say it again: "A (insert German brand name) is closer to being a Ferrari than it is to being a Camry."
Good to know the culture a bit, too. German vehicles are built for Germans, first. That's an intent and they think it works. Germany's a country only about the size of Montana but with very dense population--you're never very far away from help. Go to Germany and see if you can find a NAPA. You can't find a Walmart. I'm convinced the following is true: DIY maintenance by the vehicle owner is not a design priority. There is no cultural history of fixing one's Model T with baling wire. Germany didn't have a "peoples' car" until ... . You're expected to have your vehicle maintained by factory trained technicians.
Ok, here's the psychological poop-don't shoot me. Nothing about owning and operating a motorcycle--any motorcycle--makes it anything but a toy. A hobby. Those that commute and obsess about fuel economy are rationalizing. Suppose I can understand some guilt or anyway some reluctance to spend too much on such an extravagance. To have it be a bit unreliable. To have it be close to a Ferrari. But, I think it's possible to be conservative and practical when it comes to a budget and that that doesn't mean every purchase has to be conservative or practical. Just affordable. No guilt. It's not BMW's fault if it's not affordable to absolutely everyone. They aren't really trying to build anything for everyone.
So, it's a non sequitur, or apples/oranges, then, to really even discuss "reliability" with respect to any motorcycle and especially German motorcycles. Makes me giggle. But, that's just me.
Saw this on Yahoo this morning: www.yahoo.com/autos/s/makes-most-reliable-motorcycle-100025261.html
I was going to write a long-winded response but I distilled it all down to three words: I don't care.
It's pretty useful to be an owner of German cars as well as BMW bikes.
Fact is, if you do you'll be closer to knowing it's all about the same--German cars are pretty much less reliable than Toyota, Lexus, etc., too.
In addition to the occasional inconvenience, they are likely more expensive to maintain. I wouldn't know, as I'm not for a nanosecond interested in owning a Japanese or Korean vehicle to find out. As with bikes, nothing from the USA is a player at all. Not interested in purchasing the 1950s in 2015. Or something "multifuel."
Now, there is the statement "if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it." Don't think that's quite applicable here, but in my view the fact that Germany invented the motorcycle and the car (and automotive electrics) and has been ahead ever since and simply leads the automotive world quite thoroughly means I want to participate and will budget accordingly. A failed alternator on a Mercedes has been the only on-road failure I've experienced in owning German vehicles since 1970. I live in the part of the country where I can easily get myself 100 miles from anything, but I'd head out in any of my German vehicles. It's of course not about never changing the oil or doing any maintenance or even an inspection and expecting zero problems--that's not realistic. Yes, it was $2700 to fix a commonly occurring oil leak on my OM642. $400 for a fluid change on a transmission that has no fill plug.
Why do I want to participate in the "German experience?" It's the feel. It's the quality. It's the style. It's the commonality, as all brands are pretty similar and have Bosch-standard electrics--a brown wire is a ground on a 1970 Airhead and on a 2015 Porsche. To me, nothing beats the feel of a boxer twin, and pretty much nothing sounds like my Porsche. I'm not driving a refrigerator--that's for my kitchen. Said it before and will say it again: "A (insert German brand name) is closer to being a Ferrari than it is to being a Camry."
Good to know the culture a bit, too. German vehicles are built for Germans, first. That's an intent and they think it works. Germany's a country only about the size of Montana but with very dense population--you're never very far away from help. Go to Germany and see if you can find a NAPA. You can't find a Walmart. I'm convinced the following is true: DIY maintenance by the vehicle owner is not a design priority. There is no cultural history of fixing one's Model T with baling wire. Germany didn't have a "peoples' car" until ... . You're expected to have your vehicle maintained by factory trained technicians.
Ok, here's the psychological poop-don't shoot me. Nothing about owning and operating a motorcycle--any motorcycle--makes it anything but a toy. A hobby. Those that commute and obsess about fuel economy are rationalizing. Suppose I can understand some guilt or anyway some reluctance to spend too much on such an extravagance. To have it be a bit unreliable. To have it be close to a Ferrari. But, I think it's possible to be conservative and practical when it comes to a budget and that that doesn't mean every purchase has to be conservative or practical. Just affordable. No guilt. It's not BMW's fault if it's not affordable to absolutely everyone. They aren't really trying to build anything for everyone.
So, it's a non sequitur, or apples/oranges, then, to really even discuss "reliability" with respect to any motorcycle and especially German motorcycles. Makes me giggle. But, that's just me.
It's pretty useful to be an owner of German cars as well as BMW bikes.
Fact is, if you do you'll be closer to knowing it's all about the same--German cars are pretty much less reliable than Toyota, Lexus, etc., too.
In addition to the occasional inconvenience, they are likely more expensive to maintain. I wouldn't know, as I'm not for a nanosecond interested in owning a Japanese or Korean vehicle to find out. As with bikes, nothing from the USA is a player at all. Not interested in purchasing the 1950s in 2015. Or something "multifuel."
Now, there is the statement "if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it." Don't think that's quite applicable here, but in my view the fact that Germany invented the motorcycle and the car (and automotive electrics) and has been ahead ever since and simply leads the automotive world quite thoroughly means I want to participate and will budget accordingly. A failed alternator on a Mercedes has been the only on-road failure I've experienced in owning German vehicles since 1970. I live in the part of the country where I can easily get myself 100 miles from anything, but I'd head out in any of my German vehicles. It's of course not about never changing the oil or doing any maintenance or even an inspection and expecting zero problems--that's not realistic. Yes, it was $2700 to fix a commonly occurring oil leak on my OM642. $400 for a fluid change on a transmission that has no fill plug.
Why do I want to participate in the "German experience?" It's the feel. It's the quality. It's the style. It's the commonality, as all brands are pretty similar and have Bosch-standard electrics--a brown wire is a ground on a 1970 Airhead and on a 2015 Porsche. To me, nothing beats the feel of a boxer twin, and pretty much nothing sounds like my Porsche. I'm not driving a refrigerator--that's for my kitchen. Said it before and will say it again: "A (insert German brand name) is closer to being a Ferrari than it is to being a Camry."
Good to know the culture a bit, too. German vehicles are built for Germans, first. That's an intent and they think it works. Germany's a country only about the size of Montana but with very dense population--you're never very far away from help. Go to Germany and see if you can find a NAPA. You can't find a Walmart. I'm convinced the following is true: DIY maintenance by the vehicle owner is not a design priority. There is no cultural history of fixing one's Model T with baling wire. Germany didn't have a "peoples' car" until ... . You're expected to have your vehicle maintained by factory trained technicians.
Ok, here's the psychological poop-don't shoot me. Nothing about owning and operating a motorcycle--any motorcycle--makes it anything but a toy. A hobby. Those that commute and obsess about fuel economy are rationalizing. Suppose I can understand some guilt or anyway some reluctance to spend too much on such an extravagance. To have it be a bit unreliable. To have it be close to a Ferrari. But, I think it's possible to be conservative and practical when it comes to a budget and that that doesn't mean every purchase has to be conservative or practical. Just affordable. No guilt. It's not BMW's fault if it's not affordable to absolutely everyone. They aren't really trying to build anything for everyone.
So, it's a non sequitur, or apples/oranges, then, to really even discuss "reliability" with respect to any motorcycle and especially German motorcycles. Makes me giggle. But, that's just me.
Welcome to the forum!Hello everyone! I joined this forum months ago because of my admiration for BMW motorcycles. You see, I've never owned one.