mika
Still Wondering
A decade ago the average age of U.S. buyers was increasing at 1+ years every year and had been doing so for more than a decade. Publications were publishing articles with calculations of when the motorcycle industry would age into extinction. At that time the average BMW buyer was 7 years older than the industry average.
At the same time BMW announced they would continue to service the touring market but the growth areas were in other market segments. BMW research considered the touring market as fully mature from a growth standpoint, aging and declining in numbers. The F and S lines were developed and expanded and now the G line is coming online. These were efforts to enter different segments.
I don’t have any current numbers for the U.S. as they don’t share them; however, Australia that share demographic trends with us over the same periods is seeing a shift. In a recent article from down under,BMW Motorrad Australia general manager Andreas Lundgren says the average age of their customers is now 46, down from 50 four years ago. As the sub 500cc line expands and the middle weight line is updated I would expect that trend to continue.
I completely agree with Paul that the MOA is not keeping up with BMW.
Price - Motorcycles aren’t cheap to buy. In any of the classes BMW is not the most expensive. In the case of the S, F and G line they have been competitive with the comparable UJM or European models.
Quality - Is subjective.
Reliability - With age what many forget is why we originally joined the MOA. BMWs broke, perhaps not like other bikes, but in their own way. We joined to learn from columnist like Paul, and others, how to fix them. We watched our mailboxes like hawks for ON to arrive. The first place you looked was the Flea Market for parts and what was selling. That is why you joined, admit it. You stayed because while we were figuring out how to keep them flying we met people we liked and hung around.
BMWs may have been better but were never perfect. Other brands caught up. If your glass is half full or empty will help you to decide if things are better or worse. I'm just glad people are still building motorcycles and BMW has a plan for the next 100 years.
If the only tool in your box is a hammer the world is a nail. If they only definition you have for a motorcycle has to have touring in it you, like the MOA, are missing a lot of other Roundel motorcycles and riders.
At the same time BMW announced they would continue to service the touring market but the growth areas were in other market segments. BMW research considered the touring market as fully mature from a growth standpoint, aging and declining in numbers. The F and S lines were developed and expanded and now the G line is coming online. These were efforts to enter different segments.
I don’t have any current numbers for the U.S. as they don’t share them; however, Australia that share demographic trends with us over the same periods is seeing a shift. In a recent article from down under,BMW Motorrad Australia general manager Andreas Lundgren says the average age of their customers is now 46, down from 50 four years ago. As the sub 500cc line expands and the middle weight line is updated I would expect that trend to continue.
I completely agree with Paul that the MOA is not keeping up with BMW.
Price - Motorcycles aren’t cheap to buy. In any of the classes BMW is not the most expensive. In the case of the S, F and G line they have been competitive with the comparable UJM or European models.
Quality - Is subjective.
Reliability - With age what many forget is why we originally joined the MOA. BMWs broke, perhaps not like other bikes, but in their own way. We joined to learn from columnist like Paul, and others, how to fix them. We watched our mailboxes like hawks for ON to arrive. The first place you looked was the Flea Market for parts and what was selling. That is why you joined, admit it. You stayed because while we were figuring out how to keep them flying we met people we liked and hung around.
BMWs may have been better but were never perfect. Other brands caught up. If your glass is half full or empty will help you to decide if things are better or worse. I'm just glad people are still building motorcycles and BMW has a plan for the next 100 years.
If the only tool in your box is a hammer the world is a nail. If they only definition you have for a motorcycle has to have touring in it you, like the MOA, are missing a lot of other Roundel motorcycles and riders.