Why did you buy a BMW bike?

[Acadian Rider]

This year I bought a new BMW K1300GT and so far so good.  Why did I buy a BMW?  

When I was a young teenager admiring bikes that passed through town I always admired BMW's more than anything else.  Compared to bikes of the time they were soooooo smooooooooth, big, powerfull and the people riding them all seemed to be going to far off places with them.  

When I got a little bit older (mid to late teens) the Japanese bikes took over and they were everywhere ..... but still, those BMW bikes were still cool.  

When I finally started buying bikes after university, I entered the market on a Can-Am 250 to keep the payments down.  Borrowed some money from my dad and paid him back at the rate of $100.00 per month.  My mother who is a professional worrier must have been impressed.    

Another bike came and when the kids came, no more bikes.  

Twenty years later (2001) when I entered the market again I went with Honda as they had a reputation for being reliable and there were plenty of dealers everywhere.    Owning a new BMW would have meant too much money.

This year I decided to take the plunge.  Two or three years ago BMW Canada reduced their prices here in Canada to  more affordable prices and there is a dealer in my backyard. They are a fairly new one but they must be at a point now where they are getting more comfortable with the BMW brand.  I would definitely noy buy a BMW without a dealer close by.  This combined with the fact that with the new bike came a three year unlimited km warranty helped me with my decision.    

For me it was a toss up between the K1300 GT and the R1200RT.  I wanted a comfortable big sport-tourer and I am not a fan of first year bikes.  This year was the 2nd year for the K1300 GST but the first year for the boxer's new head.  This combined with the fact that Susan felt more comfortable on the K bike and that the K1300 GT came out on top in all the articles I read when comparing big sport-tourers helped sealed the decision.  

So far the only issue I've had with the bike is that the gel battery acts up when it get too hot sitting on top og the engine.  Hopefully I'll never get stranded anywhere but with roadside assistance from BMW for another two years it makes me feel a little bit better.  

So,  why did you buy a BMW?  

[BobW]

 

the fact that Susan felt more comfortable on the K bike

Pretty much sums up why I buy any bike. For two up, SWMBO makes the only vote that counts and for my solo choices, including BMW, it is all about the smile factor while riding. There are no real "bad" bikes today and if a guy/gal enjoys riding their XYZ, I'm happy for them. I've owned so many brands over the years and they all can have issues, but mainly, they all offered some great memories.

Glad your back in the fold "full time" and that your able to ride your "dream" bike. Life is good!

Cheers

[Max Wedge]

Mainly because the Super-Tenere was not coming to the US (so Yamaha said) and they were the only game in in town when you are looking for a dreadnaught class enduro. Well, that is not entirely true, there is the Stelvio, but the dealer network is a little lacking for me for a primary bike. No regrets-my favorite bike I have owned so far.

We will see what happens when the 3-year warantee is up....

[DangerMoney]

Owned Hondas for 14 years, then got out of bikes altogether. When I decided to get back in I knew what I wanted (big ST) but couldn't find it anywhere. Looked at Honda and found the ST1300 boring looking, VFR too sport-bike.

Then looked at all the other Japanese ST bikes. The FJR could only be ordered at that time. No one stocked them. The fact I couldn't see one in person, let alone ride it, put a damper on it. Then I read about how the bike roasts the rider: Deal killer.

My wife said,"Doesn't BMW make motorcycles?" "Yes". Called Iron Horse BMW in Tucson, AZ and within five minutes of asking me some questions they told me I can test ride any bike they have if I have a M/C license and wear proper gear. I rode two bikes at the dealership  and pretty much narrowed it down to two models: K1200RS and K1200GT. They said they had a used RS coming in on trade in a few weeks can would call me when it arrived which they did. Went back down, rode the used one and a new one, bought the new one (K1200RS).  No regrets and very happy with the bike.

[ST1300Rider]

  

Pretty much sums up why I buy any bike. For two up, SWMBO makes the only vote that counts.
Cheers

So true. After 10s of K miles two up on my dialed in ST1300 Honda we toured Spain and France a few years ago on a rented 1200RT. We both hated it. This spring we toured Italy on a rented 1200 GS..... I now own one. The wife loved it. The ST1300 is still my dedicated 2 up long haul mount mainly due to the weather protection but the GS has become the day to day and weekend getaway choice. For grins I've still got the Scrambler.

[Bain Dramage]

1. Comfort for day-long, multi-day riding. (When I complete my trip this May I will have ridden every one of the contiguous 48 states.)

2. Great commuter (I ride 80 miles, round-trip each day that I ride to work).

3. Related to 1 & 2 it handles very well (a JOY to ride) on everything from 2-lane country roads to scenic mountain twisties to super-slab interstate highways.

4. Great range - I average 47 MPG commuting (and get over 300 miles to a tank - unless I'm cruising in excess of 80 MPH).

5. Has almost all the farkles right out of the box (I added only custom seat, tank bag, GPS & Camera mounts).

The are lots of great bikes out there, but for me - my riding preferences considered - the BMW R 1200 RT was the best choice.

If I could afford to own multiple bikes, as least one of them would be a BMW.

[miles]

They made the bike I wanted.  If that same bike had been anybody else I would have bought it just as quickly (well, OK, not Suzuki, but any other brand than that).

[stevent]

I saw an K100 RS in 1984 from Canada, when they came out here in '85 I went and bought one and loved it. My dad retired from riding because of health issues in 1990 and gave me his '79 R100RT, I rode both of them until I sold and traded them for a 1000 Ninja, then a few other Japanese sport bikes, another BMW R1150RT, and few Triumphs and Harley's. When I bought my last bike, an '08 FLHT I had narrowed my choice down to a K1300GT, the Harley or a Concours 1400. I chose the Harley because it was most suited at the time, it was an excellent bike but I got the Jones for a more performance oriented bike, so I went to check on a new K1300GT. I really liked it but the GS just kept drawing my eye. I raced Motocross and Enduros with my dad all through my teens and riding the GS was like being back on a dirty bike sooooo.........

That's how I ended up on a BMW again, and having a ball with it!  

[Jetpilot5]

I always thought they just built weird, expensive motorcycles.  I test rode a K1200RS brick when I still had my VFR and was looking for a bike with more power.  Nice, but really heavy and didn't feel much faster than my VFR so I went with a CBR1100XX.  Finally, though I loved the engine, the tight ergos on the XX had me shopping again.  I had read about the new K1200S but never really considered it due to price.

Took a 60 mile ride over to my nearest dealer one day just to get out and look around and had the chance to finally check the bike out in person.  It fit like a glove, felt just like my VFR.  My dealer didn't have one in stock that I could test ride so I rode four hours to another dealer that had a demo until and took a ride.  I was sold on the bike but couldn't get past the price.  It took a year of looking and finally taking my wife over to see the bike to finally get it bought.  Once she saw how enthusiastic I was about the bike in person she said to go ahead and get it.  Who am I to argue.

I've put more miles on my BMW than any other bike I've ever owned.  My local dealer closed last February so I've limped along using dealers that are much farther away but a new dealer opens in the same town as my original dealer this coming March.  I also spend more time worrying about a major failure with this bike than any other I've ever owned, especially now that it's well out of warranty but so far, mine has been good.  I can say when these bikes work like they are supposed to, they are fantastic.

I keep looking at new bikes (the new Ninja 1000 has my attention) but so far I keep coming back to BMW.  The K1300S in blue is just .

Good to hear you're enjoying the new GT.

[Oilhed]

I bought my airheads and oilhed because of comfort and legendary reliability.  There were also very affordable.  I got my Ducati as a guilty pleasure and it was cheaper than a new BMW!

[The Shepherd]

I bought my K1200S a few years after taking a test ride on one. It was the bike that had it all, "the ONE". Brakes, suspension, handling, power and ergos in a beautiful package. BMW's feel engineered to me, like they are a tight package. Of the Japanese brands, Honda comes the closest to that level of refinement.

It is bone stock as it came perfect out of the dealership. I've toured on it, took it to the track and commuted and couldn't ask for a better bike. I love it.

 

[lightcycle]

I got my GS because I have a huge man-crush on Charley Boorman...

Oh, also I needed something bulletproof that I could ride around the world with. So far, it hasn't let me down yet!


Which would you choose: Short way round? Or Long way round...? (not photoshopped, BTW)

[RBEmerson]

 

[sagerat]

I like the way a boxer twin handles.  This is my third Beemer ('75 R90/6, '04 GS) and of course the Ural has a boxer engine (call it a Russian BMW if you want the true roundel faithful to flinch).

GS has a nice upright riding position, stock seat semi-sucks, headlights are marginal, but really those are the only quibbles.  

Plus I like to meet old guys and old women and my fellow graybeards flock to Beemers.  What do you call a hot 30-year-old woman at BMW rally?  An anomaly.  

[Attack Pug]

My K1300GT is my first BMW also. I doubt it will be my last. I love all the farkles cruise esa est. with the power to make it go like stink.
It just fits me

[Andrew]

Bought my first GS to turn a profit (non running) made the mistake of riding it

Bought the second a GSA because I really liked it, seems to fit me as well

[DrD]

Cause I'm a big man and I need a big bike.



 

[servicerifle]

I bought a BMW because they happen to make the GS.  Had another company made the GS, I'd have bought from them instead.  

I bought a GS for the GS, not a GS for the BMW logo.

[STalker]

I bought a BMW because they happen to make the GS.  Had another company made the GS, I'd have bought from them instead.  

I bought a GS for the GS, not a GS for the BMW logo.

Werd.  

[Norwegian Blue]

I wanted a jack of all trades naked bike, and the R1150R fit the bill perfectly.

I run it naked most of the time, and it handles surprisingly well and is surprisingly fun in the West Virginia mountains.

I've put a touring windscreen and stock saddlebags on it and ridden it halfway across the country.

I've thrown my briefcase and shoes in my topbox and commuted into downtown DC (when I was commuting into downtown DC).

There just weren't any other bikes on the market that could do all of those things equally well.