Why did you buy a BMW bike?

[Hickey]

I wanted something with upright ergos, decent wind protection, and relatively light weight that could still be sporty on a nice curvy road.  This lead me to adventure touring bikes, but I'm not particularly tall or long legged.  I tried to test ride as many variants as I could and began eliminating them for one reason or another.  Too tall, too heavy, too much vibration, uncomfortable seat, poor luggage choices, poor airflow, etc.  Then I tried the GS1200, figuring ahead of time that I would eliminate it too for price and general weirdness if nothing else.  

As it turned out, I loved it.   http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,39722.0.html

Being a BMW was actually a point against it.  There are no dealers in my town and I hate to travel far for warrantee work.  Also the bikes are expensive.  I've never had any particular affinity for the brand, so those marks against it were serious.  But I really liked it, enough to overlook the brand/dealer shortcomings.  

[MonkeyNuke]

I once owned a 2000 Ducati ST4 and had it for about 7 years.  Absolutely loved the bike.  Even when its technology was dated, I always looked twice at it whenever I walked passed it.  Everything about it was perfect...except dealerships kept closing down.  The last time I had it serviced (and it was expensive) Dealer was over 70 miles away.  I got tired of chasing down a good dealer and paying top price for service.  
So, I sold it over EBay and the buyer got a great deal.  I then searched for the perfect bike in 2007.  Nothing appealed to me except the Triumph Sprint ST.  Problem was dealer location.  I found a slightly used 06 Honda VFR for sale.  Only 73 miles.  Dealer locations are not a problem with Honda.  I liked the bike, but wasn't in love with it either.  It ran perfectly, had decent power, was an excellant sport tourer, but didn't really ever look at it twice.  I owned this bike for about 3 years and put on about 16 or 17 thousand miles on it.  In 2009, I noticed the BMW K1300S on the internet.  Very nice looking bike.  Stunning power.  Lots of other nice things that the Honda didn't have.  And a reputable dealer about 40 miles away.  I never thought I would buy a BMW.  I always thought of BMW's as snobby and pretentious.  (expensive comes to mind).  It has it faults too.  Unfortunately, it suffers the occasional stalling issue.  The saddle bags are not painted and the BMW tail bag that I bought is nowhere close to waterproof.  But I love the heated grips, power, breaking, ABS, adjustable suspension, traction control, comfort, shaft drive,the color.  Most of all, I like the style the best and it fits me good.  Plus I told my spouse that the bike is a keeper.

[the drummer]

98' K1200RS  It does everything I ask of it.  It's not a "crotch rocket" damn it! It's a Cruise Missile!!

[chomy]

 2002, R1150RS, bought in 02 and still in my garage, why, because I still get a big smile when I ride it and it's good to go to the corner store or across the country at any time.

[Geoff]

I bought a BMW so I could post in this thread. 

[ConPilot1]

I bought a BMW so I could post in this thread. 

gorgeous oldie man, what year? love the color. I like the styling of some of the older Beemers.

[WBill]

Everybody should have owned at least one BMW and one Harley.  WBill

[Oilhed]

Everybody should have owned at least one BMW and one Harley.  WBill

and one Guzzi and one Ducati!

[RBEmerson]

I bought a BMW so I could post in this thread. 

Nice!!!  Owning a K1200RS, it's particularly helpful to get a sense of the styling leading up to my ride.  

[eng943]

Simply stated, I bought a BMW because nobody else makes anything that compares.

I really like Duolever suspension vs. conventional forks. I also love having electronic suspension, factory cruise, etc. Not to mention that the RT and GT have better ergos, wind management, and lighter weight than the FJR, C14, ST13.

When someone builds something comperable I'll give it a good look.  

[jsanford]

F800ST for me. I bought it because I wanted it, plain and simple.

Okay, I'm boring but +1.  I've bought two Italian bikes since, but this is the one I take out most this time of year.

(I'm not getting a Harley)

[burnergold2B]

Hubert Auriel, plain and simple. He made me do it. I was a dirt bikin grommit fondling dirty magazines with pics of dirty bikers in the woods, on the jumps, in the trails, and of course the P-D. His win in 1980 cinched it for 16 years when I could afford my first GS.