BMW final drives and NHSTA

[M.Brane]

Easy there.
Next thing you know, this could become a Harley bashing thread.

 Both can trace their basic designs back to the '30s. Difference is BMW has made significant engineering progress since then.

 I have an R bike in the garage now, and I've grown quite fond of it. The possibility of a FD failure is in the back of my mind, but it doesn't deter me from enjoying the bike. If it takes a shit I'll just fix it like I would any other mechanical thing I own, and love that breaks. BFD.

[tomek]

Someone at NHSTA must be monitoring motorcycle forums because BMW got slapped with 3 million fine for besically jerking around with recalls . LOL .

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120213i1.htm  

[Bain Dramage]

BMW has a cult-like following from non-owners.

Their mantra goes something like "BMWs are no good because_____________" fill in the blank, or
"BMWs are overpriced because____________", and again fill in the blank.

As a BMW owner, I really don't care what someone thinks about my decision to purchase. It's my money, it's my ride, and it's my choice. You make your choices with your money - I'll make mine with mine. Simple.

There's lot of great bikes out there - something for everyone. If BMW is not for you, then go loiter in another forum and enjoy your ride.

I don't read or post here often because, as a BMW owner, I'm usually out riding.  

[sprint_st]

There's lot of great bikes out there - something for everyone. If BMW is not for you, then go loiter in another forum and enjoy your ride.

Excellent post  
Been watching a similar thread over on ADVRider too.  My summary of events is:
1. No one seems to have the the exact number of failures or even a reliable estimate.
2. I'm sure BMW knows how many bikes in the failure set(s) that were sold, but we don't.
3. No one seems to have a set of numbers like 12 2010 R1200GS's with less than 30,000 miles for the   model/years affected.
3. No one seems to be able to quantify jack chit.

My conclusions are:
1. We know some FD's broke but we don't why and if the problem is a significant percentage of bikes produced.
2. Some people don't like BMW's.
3. Some people do.

[miles]

BMW has a cult-like following from non-owners.

QFT.

[Major 662]

Here's my take on the whole bike reliability thing...

If there's a weak point on a bike and it's failing too often, people that see the problem should feel free to complain. The manufacturer should look into it.  If the numbers are truly excessive, the NHSTA or similar should get involved. Then customers should decide for themselves if it's really an issue.  I can't imagine it'd be much fun riding around on a bike you feel you can't trust, no matter whether the numbers justify that concern or not.

As for me I ride in parts of the western US where I'm often 100+ miles from the nearest dealer. I've read the warnings about BMW final drives (the most dire warnings were on the FJR forum), but I still trust my K13S.  Before that I had a Ducati ST3 and I read warnings about flaking rocker arms and general unreliability.  Both bikes have only req'd routine maintenance, and I'd be bummed if I missed out on the smiles and miles on both.  The only bike I've seen dead in the water in the middle of nowhere was a VFR in eastern Oregon (rectifier), but that wouldn't stop me from buying a Honda.

YMMV. It's all about the numbers and your perception thereof.

[sagerat]

I think the angst is that BMW is so tight-lipped about various mechanical issues and has either denied there have been problems.  See surging, final drive failures, or other whoops.

My take:  Mechanical things happen.  It's how a corporation responds that is the issue and really what corporation do you know that has ever said "Houston, we have a problem."?