Speedtrip

Who new it was so talented.

motowebmaster

The sound is amazing, is that what the actual bike sounds like?

Jamie

Yes, it does. Nothing amazing to it, though, IMO. Just a tad more raucous at low rev's than most, current street-legal Japanese 600 to 1000 cc in-line four. The optional aftermarket (Akrapo-something in BMW's case) pipe just raising and in a way equalizing the perceived "sound quality".

Which confirms that BMW with its -excellent IMO- ad campaign is table-hopping (pun, if any, intended) to lure owners of Jap hypersport machinery. But I doubt that traditional, generally well-established aka conservative BMW dealers stand ready to pro-actively seduce anyone beyond existing BMW owners or occasional Honda or Harley fugitives.

Then there's the tidbit that said BMW superbike is a huge question mark to said dealers in terms of warranty coverage/service, the K1200-1300 in-line fours having reportedly been...er... somewhat of a burden from a warranty standpoint .

Hey, any comment/rebuttal truly appreciated.

Jamie

Speedtrip

I talked to our local BMW dealer about warranty issues since my last Super bike was a disaster in this respect. He says that would not be an issue. Maybe take that with a grain of salt, but that is better reassurance than I got from Big Red.

motowebmaster

My brother rides a BMW K1200, yellow and gray. He loves the machine, but frequently states that he would have been just as well off finding a Gixxer 1000 that no one wanted and thrashing it. Since he moved outside the city, the commute distance has diminished that thinking but whenever he comes up here he wishes he had a inexpensive Japanese four.

Speedtrip's experience makes me think that some motorcycles have reached their limit in the amount of power they should produce. In other words, how desirable would a modern CBR be if it didn't make great power. Maybe stretching the limit and risking warranty work is worth the market percentage.

Going back to the S1000RR, BMWs are already disadvantaged in the US because BMW paint doesn't always meet EPA standards. So if you scratch a fairing, it may have to be sent out-of-country or replaced if you didn't want an aftermarket color alternative.

We have a decent BMW Dealer in my area, but the out-of-towners who take their bikes there for unexpected repair issues comment that they are nice to work with but aren't as good as the shops they normally frequent. I've seen some damaged wheels and improper tire sizes. I do think they are working to do better, but can a traditional BMW Dealer handle the dynamics of the common sportbike customer?

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