Are BMW Bikes Good?

Although BMW is best known for its luxury automobiles, the company actually got its start making airplane engines in 1916, during World War 1.

A flat-twin boxer engine, which is still present in their bikes today, was incorporated in the original BMW Motorrad, which is German for motorbike.

Currently, the German company creates a range of motorbike types, including Street, Touring, and Roadsters… but are they pricey?

Due to its high-tech features, pleasant riding ergonomics, stylish aesthetics, sturdy build quality, and dynamic handling, BMW motorbikes are a good investment. The exceptional on- and off-road suspension and high-performance engines of BMW motorcycles make riding one of a kind.

You can decide for yourself after reading the following paragraphs whether BMW motorcycles are pricey or not.

Brand-specific motorcycle reliability

Because we lack access to the survey’s raw data and a copy of the questionnaires, we are unable to guarantee its methodology.

According to the Consumer Reports survey of more than 11,000 subscribers, 40% of BMWs experience at least one catastrophic failure by the fourth year of ownership. This can greatly worry anyone, since this chart would be a glaring letdown if you were set on purchasing a BMW S1000R. I am aware that such a data needs to be interpreted with caution, but why is BMW at the bottom of this list?

The more dependable brands are Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki, while Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Can-Am were among the less dependable ones. By the fourth year of ownership, failure rates for Can-Am and BMW are predicted to be around 40%.

Take into account information like this: The same company (Consumer Reports) that rated the iPhone as its top choice for a handset then advised “don’t buy one” as soon as the antenna gate began. Why, therefore, did they not discover the issue with the phone during their ostensibly scientific testing, assuming there was one?

They then decided a few months later that you shouldn’t buy a Tesla due to reliability concerns from their reader survey after rating the Tesla so highly that it violated their rating scale, proving they don’t have a trustworthy scientific method for testing if they made way for something to get greater than 100%.

I can find numerous serious issues with this motorcycle essay after carefully reading it. Mostly that there is no actual data displayed. They included bikes from 2014 but ranked reliability over a period of four years? Based on the information, they sold their projected repairs but provided no further details. Did they take into account the possibility that BMW would need more repairs because its owners maintain their bikes for longer?

The Japanese bikes will rank lower since they sell far more sport bikes than cruisers, which is how they assess comfort, not model or design.

Did they take into account how long individuals ride? A rider like my friend, who owns a brand-new 2013 Ninja 300 with likely less than 10 miles on it because it has only sometimes encountered pavement in the past two years, won’t have any issues to report because he rarely uses the bike. When a driver misses the turn for Starbucks, their BMW GS may need to be used off-road, which could cause them a lot of problems.

Additionally, they mentioned that roughly 43% of repairs were free, which suggests that the bike is either covered by warranty or an extended warranty. A service contract may also be more likely to be obtained if you own an expensive bike (BMW, CanAm) because of the investment you made in it. If you know you will A) retain the bike for a long time and B) not pay for the repair, you will take the bike in for service for every small problem.

Even after pointing out these issues with the consumer report survey, the data is worrying and calls for a sorted set of genuine customer reviews from all around the world divided into Pros and Cons in the manner shown below.

Most reliable motorcycles are BMW models. Not.

Brands are frequently linked to specific traits and stereotypes over the course of years of consistent advertising campaigns and personal experiences. BMW motorcycles are tough, utterly bulletproof, and will run forever. Ducatis are unreliable and expensive to repair. Porsche convertibles are for middle-aged men with little hair. In fact, they will continue moving even if you ride them through the gates of hell. Or not.

It turns out that the latter claim is untrue. According to the most recent Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey, reliability is where BMW falls in the last. The reliability of newer Beemers appears to be a major problem, and owners are not happy about it. Similar problems have been observed for Ducati, which is not far behind. Issues are practically expected with Ducati because the brand has never been considered to be dependable.

Unsurprisingly, the top 4 brands are all Japanese. So basically, if you want dependable and indestructible bikes, stay with Japanese models. I simply wish they could figure out how to give their bikes a little personality and character. Or maybe the reason they feel like appliances is what makes them so dependable?

Strangely, every BMW owner I know raves about how dependable their vehicle is. However, it ranks worst in a reliability poll. There is a lie being told by someone. Could brand loyalty be rendering owners illiterate?

So get Japanese stone if you want it to be reliable. Stay with Germans if you seek character and excitement. Or Italians, if you’re feeling particularly daring.

What kinds of issues are there with old GS bikes that you should look out for?

A used BMW R 1150 GS that has been well-maintained is a tough, dependable motorbike. Bennetts advises staying away from the servo-assisted ABS or looking for a late-model R 1150 GS with the’standard’ version already installed. However, the bike normally just has age-related issues; it even escaped the earlier stated fuel pump recall. Cycle World claims that this bike possesses “durability and reliability rivaling an anvil” for a reason. Furthermore, you may enjoy the advantages of a long-travel suspension without the disadvantages of brake dive thanks to the Telelever front end.

The R 1200 GS is similarly durable but is considered to have several weak areas. According to MCN, early models had some growing pains. The 2006 and later versions are typically more dependable, and MCN refers to the 2010 and later models as “the best of the bunch.” The clutch slave cylinder, according to Bennetts, is a “notorious weak place,” so be sure to inspect it. Additionally, the engine contains some foam soundproofing, which frequently collects moisture and promotes corrosion. For this reason, it has been deleted from several examples. Additionally, the aforementioned fuel pump recall included a few pre-owned BMW R 1200 GS motorcycles.

Bennetts warns that it’s important to keep in mind that the electronic suspension, often known as the “ESA,” cannot be fixed. You must replace the complete shock if it breaks. Thankfully, there was a choice. So stay away from bikes with it if you’re concerned about labor and part prices. Additionally, according to RideApart, some R 1200 GS motorcycles from the years 2014 to 2017 have been recalled owing to fork damage from heavy off-roading. Models made before 2014 and after 2018 seem to be excluded, though.

Since the BMW R 1250 GS models are so recent, it is challenging to assess their long-term dependability. However, some 2019 and 2020 bikes were recalled for a variety of reasons, including fuel pump concerns, swingarm pivot pin issues, and front brake caliper leaks. It’s important to remember that all of these recalls also applied to other BMW motorcycles. Some pre-owned BMW GS motorcycles even have warranties left on them.

As long as the bike you’re interested in has been properly maintained, none of these problems are necessarily deal-breakers. The R 1150 GS, however, is undoubtedly the most dependable pre-owned BMW motorbike for optimum peace of mind.

StayGoldPonyBoy

As previously said, it varies on the BMW. With the exception of the ABS system, my boss’s 2002 BMW K1200RS is as dependable as the sun. The “flying brick” engine is renowned for its dependability. On the other hand, I would prepare for and anticipate occasional breakdowns from an S1000R. I could probably “afford” to ride an S1000R as well, but doing so would be quite reckless on my part. Ask yourself if the BMW name is truly worth it after comparing the cost of a 15k service on that car to that of a Japanese bike; I for one do not believe it is. Money is always a factor; if you disagree, skip the BMW and purchase a Ducati 1099, an Aprillia RSV4, or perhaps even an MV Agusta.

Are BMW bicycles pricey?

Since 1921, BMW has been a well-known manufacturer of premium motorbikes in a variety of styles. A basic Urban scooter or Adventure dirt bike model from BMW costs $6,000. Their luxurious Tour variants cost $26,000. You may frequently find secondhand BMW motorbikes for as little as $1,100 on used automobile websites, yet custom-made bikes can cost more than $100,000.

It can be challenging to determine the repair costs for BMW’s wide selection of motorcycles. Maintenance on new motorcycles through BMW dealers and mechanics can be pricey—up to $700 per visit—and parts for luxury and bespoke models are in high demand. Some parts are less expensive and easier to find for smaller, less expensive models.

Which BMW motorcycles are produced in Germany?

All BMW Motorrad motorcycle manufacture, with the exception of the G310 series, takes place at the company’s plant in Berlin, Germany. TVS produces the G310 series at its plant in Tamil Nadu, India. Austria, China, and Taiwan are three countries that produce certain engines. David Robb, who served as BMW Motorrad’s chief designer from 1993 until 2012, when Edgar Heinrich took over, was responsible for the majority of the company’s current lineup of motorcycles.

The R1200GS and its brother, the R1200GS Adventure, were the most popular models, selling 24,467 units and making up 28% of BMW’s annual production.

With engines ranging from 310 cc to 1,802 cc, current production comprises a wide range of shaft and chain-driven variants as well as off-road, dual-purpose, sport, and touring models.

and released the BMW G450X motorbike, making a major entry into the off-road competition motorcycle industry.

BMW Motorrad motorcycles are divided into product families, with a separate letter prefix given to each family. These are the current families:

• BMW’s C series maxiscooters are referred to as Urban Mobility Vehicles. CE04 and C400GT are the models.
• 853 cc and 895 cc parallel-twin engines with chain drive are part of the F series. F750GS, F850GS, F850GS Adventure, F900R, and F900XR are the available models.
• Chain-driven, single-cylinder, 313 cc engine from the G series. Models include G310R, G310GS, and G310RR, and TVS Motor Company produces them all in India.
• R series – principally 1,254 cc twin-cylinder boxer engines with shaft drive and liquid cooling. The R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, R1250RT, R1250R, and R1250RS models are available. The R18 employs a newly developed 1,802 cc air and oil-cooled boxer engine, whereas the R nineT uses an air and oil-cooled boxer engine from a prior generation.

Is purchasing a BMW worthwhile?

When BMW began promoting its cars as the “Ultimate Driving Machine” in the 1970s, the company soon grew to become one of the world’s top luxury automobile manufacturers.

BMW has a long history of producing eye-catching vehicles and SUVs that receive high praise from automotive writers.

Both auto fanatics and everyday people who just want the best for their vehicles greatly prize them.

Because they are high-performance luxury vehicles with excellent interiors, a smooth ride, high levels of comfort, and some of the best technological features available, BMWs are a good investment. BMW is a brand that embodies high status, and their cars offer an exceptional driving experience.