Motorcycle.com Connie vs BMW1600 Road Test 8/11/2011

[tomp]

To each his own!

Yep, and that's why there is a growing number of companies and models to choose.  When I grew up, all bikes were nekked and the engines were the center of attention.  Harder to do today with EPA requirements for sound and emissions. MOCO understands both situations and seems to deal with it well.

When I had my C 14 in for a state inspection at 10 AM this morning, at my local Harley dealership, I saw three customers working on purchases, and several in the shop for general maintenance and farkles.  Everyone seemed happy to be there.   Harleys may not be for everybody, but they still sell more bikes a year than all other makes combined. . . Now if they would put the V Rod engine into one of their touring frames, I would spend money with them again.  tp

[connie14boy]

Yep, and that's why there is a growing number of companies and models to choose.  When I grew up, all bikes were nekked and the engines were the center of attention.  Harder to do today with EPA requirements for sound and emissions. MOCO understands both situations and seems to deal with it well.

When I had my C 14 in for a state inspection at 10 AM this morning, at my local Harley dealership, I saw three customers working on purchases, and several in the shop for general maintenance and farkles.  Everyone seemed happy to be there.   Harleys may not be for everybody, but they still sell more bikes a year than all other makes combined. . . Now if they would put the V Rod engine into one of their touring frames, I would spend money with them again.  tp

I'm sure you've heard who did the R&D work on the V-Rod engine- that little old car shop in Stuttgart.

[connie14boy]

I still own 2 Harleys and intend to own more in the future. I really like a lot of things about them. It's all about what you're looking for. The guy who wants a sports car isn't interested in a pick up truck. That's another nice thing about America, we have many choices.     

  Harley really needs to put a water cooled, much higher output engine in their touring bikes but they are fighting it tooth and nail. Sales of water cooled Harleys would probably be a bit weak initially but the consumer would come around. Due to ever stricter emmissions regulations, they will have to so it eventually.

As far as price, Goldwings are over $26k. Throw a few farkles on top of that and $30k isn't out of the question. The Goldwing may be a "better" bike than the FLHTC but it has no personality.

I know right now I will never own a double-butt Goldwing.

[Rhino]

I know right now I will never own a double-butt Goldwing.

If my wife wanted to tour on the back of a motorcycle, I'd have one.

[tomp]

I'm sure you've heard who did the R&D work on the V-Rod engine- that little old car shop in Stuttgart.

Yes sir  I did.   Doubt they will ever go into the motorcycle building business themselves.  tp

[martin_14]

Yes sir  I did.   Doubt they will ever go into the motorcycle building business themselves.  tp

tomp, care to expand?

[tomp]

tomp, care to expand?

Just that it is probably not in their economic best interest to to develop and market a line of motorcycles under the Porsche name.  Volkswagen Group already owns Ducati, and 20% of Suzuki. What would it benefit them them to compete with themselves for the same share of the motorcycle business pie?  Just my thoughts, but what do I know?  tp

[Rhino]

Agree, I would be surprised if VW marketed a motorcycle under the Porsche name. But I guess it wouldn't be completely out of realm of possibility to go compete with BMW. Then there is this concept bike:

[tomp]

Agree, I would be surprised if VW marketed a motorcycle under the Porsche name. But I guess it wouldn't be completely out of realm of possibility to go compete with BMW. Then there is this concept bike:

Should that go from concept to becoming the norm, I see a convertible in my future.  That's one ugly mofo, to me.  tp

[Deziner]

Heinous?  Fugly?  Repulsive?  I'm not sure what word I'm looking for.

[gPink]

Heinous?  Fugly?  Repulsive?  I'm not sure what word I'm looking for.

Honda?

[Rembrant]

I'm sure you've heard who did the R&D work on the V-Rod engine- that little old car shop in Stuttgart.

What was all the "R&D" about anyway?...lol. Was it the liquid cooling or the overhead cams that were so revolutionary?...lol.

Just that it is probably not in their economic best interest to to develop and market a line of motorcycles under the Porsche name.  Volkswagen Group already owns Ducati, and 20% of Suzuki. What would it benefit them them to compete with themselves for the same share of the motorcycle business pie?  Just my thoughts, but what do I know?  tp

Volkswagen building a motorcycle is a scary thought...lol. Oh, I suppose it's no big deal to have to buy $1000 in specialty tools, and have the check-engine light burning your retinas out...lol.

Now, a diesel sport-tourer with an 8 gallon fuel tank...I could get into that!

Rem

[Deziner]

If VW built a motorcycle, would it have an optional flower holder?   Would Crocs be part of ATGATT? 

[VirginiaJim]

Honda?

Looks more like a BMW to me.

[connie14boy]

What was all the "R&D" about anyway?...lol. Was it the liquid cooling or the overhead cams that were so revolutionary?...lol.

Volkswagen building a motorcycle is a scary thought...lol. Oh, I suppose it's no big deal to have to buy $1000 in specialty tools, and have the check-engine light burning your retinas out...lol.

Now, a diesel sport-tourer with an 8 gallon fuel tank...I could get into that!

Rem

The revolutionary part was getting a Harley to be fast and reliable . So they paid Porsche to design an engine that didn't leak oil, and run past 4,000 rpm w/o throwing a rod.

[martin_14]

Just that it is probably not in their economic best interest to to develop and market a line of motorcycles under the Porsche name.  Volkswagen Group already owns Ducati, and 20% of Suzuki. What would it benefit them them to compete with themselves for the same share of the motorcycle business pie?  Just my thoughts, but what do I know?  tp

got it, it's just that Mercedes (well, AMG, to be precise) owns half of MV Agusta now and, although VW-Audi-Ducati is already in place, sub-brands competing against each other is nothing new, although I don't get it either. Look at Unilever with all those shampoos and laundry products.

[OregonLAN]

And therein lies the issue with HD 45 degree V twin.  It is more about the looks, sound, and feel than the actual ride (which is loud, vibrationy, inefficient, less reliable, and poor performing).  HD works very hard, at all costs and compromises, to try and retain the exact things that make it ancient technology while slowly adding a little modern technology to bring it up to where bikes might have been 30 years ago (or is that too modern?).  Certainly not all, but many (perhaps even most) HD owners have a HD for exactly that reason- image.

I much prefer something that works and performs well, while also being affordable, reliable, efficient, smooth, powerful, and comfortable.  I don't need to see (or hear) a flashy, exposed, chrome-encrusted engine to enjoy my ride.  Besides, I think a slick exterior is not only more pleasing, but a lot easier to keep clean!

To each his own!

I'm right there with ya'. I use to be a Harley Davidson rider until I woke up one day and realized that riding a motorcycle was about riding and not an "image". I realized that all the overpriced Harley Davidson swag I purchased was just cheap crap made in China. Nothing set me apart from any other Harley Davidson rider. I rode the same bike, looked the same and acted the same. Don't get me wrong, my bike was a project of art dipped in chrome, custom paint and money. It was beautiful, and I spent hours polishing it to perfection, but it could barely hang with modern motorcycles having 1/2 the engine displacement. In turns, while others were rolling on their throttle and enjoying themselves, I was slowing downs and worrying about the floorboards scraping the pavement...

[Jim M.]

...and this just in.......(it only took 10 years to acknowledge the problem)

BMW recalls nearly 49,000 motorcycles for faulty rear wheel flange

Publish Date: Mar 27, 2015 .
WESTWOOD, N.J. - BMW of North America is recalling nearly 49,000 motorcycles from the 2005 through 2010 model years, because the rear-wheel mounting flange may crack if the rear wheel mounting bolts are overtightened, creating a crash hazard.

The recall affects model year

•2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT
•2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure
•2007-2010 R1200R
•2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport
•2005-2007 R1200ST
•2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto
•2006 HP2 Enduro
•2008-2010 HP2 Sport
•2005-2008 K1200S
•2006-2008 K1200R and K1200GT
•2009-2011 K1300S
•2010-2011 K1300R, and
•2009-2010 K1300GT motorcycles.
If the rear wheel mounting flange cracks, the mounting bolts may loosen and the rear wheel may not remain secured to the motorcycle, causing a loss of stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

BMW is notifying owners. Dealers are asked to replace the existing aluminum rear wheel flange with a steel one, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 21.

[1jeep]

Yes, I saw that recall from bmw...they don't seem to be in any rush to acknowledge any issues!

As bad as some people think Harley is they never seemed to hesitate to recall anything, it was almost annoying sometimes.

[Rhino]

...and this just in.......(it only took 10 years to acknowledge the problem)

BMW recalls nearly 49,000 motorcycles for faulty rear wheel flange

Publish Date: Mar 27, 2015 .
WESTWOOD, N.J. - BMW of North America is recalling nearly 49,000 motorcycles from the 2005 through 2010 model years, because the rear-wheel mounting flange may crack if the rear wheel mounting bolts are overtightened, creating a crash hazard.

The recall affects model year

•2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT
•2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure
•2007-2010 R1200R
•2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport
•2005-2007 R1200ST
•2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto
•2006 HP2 Enduro
•2008-2010 HP2 Sport
•2005-2008 K1200S
•2006-2008 K1200R and K1200GT
•2009-2011 K1300S
•2010-2011 K1300R, and
•2009-2010 K1300GT motorcycles.
If the rear wheel mounting flange cracks, the mounting bolts may loosen and the rear wheel may not remain secured to the motorcycle, causing a loss of stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

BMW is notifying owners. Dealers are asked to replace the existing aluminum rear wheel flange with a steel one, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 21.

Oh man! Good thing they have a profitable cage division because that will probably eat up profits for the MC division for awhile.