New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
The Guzzi smallblocks are great, but compare an old airhead BMW to a recent BMW twin,and hold on to your wallet. That's where the dealer makes some coin.
That's not what motorcycles are about to me.� Last Edit: TodayMe, either.. but I've posted ..oh, never mind..
One thing that makes modern BMWs (and Ducatis) impractical to service yourself is the necessity to visit the dealer to extinguish the service light. It's been discussed on this site previously, so no need to expand here.
My advice about BMWs is to actually put a decent amount of miles on during the warranty period and get the niggles all sorted out. Once well sorted, the dependability improves greatly.
So same advice as most Guzzis.Tusayan - it's not uncommon for service manuals to not be available right away. And then when it comes to EU products sometimes they're just about useless anyway. Still doesn't mean you can't do it.
Well, prior to the Siemens ECUs on Ducs this wasn't an issue because there are aftermarket tools available.Isn't it just a matter of time before someone makes something available for the Siemens...actually I think Rexxer might already have a tuner that does it.How about BMWs, is the same not available for them?And when did this start on both, I didn't even HAVE a service light on my R1100, so did it start with the 1150, 1200? And let's be honest, if that's the ONLY thing is it THAT big a deal?
I won't fault someone for their desires in a bike or their principals on such things. That said, I've asked everyone here (many who know more about current BMWs than I do) to come up with WHAT things you can't service without a dealer.And so far, the ONLY thing someone has come up with is turning off a service light.I mean, REALLY? IS that it? If so the statement that "you can't service modern BMWs" is completely hyperbole.And we do a dis-service repeating it.Like people who say "You can't service Guzzis cause you can't get parts" - BULLSHIT.
I do find the requirement to purchase a $400 tool, or be inconvenienced to schedule a service appointment, and then take the time to take the bike to the dealer just to reset an oil light to be highly annoying.The nearest BMW dealer to my house a 1 1/2 hour round trip from my house, plus the time I'm there, I'd likely use up the better part of half a day just to get said oil light turned off. If I'm looking at too different bikes that are alike in every way except for the requirement to go to the dealer to reset my service light (or buy a $400+ tool), I'll buy the one w/o that requirement.
....My choice is different, I just don't buy the thing in the first place, especially when the main reason to buy European before was quality and serviceabilty. Today I'd rather have a Honda or Suzuki, I think they are nicer people and the product is better. For that reason, and based on conversation with BMW employees and dealers, I think the threat and reality of Japanese competition is about the only thing that gets BMWs attention. Within the German market I don't think they worry about it much, but in the US market they saw what the Japanese did with 'their' luxury car market in the 80s and 90s and I they know at this stage their only real selling point is brand snobbery.
.... Sorry about the price of the diagnostic tool, I really thought it was much cheaper. I don't ever recall seeing the service indicator on my 2007 GSA 1200. Maybe I am missing it. I suspect you could pick up a used diagnostic tool much discounted on Advrider fleemarket if you are patient.
I do really love that camhead 1200 motor. I did not find it clunky at all, of course I don't find my MotoGuzzi V7iii clunky either.Good luck on whatever you decide. Personally, I think about every brand is putting out fantastic bikes these days, and yes, even the new Harleys are so much improved over earlier versions. I would not hesitate to buy a bike of any brand if it called to me.
I do find the requirement to purchase a $400 tool, or be inconvenienced to schedule a service appointment, and then take the time to take the bike to the dealer just to reset an oil light to be highly annoying.
This is what I am talking about, and even more. Older BMWs were designed for riders, not the dealer.They were designed to be serviced, not to make more coin for the dealer.Sad.
Absolutely it's sad. It's a very sad reflection of the interaction between business and motorcycling. How long until we see the equivalent of a micro-brewery revolution in reaction to 'Budweiser' self-serving corporate motorcycle manufacturers? If Guzzi weren't a part of Piaggio, and maybe even if they are, they'd be perfectly placed to play a role in that.It's interesting to me that when you talk to 2017 BMW enthusiasts, they go on about how great a money making business BMW is... as if that is their major concern! I have relatives and friends who work for BMW in Germany, and obviously the paycheck and retirement are their major concern, and those benefits go along with a successful business. They don't really care about the product or customer as long as they have their security. That makes sense. However when listening to 2017 BMW buyers in the US I'm surprised that they often sound much the same, more like BMW employees than BMW buyers and riders who are themselves being manipulated into providing cash flow. I think it must be an ingredient in BMW Corporate Kool Aid, and they supply some with the bikes
I'm sure from your viewpoint BMW is very dumb for building bikes that are more high strung. Its almost like they never do market research, right?
Nobody has ever lost money underestimating the public taste, but I think that it's better over the long term sticking to doing what is fundamentally better... which was BMWs philosophy for about 70 years. As a friend who left Ducati (in Bologna) a while ago says, it's fine to make bikes for the ignorant upmarket, which was a conscious decision made at Ducati circa 2000-2005, but it'd be nice if they made some for higher level people as well.As you might detect, I'm over Europan manufacturers and their 21st century nonsense.
Essentially the extra 5% of power and rpm isn't worth the extra super-tooled maintenance. Not to mention the dealer only things that just sour the deal.It's a law of diminishing returns, that eventually pointed me to a Guzzi smallblock, with technology from 20 yrs ago.Less is more.
May not be worth it to you, but may to some others. Lots of different bikes out there for lots of different folks to choose from. I'm really happy not everybody chooses the exact same as I do, although we both did choose small block Guzzis.
Fact is, even though the somewhat lowly R80 GS began the turnaround , it was the introduction of the K series , and to a larger extent the first oilheads in '93 that really got The company moving again
Just to be clear, "upmarket" folks are ignorant and "higher level" people won't ride Ducatis or BMWs?
