Quote:
Originally Posted by ta-rider
I woukd bever take a new bike. waut a dew years umtill it had proofed its quality. learb from all the people who have problems with the bew bmw!!!
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I think he means:
I would never take a new bike. Wait a few years until it has proved it's quality. Learn from all the people who have problems with new BMW's !!!
No worries Tobi, you're English is still 1000 times better than my German!
And you advice is not far off! ... BUT ...
With BMW, I would agree with you. The Japanese? not so much an issue in my experience. All new bikes can have issues but most "first year" Japanese bikes (of the last 20 years or so) have been quite good and reliable. I've even bought a few "first year" "untested" bike myself:
1. 1984 Honda Nitehawk 700S
2. 1985 Kawasaki Ninja 600R (very first 600 Ninja)
3. 1992 Yamaha TDM 850
4. 1992 Honda XR650L
5. 1997 Suzuki DR650SE
6. 1998 Honda VTR1000
7. 2000 Suzuki DRZ400E
8. 2002 Suzuki V-Strom DL1000
9. 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050
All the above were essentially "all new" models, although some are based on previous models, but ALL were "first year" bikes. NONE failed or ever had a major problem. (The Ninja did have the clutch actuator arm come loose, fixed under warranty)
These are just bikes I owned and put a lot of miles on. I Also tested dozens of new bikes. Only test bike that ever failed ...?? BMW R1150GS.
(I tested new R100, R1100, R1150 and R1200GS) Test bikes don't live an easy life. Most I had came from other magazines, so had been used and abused by staff there before I got the bike.
I ended up buying the 2002 V-Strom press test bike from Suzuki. I sold it off at 90,000 miles. Not one issue with this bike. It had 4000 "magazine test bike" miles on it when I got it. But after a week with it, I realized it was perfect. So worked a deal with Suzuki.
The difference is the Japanese actually TEST their new bikes before they release them. Some of the EU OEM's "allow" owners to be their long term Beta testers.
Japanese OEM's spend A LOT of money and time torture testing their motors. Like running them at redline 24/7 until they fail. Then go in and find out WHY ... and make it better.
All that said ... I would not hesitate in buying this new Africa Twin ... if it's for real! (Milan is not far away!)