Back to the original question of are the BMW's reliable bikes?

I cannot comment on the new Beemer's, not my kind of bike at all.

But my 1982 LS 650 Boxer has done over 300 thousand kilometers with nary a problem.
It's been down more dirt roads and trails than most dirt bikes.
Two starter motors. A new tank after the first one rusted out. Fitted stainless steel exhausts when the orginals rusted out. Apart from consumables such as tires, batteries and bearings I have not replaced anything.
Still using original handgrips and footpeg rubbers. Still using the original rings and pistons. Not blowing smoke either.
Never had any major engine work.
I have worn out the hub in the front wheel from too many corrugations. Going to get a steel sleeve fitted there.
Still using the orginal rear suspension and the original springs in the front forks. Had the seat recovered.
The steering head bearings started to wear about a year ago, have not replaced them yet.
What more can I say?
Never had an electrical problem.
All I do is change the oils, check the tapperts, change the spark plugs, clean the air filter.
I have ridden it every day, varying distances for the last 8 years.
Re-sprayed it metallic charcoal out of a spray can two years ago.

Other bikes: Kawasaki LTD 750, 82 model...got 200 thou kms out of that.
NX 650 Honda, 88 model, only got 80,000 out of that.
XL 500 Honda, 82 model...only got 30,000 each out of two of them.
I just bought a 95 NX 650 to use for off road touring, I will be happy if I get 80,000 out of that one.
Some people here at HU have written that single cylinder engines will last past a 100 thou kms without any serious problems. Strangely enough guys on NX 650 and KLR 650 forums are all in agreement that at about the 80,000 to 100,000 kilometer mark you're going to need an engine rebuild.
And that's if you've really been fanatical about changing the synthetic oil on a regular basis.
Which is exactly what most long time bike mechs will tell you also.
When a workshop manager for Honda tells you he is surprised your NX 650 got to 80,000 kms you have to assume he knows what he is talking about.
My 1982 XL 250 Honda got to 75,000 kms...with no major engine work, that was a surprise to everyone.

I have said elsewhere, in my opinion bikes suffer more from over maintenance than neglect. it is better to just feed and water it regularly than operate on it frequently. Personally I change the plugs once, as a maintenance item, after a new set has run for 500-1000 miles, pack them well and keep as a known good set. then run the replacements until they start to fail.

all end up either selling or rebuilding right around 40 to 50K miles. Just the way it is. BMW is no exception here.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Following the thread and only a little bit interested that we are all wasting time on this one. It is interesting enough I guess because I am responding... It is a no win. I bought and am riding a 2006 1200gs adv including an R1150gs adv as well as a KTM before this one... I went through all the pros and cons - have ridden all types of bikes for dirt, road racing, vintage... you name it. They all have their merits. The reasons I chose this bike are good and varied but the important thing is I like getting on it every day and that makes all the difference.

Each bike has its positives and negatives.

I would like to say also that no matter which bike you get these days BMW notwithstanding - all are virtually impossible to work on without a computer or a wide array of gadgets. Some more than others. I am a traditionalist at heart but am warming up to the fact that my new bike does a ton of things that make life a little easier. A KLR will be a lot easier to work on - a 2 stroke 125 from Vietnam simple to rebuild on the road... but again - if that is your thing - it is yours. My bike will do a lot more than those bikes in other areas.

I saw a report of a guy riding an R1 to Patagonia... insane for sure but more power to him. I can't judge that call except to say I wouldn't do it. I hate big Harley cruisers and it seems more and more guys who ride them but it is there thing. I have also met some incredible guys who have helped me so much on the road - riding those big hogs.

BMW - owners??? tough one for me as I cringe when I have to go to the shop and slide into the glass bay and be met with my capaccino - it really makes me sick to think they look at a bike shop that way. I want wood floors - tons of gear - decent shop guys who know what they are doing and have got their hands dirty. The price I have to pay for my Beamer. Now I have to deal with... "hey are you Ewan McGregor" (almost worth getting a different bike for...)

So quit the drivel and go out and ride and remember that is the reason you are doing it - you guys are all spending too much time arguing over a lost argument.

Which makes me a bit of a hypocrite - right?

All the best guys

. Easy. "No Win"? No, for you, its "No lose". Sign here sir.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Hey - I agree on all that was said. My Blog etiquette needs some work.

How about this to start. I too am in the ad business and have been creating and writing ad creative for many years. I know the sell - and, I know that BMW does a good job of it. Of course you know this but the ad coverage in North America for BMW motorcycles is incredibly small. I suspect that they lack far behind even KTM from a budget stand-point. CPRCPV and such are easily minimal from what I see and know about it. Compared to the others of course.

There are very good reasons why BMW's have always been a good (see - not the best... that is subjective) choice for RTW travelling. For many years. Myth's are born out of reality and any true success with brand must be achieved with deliverable results first and foremost. Otherwise a brand will not survive as long as BMW has. Much why people love the KLR and it is an awesome bike - just not the one I wanted.

Either way it is not relevant as it still all comes down to personal choice in the end.

I have only one bike but have owned the others. I have waited 3 years to save up to buy this one and do all of the work I can on it myself.... All I can of course might not be that much. You also know that any motorcycle can cost you tons of money if you want. If you want it the way you want it. I too can get a box to program my bike - that has been available for years. You don't need any special tools to work on the BMW as I can take the heads off and do the valves in a few minutes - which is a slight bit easier than the V-Strom as you know. Everything else you can do on a KLR you can do on the BMW (except for well... changing the spokes out cause they have those cool rims that you can take the spokes out without taking the tire off...) - and, I am sure we all aren't riding around on an old Norton saying how can you ride that bike with disc brakes either - so it is all relative.

I didn't mean any offense at all with the drivel comment so sorry about that.

I met a guy last spring riding an old 800 Suzuki with a mish-mash of parts and brazing on it... a sorry site for sure. He also had put over a number of years riding everywhere from death valley to Alaska and when I looked at that bike I felt proud that the thing had done it and I met the guy who kept it going for all that time.

So - the guy who rode that 50cc yamaha scooter from Alaska to Ushuaia... I salute you.

"But my 1982 LS 650 Boxer has done over 300 thousand kilometers with nary a problem.
It's been down more dirt roads and trails than most dirt bikes."

Ahh, the R65, a man after my own heart!
I use an R65 as my travel bike (the monoshock, possibly even more reliable???), having left Australia with 180,000 km on the clock already and putting another 50,000 km on it through south/central Asia and Europe. The thing didn't miss a beat, and although it's a pig on ice and mud (which bike isn't?) 95% of the trip was on tarmac, making it a good overland travel bike in my opinion.
Not many people would challenge the reliability of the flat twin engine, but the airhead GS's were plagued mostly by gearbox and driveshaft problems, which are not so evident in road-going models. Mine had gearbox bearings changed as a precaution at 120,000 and i'm trying to decide if i should do them again before going to Africa in January.
sean

This hoax worked for a long time. The early reality perpetuated the myth. But myths are soon debunked by those willing to try new things....and by youth
who could give a Rat's Ass about tradition, reputation and race.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

The channels for sharing tech were
never really opened between the two companies.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I think one thing that has affected virtually all manufacturers is that they have in response to marketing made uneven progress in extending the planned maintenance intervals. Unfortunately from a users point of view it has been not altogether an unqualified success, as often the embuggerment factor remains the same. eg instead of cheap easily replaceable points which needed roughly annual attention, we have engine management systems...true the help squeeze a small % increase in power, but when they do fail replacement costs exceed the cost of a set of barrels pistons. Worse they tend to suffer from sudden and catastrophic failure wheras points tend to deteriate slowly, giving warning. any way as replacement is cheap and simple ( cost less than a tank of fuel) was not really a big issue. With the advent of synthetic oil instead of keeping its advantages of 2-3 times longer life, they redesigned the bikes putting the gears in the same chamber as the engine and a wet sump. gears chew up engine oil, and engines dirty gear oil, but there was sufficient lubrication to accept this for similar times an engine could run with Dino oil. Thus sacrificing all the advantage . Another problem with wet sumps for bikes is it raises the engine in the frame by 3-4inches ( 75-100mm).
sio whats the use of an ignition system that ought to run for 10 years if the plugs need changing every year? Another thing has changed, originally bikes were desinged as cheap transpoert for the masses, part of that cheapness was running costs. hence older bikes were nearly always owner maintained and owner maintainable. also they tended to do high (against cars of the time ) mpg. another factor that was more important in europe than USA.
largely now (in the richer countries) bikes are 'white goods' sold as toys to the rich, rather than bread and buttertransport.

I agree 100% and I fear the world is not a better place for hi tech play bikes that have to be traded in every 3 years to avoid obsolescence and unreliability .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Sorry, but the Japanese had unit engines (gear box and motor share oil) starting in the 1950's,

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

] No worries, no offense taken. Happy to hear your point of view.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Haha, I’ve eaten all my popcorn and laughing my ass off reading this stuff:-)

Now I will pack up my trusty old beemer and go away for a few days, look forward to read the rest of your poetry when I get back!

See you off the road if you’re not to busy writing…..

Since when did BMW start making snow mobiles?

Have a great winter!

(or maybe go down to Spain....don't forget the Lutefish!

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!