Are these Chinese BMWs ? Never seen bikes broken like this. I was planning a BMW but will have to opt for a KTM now my other choice.

I believe most of the BMW's shown in pics were big twins with a few 650's and 800's in the mix, yes? All the Boxers are made at Spandau, Berlin. Not sure about the P-Twin 800's, some rumors say they were Chinese but now back in
Berlin. The F650 and G650's are Chinese, as are G450 dual sport bikes.

The broken drive housings on the Boxers were, IMHO, the owner's fault. That bike was never meant to be jumped or bashed hard off road whilst carrying a load. But something Mezo isn't telling you is that many of those broken bikes were simply CRASH victims. Hit by cars, flipped or bashed an Armco barrier.

The F650 forks are Showa items, but perhaps very low spec Showa forks? (Honda own Showa). Problem is obvious ... those forks are too skinny for a 450 lb. bike. Also, it's possible Showa had a long period of bad quality assurance?

BMW got sued in Germany and paid out a few claims .... but lots of others got burned, never got paid. Funny thing is, even the new G650 use the same size forks ... and I believe they are still Showa forks.

Showa forks are usually good ... in fact .. world class gear. Never ever heard of such a problem with any other bike ever, using either KYB or Showa. But stuff happens ... Sometimes the engineers misjudge and make mistakes.
In this case I blame BMW. Should have been major recall for ALL F650's and
G650's period.

KayJay, would you buy the new KTM's made in India? The 390 Duke looks good ... would you trust it?

Maybe they don't like the MIC being taken?


As you say, the big ones are put together in Spandau by the gastarbeiten.
Hence the two year warranty on new products?

Herein "Chinese" = Taiwanese, just like Cuba = the USA. i.e. someday.
Kymco - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Dave

Kymco built the 450 dirt bikes, but Loncin in Mainland China built (still builds)
the F and G650 singles. Loncin and BMW have some sort of partnership ... may still have it? Dunno? So .... over all two Chinese connections for BMW who also build Cars there! None of this is news ... been going on a decade or more.

China: The BMW G650GS Production Country - MotorPartsCentre.Com
BMW Partners with Chongqing Loncin to Make Motorcycles
Loncin Motor and BMW hand in hand again—Loncin signed a long-term contract of new large displacement - loncin

For information, the 2007/2008 BMW G650x (Challenge/Country/Moto) with the FI twin spark 652cc Rotax motor (and finished the Dakar race with Simon Pavey on board) were built in Italy in the Aprilia factory. Hence in my 2013 RR (in sig below) I refer to it as a RBA (Rebadged Aprilia) to hide the shame of riding a Beemer

In more recent times lots of plastic G-bikes probably do come from the China. Never bothered research these as I think they look hideous, before even contemplating their apparent (or not) lack of robustness.

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TBS.com

I just looked around new 1200GS and cound't believe how thin and delicate its frame tubes are! no wonder it breaks easily, tubes in my honda nc750x are twice as thick!


look GS frame



e.g. nc750x frame




or super tenere frame, it's massive!

[QUOTE]Makes you wonder why they are so heavy then ?

Yep cars landed on top them causing them to flatten out.

Mezo.

Now you mention it, neither have I.

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Dave

BTW weak frame is not that BMW specific after all...