| Author | Message | ||
     Sandblast  |
lol I was waiting for you to see this thread Dino! | ||
| Smoke |
i had bought my s1 from the bmw/ducati/triumph dealer in the next big town over and they always send their event and sales literature. they are now only bmw but yesterday was customer appreciation and demo ride day. me and a buddy made a day of it. i had ridden a r1100s before, but this was the first time i was able to get on them back to back. not an organized ride, but leave and come back at your discretion. unfortunately, the 2 bikes i was hoping to ride were not on the lot. r1150rs and k1200rs. the r1100s and the k1200gt were my fave followed by the r1150gs. some of the people appeared to be effete snobs, but the majority were pretty nice folks. one block away at the harley shop,the people outside looked at my s1 and my buddy's st4 like wtf are you doing here. the staff treated us good as always. different everywhere you go. had a good time, put on a few hundred miles, rode 8 other bikes and no rain with 50-65 degrees. how you guys doing up north? tim | ||
| Unibear12r |
Wow, you can sure tell winter has hit Badweb from the thread content lately.  | ||
| Iamike  |
I haven't met a BMW rider that wasn't good to talk to or uppity, unlike some other brands. The one that I remember the most had a bazillion miles on his but said it was boring and was thinking about getting something fun like a Buell. | ||
| Coolice  |
Yea its the winter blahs startin... Daytona can't come soon enough... Steve, your question of the Glide vs. the Bmer, for the interstate, Glide. I've only ridden the Glide 500 miles so far but in some heavy winds and I liked it -very stable. Like I said the RT was top heavy and had a tall saddle height, the Glide I think is the lowest of HD tourers. An annoying thing of the Bmer is the handlebar "buzz", yes they vibrate. Enought to cause my right hand to go asleep. The thing I do miss is the excellent wind protection of the fairing. Glide is good upper but knees down-nothing and I'm not buying $600 lowers, they should come with them. Also the Bmer has a torque roll when you rev it at slow or stopped. As a comparison its hard as each bike has its strong points and they are designed for different riding, the Bmer a sport tourer, the Glide basicly a super slab pounder. But til spring and a few long trips my long term opinion of the Glide will have to wait. To answer your question-yes I'm happy with the Glide, when the Buell sport tourer arrives-it goes! | ||
| Oddbawl  |
BMW folks are divided into different subcultures too. You've got the Airheads, Oilheads, Chromeheads, GS types, etc. a lot of them appear to be techno weenies, but a lot of them are serious roadburners too. Guys logging 1/4 million miles on a bike are entitled to wear whatever the hell they want if you ask me. Check out a copy of BMW Owner's news and check out some of the mileage awards. Not too many trailer Queens that I know of. (Can't say the same about certain other brands) Never had a bad conversation with one, but I'm an Airhead myself. Solid bikes man. | ||
| Court |
There used to be a huge divide within the BMW camp.....I learned much about them while doing research in 1995. By the way, hint, there is no "answer" to this thread. Trying to "catagorize" BMW riders is as easy as trying to "describe the average HD rider". Great bar talk.....but fruitless. Court | ||
| Coolice |
Very true Court. I feel this type of discussion is just the effects of winter closing in...remember WE are ALL motorcyclists! Keep riding!! | ||
| Reepicheep  |
If there were three groups parked in a parking lot, race replicas, BMW's, and Harleys, I would probably park closer to the BMW's. If nothing else, they ride, and understand why I will commute on a bike on a 40 degree morning. | ||
| Dino  |
...and cheerful and thrifty and brave. At least I think that was BMW riders. I'm sure it was some group that started with a "B". Actually the few times I've ridden with a group of Beemer riders they seemed like pretty good folks. Of course, on the rare occasions that I ride with group it's usually with a bunch of ne'er-do-well BadWeb Buellers...so maybe the Beemer guys just seem nice by comparison.  "fully outfitted bmw all weather thermo nuclear riding suit" Actually, I've never seen BMW riders dressed head to toe in BMW boots, BMW pants, BMW jackets, BMW do-rags, etc. However, they do tend to wear more protective clothing more frequently that most riders. Is that bad? Once, on trip, I stopped in to a BMW dealer to get the rear tire replaced...on a Sunday...without an appointment...and I noticed the high percentage of riders coming in wearing fairly comprehensive protective gear. Not "BMW" gear, just good protective gear. That said, I've been on rides wearing jeans and combat boots in the company of Buellers wearing full leathers, Alpinstar boots, etc. Were they "poseurs." Never occurred to me to think so. Besides, I'd bet good money they could ride rings around me! The nearest BMW dealership is the only one around where anyone with a motorcycle endorsement can get a test ride on any bike in the house, in the company of the salesman on another bike. If they know you well, they just throw you the keys and tell you to bring it back before closing time. Best dealership I've ever dealt with (OK, that may be damning with faint praise.) Oh, and someone was bothered that Beemer riders check their tire pressure too often?! When I've got four tires under me I tend to check pressures on my birthday each year, whether they need it or not. When on a motorcycle, I check frequently. Every morning when touring. Excessively low pressure on a bike can ruin your day in a hurry! And even moderately low pressure can eat up a tire in short order. Seems to me that the biggest difference between a group of beemers riders and a group of Buell riders is the number of decibels produced as said groups ride past. As the billboard said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Harley Davidson, we'd wish you a happy 100th birthday...but you wouldn't hear us! - BMW". That was classic...and hilarious. (Message edited by dino on December 05, 2004) | ||
| Swampy  |
A guy I work with bought a K1200LT this summer. He has been having fun on it and has always been a gentleman whenever he has ridden with me. The bike has a dizzying assortment of techno gadgets, including the windshield adjuster on the handle bar controls, heated seat and bars and ABS. He just bought a BMW leather Jacket I don't think it has affected him yet though. I can't wait for spring! | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
At the IMS show last year one of the folks running the BMW booth told me they jokingly refer to the LT in that bike as meaning Light Truck. | ||
| Dino |
the LT in that bike as meaning Light Truck Man, no kiddin'! I sat on one once...that was plenty for me. A friend of mine bought one a while back. His first bike! Learned to ride on it!! Learned how many passers-by it took to help him get it back upright when he'd drop it. He's doing fine on it now, though. Commutes to work on it most days. Still, I wouldn't generally recommend it as a bike to learn on. | ||
| Dasbuell  |
Being not only a Buell owner (x2) but also a BMW owner... (and a Yamaha & Honda) I am mildly offended by the broad generalization. What does the ownership of an object have to do with my personality traits??? I have the same personality and general attitude I had when I started riding in the late 60s when I rode a Sears Allstate 125cc and then a Bridgestone 360cc. A few months back we had a thread that took on a wild spin about cops and a few other groups... the generalization was addressed by me in length... and by others also... I will not repeat my thoughts on generalizations... the archives can speak to that. I do have this to say... i was just wondering what everyones thoughts were on personal trainers? I think all personal trainers... blah, blah, blah... yada... yada... yada!!! Maybe I made my point... anyone feeling a bit angry or singled out??? Feeling like one has been unfairly judged???  good night! | ||
| Dasbuell |
Not really offended... just the BMW geek in me speaking out to defend the BMW owners who have not found this board to defend the BMW "life style". Yes, there is a difference in the bunch of BMWMOA from the HD HOGS or Buell BRAG riders... The ones I know are very serious about safely riding... having good gear... often the most expensive helmets, leathers and all weather riding suits (read the best available in their opinion)... riding year round... put tons of miles on their machines (there is a bike serviced by the local BMW shop that has 250,000+ miles on it)... and some are gadgeteers. When I bought my BMW above used... it had 20,000 miles on it and it was described as "just broke in" and very low mileage for a used BMW. | ||
| Sfarson  |
I ride BMW also. Enjoy riding the GS dual-sport to explore the Rocky Mountain forest roads. great bike, company, and riders. But then again I like all things two-wheeled and have no issue with riders not like me.  | ||
| Peter  |
1700km (over 1000 miles) of sand in Western Australia. Prepaid fuel brought inland 400 miles and left in drums, otherwise no outside contact. I didn't see any Buells   | ||
| Blake  |
Every BMW I have ever met has been wonderful. People who peddle stereoptypes and take satisfaction in spreading their inane self-absorbed hateful whiny-bitch gossip are not.  On a more positive note... Peter, Way cool! Story time! Tale Secton? Please?  | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
This thread is hysterical. K1200LT aka Light Truck. My father in law has one and we call it the "Winnebiko," It's a wonderful machine, and I can't wait to get one of my own (to supplement, not replace the Buell). I rode it a few weeks ago through some curves. It is surprisingly easy to hang off the thing. Very competent. I belong to a club here in KC, Heart of America Motorcycle Enthusiasts. One of our members is a woman who rides an RT1100. She hadn't been to a meeting in a while, so she quietly reintroduced herself and her bike. A knowing soul in the back of the room yelled out, "How many miles on that bike, Vonnie?" She sheepishly stood up and announced, "320,000 miles." Those Bimmer riders really pound the pavement (another generalization, sorry). I like all riders. Every brand has quirky people associated with it. Some of it is self fulfilling due to the culture of the brand. Gadgets and serious mileage are part of the BMW brand culture. The Buell culture mandates that we change the exhaust, ride curvey roads, go to track days, and chuckle everytime we see a leather jacket with fringe. Do all of us do these things? No, but I bet more than half do. I'd love to see the reverse thread on a Bimmer board. "Those crazy Buell people!" "Dangerous and reckless to the core" | ||
| Buelluk |
i was in the local Eckerds recently wearing my HD orange on black leather jacket carrying my helmet with a Buell decal on the back . The lady behind me in the queue asked me why I was wearing a Harley jacket if I had a Buell. Points to her for knowing that Buell was a motorcycle brand. Then I told her that Harley owns 98% of Buell and then that I also own a Harley - 74 XLCH, so I am entitled - ?? - to wear the HD leather. Anyway getting to the point she then told me that her husband and her ride a K1150RS and that I was brave for riding that day ..it was about 55 degrees in NY State ...go figure. Saw her and hubby departing the parking lot in a BMW cage. So ,she was pleasant but I think a lot of BMW owners ,like HOG riders, are in it more for the lifestyle choice it represents. BTW don't argue with my friend in California , ex Marine scout-sniper about his Rockster, I ride an XB9S ,but i would take the Rockster with no problems . | ||
| Aldaytona  |
After riding Harleys for years in the mid eighties I stumbled into 441 Cycle Shop in Ft Lauderdale and went home with a new R65LS. Couldn't stay off it, put over 20,000 miles on it the first year. This short, light bike reminds me of the guys at BMW who might be thinking just off center, guys who if they were at H-D today would be working at Buell. This bike at the time was by far the most fun motorcycle in the BMW family. If by now you're thinking this bike reminds me of the early Buell bikes, well, it's still in my garage. I'll leave that conclusion up to you. If you ever get to Ft Lauderdale be sure to stop in to 441 Cycle Shop and say hello to Fred and his wife Cindy, you can come to your own conclusion about BMW riders. | ||
| Tramp  |
as i said, i service 'em and have owned 'em. love the bikes. but there IS a definitive trend w/BMW riders toward conspicuous consumption. this is not a parking lot onservation, but years of dealing with BMW customer service issues at BMW dealerships. MOST (and that's a very accurate statement born of experience) bmw riders (especially members of the "BMW Whiner's group) make their technicians' lives hell by constantly correcting the techs and telling them the problem is not fixed after the tech addresses it, which the BMW owners base on internet tech-gossip. what makes people think Beemer owners are such big-mileage riders? most of the HD riders with whom i ride put on far higher miles than the BMW guys, and the precious few bikes i ever see on the roads here during our NY winters are actually 1%er harleys or the occasional sportbike. the bmw guys consciously perpetuate their big-mile myth by habitually recurrent pageantry outside of high-profile restaurants, shops and taverns. when you really get right down to it, the more gear a guy wears, and the bigger his bags and windshield, the more he's really trying to AVOID the actual motorcycle experience anyway. i've done many coast-to-coast runs on Beemers, a harley and my buell, and each time (save for once with the S2T in original trim) it was without a wondhsield or bags, just my alice ruck. hey- there are many cool guys on beemers, and one of the biggest mile friends i've ever known rides the light truck (expression came right from a friend at bmw/na in the 90s). but that big-miles is not much on aerostitch or gps systems. he's a charter pres. of the most infamous mc in the world... | ||
| P0p0k0pf |
Perhaps the only thing they have in common is the name on the machine they straddle. If you look for similarities and stereotypes in any group, you'll find em, whether they actually apply or not. It's sort of a human nature thing we've got goin. As far as BMW rider gear, I suspect it has a lot to do with the brand, BMW's sales, and rider demographics. A premium price on a bike gives a customer more leeway on "freebies" during a sale, not to mention the customer's willingness to spend $$ on higher-priced factory accessories, rather than lower-priced aftermarket gear. You'll definitely have more luck including a full set of gear in a sale if it is a $15K BMW, rather than an $8k Suzuki or Yamaha. This trend is pretty prevalent (black leather anyone?) in Harleys too. This trend is pretty clear at the BMW dealership (4-wheeled) I work at. (Message edited by p0p0k0pf on December 06, 2004) | ||
| Djkaplan  |
I've always thought BMW riders were smarter than me. They may have been more boring, though. | ||
| Tramp |
all this being said, i love the machines and i know most *airhead* guys are, by a huge margin, very cool and funny, and would fit in (almost too well) here and on atc. although i don't own one at this second, i'm still an avid airhead rider/modifier.as to 'stereotyping' the other beemerhounds, i'm not pulling concepts from my derriere, here. i can go through the dealership computer and list service issues, resolutions, color of owner's -50o aerostitch, etc., and the overwhelming trend would send a shiver down the spines of those of us present who actually wrench on our own machines and put big miles on our sleds. some ostentatiously anal sumb*tches on the newer oilheads and k bikes. hell- the coolest customers i had at the san francisco bay area dealership where i worked were the gay dudes from 'the castro'- at least they were up front about their fastidiousness and fashion sense. plus they always hooked me up with the hot chicks they partied with, which was rad.... bmw is the preferred marque in gay motorcycle culture, incidentally, those fellers just love all the doodads... | ||
| Tramp |
incidentally, the allure of the *airhead* is the same as the tuber: aircooled, carburetted pushrod twin standard. | ||
| Dino |
"bmw riders (especially members of the "BMW Whiner's group) make their technicians' lives hell by constantly correcting the techs and telling them the problem is not fixed after the tech addresses it" WAIT!! ARE YOU SAYING THAT THERE ARE BMW OWNERS WHO ARE CRITICAL OF SERVICE THEY RECEIVE AT THEIR DEALERS...AND THEY EVEN DISCUSS MAINTENANCE ISSUES WITH EACH OTHER ON THE INTERNET?!!? Whew, glad that doesn't happen at Buell! (Message edited by dino on December 06, 2004) | ||
| Scooterroid  |
"hell- the coolest customers i had at the san francisco bay area dealership where i worked were the gay dudes from 'the castro'- at least they were up front about their fastidiousness and fashion sense. plus they always hooked me up with the hot chicks they partied with, which was rad.... bmw is the preferred marque in gay motorcycle culture, incidentally, those fellers just love all the doodads..." TFF Steve-O (Message edited by scooterroid on December 06, 2004) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Pushrods? Pushrods!? You call those stubby little things Pushrods!?!? Now *this* is a pushrod! (pointing to Sporster pushrod).  | ||
| Dino |
Guess that's what happens to the pushrods in your v-twin when your v is 180 deg. |
