The Consumer Reports MC Reliability Report is Out

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Do you really believe this bullshit you're spewing?

That's quite an analogy he put out there huh Scott

[coffey67]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Do you really believe this bullshit you're spewing?

Tongue-in-cheek sarcasm. There may be a hint of truth in it.....

[Work4crown]

So yesterday I was like "Wow, good press for Yamaha..."

Today I see this...

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2015/04/0...urce=pulsenews

Oh well. At least owner's don't have to pay for it. Unless you consider being banned from riding your new bike a payment of sorts.

[smbke]

Originally Posted by eagle

My Harley is just as reliable as my Nomad. The Harley just costs much more to maintain when I do the same maintenance/service to each bike.

Good point. It's not just about reliability but cost of ownership. If Harley is just as reliable as Kawasaki but costs more to maintain, Maw Kaw wins in my book. My bike does everything my Harley riding buddie's bikes do for a fraction of the price. My best friend rides a Harley. He loves it! When I told him I bought my bike for his down payment, he was less enamored.

[schoeney]

Don't forget that depreciation/resale value impacts cost of ownership as well.

[InkyDoggy]

Yeah I'll be just fine when I ride into the next Rally on my next new Chinkomatic Bike I am looking to buy soon, if I make it that far that is!

I really don't have a great passion for one brand over another. I just like them to purr and do good for as long as they can do it while I am the owner.

[smbke]

That's my point! I let someone else take the depreciation and I pick the bike up for a song! it's an excellent bike at an excellent price!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by smbke

That's my point! I let someone else take the depreciation and I pick the bike up for a song! it's an excellent bike at an excellent price!

The same can be said of leftovers. I've seen new leftover voyagers listed for under 14K. That said, buying used, if on a loan has some downsides. One, interest rates tend to be higher on used vehicles. The other thing is, are you buying someone else's problems? Caveat Emptor obviously, but if you find a low mileage model that's a year or two old, a great deal can be made.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Don't forget that depreciation/resale value impacts cost of ownership as well.

If I'm not mistaken Harleys have better resale value than our Kawasakis.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

If I'm not mistaken Harleys have better resale value than our Kawasakis.

Better than any other bike I would imagine.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

If I'm not mistaken Harleys have better resale value than our Kawasakis.

I think in general terms that is probably accurate.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Do you really believe this bullshit you're spewing?

I do, you should hear the idiot's over here boasting about their harley's at the bus stop's.

[SnowPusher]

Originally Posted by ponch

For the reputation that BMW has, their bikes have some thematic problems and their usual tactic is to blame the owner or some third party item. For instance, BMW used to use a fuel strip instead of a float in the gas tank. The failure rate would be considered high in my book. I've had it replaced twice. It's not trip ending, but it's a pain in the ass because the warning light stays lit and the LCD blinks continuously that I am running out of gas. BMW blamed it on our fuel. Eventually, then made a 12 year warranty on the item from date of original purchase. Then there is the most current recall with the real wheel flange that the tire and disk bolt to. It can develop cracks. It's made of aluminum too. BMW says it's from owners over torquing bolts, but I've seen pictures of flanges with the disk side cracked and the disk was never removed or replaced. Then there was the iconic final drive failures. Word gets out that owners should use only BMW recommended FD fluid, which is Castrol SAF-XO. Funny thing is that the bearing that fails is sealed. Then there were issues with other items like cracked fuel pump flange and switch gear on 2010 higher bikes. K1600s had water pump issues such that they redesigned it. Now, IMO, they design the best bike from a functionality standpoint. Everything works together well, there are no real shortcomings (may be the seat, but no manufacturer makes a great seat for everyone) but if I bought one again, I'd get an extended warranty, especially on the K bikes. For instance, a long block on a K bike is over $14K. To date, I've had these issues: broken front ABS cable because they didn't affix it properly at the factory, two fuel strips, a battery and broken throttle body pulleys. I've gotten off fair light compared to others. In the case of the throttle bodies, I had to eat that as it was out of warranty. They are made of plastic...It's had some recalls done, like the hard brake lines from the ABS unit and the cracked fuel pump flange. Mine wasn't cracked and the solution is to put a metal reinforcement ring around the bung. I am waiting to take in it for the wheel flange recall.

Over my entire riding life I've owed 4 BMW's. 2 air heads 1 flying brick and a hex head. Out of all of them my 03 K1200 Lt was the most troublesome. I think the failure rate on that was 80%. The one thing I never had to do to this bike was replace the final drive. Everything else that could happen did. Lets just say I got to be a pro at taking the Tupperware off. I had it down to 20 minutes....with no broken tabs.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by SnowPusher

Over my entire riding life I've owed 4 BMW's. 2 air heads 1 flying brick and a hex head. Out of all of them my 03 K1200 Lt was the most troublesome. I think the failure rate on that was 80%. The one thing I never had to do to this bike was replace the final drive. Everything else that could happen did. Lets just say I got to be a pro at taking the Tupperware off. I had it down to 20 minutes....with no broken tabs.

Some bloke's are just slow learner's

[ponch]

Originally Posted by SnowPusher

Over my entire riding life I've owed 4 BMW's. 2 air heads 1 flying brick and a hex head. Out of all of them my 03 K1200 Lt was the most troublesome. I think the failure rate on that was 80%. The one thing I never had to do to this bike was replace the final drive. Everything else that could happen did. Lets just say I got to be a pro at taking the Tupperware off. I had it down to 20 minutes....with no broken tabs.

I haven't had as much trouble as some with my BMW, more than some too. The airheads were fairly bulletproof and that's what BMW built their rep on. The later bikes departed from the formula and it shows. It takes me about 15 minutes for the tupperware and there are no tabs, it's all screws and plenty of them. The bike works great, but I loathe just the thought of a breakdown over something ridiculous. In January, the throttle body pulleys broke. They are plastic. BMW doesn't sell them as a replaceable part. The whole throttle body has to be replaced at over $500 each. I found a used set on eBay for $265. At this point, I don't think I'd get another BMW bike.

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