Jumping Ship

[Dizzy]

For the last year and a half I have had just the worst experiences with BMW of Manhattan and BMWusa Regrading My New R1150R and have decided to go elsewhere. I know they have ABS but does anyone know if Ducati offers any shaft drive bikes?
Does the Motoguzzi Driso come in an ABS model?
I would sincerely apreciate the help.

[jbuzbee]

Dizzy,

Sorry to here about your trouble with BMW. My R1150R has been a great bike and I'll ride it into the ground. However, unlike others on this board, I believe there are other excellent bikes out there than the R or BMW for that matter.

Ducati: that was my first bike. It was a Monster 620, small and uncomfortable, but a real blast around town. Ducati offers only a chain drive - another major reason I switched. The valve adjustments on a Ducati, every 6000 miles, need to be done by a professional. $$$ If you can live with the maintenance and chain the Multistrada is an excellent choice.

Moto Guzzi The Breva 1100 - the direct competitor with the 1150R comes with an ABS option, and I believe the 1200 Norge (1150RT). The "Griso" is more like a "Power Standard", no ABS - but those brembos aren't bad brakes!!

Buell I test rode the Uly in Daytona this year and was very impressed. Very agile bike, excellent brakes, Belt final drive, very good motor except the heat: Now apparently this isn't as bad to riders with more bike variety experience. The two bikes I've owned, the Monster 620 and R don't force allot of heat onto the rider, but apparently other bikes do?

Honda Big red has several cruisers with shaft drive, however the more sport-oriented standards, like the 919, come chain drive only.

Good luck with your quest ahead. A really good source for info is
http://www.advrider.com. Check out the "Road Warriors" and "Beasts" sections. You'll find plenty of info on the latest bikes that directly compete with the R1150R.

jb

[gel9001]

what kind of problems have you been having with BMW Manhattan? I've bought 3 beemers from them and they're great. I know everyone there, maybe I can offer some suggestions. A few of the nearby dealers have closed so not to many choices in the NYC area. Let me know,

Gene

[Anger]

I was reading a Guzzi site where the forum contributors were actually considering some kind of class action against the ports importer. They were waiting months for regular service parts on their new or newer parts, so BE CAREFULL and do some research.

Anger

[ErikU]

I rented a Multistrada a couple weeks ago (that's all they had on-hand). I was dissapointed. It was a very unrefined ride compared to the R1150R. It shook all over, was loud, hot and under powered too. It was great on unpaved roads though!

[CycleRob]

Dizzy,
I'd look first at the Guzzi 1100 Breva. It's FUgly to some, beautiful to others. I like it because it would be the only bike that closely mimics all the desireable traits of the R1150R. You'll love that NASCAR sound a 90 degree V-Twin makes.

[wncbmw]

The Guzzi is the way to go if the R appeals to you. Shaft drive and v-twin. And different. That would be my alternate choice. Beware Ducs unless you are a gear head and enjoy maintainance work. Or have deep pockets.

[bikermeow]

For the Jap bikes, the FJR1300 comes with shaft drive and ABS, but not a flat twin. The Honda Deauville 650 comes with shaft too.

Cheers

Meow

[Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales]

Hi Dizzy. As previous posters have said, the real alternative is a Moto Guzzi. I've had a Guzzi SP3 and now own a 1978 Guzzi Convert (Look it up on the web. It's a hoot!). I also bought a BMW Rockster three weeks ago.

The whole Guzzi experience is wonderful. The off-beat firing; torque reaction (which I love); the sound; - and much more. It's not 'better' than a BMW, it's just different. If a Guzzi doesn't bring an ear-splitting grin to your face, then you are not a living person.

If you are not into the odd bit of servicing, then the Breva is the one to go for. Otherwise, there are plenty of models to choose from going back to 1977.

Good luck.

Rog.

[Dizzy]

Thanks for all the input I also have been looking at the Aprila Tuono.
Wish things had not gone the way they did the times I was able to ride I loved My Beemer.

[peterbulgar]

Dizzy, if the only reason you are dumping your BMW is because of bad experiences with a dealer, I'd think several times before jumping to Aprilia or Moto Guzzi. Nothing against the bikes themselves, which from all reports are excellent, but both companies have been in almost constant financial trouble in the last 10 years, their dealerships are few and far between, and I'd strongly suspect that parts distribution is a problem. The older Guzzis seem to have a network of enthusiasts to support them, but if you are going to have a dealer do the work on the bike, I'd look long and hard at the service department of your local Guzzi or Aprilia dealer. Of course if you have a Guzzi or Aprilia dealer nearby, who has been in the same location for years and has a great reputation, and are not worried about service on the road, then go for it.
peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA

[Doug]

Is there another dealer in the city?

My friend with a st4s Duc has nothing but issues - cant hold a tune among various other annoyances.

[wncbmw]

Just a headsup but I heard our local Guzzi/Ducati/Triumph dealer was dropping Moto Guzzi after carrying them for about 20 years due to problems with the company and ordering parts, etc. Seems like BMW is not the only one with some dealer issues.

[Dizzy]

Since buying the bike new I have had two starters changed, 1 transmission change , 1 recall. Two breakdowns which I was unable to get roadside service for even though I was less than 6 miles from Manhattan BMW . Cost me nearly $300 bucks for that.
At least 1 dozen phone calls not returned then called and told to wait. BMW USA same story. All this within 18 months.
Only other dealer is in Long Island. I find that pretty amazing in a city like NYC just one Dealer which also happens to be owned BMW.
Not a great way to start the summer!!!!!!

[Xray28]

My bad dealer experience was with Honda. My new bike developed a click in the top end when the engine was warm. I took it in to the dealer where I bought it. they took it all apart, Honda authorized replacing the pistons and pins. After a month I got it back and it sounded exactly the same. They kept it another month and exactly nothing to it. Honda said it had been repaired. Stonewalled! I took it to a distant dealer, asked about the clicking and was told "They all do that!" They had had it a total of 2 and a half months out of my one year warranty and Honda wouldn't even give me a warranty extension. Too bad it was a fin little bike, but my experience led me to my BMW with which I am very happy so far.

[dragonmojo]

Just a headsup but I heard our local Guzzi/Ducati/Triumph dealer was dropping Moto Guzzi after carrying them for about 20 years due to problems with the company and ordering parts, etc. Seems like BMW is not the only one with some dealer issues.

I'm reading some ambiguity here. The (Guzzi) dealer had problems with the company, and the company (BMW) had problems with dealers? Regardless, I have been dealing with an area dealer since 1983 and have been very happy with them (Ozzie's BMW in Chico, CA). They're a small German family business who love the bikes (having raced, rallied, lived and breathed BMW), but certainly there's no love lost between them and BMW NA. They buck the trend that BMW is pushing for: boutique shops a'la H-D... and continue to exist because of a great reputation and sales. It's a 90 mile ride for me, but what's a few extra miles to a motorcyclist anyway?

The point is, dealers and the companies they represent don't always see eye-to-eye, and is sometimes hard to distinguish where the problem lies.

[wncbmw]

No ambiguity intended. The issues may be apples to oranges. Just pointing out that other brands or dealers may have issues also.

[DJ Downunder]

I ride a bike because I love the bike...not because I like the dealer..even if there no other official BMW dealers there must be places that work on BMW's that know their stuff...the staff in these offical BMW dealers come and go..I would stick it out and give it some time...you are obviously very pissed off..and you may have good reason to be..but selling the bike and buying another brand will not guarantee that the new bike and dealer is any better.

I hope you keep it and hang around...

DJ

[fnfalman]

You gotta do what you gotta do. But I find it hard to believe that there are no independent shops skilled in BMW motos in New York City.

[sjbmw]

Try Cross Country BMW in Metuchen NJ.
30 miles from Manhattan, off turnpike Exit 11.