1200GS bits made in china?

[Devon]

I seem to recall reading a couple of times recently some parts of the 1200GS are made in China: does anyone know if thats true, or is it total boolax and BMW make and put the 1200GS together in Germany? I know the old 650 singles used Ausrian Rotax engines so their might be some truth in the Chinese whispers.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Why worry?

I can remember (not so long ago) when it was assumed that anything made in Japan must be rubbish. The origin of parts is less important than the quality control before and after assembly.My house is full of tools and items that originate in China - some ar good,some will just do the job for which they are designed - ONCE; But you get what you pay for.
If the rumour you heard is not true, I am sure that it will come to pass sooner or later.

 

[alimey4u2]

Rolleiflex "Zeiss" lenses were being made in Singapore under licence by Rollei. No finer lens to be found on any camera.... Made in China ? some very good quality kit now comes from those shores....

 

[cookie]

I seem to recall reading a couple of times recently some parts of the 1200GS are made in China: does anyone know if thats true

are you sure it didn't actually read "made of china?"

 

[GSband]

The alloy wheels on the 04-07 GS's were made by BBS, renowned for such items, with factories in some European countries.
The 08 onwards GS's have alloy wheels produced in China. They are heavier than the BBS wheels.

I don't know what this means qualitywise; but lighter wheels provide easier/lighter steering.
The decrease in cost to BMW, it would seem, has not been passed on to the customer.

No matter where the different parts come from, all is put together in the Berlin BMW plant.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Turn you keyboard over! Odds are that its made in china! pretty much everything is nowdays!

 

[Loiq]

everything things made by the chinese these days even my lunch...

Sweet and sour hong kong style with egg fried rice.

 

[theop]

the only thing not made in China nowadays mate is the Queen's hat.... although I doubt that even...

 

[Annette]

We make everything here in good old Britain

 

[Pukmeister]

The company I work for used to make industrial chillers in the UK and USA.

They are now made in several factories in China and Malaysia (purely down to economics).

They are still regarded as the best in the business by many.

The Dr Martens (Air Wear) factory in my home village closed and moved its footwear production to China.

I dare say a few components in most BMW cars and bikes (amongst others)are produced in China, again purely for economic reasons.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Made in China

A friend of mine is Eurpean Director of an American refrigeration company. He is Australian so he knows where China is. He looks after three large factories - one in Barcelona, one in China and one here in France; he doesn't speak much French but he introduced himself by presenting the local management with three particular units - fabricated in each of the three factories.
'Can you tell the difference between these three items' he asked them. They agreed that they were identical. He then told them the hourly rates paid in each country. Somehow they seemed to get the message even in Australian English and he has had no trouble with the unions or anybody else;.

 

[GSband]

That may be good for the company in the short run. However, if all is produced in China, there will be no consumers left over here to buy the products. You know ... unemployment.

Seems to me the way your friend of the refrigeration co. is making his point is by threat. Nice.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

China v. Europe

"....Seems to me the way your friend of the refrigeration co. is making his point is by threat. Nice...." Of course I can see your point of view but the reality of the situtaion is that if the factory here is not efficient it will cease to exist. Look at the motor and motorcycle industry in the UK. Can you remember when the happy days of BMC and NVT? The French still think that most industrial (and other) problems can be solved by strikes and demonstrations. You could get quite irrate if you visited Lyon, a city which has a wonderful & cheap transport system - but they go on strike for 59 minutes a day ( no pay cut under I hour) - and you thus missed a train connection or an important meeting.
This may seem a it off topic but there must be a compromise between the repressive conditions in China and the laid back attitude in European industry.

 

[shugie]

That Karl Marx knew a thing or two when he predicted that capitalists would move the "means of production" to where labour was cheapest. Of course he also predicted that capitalism would ultimately be destroyed by its own inherent flaws, but event the vile pinko bankers have failed in this - so far.

What will be interesting to see, and it will happen in our lifetimes, is what will occur when the labour rates in China rise to the point that the sum of labour and shipping costs for exceed the costs of local manufacture.

 

[Owen Snell]

......What will be interesting to see, and it will happen in our lifetimes, is what will occur when the labour rates in China rise to the point that the sum of labour and shipping costs for exceed the costs of local manufacture.

Same as Japan, they will move production down to the next cheapest location.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

I agree

Same as Japan, they will move production down to the next cheapest location.

Yes, you got in first; But labour costs in real terms are coming down and down - robots have taken over much of the car industry ( and many others of course.) Not quite the same scope so far for a bike.

 

[shugie]

Same as Japan, they will move production down to the next cheapest location.

If there is one. I wonder if China is the last stop for cheap production, there are not many places with large pools of cheap labour, although I don't know how India compares for labour rates with China.

 

[WindyChuffer]

I seem to recall reading a couple of times recently some parts of the 1200GS are made in China: does anyone know if thats true, or is it total boolax and BMW make and put the 1200GS together in Germany? I know the old 650 singles used Ausrian Rotax engines so their might be some truth in the Chinese whispers.

Why does it matter?

 

[elefantmanshawn]

These days you only really need to worry when it says made in britain

 

[WindyChuffer]

These days you only really need to worry when it says made in britain

+1 on that