4 hours in a recovery truck.

[DavidHolmes]

leisure riders, lol

Like I said Russ, "all you.... leisure riders will bugger back off.... leaving those of us..."

Put yourself in whichever category you feel most appropriate.

 

[DavidHolmes]

I ride at my leisure for my pleasure, no one tells me where to ride, it would be sad if it was any other way

Like if you had to spend 4 hours in the back of a recovery truck, for example.

 

[Rich]

Sound like Howards preparing his drum for another beating

Or his arse for another kicking

 

[Deleted account W]

Like if you had to spend 4 hours in the back of a recovery truck, for example.

I see your point, but I don't understand what what the problem is with people you call leisure riders, at least they get out and use the bikes?

A couple of weeks ago you posted that you hadn't riden your bike since last August, so you hardly need it as reliable transport either

 

[DavidHolmes]

I ride at my leisure for my pleasure, no one tells me where to ride, it would be sad if it was any other way

PS Lucky you. And I mean that very sincerely.

But some of us need our bikes to take us to work (or even work all day to actually earn any money) and ringing up the office to say that you cant make it in today, or you have just missed an appointment, again, is a real hassle.

I have to attend court for 4 days in July, the other side of London. I am faced with a journey that will involve driving half the M25 in rush hours, both ways. I have the choice of using my 2001 66k miles FBMWSH 1150 GS, owned from new, cost £8,500 in 2001 or a 1997 96k VW Golf, bought 3rd hand, some SH, cost £1,850 in 2003.

So I will probably have to use the Golf 'cause ringing up the court to say that I have broken down just aint gonna cut it.

 

[BBB61]

How many times has your GS actually broken down and caused you to miss an appointment/work ?

Bob

 

[Russ]

Like I said Russ, "all you.... leisure riders will bugger back off.... leaving those of us..."

Put yourself in whichever category you feel most appropriate.

if the shoe fits bitch

I also happen to use my 1200 GS to work everyday, i commute roughly 50 miles into and out of town each day and do a few hundred miles most weekends. I rely on it as my daily transport EVERYDAY, i don't unlike you, have the luxury of a car (my wife has that), so i rely on my bike more so than you could ever imagine. I then ALSO use it as my private business transport and some of my clients are the other side of London, so 'sorry i can't come today my bike is broken' doesn't cut it either

The 1200 has been a fantastic workhorse, it has done everything that is required, as was the 3 VFRs before it, but the GS does it better.

So who's calling who a leisure rider?

For the record Adam (Ablerider) does more bloody miles in a year than you could ever dream of doing.

it's like i said before the wise man thinks but does not speak, but the fool speaks and does not think.

"all you leisure riders" huh?

Facts first, opinions second...get it right

 

[DavidHolmes]

Well, lets see, in the 18 months Oct 2002 to April 2004 (when I was commuting daily, and using my bike to attend meetings around Enfield) there was the Clutch Failure, the Brake Failure, the Rear Suspension Failure and the Electrical Failure.

(The poly v belt failure was on my honeymoon, so that doesnt count).

Havent had any problems since, but then I stopped working in June 2004 and have ridden twice, covering less than 1k, since.

 

[DavidHolmes]

Forgot the meeting in central London I missed 'cause the 'Oil Pressure Warning' light came on and wouldn't go out despite the fact that everytime I stopped and let it cool down the sight glass was full (dealer said it had no oil in it, but as they had just serviced it.....).

 

[Russ]

BUy a triumph tiger then

Howard swears by em

Does anyone remember the old VW advertising slogan?

 

[Shep]

re DavidHolmes

You had better go to court by public transport, just in case you get put away for a while.

Regards Shep

 

[BBB61]

Well, lets see, in the 18 months Oct 2002 to April 2004 (when I was commuting daily, and using my bike to attend meetings around Enfield) there was the Clutch Failure, the Brake Failure, the Rear Suspension Failure and the Electrical Failure.

Can you elaborate? You say a clutch failure? A clutch is a consumable item and not designed to last for ever. Ditto the suspension. In what way did the brakes and electrical system fail?

Thanks in anticipation,

Bob

 

[Rich]

Havent had any problems since, but then I stopped working in June 2004 and have ridden twice, covering less than 1k, since.

I do hope you are enjoying your leisure riding

 

[swebb]

Handbags at dawn?

I can't believe people are becoming so "personal" over this...

surely nobody should "slate" other bike riders, no matter what their reasons for riding....

each to their own, a free country etc etc...

handbags at dawn anyone????

or a pint to wash away the bitterness?

 

[GSmonkey]

How many times has your GS actually broken down and caused you to miss an appointment/work ?

Bob

Mine has been 100% reliable on the way to work and always has its 'problems' on the way home. Last time I pushed it the last 1/2mile home up hill

 

[DavidHolmes]

Shep

Unlikely, bearing in mind that I am not the defendant - but who knows what may happen eh

Russ

A leisure rider for me is someone who doesnt lose money everytime their bike breaks. I only got a car last year when the baby was born, at the time of the bike failures my only back up was a DT 125, and commuting 100 miles aday on the M25 wasnt too much fun on that.

As to Adam doing more miles in a year than I can dream of, probably. Although how many miles a year do you think an ex-despatch rider can dream of exactly?

Bob

I documented these issues on this forum in detail at the time, but briefly, clutch within 12 months, front brake sensor at 12 1/2 (I know cause it was out of warranty), rear suspension unit (inside 12 months - collapsed rear shock, dumped its oil over the rear tyre), electrical failure was corrosion (at about 18 months) in the rear brake light housing causing the fuse to blow and all maner of weird things happening to the instruments -including the warning lights- initially mis diagnosed by one dealer as faulty heated grips, then mis diagnosed by another as 'probably a chaffed lead somewhere under the tank'.

Rich

Yes I am thanks.

 

[Abelrider]

So what you are saying is that you are paying BMW prices for a bike that is not made of BMW parts ? Or subject to BMW Quality Control ?

Yeah thats exactly what I am saying.
You think all automotive parts are made by the company that bolts it together and sticks a badge on the tank/bonnet?
Fool.

 

[sixfootandstocky]

Mr DH

I hope you get the new job, if it is what you want, and I hope that you earn enough money to purchase a "leisure bike".


I agree with you completely. I find that BMW quality is lower than I remember it being in the past. I also find that current BMW styling is not to my taste.

In relation to the quality of motorbikes, I do not understand why every car that I have owned has been more reliable and kept its appearance better than any bike that I have owned.

Bonjour.

 

[DavidHolmes]

Y
Fool.

Ahh more insults. Well Fella, if you ride the miles your friends say you do, and if your livelyhood depends upon it, and you are happy to have crap components on your bike, well, good luck to you.

Me, I aint, and having earnt my living on airhead R's and watercooled K's, (jeees even a fool like me could see the words 'Brembo' on the brakes and 'Bosch' on the coils - although bosch assured me that they made the component to 'BMW''s specification) when I need a bike I can trust again, I shall not be buying a BMW.

(PS - yer think I dont know that my wifes Subaru isnt made by Fuji? Yer think I dont know that it is 100% reliable? Yer think I dont know that come service time the mechanic turns up at 7:00 with a loaner, and returns hers whenever is convenient to her? Yer think I dont know that turning up at a main VW dealer to buy an instrument bulb for a 15 year 167k Golf didnt result in being informed of a 'factory recall', modified cooling system fitted, plus the instrument bulb, at no cost to me. Not even for the bulb. Yer think I dont know that my R80RT had the brake calipers behind the fork legs thus didnt need the endless cleaning in winter that my CX's had done. Yer think that I dont know that BMW changed their position to please victims of fashion. Yer think I am a fool ? Yer well may be right. But I am still capable of admiting and learning from my mistakes. Next bike will be a KTM - and who knows, in a couple of years I might just have to admit I lacked foretelling capabilities and might even have to regret buying one. But I will not be buying another BMW - 'cause that really would make me more than a fool - that would make me a right fecking twat.

 

[DavidHolmes]

Yeah thats exactly what I am saying.
You think all automotive parts are made by the company that bolts it together and sticks a badge on the tank/bonnet?
Fool.

And so long as folk that buy their products are happy with Yeah. "Coils break down. Fact." then the more likely the bean counters at BMW are going to source the cheapest crapest coils they can.

There were times when customer pressure made BMW improve the quality of their product (rusting wheels on the 1150 the most recent example that I was involved with, paint finish on the 1983/84 R series tank the first). But now it seems, we are just happy that the bike is great when it works. Like owning a Ducati really.

Which was my original point.