GS Topbox and XR

[wreck diver]

And some folk seemingly never stop moaning about the brand so its good to have a balance.

Its 7 months off production, good on them for getting the product to the show in time, a good sales move, lots of buyers in the market moving from jap sports bikes who wont wax lyrical on the grain on the plastics, which im sure will be fine come june 2015.

Out of interest have you seen the bike close up?

I am sure come June the new bikes will be more or less finished.
Is it a good move to rush it to the show as it is?? i dont think so.They already have a good idea of the interest in the bike from all the leaked reports and pics we have seen all year.
Much better to have it a bit closer to the finished product and get great reviews or at least make it known the show bikes is a long way from complete.
Will a stiff cable clutch be on the finished bike???
I am very pro BMW as a rule having had almost 30 BM,s in 40 years of riding but there is a quality question mark on a few new bikes in recent months.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

As you are so anti bmw these days, when are you selling your bikes?

I'm not

I have the BMW bikes that suit me and they're great

Built at a time when BMW were still quirky and odd

Nowadays they're just mainstream and chasing popularity (and I can understand that from a sales perspective), rather than being quirky and different

New BMW offerings hold no interest to me


Nicely summed up by Rick

But there is a quality question mark on a few new bikes in recent months.

 

[DING-DONG]

BMW will sell every Xr nxt yr without a doubt, dealers having limited stock will ensure this, i no of a couple of dealers, one is having 25 bikes and there pre-order book is filling up fast, other dealers are calling them to reserve bikes, regardless of quality BMW will always sell bikes majority of there punters have very little knowledge, they buy on badge, just have a look at the punters visiting the bm stand, majority are well to do and most doubt financially not bothered.

The Xr could end up being a nice bike tho, especially now its known its only a pre-prod and plastics etc etc will be altered.

I do agree with rick and JB, after owning bm bikes for many yrs the quality has taken an hit, how some bikes pass quality control is beyond me.

 

[snaponphil]

After a Monday visit (not rammed with punters) to the show, & a good look & sit on the various brands/styles available, I think the Multistrada takes some beating on looks, however, after comparing the sitting/riding position of the new XR I did feel rather squashed up (on Ducati) towards the tank/handlebars, I'm 5' 10" so not really tall, but the Ducati IMO would suit a shorter rider..

BMW XR, needs finishing, but potential to be the winner of the group/style, needs xenon lighting option tho..
Kawasaki versus, good all rounder, master of none, wouldn't buy as a month in Thailand put me off ever riding one again..
New Ktm adventure, I'm sure fantastic bike, plastic luggage a put off (security) felt good to sit on but plain side panels & IMO strange looking front end/headlight area.. (I'll keep checking the forum)
Triumph 1050, one bike I gotta try sometime, ticks lots of boxes..
BMW GSA I'm sure near perfect, may be a little too tall for me..
BMW GS TE, current bike now sorted with bling, perfect at the minute, suits my needs but, always want more (as they say)

 

[roundincircles]

The bikes at the show were not production bikes.......beats me how anybody would consider these bikes as production bikes.

Ducati did have stickers on their MTS explaining that the bikes were pre-production and that the finnish and component fit was not representative of a production bike.....and you wags out there do not have to say it will be worse when in production!

The XR looks lardy and wide compared to the Ducati MTS but the ergo seems pure GS for comfort and long distance. The MTS with electronics plus pannier luggage, heated grips and satnav prep will be £17k, no quick shift available.

The XR will be priced to sell and cheaper than the MTS.

The MTS has significantly more torque and variable valve timing. The XR a custard smooth power delivery which will be accused of being bland or ballistic......pay your dosh and make your choice.

 

[Nutty]

According to someone on another forum, the XR will start at £12,400 for the basic bike. Seems pricey to me, but until we know what it will come with as standard, there's no point getting in a flap.

 

[Nutty]

I'm not

I have the BMW bikes that suit me and they're great

Built at a time when BMW were still quirky and odd

Nowadays they're just mainstream and chasing popularity (and I can understand that from a sales perspective), rather than being quirky and different

New BMW offerings hold no interest to me


Nicely summed up by Rick

I'm sure you're not. But why knock BMW at every opportunity? We all know how you feel.

 

[Dahoum]

and taking case thingy aside...take a look at the front of the XR from close up.....wha issue can you see?

Prof peeking ?

 

[roundincircles]

According to someone on another forum, the XR will start at £12,400 for the basic bike. Seems pricey to me, but until we know what it will come with as standard, there's no point getting in a flap.

There is no sense in cutting their own throats as they are in business to make a return so the MTS sets the top end price and the Japs the lower end price. Throw in the need not to undercut their Tractor Cash Cow and it will end up as........the highest price they can get.

But I bet the basic bike is low priced to get attention and the add ons add a couple of grand......corner abs, quick shift, luggage , puter, gps wires, round wheels, proper gearbox cogs, speedo, soft touch starter switch.......

 

[DING-DONG]

According to someone on another forum, the XR will start at £12,400 for the basic bike. Seems pricey to me, but until we know what it will come with as standard, there's no point getting in a flap.

This is going to be the difficult part, how much is it worth over the naked S1000R, the basic multistrada is £12995 and the S - is £15595, so in comparison the top of the range S1000XR SE comes with panniers rails, sat nav prep, suspension farkles, similar spec to the TE version of the gs, so lets say its £15000, inline with its competition, is it that much better then its naked brother ! Ie £3k more then the s1r.

I also look at the base multistrada and the s-model and cannot see the extra £2600, skyhook suspension - colour dash - adaptive headlights, pin stripped wheels, these are the differences between the stock and the S models, £2600 buys a lot of petrol.

 

[roundincircles]

The new MTS in S ( electronic suspension, led h/light, corner lights, corner abs and wheelie control, colour dash and keyless ignition) form with panniers, grips heated and gps prep is £!7,000........add engine bars, belly pan, extra lights, radiator protection and off road pegs, £18,000. Add carbon.........

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

hope theyve upped the ante on the multistrada qc (not just delivered something that looks good under bright showroom lights) and got rid of those porous head and short circuiting dashboard issues, and got the rear brake working.

 

[DING-DONG]

The new MTS in S ( electronic suspension, led h/light, corner lights, corner abs and wheelie control, colour dash and keyless ignition) form with panniers, grips heated and gps prep is £!7,000........add engine bars, belly pan, extra lights, radiator protection and off road pegs, £18,000. Add carbon.........

Tis not a cheap hobby now, £15595 for the s-model, add touring pack £953.86 gives you heated grips-centre stand-panniers, want the termi end can thats sport pack, crash bars ! Enduro pack, that's £20k please .

 

[Bounce]

Maybe these pics I took in Milan might give a better impression

Well there's certainly nothing wrong with those black bits IMHO.....

 

[Bounce]

You never stop defending the brand

I bet yer knickers are BMW

Go on JB, show us yer bloomers......

 

[sven]

hope theyve upped the ante on the multistrada qc (not just delivered something that looks good under bright showroom lights) and got rid of those porous head and short circuiting dashboard issues, and got the rear brake working.

I really wanted to buy a Multistrada, but all the lightly used examples I viewed had significant corrosion at only a few months old