timtraveler
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timtraveler responds
I thought it might be best if I answer some of the questions raised, rather than leave it open to speculation.
As mentioned in my blog, the online journal of bike-related expenses was primarily intended for my own use. It's not uncommon for vehicle owners to keep a file of receipts from all the work performed on their machine.
Since I was traveling extensively, an electronic file was more sensible than a portfolio of papers. I could access the records from virtually anywhere.
I included everything in the blog, but I should clarify: the $15,000 figure I termed "extraordinary costs" DID NOT include services and supplies, accessories, extra wheels, tires and accident damage. It DID include some things BMW technically regards as consumables (e.g. brake pads and discs) which (to me) had a surprisingly short lifecycle.
As for beating up the motorcycle, before purchasing the bike late in 2004, I picked up the R1200GS sales brochure (see: http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/resources/6795/assets/documents/r1200gs_catalogue.pdf ). From the photos and descriptions, the GS was perfectly suited to my planned trip from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. The brochure, filled with photographs taken on location in Peru, shows the bike forging streams, riding rough dirt roads, climbing hillsides strewn with volcanic rock, riding through snow and traveling down the highway laden with a passenger and luggage. (Other photos from the shoot showed the bike tearing up sand dunes.) In all, it was reminiscent of the photo montage on this website's home page, without all the wheelies!
BMW was basically saying "this bike can take whatever you throw at it."
Just after purchasing the bike, I sold my car, a 1996 BMW 328i sedan with over 240,000 miles. I had bought it new. In nine years, I replaced a water pump, alternator, clutch, brake discs and (as part of the sale) its two catalytic converters. All this (and probably much more) would be anticipated over that many miles. So, you might say I expected BMW to live up to their reputation as a reliable manufacturer. That car, I calculated, cost me about 5 or 6 cents a mile to drive, excluding fuel. Were it not for many repairs being covered by warranty, this motorcycle would cost roughly 20 cents a mile (excluding fuel.) Not bad, you say? I would beg to differ.
Most of my riding has been in North America, about 95% on tarmac, hardly an abusive environment for such a machine.
As can be seen from the breathtaking photos on this site, the R1200GS is an amazing machine, with an ability to take on any kind of terrain. It instills confidence in the rider.
Reliability issues, however, undermine this confidence and make the rider just a bit more hesitant to leave the tarmac. This is very unfortunate.
As for that clutch cable, had I known in advance how much they were going to charge me, I would have declined! The plastic cable sheathing had cracked and was delaminating, so I told them to replace it.
Best wishes from USA's "Left Coast"!
I thought it might be best if I answer some of the questions raised, rather than leave it open to speculation.
As mentioned in my blog, the online journal of bike-related expenses was primarily intended for my own use. It's not uncommon for vehicle owners to keep a file of receipts from all the work performed on their machine.
Since I was traveling extensively, an electronic file was more sensible than a portfolio of papers. I could access the records from virtually anywhere.
I included everything in the blog, but I should clarify: the $15,000 figure I termed "extraordinary costs" DID NOT include services and supplies, accessories, extra wheels, tires and accident damage. It DID include some things BMW technically regards as consumables (e.g. brake pads and discs) which (to me) had a surprisingly short lifecycle.
As for beating up the motorcycle, before purchasing the bike late in 2004, I picked up the R1200GS sales brochure (see: http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/resources/6795/assets/documents/r1200gs_catalogue.pdf ). From the photos and descriptions, the GS was perfectly suited to my planned trip from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. The brochure, filled with photographs taken on location in Peru, shows the bike forging streams, riding rough dirt roads, climbing hillsides strewn with volcanic rock, riding through snow and traveling down the highway laden with a passenger and luggage. (Other photos from the shoot showed the bike tearing up sand dunes.) In all, it was reminiscent of the photo montage on this website's home page, without all the wheelies!
BMW was basically saying "this bike can take whatever you throw at it."
Just after purchasing the bike, I sold my car, a 1996 BMW 328i sedan with over 240,000 miles. I had bought it new. In nine years, I replaced a water pump, alternator, clutch, brake discs and (as part of the sale) its two catalytic converters. All this (and probably much more) would be anticipated over that many miles. So, you might say I expected BMW to live up to their reputation as a reliable manufacturer. That car, I calculated, cost me about 5 or 6 cents a mile to drive, excluding fuel. Were it not for many repairs being covered by warranty, this motorcycle would cost roughly 20 cents a mile (excluding fuel.) Not bad, you say? I would beg to differ.
Most of my riding has been in North America, about 95% on tarmac, hardly an abusive environment for such a machine.
As can be seen from the breathtaking photos on this site, the R1200GS is an amazing machine, with an ability to take on any kind of terrain. It instills confidence in the rider.
Reliability issues, however, undermine this confidence and make the rider just a bit more hesitant to leave the tarmac. This is very unfortunate.
As for that clutch cable, had I known in advance how much they were going to charge me, I would have declined! The plastic cable sheathing had cracked and was delaminating, so I told them to replace it.
Best wishes from USA's "Left Coast"!
