prostitution of the brand?

[birdseye]

in the days of the R60, R80, R100 BMW bikes used to be all about engineering quality for long term riders who used their machine as transport. loyalty to one manufacturer. pipe and slippers. beards and grey hair, etc.

but now, particularly with the 1200GS, I read posts about loud exhausts. about wheelies. which helmet? which accessories? posts which show an interest in image not substance. questions from the kids who bought ducati when they in their turn were fashionable, or aprillia. or even ktm.

so has BMW, last refuge of the old style motorcyclist, become fashionable? is it now a brand, and no longer simply a make? are we fashionistas?

 

[Mike Peers]

in the days of the R60, R80, R100 BMW bikes used to be all about engineering quality for long term riders who used their machine as transport. loyalty to one manufacturer. pipe and slippers. beards and grey hair, etc.

but now, particularly with the 1200GS, I read posts about loud exhausts. about wheelies. which helmet? which accessories? posts which show an interest in image not substance. questions from the kids who bought ducati when they in their turn were fashionable, or aprillia. or even ktm.

so has BMW, last refuge of the old style motorcyclist, become fashionable? is it now a brand, and no longer simply a make? are we fashionistas?

I think there's some way to go before BM's become fashionable, sports bikes which evolve leaps and bounds every two years are the fashionable machines. You only have to look at the likes of MTV for that one. The long way round may tempt some to the GS though. Maybe if Rossi wins the 2006 Motogp championship on one or they start to feature on music videos they'll become all the rage.

 

[swebb]

in the days of the R60, R80, R100 BMW bikes used to be all about engineering quality for long term riders who used their machine as transport. loyalty to one manufacturer. pipe and slippers. beards and grey hair, etc.

but now, particularly with the 1200GS, I read posts about loud exhausts. about wheelies. which helmet? which accessories? posts which show an interest in image not substance. questions from the kids who bought ducati when they in their turn were fashionable, or aprillia. or even ktm.

so has BMW, last refuge of the old style motorcyclist, become fashionable? is it now a brand, and no longer simply a make? are we fashionistas?

I think each of us in turn shouldn't worry about each others motives for buying a BMW.... if one persons reason is different from another does it make it wrong? I suggest "NO" it just makes it different....

If people are buying, whatever their reason... it's all good...

Roll on.... choice, it's a free will thing....

 

[GSmonkey]

I'd say evolution rather than prostitution. Can't expect BMW to keep knocking out overweight underpowered machines that look like tractors without the styling just to please the pipe, beard and slippers brigade can you??

The 1200 is no more accessorised than the 1150 before it. Loud pipes and wheelies, naughty naughty.......need to be careful; people may start talking about 'enjoyment' and 'fun'

 

[Engineer]

in the days of the R60, R80, R100 BMW bikes used to be all about engineering quality for long term riders who used their machine as transport. loyalty to one manufacturer. pipe and slippers. beards and grey hair, etc.

but now, particularly with the 1200GS, I read posts about loud exhausts. about wheelies. which helmet? which accessories? posts which show an interest in image not substance. questions from the kids who bought ducati when they in their turn were fashionable, or aprillia. or even ktm.

so has BMW, last refuge of the old style motorcyclist, become fashionable? is it now a brand, and no longer simply a make? are we fashionistas?

The one guaranteed certainty in this world is change. The older we get the more difficult it becomes.

 

[Kropotkin]

in the days of the R60, R80, R100 BMW bikes used to be all about engineering quality for long term riders who used their machine as transport. loyalty to one manufacturer. pipe and slippers. beards and grey hair, etc.

You wanna buy yourself a honda mate. That way you can enjoy reliable, thrill-free motorcycling, without your pipe blowing out.

 

[Kropotkin]

loyalty to one manufacturer.

Oh, and loyalty to one manufacturer truly IS a fashion statement. It says, I don't care whether this is any good or not, but it has the approved badge, so I'm going to buy it. It smells of fashion victim.

I hate brand fascists, whether they be motorcycles or whatever. You can prefer certain products, but if something better comes along, and you aren't open to it, because of brand loyalty, you are going backwards. If Piaggio or Suzuki made a GS clone at a lower price, or higher quality for the same price, I would trade my 1150 GS (please note, I did not say BMW) for it in a heartbeat. It's just stuff, you know? It only represents the many hours of joy I get from riding it.

 

[Bullwinkle]

so has BMW, last refuge of the old style motorcyclist, become fashionable? is it now a brand, and no longer simply a make? are we fashionistas?

What's the difference?
Motorcycles stopped being a cheap and economical (read rational) means of transportation a long time ago. Ergo, any reason for riding them is somewhat irrational, and at that point, who's qualified to say one reason is any more valid than another?

 

[Telford]

Is this thread moderated?

What's going on?

Sensible discussion and reasoned argument?

Stop it at once.

See HERE

 

[birdseye]

Re: Re: prostitution of the brand?

You wanna buy yourself a honda mate. That way you can enjoy reliable, thrill-free motorcycling, without your pipe blowing out.

Had a Honda and true, it did come with a built in pipe draft protector. But I has to sell it. I just couldnt get on with the armoured cardigan

Interesting set of replies. Trouble is, you never meet anyone who admits to being influenced by advertising - but it is beyond doubt that advertising works. I reckon its the same with fashion and the GS. People are influenced by whats fashionable even if they dont think so.

We are motorcycle trendies!

 

[GSmonkey]

Re: Re: Re: prostitution of the brand?

We are motorcycle trendies!

Yeah, about as fashionable as elasticated waist trousers mate.

 

[Bullwinkle]

prostitution of the brand?

It could be prostitution...
I'm certainly paying enuf for it, but I don't think I'm getting f*cked enuf...

 

[birdseye]

Re: Re: Re: Re: prostitution of the brand?

Yeah, about as fashionable as elasticated waist trousers mate.

Oi! Leave my wardrobe out of it!