Well .......
I'm about 20 months into ownership of cato. And ..... well ..... from time to time my eye catches the WC GS section with moans and gripes - in particular the finish of engine cases and corrosion, so today I gave the bike a quick clean and a quick 'examine'.
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-Ls3WV5j/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-Ls3WV5j/0/L/clean1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
Whilst I did acf50 the bike for it's first winter, I don't remember going overboard on that and dynawax stuff this winter, but it's finish is still pretty good. There isn't one flaw in the engine casing anywhere. At all. I've tried to genuinely find one and I can't.
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-9GC7NC7/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-9GC7NC7/0/L/clean7-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-SC222HS/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-SC222HS/0/L/clean5-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
Engineer ... if yer reading .... That is what your gasket seals should be looking like at nearly two years old and ridden all year!!!!
The general finish of all the fastenings and nuts and bolts is still, (i'd say) pretty good. I've not cheated and autosol'd for the photos, in fact ... I'm doing the product a disservice by bumping up the clarity and texture in the photos!!
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-hNstt5m/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-hNstt5m/0/L/clean6-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-2hBtnCC/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-2hBtnCC/0/L/clean10-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
It's not perfect, honesty is the best policy and an honest appraisal you will get here. The Spoke nipples look a bit tired, but they're not actually corroded as such, just ...tarnished i'd guess i'd call it;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-PhH2cD6/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-PhH2cD6/0/L/clean2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
The spokes themselves are absolutely flawless;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-4bQ5qvL/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-4bQ5qvL/0/L/clean3-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
The panel fasteners are pretty average, again I've not cheated, If I really wanted to I could take them out and scour them with a bit of cleaner;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-kZRZCXS/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-kZRZCXS/0/L/clean9-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
(don't forget, photos are enhanced with clarity and texture..)
The block of ally for the chain tension guide is a bit tired but costs peanuts to replace if you really wanted to;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-FzfbSTd/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-FzfbSTd/0/L/clean4-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
(again, not autosol'd just a bit of soap and water)
And the paint and lacquer are still thick and in very good condition;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-ZhsHW6f/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-ZhsHW6f/0/L/clean8-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
So all in all .... I'm impressed with the build quality, and judging by the WC section and the state of my job bike, I'd say BMW can't hold a candle to KTM's finish!!
(And don't even get me started on the utterly shite gear change that my new WC Job RT has!! - the KTM transmission, and general modulation of off gas, brakes, gears and then acceleration .... knocks the BM into a cocked hat ..
)
Still very happy ....

I'm about 20 months into ownership of cato. And ..... well ..... from time to time my eye catches the WC GS section with moans and gripes - in particular the finish of engine cases and corrosion, so today I gave the bike a quick clean and a quick 'examine'.
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-Ls3WV5j/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-Ls3WV5j/0/L/clean1-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
Whilst I did acf50 the bike for it's first winter, I don't remember going overboard on that and dynawax stuff this winter, but it's finish is still pretty good. There isn't one flaw in the engine casing anywhere. At all. I've tried to genuinely find one and I can't.
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-9GC7NC7/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-9GC7NC7/0/L/clean7-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-SC222HS/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-SC222HS/0/L/clean5-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
Engineer ... if yer reading .... That is what your gasket seals should be looking like at nearly two years old and ridden all year!!!!
The general finish of all the fastenings and nuts and bolts is still, (i'd say) pretty good. I've not cheated and autosol'd for the photos, in fact ... I'm doing the product a disservice by bumping up the clarity and texture in the photos!!
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-hNstt5m/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-hNstt5m/0/L/clean6-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-2hBtnCC/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-2hBtnCC/0/L/clean10-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
It's not perfect, honesty is the best policy and an honest appraisal you will get here. The Spoke nipples look a bit tired, but they're not actually corroded as such, just ...tarnished i'd guess i'd call it;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-PhH2cD6/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-PhH2cD6/0/L/clean2-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
The spokes themselves are absolutely flawless;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-4bQ5qvL/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-4bQ5qvL/0/L/clean3-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
The panel fasteners are pretty average, again I've not cheated, If I really wanted to I could take them out and scour them with a bit of cleaner;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-kZRZCXS/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-kZRZCXS/0/L/clean9-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
(don't forget, photos are enhanced with clarity and texture..)
The block of ally for the chain tension guide is a bit tired but costs peanuts to replace if you really wanted to;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-FzfbSTd/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-FzfbSTd/0/L/clean4-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
(again, not autosol'd just a bit of soap and water)
And the paint and lacquer are still thick and in very good condition;
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-ZhsHW6f/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-ZhsHW6f/0/L/clean8-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
So all in all .... I'm impressed with the build quality, and judging by the WC section and the state of my job bike, I'd say BMW can't hold a candle to KTM's finish!!
(And don't even get me started on the utterly shite gear change that my new WC Job RT has!! - the KTM transmission, and general modulation of off gas, brakes, gears and then acceleration .... knocks the BM into a cocked hat ..
Still very happy ....












