pg wrote on 12/12/19 at 15:49:40:Perhaps someone can offer some insight as I have no first hand knowledge. I know beemer's cost a lot and cost a lot to maintain. Is it worth it, is it smoother, so on so forth?
Best regards,
In November 2017 I celebrated the end of my full time work career by going to Tucson for 10 days. I had never ridden a BMW and wanted to know what all the fuss was about - so I rented a R1200RT for 2 days. If I had just ridden it for an hour or two I might have said......nice bike - but with 2 days in the saddle riding double with my wife, I fell in love with the bike. I started telling folks that if I ever got a luxury car - it would be that motorcycle. I bought a lightly used 2016 R1200RT in February 2018, and a year later I bought a used F800GT.
They both are incredibly nice bikes and good used ones are available at affordable prices - the R1200RT is incredibly comfortable, fast, smooth and it has 125 HP, 604 pounds and a lot of low end torque.....for many years it was voted "Best Sport Touring Bike" by motorcycle magazines. It has all the bells and whistles like heated grips, heated seats, cruise control, electric windshield, traction control, ABS, push button suspension adjustment, and saddlebags and a top box that snap on/off instantly. The F800GT is 90 HP and 470 pounds - the engine does not have nearly as much low end torque and the power really comes on above 5,000 rpm. It is more nimble around fast corners, and it has most of the fancy options except the windshield is not adjustable and the seats are not heated.
They both are wonderful to ride, and I have not yet needed to get any service done by a dealer. Parts for maintenance come from online retailers - as I don't have a dealer within 2 hours. Parts are a bit more expensive than for Japanese bikes - but most parts aren't needed unless you crash or drop the bike. I believe the bikes are very reliable and high mileage is not unusual - however if you get a lemon and need a lot of work it can get expensive and those stories get a lot of press. I don't believe the dealer service is any more expensive than owning a Harley.
I am only 2 years into BMW ownership - but so far so good!