mcn best tourer 2014

[ExTriumphExp]

I am - I saw MCN and assumed Motorcycle Consumer News. I never read Motorcycle News. :question:

Sorry ST Adventure, just got to the end of the thread.

The reson why they voted for the BMW is probably the same reason they slated the S10. There very pro BMW.. & triumph come to that as they both have big Marketing budgets. If any brits look on utube for the opinion of overseas test you will get the picture as most see the S10 as being as good as the old GS if not better. Yam have a fairly small marketing buget (or appear too) compared to BMW & Triumph.

The answer is dont bother buying MCN, or fot hat matter BIKE mag or RIDE, the only one that appears remotely in the middle ground is Motorcycle Sport & leisure..in the UK

 

[2112]

If you ever get 'caught short' and have to use emergency toilet facilities (ie the countryside) don't use MCN to wipe up with. You'll find that more shit comes off the paper....

 

[ExTriumphExp]

If you ever get 'caught short' and have to use emergency toilet facilities (ie the countryside) don't use MCN to wipe up with. You'll find that more shit comes off the paper....

::008:: ::008:: ::008::

 

[Big Blu]

Big Blue,

Believe it or not a lot of us are motorcycle guys. A bunch of ole coots amongst us. Have you been to one of our Rallies?

And while I admit the BMW's are gonna get critiqued from a Tenere slant here, for the most part, the "ole coots" here, HAVE ridden, and even owned, BMW's.
And many have friends and riding buddies with them.

I've always stated my yearning for THE definitive Big ADV bike. (GSA) But I have just never pulled the trigger. Got close a couple of times, but just close.

Anyways, it wouldn't matter what bike got chosen in this article. There will always be some things to agree with, and things to disagree with. And if every single one of us went and rode the BMW tomorrow, do you think that would result in everyone suddenly agreeing with mcn?

I know me well enough. I'd probably love it! But I've rarely gotten off of any bike and didn't like it.

As one old coot to another.... ::025::

Was it wrong to ask if anyone here has ridden the LC-RT?

No. I've not been to one of the ST events, for the last 5 years I've had a bike in Europe spent 8 weeks each summer in the Alps, so I'm unable to make the summer rally's here in the US.

No doubt most here are motorcycle enthusiast and perhaps some have owned other brands in the past or even own multiple bike of different brands now.
To beat on a bike that perhaps one has not ridden just seems a bit unfair.
To compare a older BMW, non LC, from the past to a current model ST to me also seem to be an unfair comparison.

It'll be interesting to see how the press treat the S1000XR and R1200RS next year.

Paul

 

[snakebitten]

Oh c'mon, ::013::

You aren't REALLY concerned about the PRESS and a BMW?

It's not that a BMW motorcycle doesn't get a "mark" against it here and there, because every journalists wants to come across as fair, regardless of personal bias.
But it's pretty fair to expect that a BMW is going to usually get 2 thumbs up regardless.

I do NOT fault BMW for that. I bow to them, instead. They are an amazing success story.
And I have said it many many times here. I thank them for that success. It is absolutely the one and only reason that Yamaha built the Super Tenere with the mission statement they built it to.
It cost Yamaha lots of sales to build it that way too. (My opinion, of course) I think the Super Tenere is the absolute best RTW pack mule ever built to this date. Still is too.

I realize it sounds like a cool-aid statement. But I'm just being very specific about the "range" I am using to judge it by.
Best way to describe that "range" is which bike would I do what Ole Git Ray did with my most precious loved one on the back?

Hands down, The Tenere. Even in 2015.

In fact, when we flew to Melbourne Australia to rent a bike and spend a couple of weeks crossing the big island, we could have rented ANY of the BIG PIG ADV bikes. They had them all.
But, since they were rentals, and you could SEE they had been shagged for who-knows-what, I absolutely chose the Tenere. Had 70,000K on it. And it was OEM tired suspension.
Still, I felt much safer being 8000 miles from home with my wife on back country roads, on a Tenere than a BMW. I'm just saying.

I just won't ever have any press to back me. But I promise, THAT is ok too.

 

[Salmon Sam]

I really like MCN. I think it is one of the best motorcycle publications out there, as well as the most objective. They have also had very favorable reviews on the ST (probably the most of any rag). So, I am not sure what is behind the "hate". In the latest year-end Performance summaries, the ST gets a 5/5 Overall rating. Interestingly, the 2104 only gets 4 1/2. Not sure why the reduction. Maybe it is as compared to the updates on other Big Bore ADV's.

 

[Bug Dr.]

If you evaluate motorcycles for one to three days only and then return the bikes to the manufacturer (what most moto-journalists do), I can see clearly why BMW is favored over almost any other bike in magazines. When they are working and not leaving you stranded on the side of the road they are fantastic motorcycles. These motorcycle magazines don't take into consideration any long-term aspects of motorcycle ownership. However, those of us that actually buy the bikes do take this into consideration. There's a big difference in tooling around on a new bike for two or three days and actually putting one in the garage.

I owned a 2012 RT and loved the bike for 17,000 miles without any problems. I never had the confidence in the bike like my old ST 1300 though. I guess the reputation for breaking was always in the back of my mind. I could've traded the RT for a new GSA but choose to leave BMW with an overall good experience. I'm quite pleased with the Tenere and have the same confidence in reliability as my ST 1300.
Mike

 

[ExTriumphExp]

I really like MCN. I think it is one of the best motorcycle publications out there, as well as the most objective. They have also had very favorable reviews on the ST (probably the most of any rag). So, I am not sure what is behind the "hate". In the latest year-end Performance summaries, the ST gets a 5/5 Overall rating. Interestingly, the 2104 only gets 4 1/2. Not sure why the reduction. Maybe it is as compared to the updates on other Big Bore ADV's.

Sam, just to make it clear. If a brit, or probably guys from mainland europe come to that refer to MCN, they are talking about "Motor Cycle News" as far as im aware this isnt published in the USA, luckily for the USA. They are VERY anti Super Tenere & take every chance they can to slag it for any possible reason.

::003::

 

[autoteach]

Anyone read the BMW MOA mag? Supposedly there was a write up in there about the recall r1200rt and an explanation of why the recall. According to the writer (my boss who gets the rag was telling me) he thinks BMW recalled the bike so that owners would realize what they were missing and how great the bike was. It was something to this affect. I will look at it tomorrow and take a pic to post.

 

[Salmon Sam]

XtriumphX, you are correct. My apologies. I have picked up the odd issue of that UK mag. They HAVE slagged the Tenere from the start and are BMW lovers. Okay, I will join in the hate!
Now, if you never have read the Irvine CA MCN: Motorcycle Consumer News, it is one of the best AND most objective. NO advertising. Check it out.
http://www.motorcycleconsumernews-digitalmagazine.com/mcnews/january_2014#pg1/[url] It is my favorite general motorcycle magazine. The editor owns a Beemer, but still a lot of praise for the ST.

 

[HHH]

XtriumphX, you are correct. My apologies. I have picked up the odd issue of that UK mag. They HAVE slagged the Tenere from the start and are BMW lovers. Okay, I will join in the hate!
Now, if you never have read the Irvine CA MCN: Motorcycle Consumer News, it is one of the best AND most objective. NO advertising. Check it out.
http://www.motorcycleconsumernews-digitalmagazine.com/mcnews/january_2014#pg1
It is my favorite general motorcycle magazine. The editor owns a Beemer, but still a lot of praise for the ST.

Fixed... ;D

 

[Salmon Sam]

Thanks, HHH. Don't know what happened there. Sorry that the MCN seems to be an advertisement. For the record, I am not affiliated with the magazine. I just find it one of the more intelligent and objective mags out there.

 

[ExTriumphExp]

XtriumphX, you are correct. My apologies. I have picked up the odd issue of that UK mag. They HAVE slagged the Tenere from the start and are BMW lovers. Okay, I will join in the hate!
Now, if you never have read the Irvine CA MCN: Motorcycle Consumer News, it is one of the best AND most objective. NO advertising. Check it out.
http://www.motorcycleconsumernews-digitalmagazine.com/mcnews/january_2014#pg1/[url] It is my favorite general motorcycle magazine. The editor owns a Beemer, but still a lot of praise for the ST. [/quote] Nice one Salmo Sam, cheers for the link I wil have a shufty at the US mcn, nice to get an objective opinion instead of the Brit MCN BS Have a happy New Year all of ya ::008::

 

[klunsford]

::026::

Well they don't sell advertising, but they do accept free use of new bikes from the manufacturer. Do you think they would get
Another test bike if they gave a bad review?

::026::

 

[Big Blu]

... they're selling like hot cakes:

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/bmw-motorrad-usa-2014-sales/#more-79651

Paul

 

[frez]

I wonder how many will keep them beyond the warranty period and what the demand is like in the second hand market?

 

[Big Blu]

I wonder how many will keep them beyond the warranty period and what the demand is like in the second hand market?

Historically BMW's have had an excellent resale value, among the best in the industry. I can't see any reason why tat would change with the 2014 RT, your thoughts?

BMW warranty period in 3 years or 36K miles, rarely do I keep a bike, any bike beyond that period. As for the life of the boxer motor, it's not uncommon to see them with over 200K miles on the clock. I've heard of a some with over 500K miles. They're built to last!

Paul

 

[dcstrom]

Historically BMW's have had an excellent resale value, among the best in the industry. I can't see any reason why tat would change with the 2014 RT, your thoughts?

BMW warranty period in 3 years or 36K miles, rarely do I keep a bike, any bike beyond that period. As for the life of the boxer motor, it's not uncommon to see them with over 200K miles on the clock. I've heard of a some with over 500K miles. They're built to last!

Paul

Paul, having owned 2 airheads with over 100,000 miles on them (plus 3 others), I can tell you that I was doing major work on them by 60,000 miles (in the case of the R90/6, main bearing seal(s), gearbox (x2), clutch, alternator, rear wheel splines, pistons - the R80/GS was a bit better, but not much). By 120,000 the R90 dropped a valve and holed a piston, and that was that for that bike. I'm pretty sure that the ones you see with big mileage have had a lot of parts put into them - a "grandfather's axe" situation. Don't know about the oilheads but from reports that I see about final drive, gearbox, piston and electronics failures, I doubt they are much different.

 

[frez]

Historically BMW's have had an excellent resale value, among the best in the industry. I can't see any reason why tat would change with the 2014 RT, your thoughts?

BMW warranty period in 3 years or 36K miles, rarely do I keep a bike, any bike beyond that period. As for the life of the boxer motor, it's not uncommon to see them with over 200K miles on the clock. I've heard of a some with over 500K miles. They're built to last!

Paul

My thoughts are that most BMW owners are like yourself, buying new and selling them before the warranty period is up, or on a PCP plan and changing every 2 or 3 yeards.

A quick browse of completed ebay sales will show that the BMW prices of those that actually sell tend to be lower than their competition. That may in part be due to the number that are up for sale making it a buyers market.

I had a R1100RT from new and put 100k miles on it in under 3 years before selling it. It had faults, and became very unreliable in the end due to electrical gremlins. I think there probably are plenty of 100k plus BMWs out there, but how many have been problem free to that mileage I wouldn't care to speculate on.

 

[Big Blu]

....
...
..
.

I had a R1100RT from new and put 100k miles on it in under 3 years before selling it. It had faults, and became very unreliable in the end due to electrical gremlins. I think there probably are plenty of 100k plus BMWs out there, but how many have been problem free to that mileage I wouldn't care to speculate on.

Ahhhh, the good old days!
I had a new 1996 R1100RT in Glacier Green, put over 80K miles on in in 5 years and never had an issue. In time past I kept bikes for 5-6 years but now things have changed.

I'm 70 years young, retired, no longer have to save for retirement, mortgage is paid off, and there's no one to tell me I can't buy another bike. Riding is my passion and I often lust for just "one more new bike"...... and there's no one to stop me. LIFE IS GOOD and it's time to spend down the retirement sayings. ::014::

And if one of my bike breaks I'll either have it fixed or trade it, life's to short to worry about such things.

This week I lust for a RED FJ-09, just don't know if I can make room for it in the garage! ::022:: )

Paul