Are we a different breed???

[motorman587]

In 2006, 500,000 people in the US bought either a Honda or HD. Only 13500 bought a BMW. So why are we or you against the norm????

[kevincook]

Isn't it obvious?

We're all a bunch of rebels! :D

Kevin

[Steve_R]

Because I'm not one to follow the crowd.

[messenger13]

You wanna talk about being against the norm. Find out how many riders in this forum bought a new BMW in 2006! :) Hey! Whatta ya know! I'm in that group of real Beemer rebels! :D

As for why I bought BMW...because I don't give a rip what the "others" are doing.

[Zotter]

Most consumers are sheeple. Buying what they're told to, what's marketed to them - hook line and sinker. Even some of the self identified 'rebellious' types.

Now - even amongst those, there're individuals that do think for themselves.
Them, you'd have to ask, cuz they have their own reasons. I do think they're the minority.

Me? Well, right or wrong, thought I'd found best value for my dollar. Can't say I was wrong - proof of being right isn't complete, yet. But, at least I looked and didn't just accept what I was told by the Madison Ave preachers.

[pkpr1998]

Anybody can ride a HD, wear the brain bucket, ride to Hooter's, do an occasional Toy Ride and make plenty of noise, even the metrics can do that! Mine used to!

WHY be like everyone else?

To answer your question, I think that there is SOME difference between the Honda and HD boys; otherwise we'd be riding a wing (boring-sorry Bruce) or an Ultra!

[UncleRock]

So why are we or you against the norm????
Ability to think for oneself in spite of what the crowd is doing.
Rock

[Steve_R]

I wish I had said it that well!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[OneShot]

In 2006, 500,000 people in the US bought either a Honda or HD. Only 13500 bought a BMW.

This means there are 13500 new BMW riders out there that refuse to be called fair-weathered riders and there are 500,000 riders that don't mind being called fair-weathered riders.

BMW bikes bring to the surface our inner HARDCORE needs to ride as much as possible.

I found this picture on Rich Mayer's (seat maker) web site and wanted to drive the point home about being HARDCORE. That's no Harley sitting there. Thanks Rick!

[fas]

In 2006, 500,000 people in the US bought either a Honda or HD. Only 13500 bought a BMW. So why are we or you against the norm????

For my mind, I evolved thru several rides (2 and 4 wheeled) as years and miles went by. I started with the 427 Corvette [stolen], got the Porsche 911 [never should have sold it], then the BMW M3 [destroyed by a friend in a test ride after 137,000 FUN miles]. I burned thru 2 Kaws, then 2 BMW's, now on the 2006 GT. Once you get over the $/mile reality of your transportation decisions, selecting excellent fit, finish, and feel at speed become paramount. Some simply can not afford the top shelf in cars, homes, stereos, clothing, booze, women, or bikes. Some can not rationalize their lustful selections to their SO. MV Agusta's still appeal to me as art, not riding reality. Ducs appeal to me as art, not riding reality. I like riding BMW's because they rack up miles without punishing your ears, like some LOUD bikes do. I commute if it is not snowing, so I like to sit up and see the traffic. BMW seat position and urban features satisfy my riding style better than the HD, better than the Honda.

As a HD supplier, I love the fact that over 300,000 new bikes are sold per year.

Personally, I doubt I will EVER buy one. I love the BMW ride quality, ABS, and the quiet running at > 100.............BMW brakes have saved my life. PERIOD. I had the good fortune of working with Brembo in Italy, BMW's brake system supplier. I respect their technical competence and the design decisions when applied to the BMW chassis.

[UncleRock]

This means there are 13500 new BMW riders out there that refuse to be called fair-weathered riders and there are 500,000 riders that don't mind being called fair-weathered riders.

BMW bikes bring to the surface our inner HARDCORE needs to ride as much as possible.

I found this picture on Rich Mayer's (seat maker) web site and wanted to drive the point home about being HARDCORE. That's no Harley sitting there. Thanks Rick!
No that means there are 13,500 riders on new BMW's (does not mean they are new riders, old riders like Joe bought new bikes)
Great picture, I'll see that and raise the bet one.
Guess what bike the professor of the torque wrench at American Motorcycle Institute rides. Kurt works on and can fix them all, he rides a BMW.
Rock

[Ddallison]

I have owned 4 Hondas, both dirt and road, dating back to 1965, Kaws - Concourse, and, more recently, Honda again - Shadow. When I began looking for something my wife and I could ride together, both around town and touring, I was constantly pushed away from BMW by every other sales rep in the DFW Metroplex. I finally decided if everyone was talking about BMW without my bringing it up first, then, maybe I should look at it myself. I did...and was hooked. I quit listening to others and just looked, then rode. I have now had a 2006 LT for about 4 months. So far...so good. Give me another few years and several thousand miles and I'll let you know if I made the right decision. But my gut says that I did.

[wardenross]

BMW P L E A S E

P–Performance..cruises at 100 mph…………...“Man, I’m only goin’ a ‘hundred?”
L–Longevity…..cruises at 100 mph for years….“I’ve got 75,000 miles on her. So what!”
E–Ergonomics..cruises at 100 mph all day……”Nashville to Tampa in 8 hrs. So!!!!
A–Aesthetics.…cruises at 100 mph and look good..”Mama, lookie at that Beemer!”
S-Safety……….cruises at 100 mph with one hand.. “I need a laptop for the tank bag!”
E–Economy…..cruises at 100 mph at 44 mpg….”I shore hate to have to stop at only 250 miles!”

[rixchard]

Nope, we are just folks who like the LT, whatever the reason

[midwilshire]

You wanna talk about being against the norm. Find out how many riders in this forum bought a new BMW in 2006! :) Hey! Whatta ya know! I'm in that group of real Beemer rebels!
Methinks the rider doth protest too much.

Why the constant reminders that you've spent money, Joe?

Buyers' remorse, perhaps?

[Woolly]

Nope, we are just folks who like the LT, whatever the reason


... perhaps, thats why this is being posted on THE Lt forum . . .

[gearman]

NOBODY has ever asked if my LT was a Harley!!! They always check out the LT and are amazed at the refinements. Never got many questions about my Electra Glide! I think many part-time "bikers" just want to look cool and brag. Hey, my better half rides a customized sportster (around town) when it's trip time, only the LT will do. Last trip to the NC Mountains I got lost (90 miles), we looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and said, "so what"?

Bottom line, I think the more experienced "motorcyclists" ride Beemers.

[messenger13]

Methinks the rider doth protest too much.

Why the constant reminders that you've spent money, Joe?

Buyers' remorse, perhaps?Just trying to urge my fellow BMW riders to get out there and buy a new bike once-in-awhile. We hear the whining when shops close. Oh Boy! What will the whining be like if BMW drops the LT?! But I dare mention some of you "LT lovers" buy a new LT and you raise your eye brows, fold your arms, and accuse me of "buyers' remorse"? :confused: Not hardly big guy. Not hardly. :)

[motorman587]

Just trying to urge my fellow BMW riders to get out there and buy a new bike once-in-awhile. We hear the whining when shops close. Oh Boy! What will the whining be like if BMW drops the LT?! But I dare mention some of you "LT lovers" buy a new LT and you raise your eye brows, fold your arms, and accuse me of "buyers' remorse"? :confused: Not hardly big guy. Not hardly. :)


Lets start that rumor, BMW is dropping the LT.

[messenger13]

Lets start that rumor, BMW is dropping the LT.Start it? :confused: We've been talking about the possibility for over a year now. Where have you been John?

[Woolly]

Lets start that rumor, BMW is dropping the LT.

.... well, I've dropped mine (had to be said :) )

[UncleRock]

.... well, I've dropped mine (had to be said :) )
Damm Wooly ya beat me to it! :thumb:
Rock

[rkirker]

I do not like to have my cheeks bouncing up and down and fillings falling out of my teeth at the light. :)
I do not have enough of a Belly to be on a Wing yet ;)
Plus I like the looks of the BMW. She is a big fat sexy girl. :thumb:
But she can lay down to easy when she is sleepy :D

The biggest reason !!!!!
The Wife said it is what she wanted :o

Seriously though it was the bang for the buck for me. The safety features and the comfortable milage these can take.

[ranks]

I've bought both my BMW's for ONE reason:

COMFORT

(At least more comfortable than my wrangler, and the two yamahas that I used to own.)

[jgburns]

The ride, features, the ride, and oh yeah the ride. Certainly, it's not the low cost or perceived coolness (by the masses). :bmw:

[Morley]

After having been stationed in Deutchland for 2 years and seeing the BMW cycles on the local roads and Autobahn, I knew what I wanted to ride.

[motorman587]

.... well, I've dropped mine (had to be said :) )

I mean dropped as in not making it anymore. No more LT, either the LT or GT.

[RS6654]

We travel two up so we knew we wanted a big tourer. We looked at Goldwings but they reminded me too much of Town Cars.

Harley put an engine on a bicycle in 1903. And while they have evolved.... as far as I'm concerned they are essentially still doing just that. And I don't think they could build a rougher running engine if they tried.

We looked at the LT last and fell in love with it's engineering, style, comfort, features and handling. I rode it home the same day.

[McRuss]

I ride an LT (and the only beemer in the shed) because my wife says so. After six of them, that is the primary reason I still do. I've never owned a HD and probly never will. Owned several Hondas, primarily dirt, great bikes, but the Wing doesn't do it for her. And she does not like my favorite ride so we ride the LT.

[terrandsan1200]

The year was 1999. Got passed by a beautiful bike on my HD. Rode 20 miles out of my way to see what it was. Finally in 2002 I bought the machine I saw that day. Lust is a powerful winch.

[UncleRock]

I ride an LT because my wife says so. After six of them, that is the primary reason I still do. .
Man it took you 6 wives to figure it out? :histerica
I was married once and the wife said" it's my way or the Highway"
Well I got on my bike and hit the highway. :cool:
Rock

[Woolly]

I mean dropped as in not making it anymore. No more LT, either the LT or GT.

don't fret, kid, it's just English humour :)

[messenger13]

I mean dropped as in not making it anymore. No more LT, either the LT or GT.
don't fret, kid, it's just English humour :)Brian, you'll have to excuse John. You see, he's a motorcop. They make you turn in your sense of humour when they give you the badge and a gun. :D

[jayjacobson]

In 2006, 500,000 people in the US bought either a Honda or HD. Only 13500 bought a BMW. So why are we or you against the norm????
The "norm" would not describe any BMW rider. It took months and months of careful research before I decided that a BMW was right for me. When I first started researching motorcycles, I didn't even know BMW made them. I had never seen any media add for one nor had I ever see one on the rode.

The sheep (masses) don't research a decision like I did.

[BillyOmaha]

In 2006, 500,000 people in the US bought either a Honda or HD. Only 13500 bought a BMW..../musing/on
I have no statistical data to back this up, however my personal experiences while riding inform me that the following has an element of "truthiness":

The rider/make combination follows a roughly 80/20 ratio. About 80% of BMW owners ride a lot, enough to be considered motorcyclists. The remaining 20% don't ride very much.

The "other makes" tend to break down in reverse, 20/80, with 80% of the owners not riding much and 20% riding enough to be considered motorcyclists.

As with all generalities it may have a grain of truth, but will frequently prove misapplied if tossed out recklessly. If the 80/20 rule was applied to "new" bikes sold and assume they represent the pool of riders for the sake of comparison, then there would be .80 x 13,500, or 10,800 BMW motorcyclists compared to .20 x 500,000, or 10,000 "other brand". About the same number of "motorcyclists".

-On the way out to CCR I met a 60+ year old out in the Idaho Rockies riding a Bandit doing 600 mile days for the last 5 days. While I think he has more toughness than sense, there is no question that this man was a motorcyclist.
-While John and I were heading out to the Red River Round-Up, we met two guys from Alaska on big HD's in Capitol Reef and then again at "Four Corners", they were clearly motorcyclists.
-Ken and I did a lunch run, 350 miles, and ran into a trio of very old HD Sportster riders, one solo and a two-up. They were on the last leg of a "cross country and back" trip. They clearly didn't have much money and certainly looked rather weathered, but they get my nod as true motorcyclists.

It ain't what you ride, it's that you ride.

/musing/off

.

[Woolly]

The sheep (masses) don't research a decision like I did.


Careful..... :)

[Steve_R]

I wondered if you were going to say something. :D

[RS6654]

/musing/on
................It ain't what you ride, it's that you ride.

/musing/off

.






I couldn't agree more. We try to head north during the big FL bike events. This October we spent the week in Cherokee. Despite the drizzly, cold weather, there was a steady stream of big Harley's headed south on I-75 under their own power.

[jayjacobson]

Careful..... :)
I was extremely careful. I took months and months of research!

[Woolly]

;) remember, not all sheep are wrong .........

[jayjacobson]

;) remember, not all sheep are wrong .........
Well, of course......If they are in close proximity to your LT, they are of exceptional taste and intelligence!

[Nodakgus]

My 3rd bike was a H-D Road King. I recently purchased my 4th - an '06 1200RT. The Road King has been the only Harley that I have owned. I have to admit that I got caught up into the Harley-culture (as is carefully cultivated by the suits in Wisconsin). H-D is a marketing machine and, despite reliability issues, H-D is able to convince the crowd to purchase the lifestyle/culture/image. A by-product of this purchase is the bike itself.

Then, a majority of new H-D's sold have new pipes and a high-flow air cleaner installed almost immediately. Then comes chrome, clothes and trinkets.

It was a year ago while out riding when I came to the realization that I was not enjoying riding the Road King. I was sick and tired of the loud pipes. I have toured on a stock Harley before and I yearned for a riding experience that did not include audible-assault to my ears. Months of thinking and pondering. Seriously considering the Gold Wing. But I had a feeling that my short trips would but disappear because of the physical ordeal I would go through to ride that bike.

BMW came up on my radar screen when the Road Runner Touring mag did a bike review on the 1200GT and 1200 GS Adventure. That is all it took for me to begin researching BMW. ultimately I thought the 1200RT would provide the best package for my riding experience. When I read about the year-end promo BMW had going on 4 bikes including the 1200RT, I test drove an 1150RT and I was hooked. I did not test the 1200RT because the dealer only had one left - the showroom model that was amply accessorised and had 0 miles. Knowing that if I loved the 1150, that I would go crazy over the 1200, I purchased that showroom model!

I do not consider myself an "intellectual" of any sort. :think: But after 46 years of breathing, I would rather create and customize my own riding experiences by riding where I want to ride, how I want to ride and on what I want to ride. The Harley-life works well, I guess, for many. But, it was too much style and not enough substance for me. It did not help the Harley cause when I lost confidence in the Road King because of several bike problems leaving me stranded. I mean no disrespect. But H-D is not for everyone and after three years of riding the Road King, I realized that I needed out of the relationship! :yeah: :thumb: :sun:

[jayjacobson]

My road to BMW.

Welcome to our little web site. Great post!