Over years of continuous advertising campaigns and through personal experiences brands are often associated with certain qualities ans stereotypes. Volvos are safe, Ducatis are unreliable and expensive to maintain, Porsche convertibles are for middle aged men with lack or hair, Japanese vehicles are dull, and BMW motorcycles are rugged, absolutely bulletproof and will run forever. Heck, you can ride them through gates of hell and they will keep going. Or not.
As it turns out the latter statement is false. According to latest Consumer Reports customer satisfaction poll, BMW is dead last when it comes to reliability. It seems like newer Beemers are plagued with reliability issues and owners are not happy about it. Ducati is not far ahead, with similar issues reported. At least Ducati was never known to be a reliable brand and issues are almost expected.
Unsurprisingly Japanese brands occupy top 4 places. So pretty much if you want reliable and bulletproof you stick with Japanese bikes. I just wish they would figure out how to inject some personality and character into their bikes. Or perhaps their appliance like feel is the direct cause of how reliable they are?
Interestingly every BMW owner I know swears by how reliable their bike is. Yet it's dead last in reliability poll. Someone is not telling the truth. Could it be that love for the brand is making owners blind?
Recently I was talking to Manu who has been touring the world with his girlfriend Ivana for over 3 years (check out their epic trip at aroundgaia.com). Loaded with gear and a passenger, his Yamaha Tenere has over 60 000 tough miles on it. Everything is still original (beside tires and chain / sprockets). Suspension has never been touched. Not a single breakdown ever. How is that for reliability? BTW Yamaha is reported #1.
So if you want stone reliable you buy Japanese. If you want character and adventure you stick with Germans. Or Italians if you are really adventurous.
14 Responses
Quentin Hilpert
I’ve got 104,000 miles on mine. It still runs like a top. I have had the dealer do all the shedualed maintenance on it. OOPS sorry I did need to replace the drive line; dealer suggested it, after 95,000miles. I did notice after it had been replaced there was a lack of a slight (give) when deaccelerating. Instead of a poll maybe actually getting rebuild information?
Jerry Jones
Had a 2008 BMW 1200GT which was a money pit. However, the BMW K75 was bullet proof. Bought out of junk yard in Pacoima, CA. It was serviced at the delearship, and never broke down. Also had a 1970 R75/5, extremely reliable the airheads. BMW discontinued the K75 (749cc) because they could not sale their bigger bikes.
Sandro Di Gioacchino
I have a 2010 k1300gt. parts cost double and triple every other make. 4 week and more wait for parts. No more BMW for me.
Luke
Take that survey with a big grain of salt. The BMW Boxer engine is one of the most reliable motorcycle mills ever made.
Kristijan
The post is completely accurate and instructive for anyone who wants to buy a new motorcycle. In 2021, I bought two p1250s in a row, both of which were subsequently with factory defects, one was withdrawn from the BMW immediately after delivery, and the second was withdrawn after 5 times of carrying and arguing with the authorized service. Defects were related to lighting and electronic suspension.
Robert
I became aware of the Consumer Report survey about a year ago and was not surprised at BMW’s low ranking. But I don’t think they care, they pretty much tell the moto-journalists what to print about them anyway.
Lee Rhodes
I wouldn’t place too much credence in this one survey (by Consumer Reports). The survey also noted that what are called failures “here” were mostly modest…modest with costs (around $200) and occurred more frequently on the larger (heavily tricked out) bikes. I would be MUCH MORE concerned with being stranded….or having successive issues. That question was not asked. Also….these were the reactions of the owners. BMW riders ride more miles than any other brand on average….and they are noted for being very particular and have high expectations…I would guess more so than the average rider.
Finally…in that same Consumer Report…they asked the owners about
Owner Satisfaction, enjoyment, bike styling, and acceleration.
And here were those bike rankings: Victory, HD, Honda, BMW, Can-Am, Ducati, Yamaha, Triumph and Kawasaki.
This was the same ranking if only looking at Owner Satisfaction.
Finally…look at the 2021 Iron Butt finishers. 62 Bikes finished. 19 were BMW’s, 18 were Honda’s, 9 were Yamaha’s. 8 H-D’s, 3 Kawasaki’s, 2 Suzukis, 1 Victory, 1 Triumph.
Lee
If you look deeper at the survey……Consumer Reports rating of owner satisfaction and reader score had BMW in 4th place…behind Victory, HD and Honda….and ahead of the other brands….
Second….the article also states that the results of this survey may not be representative of the US population.
Leigh Whittemore
What a sad thing to read, now that I set BMW as my cruiser want-to-buy. Maybe I should stick with the brand I’ve been on for my last three machines – Yamaha.
Lee
You didn’t read the whole article. In terms if the owners would buy their bike brand again….BMW came in 4th. Victory was 1, HD 2, Honda 3.
The article also noted the issues were generally minor…under $200 in repairs. And were mostly on heavily equipped touring models.
Lee
If you read the complete Consumer Report article. … When ranking the bikes by owner satisfaction….they go as follows. Victory, HD, Honda, BMW, Can-Am, Ducati, Yamaha, Triumph, Kawasaki, and last…Suzuki. And in those measures….the include performance and reliability. The reliability measures must not be as far apart between models to arrive with their overall ranking.
Felix kirui
Looking to import a used bmw motorcycle to kenya. Cif would be welcome.
Nicolas
That’s really stupid preposition mate. Don’t you dare curse mah BMW again
Adam Johnson
In 1997 my grandpa and grandma where on their yearly ride to California from Ohio (riding a goldwing by the way). They meet a man and his wife from France in Arizona at a rest stop (riding a BMW 100rt). They had rode 7 continents and we’re doing the US and Canada, at that time the bike had 300,000mi on it.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Beach Moto Blog
ZERO FXE REVIEW FROM A FELLOW RIDER
MV AGUSTA SUPERVELOCE ON TRACK REVIEW
Dennis A
Author