Y’all had to see this coming. BMW has long recognizer the importance of making bikes that appeal to market demographics. Lately they made the small 310cc single cylinder bikes made in India for the huge Asian market and sold for as low as US$5000 (here in the US).

Now it seems that they will continue to pursue the large and more affluent US market, where these fat low and slow cruisers seem to be popular, even when the sport (lifestyle?) appears to be in decline. They dipped their toes in the water with the K1600 Bagger and when that flopped I guess they felt they needed to go whole hog, no pun intended. Note comes this ...

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/40112...t-designs/

What do you think? Smart marketing move by BMW? They already had a funky looking cruiser in the CL and that to was said to be a flop. Maybe if they also make this more Harley-looking cruiser in the US they will break into the wallets of those who feel compelled to buy American ...

All I do hope is that it does not have any detrimental effect on the brand as a whole. I could not care less about cruisers but to each his own, and if it strengthens the brand and arrests the slide of motorcycling as a sport / lifestyle then that is a good thing.


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I didn't realize the Bagger flopped. I figured it was doing ok.
I think BMW did a good job on the style for the intended market.
Not sure about the Grand America model.

I like the looks of the Concept/2 but not crazy about the drawings of the full dress version.
I also do not like the looks of the old CL model.

(02-28-2020, 10:31 AM)Lee Wrote: I didn't realize the Bagger flopped. I figured it was doing ok.
I think BMW did a good job on the style for the intended market.
Not sure about the Grand America model.

I did read that sales figures for the bagger and the Grand America were disappointing and based on how many I see on the roads I can believe it. I agree that BMW did a good job on the styling and I like both even though it is not my cup of tea.



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(02-28-2020, 12:48 PM)Grumpy Goat Wrote: I did read that sales figures for the bagger and the Grand America were disappointing and based on how many I see on the roads I can believe it.

Based on what I have seen on the road all BMW bike sales have flopped

(02-28-2020, 06:15 PM)Lee Wrote: Based on what I have seen on the road all BMW bike sales have flopped

Here in the US anyway. Hence the pandering to the cruiser crowd. Actual sales figures show an actual increase for the marque and that sales in 2019 were a new record for them.



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Real pictures in this link.
https://translate.google.com/translate?s...r-boxer%2F

(02-29-2020, 08:29 AM)Lee Wrote: Real pictures in this link.
https://translate.google.com/translate?s...r-boxer%2F

Thanks Lee. Very diligent. ?


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I'm not sure it will ever fly with the cruiser faithful. The cylinders get in the way of the crazy foot-forward position the cruiser crowd adores.

The rider in the pics does seem somewhat cramped, as far as leg room is concerned.

(03-03-2020, 05:19 AM)Duccrazydave Wrote: The rider in the pics does seem somewhat cramped, as far as leg room is concerned.

That is what I thought. Might as well be riding a sport tourer like the RS.