service manual options

[Grumpy Goat]

Grumpy Goat, I agree that BMW made a business decision and also that in all likelihood most newer/younger owners probably have no interest in doing their own maintenance/service. It's not the business decision that irks me, it's the storyline they're feeding us.
The article in ON says BMW said it's because the bikes have become so complicated. Well would someone please tell me where between 2018 and 2021 BMW motorcycles made this sudden quantum leap? I say this since I was able in 2018 to buy a BMW factory repair manual for my 2018 RT and also buy one in 2020 for my 2020 1250RS but in 2021 became unable to buy one for that very same bike. So hey, BMW, I'll call you out.... your stated reason is PURE BULL S**T. It's a money grab and nothing else. In my opinion it's the complete lack of integrity by BMW telling outright lies that concerns me.

Of course I understand where you are coming from, but I suspect that they have all along not relished the idea of selling their DVDs to the public but maybe they simply put up with it till now when they finally decided enough was enough. Maybe, as Ray mused, there was some proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

I have no issue with their spin ... its their bikes and they can spin it however they want ... and we will likely continue to buy the bikes. Those of us who DIY work on our own bikes and give a crap about this and a tiny minority and even if we complain on these forums (and even if they read the forums) it will not really matter. They will continue to sell bikes to whoever they sell them to presently, including you and me.

Much as I love my RS and BMWs, in my case my issues with the bikes have nothing to the lack of a DVD manual, and more to do with the general attitudes among all manufacturers when it comes to ownership and accessory costs. At least here in NA, they treat these machines as leisure / weekend indulgences such that anything to do with motorcycles (unless it comes from China) are overly expensive and that includes the service. I grew up in a place where motorcycles are transportation, and that is precisely what my bikes are used for over here. For example, why the heck should I pay big bucks for a brand name metal grate to protect my radiator when I can buy the exact same thing - but without the name - for almost 10x cheaper. Why should I buy a $900+ GPS unit when it gets the screen jumping issue and has to be replaced (sometimes over and over) but if I want to have the jog wheel integration I am locked into this unit?!

But guess what, the market - such as it is - will bear it and so we have it. At least until the market pays more attention to value for money.