BMW R1800

[36654]

If MC dealers are anything like car/truck dealers, they're sleeping pretty soundly.  200%+ increases in value are pretty good......

...for those who are allotted adequate stock (which gets back to Darrell's point).

They (most likely) sold each one of those bikes at MSRP+.  According to BMW AG, 2022 MC production is projected to be 90% of record year 2021.  Selling 90% of the products at MSRP+ beats selling 100% of the products at less than MSRP.

Thus, the increased profitability of dealerships.

[Ray]

Reminds me of Ryan Kluftinger's well researched review on how dealerships get screwed by the manufacturers. (References are at the end of the video.) (While you're there, you can check out his recent interview with Dylan Code on how to hold the throttle.)

[Pyrrho]

Reminds me of Ryan Kluftinger's well researched review on [...]

[...] nearly anything. FortNine consistently produces some of the best motorcycle content available IMO... AND he rides a BMW. 

[36654]

Went in for a service appt at my dealership this morning. About 10 brand new R18's setting in the showroom floor. They only have 3 unsold R1250 bikes....all GS Adventures. 2 R9T and 3 S1000 variants. 2 G310GS and 1 K1600 Bagger. Several low mileage used bikes sprinkled around the new bikes to fill-out the showroom floor. Typically, used bikes a placed in a separate showroom.

The dealership also handles Triumph. That showroom appears to be better stocked...

[Ray]

   

So, did some service at the new dealership site for Gateway, today in preparation for some good Ozark/SE US miles in a couple weeks.

(I have sports medicine board certification, but will add an aside here, that my physical therapist is a genius when it comes to ergonomics and mechanics for the "upper half of the motorcycle.")

Rode the R18 pictured. WHAT A PIG. Darrell might be right about cruising the grain elevator museums in central Illinois, but wrestling this beast to hit my turn points in the twisties around Babler State Park (convenient to the new dealership site) were a reminder that I haven't been able to spend as much time in the gym as I would like. And it pulls like a John Deere.

So of course, I returned and took out a new RT.... At low speed, quite the handler, and at low speed, better than the RS (which sports a slightly longer wheel base). Wheelies in 1st and a little in 2nd. In higher speed turns, however, the front end doesn't kneel into the turn under braking like the RS does, so the effects of the shorter wheel base are negated, and frankly, after 7.5 y on the RS (and a couple y on the Truvativ suspension upgrade), I'll take the lighter (by 60-some pounds) and less expensive RS..., for now. (See comments above on necessity of PT consultation and ongoing rehab to stay on the road.)

Ride on.

[Grumpy Goat]

Nice feedback on the R18 and the RT. I am not at all surprised at either account. The long wheelbase and steering geometry favours going straight, whereas we tend to like a balance, I think. The RS tends towards the middle.