BMW R1800

[Lee]

I wonder if BMW can sell the R1800 in the US with a exposed driveshaft?
I don't remember seeing any new farm or construction equipment that didn't have a safety guard on a power takeoff shaft.

[darrell]

I wonder if BMW can sell the R1800 in the US with a exposed driveshaft?
I don't remember seeing any new farm or construction equipment that didn't have a safety guard on a power takeoff shaft.

It is a good point Lee as far as PTO shafts but I think most of the drive shafts on our cars and trucks are exposed. I know they are on the 4 double and triple rear axle trucks we have on the farm.

[mspratz]

I think this is a bike that a lot of people will admire as "cool", but hardly anyone will buy it. Would you buy it? I wouldn't.

[Lee]

It is a good point Lee as far as PTO shafts but I think most of the drive shafts on our cars and trucks are exposed. I know they are on the 4 double and triple rear axle trucks we have on the farm.

I was thinking about the rider or passenger getting a pant leg caught up in the driveshaft while going down the road.
If you're under a car or truck while it's going down the road you're already in trouble

[Lee]

Would you buy it? I wouldn't.

Not as my only bike or 2nd bike.
If I won a big lottery and had 5 or 6 bikes I would consider a /2 for local rides.
Since I don't buy lottery tickets I'll probably never own one

[Grumpy Goat]

I think this is a bike that a lot of people will admire as "cool", but hardly anyone will buy it. Would you buy it? I wouldn't.

Neither me. So far the only slow bike/cruisers I have ever not disliked were Victories, and we all know how that went. My reason for admiring some latter Victory models had to do with their styling and their apparent attitude in the face of the so-called "traditional" American cruiser market paradigms. I always found myself looking (ogling, even?) Victory motorcycles, whereas with the other two brands, I do not even give them a second look.

This BMW has a different approach - it appears to be lithe and muscular and has a nice stance, so I would give it a second look, maybe even a third. But buy it ... hell no.

[Grumpy Goat]

I wonder if BMW can sell the R1800 in the US with a exposed driveshaft?
I don't remember seeing any new farm or construction equipment that didn't have a safety guard on a power takeoff shaft.

I think this is not an issue. Cruiser owners have "garage queens". The exposed shafts won't see dirt.

[Lee]

I think this is not an issue. Cruiser owners have "garage queens". The exposed shafts won't see dirt.

I didn't mean dirt would be a problem, I was talking about the safety problem.
A PTO shaft without a guard can break or pull off a arm or leg.

[Grumpy Goat]

I didn't mean dirt would be a problem, I was talking about the safety problem.
A PTO shaft without a guard can break or pull off a arm or leg.

Yeah I saw that after.



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[Grumpy Goat]

Just got an email from one of my BMW dealers with this in it. Never seen that sport of discounting on a BMW bike.

   

[Ray]

Depends on starting price.... Due to BMW dealer incentives, dealers could do ok selling the base model for ~$10,000.

[Grumpy Goat]

Depends on starting price.... Due to BMW dealer incentives, dealers could do ok selling the base model for ~$10,000.

I edited the post to make the photo clickable to the dealership selling page. The one with the $8000 discount was listed at $22,265 and $22,615, and they are offering it for $14,265 and $14,615. I bet that if it started at that price it would be a better seller.

They do have one 2022 BMW R18 Transcontinental First Edition for $28,590 which is a much more appropriate price for that version, than the $22,265 for the "plain" R18 with fugly muffler. There are a couple others on the site, also priced to stay. 

The only one I suppose I like is the Transcontinental which is competitively priced compared to Indian and Harley.

[Ray]

Haven't talked to them since I hurt my back and knee, but in March, Honz at Gateway had over 40 R1800s in stock and was selling them all over the country at markedly reduced prices.

I checked Cycle Trader today, and he lists them anywhere from $15,000 to $31,000 (Transcontinental 719, Galaxy Dust Metallick/Titan Si). I see he's got a 2021 first edition with Roland Sands billet package with 60 miles on the clock for $13,500 with a "make an offer" button prominently posted.

Have to say, I don't ever recall BMW going after a new market quite so aggressively in terms of dealer incentives - though I'm ready to be corrected.

[darrell]

Keep in mind how BMW allocates new bike models to dealers.  The more they sell the more likely they will get more bikes allocated 2 quarters later.  I recently spoke with a local dealer who is buying 2021 R18 models from various dealers and with the BMW corporate discount they get they are willing to sell at no profit or maybe even a small loss as it means getting a few more GS/GSA/RT models in 2023 they would not received otherwise.  These models can bring a high profit margin a couple of quarters later.

[Grumpy Goat]

...
Have to say, I don't ever recall BMW going after a new market quite so aggressively in terms of dealer incentives - though I'm ready to be corrected.

I guess that is one way to look at it. 

All I know is that the other dealer I go to had a whole whack (like 8) of the R18s when they came in and months later they still had them as no one was buying. Probably didn't help that the dealer also sells Indian. That dealer has now also started carrying Royal Enfield in addition to the Triumphs, and I would bet that the REs fly out the door like nobody's business.

[Ray]

Keep in mind how BMW allocates new bike models to dealers.  The more they sell the more likely they will get more bikes allocated 2 quarters later.  I recently spoke with a local dealer who is buying 2021 R18 models from various dealers and with the BMW corporate discount they get they are willing to sell at no profit or maybe even a small loss as it means getting a few more GS/GSA/RT models in 2023 they would not received otherwise.  These models can bring a high profit margin a couple of quarters later.

Right - which gets back to how a dealer plans ahead for supply chain issues and predicted drops in productivity (different thread). The stuff that keeps the dealers/managers awake at night.

[Grumpy Goat]

Keep in mind how BMW allocates new bike models to dealers.  The more they sell the more likely they will get more bikes allocated 2 quarters later.  I recently spoke with a local dealer who is buying 2021 R18 models from various dealers and with the BMW corporate discount they get they are willing to sell at no profit or maybe even a small loss as it means getting a few more GS/GSA/RT models in 2023 they would not received otherwise.  These models can bring a high profit margin a couple of quarters later.

Great point Darrell, but at the end of the day they still have to shift out these models they acquire as they take up floor space, which is very important to a dealership. Also, the average consumer could not care less about marketing strategy of Corporate BMW, especially if all they see when they walk into the dealership is the same bunch of bikes they may not be interested in, not selling.

At that dealer I am referring to (Woodlands Premium Motorcycles) they presently have 3 areas (rooms) for 3 of the brands - BMW (biggest room), Indian (second biggest with couch and TV), and Triumph (smaller floor area in front of the Parts counter). Goodness knows where the Royal Enfield bikes will go as there is no more floor space, unless they split the BMW area and Corporate could have a say in that. This dealership is close to where the north Houston affluent people (professionals and such) live (the real rich people live more centrally and probably don't give a rat's butt about motorcycles). The sign outside presently only has BMW signage.

Anyway, guess which area sees the most people? Based on casual observation when I drop by - it isn't the BMW area. Its Indian and Triumph, in that order. Yes of course there are people who look at the BMWs but when you look at who it is, you clearly see that it is either GS types or younger people interested in the S bikes. Hardly anyone looks at the big tourers (K bikes) and even less look at the R18s, so much so that the new R18s used to be displayed outside in the Houston heat. Even out there, people are looking at other bikes including the used ones on display a few feet away. As for RTs, even they seem to be outside in some other (overflow?) area close to be bikes that appear to be in for servicing are kept. I have only seen a couple inside the showroom, which is odd since there is BMW area floor space available. All the new GSs and S bikes tend to be inside. And the couple scooters.

The dealership with the $8000 off sale (is a different multiline dealership) with even less space for BMW. Don't know where they hide these 3 R18s but they are nowhere to be seen. Maybe they are upstairs where they keep stock and where customers are not allowed. At that location (they have several) that dealership sells Ducatis (big draw) as well as Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. which are also popular draws. BMW visitors tend to favour the S bikes and then the GSs at this dealership.

I know this is long and is just based on my casual observation based on visits (there is a 3rd dealership with even less space for BMWs but I won't bore you with my assessment of that place).

I personally think that the plain R18 is a flop other than to the BMW fan-base who, unfortunately and contrary to what we on forums may like to believe, are not doing nearly enough to support the bottom line in the marketplace. The Transcontinental, on the other hand, is well positioned in the marketplace, both in price and in design execution. But can it beat the (sometimes more expensive) Indian Challengers and Pursuits in the next room at my main dealership ...? Not so sure.

[36654]

Keep in mind how BMW allocates new bike models to dealers.  The more they sell the more likely they will get more bikes allocated 2 quarters later.  I recently spoke with a local dealer who is buying 2021 R18 models from various dealers and with the BMW corporate discount they get they are willing to sell at no profit or maybe even a small loss as it means getting a few more GS/GSA/RT models in 2023 they would not received otherwise.  These models can bring a high profit margin a couple of quarters later.

Right - which gets back to how a dealer plans ahead for supply chain issues and predicted drops in productivity (different thread). The stuff that keeps the dealers/managers awake at night.

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

[Ray]

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).

[Pyrrho]

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).

My dealer said pretty much what I saw on the floor is what they'll have for the rest of the calendar year, and that no other dealers were open to trading with them as they're in the same situation. My bike is one of the last new BMWs they're getting in '22. Most of what they had on the floor were RnineT's in various trims that had been there for months. They had a R18 Transcontinental since April that just sold last week. R18s aren't big sellers in Milwaukee due to HD's overwhelming presence here.

They're a multi-line dealership like most these days, also carrying Ducati, Royal Enfield, and MV Agusta. They're continuing to receive stock with those marques and that's what most of their sales are lately. They sold two $100K Panigale V4 Superleggeras this year in comparison -- so the riders with deep pockets are here, but the BMWs they want aren't.