2022 Officially "On Order"!

[ESquared]

Craig, it might be worth asking if anyone from their shop went to the aforementioned Austin (TX) dealer meeting. If they didn't go, it sounds like they should have.

Could be your new owners are still learning the ropes about the Mother-Ship and how they operate, meaning they may just not know the right questions to ask, either privately or publicly. If choosing between Clueless and Deceptive, I'd always take the former, so here's hoping your situation is just a matter of Learning Curve.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[Lee]

I didn't know you could order color-matched luggage along with the bike, but what he showed you was too specific to your, so you're still in the game, congrats!

From what I understand the only color you can get matched is Storm Black Metallic (yet another reason why it's the best color). Everything else comes w/the same grey lids you either have to live with or

You can buy prepainted lids in red, white, black and two shades of grey.
Unless you buy a bike that comes standard with panniers the panniers do not ship with the bike.

[Pyrrho]

Unless you buy a bike that comes standard with panniers the panniers do not ship with the bike.

I asked my dealer's parts guy specifically if the cases are shipped with the bike or are ordered separately and he said they came with the bike. I didn't ask for clarification on how; he may have a liberal idea of what "comes with" means.

[Pyrrho]

Craig, it might be worth asking if anyone from their shop went to the aforementioned Austin (TX) dealer meeting. If they didn't go, it sounds like they should have.

Could be your new owners are still learning the ropes about the Mother-Ship and how they operate, meaning they may just not know the right questions to ask, either privately or publicly. If choosing between Clueless and Deceptive, I'd always take the former, so here's hoping your situation is just a matter of Learning Curve.

They seem genuine; everyone I've met so far has described their previous work history at other dealers so nobody I've been dealing with has been doing this for less than 10 years, but they're new to BMW. Tytler's in Green Bay has been a BMW dealer for years but I don't know how much that trickles down. I was told how expensive it was for them to add BMW to the dealership -- BMW had to be closest to main entrance (requiring an entire store remodel), and the design and the type of counters, signs, lettering, lighting... even down to brand and model of floor covering. They're still fighting with BMW because the Milwaukee suburb they're in (West Allis) doesn't allow the sort of free-standing aluminum 2-sided pillar outside their building BMW wants them to have.

They could be telling the truth and honestly be in the dark about what's going on -- meaning the guy in Chicago is right about them not knowing what they're talking about. This is what I'd mostly expect is happening, except for the fact I saw that RS for Tytler's on that screen in Chicago. That could very well be my bike and my dealership not knowing about it yet or how to even find out.

If that bike in Green Bay isn't mine or otherwise can get my name on it then I'll just get the one in Alabama. There's another in Florida with an Akra slip-on that I was going to get anyway... hmm, maybe I could get it delivered.

[Pyrrho]

The saga continues.

Talked with the GM of my dealership today. He spoke with a BMW rep who said indeed, there's a delay in getting bikes built now. BMW said there's no such interface for dealers to see what each other has on order, the screen I was shown must have been an in-inventory screen. The GM called their Green Bay location and verified they do have a bike exactly like I ordered but it's not listed for sale is because someone has a deposit on it. The depositor hasn't returned to buy it in nearly a month. I was told they'd be called and given an opportunity to buy it now or I'd get it. I told the dealer to ship it down to Milwaukee and I'll come in and buy it the day it arrives.

I'll know tomorrow what's happened with that. Another option they offered me was a discussion they had with BMW this morning. The dealer already has 7 bikes on order and now it doesn't sound like it'll get any of them and just learned about that today, so BMW said they'd work with them as best as possible to prioritize some orders. Otherwise I was told there were only 17 Storm Black Metallic RSes allocated for North America in '22 and if I wanted one I'd better grab one from a dealer that still has one.

[Pyrrho]

Guy with the deposit decided to buy it. The bastard.

Now it's an adventure of buying a bike remotely and having it shipped to me. I'm having so much "fun" with my BMW experience so far and I haven't even ridden it yet!

[ESquared]

Man, your story is so much more interesting than mine! More characters, locations, plot twists, at least one bad guy ("Mr. Deposit") and a couple of cliff-hangers so far!

The good news is that it looks like you're going to end up with the bike you want and now you know where it is! Fly-n-ride vs. ship seems to depend on your absolute urgency to have it in your garage. No right or wrong answer, and both ways have their hassles.

I guess the other option would be to drive down, rent a trailer there and drive it back...

[Pyrrho]

First three dealers I called that supposedly had the bike, didn't. "We sold that bike over two months ago." Then why is it still on their website? Frustrating.

Found one in Fort Meyers, Florida. A "lightly used" 2021 model that the previous owner found out he wasn't going to be spending that much time in FL after all and instead sold the bike back to the dealer with 82 miles on it. Positive -- includes color-matched side cases. Negative -- has Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow head & front engine covers and a standard-height seat.

Dealer is sorting out the seat issue but won't be replacing the O719 with stock since it's technically a used bike sale. I can live with the engine cover but not the head covers, as I don't believe there's any way to protect them aside from traditional tubular crash bars with the O719 covers fitted. If that's what I have to live with then I'll probably buy replacement OEM stock head covers & MM X-Heads and then sell the O719 covers to someone far more fancy than me.

We've agreed on a price and just need to work out paperwork and shipping. As a FYI, they have BMW Connected Ride cradles in stock. $250 each.

[ESquared]

Kinda sounds like a Wow, but I'd have to see it. Congrats in advance (if that doesn't jinx it!). Look forward to the next installment!

[Pyrrho]

Kinda sounds like a Wow, but I'd have to see it.

This is her. Yeah there's a scuff on the right side case lid that I had the dealer try to polish and then record some close-up video of. It's into the clear coat but not the paint and should buff out easily.

https://www.gcmotorcycles.com/inventory/-11358865i

[Grumpy Goat]

Very nice. Great find.

[ESquared]

Beautiful, good for you! Those 719 head covers look very nice with that paint scheme (and the matching luggage)! Great find for sure! Keep going!

[Pyrrho]

Very nice. Great find.

Previous owner also has a GS and chose that over the RS. What a FOOL! Bless his ignorance?

[runnerhiker]

80 miles! Fantastic!

[Lee]

Kinda sounds like a Wow, but I'd have to see it.

This is her. Yeah there's a scuff on the right side case lid that I had the dealer try to polish and then record some close-up video of. It's into the clear coat but not the paint and should buff out easily.

https://www.gcmotorcycles.com/inventory/-11358865i

Looks good.
Like you mentioned, I would also remove the 719 head covers and sell them.

[Pyrrho]

Like you mentioned, I would also remove the 719 head covers and sell them.

The left head already has some gashes in it I noticed today on more lengthy inspection of downloaded photos of the bike. 82 miles and that happened. The O719 and HP covers have replaceable slider panels if it's not obvious (it wasn't to me initially, until I saw the HP covers), but this is a good example of why that isn't sufficient protection.

Stock replacement set, new, is $1200 for the head & engine cover, plus $8 for a filler cap. Cost of the storm billet set from the factory is a $1K upgrade. If you buy the parts individually later, they're $4,700. Plus a $100 oil filler cap. Sheesh.

[Grumpy Goat]

The left head already has some gashes in it I noticed today on more lengthy inspection of downloaded photos of the bike. 82 miles and that happened.

I am surprised that it is the left side that has evidence of a possible drop. On the RS, due to the long side stand, it is the right side that is more prone to damage from a drop.

The O719 and HP covers have replaceable slider panels if it's not obvious (it wasn't to me initially, until I saw the HP covers), but this is a good example of why that isn't sufficient protection.

BMW covers or any kind never made sense for me, largely due to how pretty they were and their replacement cost.

I used to have MaMo head covers on my bike, which I believe to be great [sacrificial] protection for a tip over. AAMOF, the video from the inventor where he drops a GS to prove the effectiveness of the covers in a drop is what sold me. However, after having got a bit of drop damage to the [left?] MaMo cover, I decided I wanted some more protection, and got my crash bars. I wanted something with more robust protection that, aside from a rock reaching in, would stop the valve cover from even touching the ground in a crash more dynamic than a tip over. I had hoped to also fit the MaMo covers (even with its scratches; some call that "patina") with the bars but clearance prevented that, and I never got around to coaxing a fit. Anyway, point is since I installed the bars I had (I think) a couple of lie downs (like this one) and the bars did their job beautifully and were easy to touch up. I suspect that it would be very effective in a low-side as well.

Stock replacement set, new, is $1200 for the head & engine cover, plus $8 for a filler cap. Cost of the storm billet set from the factory is a $1K upgrade. If you buy the parts individually later, they're $4,700. Plus a $100 oil filler cap. Sheesh.

That is what I mean. Stuff like that make me laugh (and not in a "funny" way). I see zero sense in it. To me motorcycles have 2 wheels which means there is a very good chance that at some point they will lay down. I don't care how good you are, the natural inclination of a motorcycle is to lie down on one side or the other. So to have to replace nice parts like that - and at prices like that - is kind of a joke. Only makes sense if the bike is a garage queen and you have it to look at and not to ride.

Sounds like crash bars are on your mind and for me I like the unobstrusive look of the SW Motech design.

[Pyrrho]

Considering it's a 2021 and has only 82 miles on it, yeah it certainly was a garage queen. Previous owner has a main residence in CO where he has his GS, and bought the RS to ride around Florida when staying there. The O719 stuff is damn pretty (esp in the storm like mine) but without engine bars there's no way to protect it.

IMO, engine bars:
+ maximum engine protection in a crash
+ can accommodate non-stock head covers
+ provide additional lighting mount points
+ could retain expensive O719 bits that came with bike
- unattractive
- prohibit use of spoilers or belly pans
- out of place on what I consider a classical ST such as the RS (stylistic issue vs beauty)
- increases width of the heads even more on what already is likely one of the widest bikes available
- added weight

Whereas MM X-Heads over stock covers:
+ increased protection of heads to an acceptable level
+ allow installation of the Limberger belly pan I'm interested in
= negligible weight difference
- slightly less attractive than stock
- more time/hassle/money in getting heads & engine cover swapped

Using my math, stock heads are the way to go. Everyone else has different goals and use cases.

[ESquared]

So, stock head covers, no bars or X-Heads?

[Pyrrho]

So, stock head covers, no bars or X-Heads?

Nono, I want X-Heads. Sorry that wasn't more clear.