2000 bmw reviews

First of all, I've owned 5 Harleys. So, I know a bit about bikes. In fact, I proudly pushed my Harleys all over the U.S. Really! I was so sick of H.D's and so sick of the people who I met while riding H.D.'s that I never thought I'd own another bike. Then I saw the R1200C. Wow! It was love at first sight. I bought one and the bike has been great. It is everything I could ask for and more. Great styling and rock solid dependability. But, equally important is the fact that the people that I have met through my association with BMW have been super. Friendly, helpful, and true motorcycle enthusiast! So, I would recommend the R1200C wholeheartedly and I would recommend the BMW riders group as well. Both have treated me well. Enjoy!!!!! Show less

I have had the 1150 GS a year now and I still marvel at it. I am an engineer, a nerd nasa, national lab engineer. Every piece of sophisticated gear is a series of trade offs with performance, cost, weight, style, ergonomics etc etc. BMW got all those little and not so little tradeoffs 'just right' on the 1150 GS. The GS is a tall bike so if you are under 6' unless you have a short body and long legs it is going to be a challenge. I am 6'2" and this bike with peg drops and bar backs fits me perfectly. I had considered an K12LT at one time. I recently sat on one and thank my lucky stars I got the GS. I looked at the Adventure but I would not get one. If you are going to spend that much time in the dirt get a dirt bike. Show less

Been riding for 20+ years and have had many bikes. This bike is far and away the best engineered (sans the rickety rear tailight rig that has been replaced).Ride this bad boy 50+ miles (one way) to work into Washington DC when it's fair weather.Very solid, brakes very well,Runs great and my Harly buddies laugh then ride ride it and two have traded up to one.Would I buy it again? In a New York second! Show less

About three months after I bought this bike, a friend sent me an email to check out a bike review she'd found on the web about my new scooter. I did and was very pleased. What I found was that a California based zine had a road test on my year and model and called it the Decades Best Bike for the Money. Pretty strong words. Well, I've had the bike for 18 months and have put almost 30,000 miles on it, and I'd have to totally agree with them. My last ride was an 800 plus touring bike. I wanted a lighter, more responsive canyon carver, but one that I could still set up for touring. Working with a clean slate, as a naked bike is, I was able to set it up my way. First, the canyon carver part. While the ergonomic are a tad bit cramped for my sub 6 foot frame, it's not uncomfortable. But the slightly agressive riding position puts me where I need to be to really get into a curve. The effort on my part is minimal. The bike really reads my mind. I found out early that I'd better be ready for the next curve, because the bike was already there. At 80 hp, it's the power baby of the Beemer twin lineup, but that's still a hell of lot more than I've ever had before. It's a speeding ticket waiting to happen. You just don't realize you're going as fast as you are. Although it doesn't have ABS, this scoot has the best brakes I've ever used. The bike is so forgiving. And with gobs of torque, I can still shortshift it and lug around town like I used to on my cruiser. Now, the touring part. Since its purchase, my Roadster has sprouted an Aeroflow windscreen, Russell seats, a luggage rack, padded passenger backrest with a T-Bag, OEM hard bags on the side, OEM tankbag, ThrottleMeister speed control, padded grips, and more I'm probably not remembering. I love this bike. With BMW's reputation for reliability, this may be my last bike. Show less

The R 1100 RL is an excellent bike overall -- though mine has had a few significant problems. The bike requires a little more committment than others I have owned. First, there's the break-in period. It lasts about 5,000 miles. For the first 1,500 or so the bike shook like a demon above 4,000 rpm. Then it smoothed out. With 8,500 miles it's smooth all the way up. Second, there's the oil consumption. The bike started out consuming about a quart every 1,000 miles. It's down to about a quart every 3,000, but you need to keep a close eye on the oil level. Third, there's the engine surging. My bike can be very brupt coming off closed throttle and sometimes surges perceptibly at 3,000 or so rpm. Synching the trottle bodies at 6,000 iles helped but did not completely eliminate this problem. The abruptness at the low end is fading but not completely gone. Last, there's the weird stuff. At about 300 miles, my battery went dead for no apparent reason. OK, a weak battery, so what? At 6,800 miles, oil began seeping out around the site glass. My dealer repalced it on warranty. Less than 100 miles later it popped out, along with about half the oil in the crankcase, dousing my left boot and the rear tire with oil. Luckily I was able to pull over and shut down before any engine damage was done. Then there's the occassional stall. When coming off th throttle, the engine occassionally dies, though this probelm also seems to be fading as time goes by. So what's the payoff? A superbly smooth, quick bike with excellent suspension and brakes. It is very stable at highway speeds up to 100 mph, which is as fast as I've had it going. The shaft drive is great with no jacking. I ride every chance I get. The bike gets smoother all the time and is a great touring machine. I plan to keep it for good. Show less

Let me begin by saying this is my first bike in over 20 years. After a not-so-nice divorce I treated myself to something I always wanted. The banks wouldn't loan me money to buy anything EXCEPT a BMW. That should tell you something! The bike is almost too big for a novice. Note I said ALMOST. After about 300 miles on it I became confident enough to take the driving part of my test. The examiners couldn't believe I used an 1100 cc bike instead of the little 250 cc jobs eveyone else used. It handles THAT good! The bad news is my dealer went belly-up, so now I have to drive 70 miles or so to get it serviced. WAIT, that's GOOD! The BMW brand accessories are salty, but there are a lot of other stuff out there if you look hard enough. Suggestion: buy a GOOD riding suit. I drive every weekend when there isn't snow on the ground. You don't see any Harley riders out in 15 degree weather (but you will see me). I could go on and on, but I won't! Write me if you want. And if you see one of these...BUY IT! Show less

I have owned my 2001 F650GS for one year now and it has been great. The bike has 6000 miles now and hasn't needed anything but the normal maintinence. The folks here at my local dealer have been super. I ride the bike everyday. It has never let me down. I did a lot of research before buying this bike. I'm very happy with my decision. Show less

Good points: fast, smooth above idle, comfortable for two, looks good, quiet, turns like a dream, good wind protection. Bad points: low rpm surging, big feel, lack of foot travel forward, NOT a gravel road bike, mirrors poorly placed, grabby at shift, not as smooth shifting as a Honda. May be hot in summer due to wind protection. Biggest difference is that my Honda cruiser is very smooth shifting and has much smoother power delivery. This is probably not a problem after practice but this bike will accelerate past my cruiser easily. Show less

I almost bought a Harley Fat boy in April. I had a deposit on it and insurance cards, but after seeing and test riding the Phoenix, I was in love. The bike performs flawlessly, has good torque great looks and is a chick magnet. Only complaint is the weak taillight assembly. Show less

I bought my my F650 5 months ago. And I must say it is great for the all around towner. It also can hold its own on the highway. I took a 450 mile trip and it held nice and smooth at 75. Although my rear end was a little sore after 200 miles so I suggest a pad or maybe a Corbin seat. The only other down side is since it is a BMW (Bring Money With) it can get a little more expensive at major mile check ups. But BMW does have a rep for longevity. Show less