[Blue_Rider]

For those who have just purchase the '13 Burgman...did you do any research or comparison on the cost of maintenance between these 2 great scooters? Rumors say that the BMW 650gt cost is more simply because it's a BMW. Was your decision to purchase the Burgman based on good part on the cost of maintenance?

What are you thoughts?

 

[Bill-Bill]

The reason I went for the 2013 Burgman is I had a 400 an 09 650 and a 11 650 and enjoyed all of them with no problems. Another reason is that if I do have a problem there is a Suzuki dealer nearby no matter where I have the problem. I do not think that you will find that is true for the BMW scooters. Maintenance was never considered in my decision.

 

[macamxthe1st]

Owned a couple of BMW's over the years and would not touch another with a "Barge Pole" found them vastly overrated, troublesome (very) and extremely expensive. If you look at the BMW operation closely both bikes and cars it is pretty much a "Smoke & Mirrors" operation with regard to quality.

Geoff.

 

[29534]

Owned a couple of BMW's over the years and would not touch another with a "Barge Pole" found them vastly overrated, troublesome (very) and extremely expensive. If you look at the BMW operation closely both bikes and cars it is pretty much a "Smoke & Mirrors" operation with regard to quality.

Geoff.

I don't agree. I still have one of the 4 BMW motorcycles I have owned over the last 20 years. I've had 2 K bikes (aka-bricks), one airhead and my current oilhead. Other than the ABS system, parts don't seem to cost more than Japanese bikes (but I have needed very few). I generally ride older bikes and found I could get parts easier and faster for a 25 year old BMW than I could for a 10 year old Honda (and many Honda parts for older bikes are unavailable at any price). My current BMW R1200CLC has 48,000 miles on it and the replacement parts needed since it was new have been 3 H-4 headlight bulbs. I do my own service. I do agree that the new ones have gotten very complicated with the potential for expensive part failures.

 

[macamxthe1st]

I would go along with that, as you had older models and stayed clear of dealers you experience would be different to mine. My experience of the modern stuff and current dealer attitudes was flaming awful.

Geoff.

 

[curly]

Not only did I consider the cost of maintenance but also the availability of it. I have no personal experience with BMW maintenance but have friends who have and they say BMW dealer maintenance is very expensive. If you can do your own work then all things are pretty much equal.

Most cities have at least one multi-line Japanese dealership that can get you back on the road but not so for BMW. This was a big consideration for me as I do stray far away from home at times.

 

[29534]

Not only did I consider the cost of maintenance but also the availability of it. I have no personal experience with BMW maintenance but have friends who have and they say BMW dealer maintenance is very expensive. If you can do your own work then all things are pretty much equal.

Most cities have at least one multi-line Japanese dealership that can get you back on the road but not so for BMW. This was a big consideration for me as I do stray far away from home at times.

I finally got a BMW dealership that is only 100 miles from me. My closest on has been at least 150 miles away for years. Even though the closest Japanese brand dealership is only about 30-35 miles away, they don't have a clue when it comes to scooters. There is a reason I have done all of my own work since 1975 and the UPS guy knows where I live.

 

[curly]

I always admire you guys who do your own service work. I can do the simple stuff like fluid changes, plugs, etc. but no way I'm venturing into internals and drive trains and such. I pretty much have to rely on dealerships whether they know what they are doing or not.