From: car377@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (charles.a.rogers)
Subject: Re: ST1100 still reigns supreme
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 21:25:39 GMT
Summary: Beauty is in the eye, etc.

In article <1992Sep30.171614.21472@osf.org>, jsm@rosencrantz.osf.org (John S. Morris) writes:
> In article <1992Sep30.161607.28276@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> car377@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (charles.a.rogers) writes:
> >
> >"In our two recent tests of the new BMW K1100LT we took the bike to
> > task for retaining a significant amount of the inherent K-bike engine
> > vibration.  In response, a number of BMW owners wrote in, calling us
> > crazy for saying the vibration was noticeable.  We suggest those
> > same people should borrow an FJ1200 for a short spin, to see what
> > a truly smooth motorcycle feels like."
> >
> I rode an FJ last spring. It was as smooth as my K bike. 8-)

Hmm, you must be one of those who wrote in to RR?

> Seriously, it was a *very* nice bike and I liked most everything about
> it (except the chain drive).  So why is Yamaha changing it so dramatically?

I felt the same about the K100RS.  It was a very nice bike 
and I liked most everything about it (except the shaft drive).
It had about the same vibration as my FJ (cue Blaine :-)).                     

> BTW: I did have great experiences with Honda's, Yamaha's, Benelli's,
> Norton's, Harleys, etc. But somewhere along the line I changed into
> one of those people who buys a bike for things they don't mention
> in the reviews - which BMW satisfies. The quality of the assembly, the
> commonality and availability of parts, BMW's evolution vs. revolution
> strategy, the amazing accessories, the post-sales support BMW gives its
> owners, the useable toolkit, the rallies and open houses (especially
> the donuts!), the MOA and RA etc.,etc., etc. And like the Motorcyclist
> review of the K1100LT said, "most BMW owners are not price shoppers".

That's funny:  I had similar great experiences (except no Benellis),
and I also changed into "one of those people who buys a bike for things
they don't mention in the reviews" (*exactly* the same things as you, as 
it turns out) but I ended up with FJ instead of BMW.

> The quality of the assembly   

  Yep, sometimes I take my bike apart and put it back together just
  so's I can marvel at the clever and reliable way things are designed
  and put together.

> commonality and availability of parts, 

  Yep, never have had any problem with parts, never waited longer than
  7 days for a part that wasn't in stock either.  Nice thing about a
  9-year production life with essentially the same engine.

> BMW's evolution vs. revolution strategy, 

That's the FJ history in a nutshell.  Must not be only "BMW's" strategy, eh?

> the amazing accessories, 

Love those Krausers!

> the post-sales support BMW gives its owners, 

Yeah, my dealer's a prince, and American Yamaha has been great!

> the useable toolkit, 

I used to carry a lot of extra tools around, but I found out the OEM
toolkit is sufficient for any repairs I might need to do on the road.
I concede it isn't as *pretty* as the BMW kit, but I never have to
unpack it anyway.

> the rallies and open houses 

Gotta count 'em both out here.  Neither Yamaha nor BMW showed up
at Americade this year.  For me, this one goes to Harley, Honda, and
Moto Guzzi.

> (especially  the donuts!), 

Well, my friends will tell you that Yamaha probably does me a *big* 
favor by *not* offering me any donuts. :-)

> the MOA and RA etc.,etc., etc. 

Dunno yet about the FJ Owners' Association, since it's just starting
up, but the informal support from the enormous number of other FJ riders
has been superb to date.

> And like the Motorcyclist
> review of the K1100LT said, "most BMW owners are not price shoppers".

Good thing, eh?  If they were, they might all own FJs. :-)

Chuck Rogers
car377@druhi.att.com