Now there's a refreshing change

[PhotoBoy]

After generally poor service from BMW Motorrad UK (although great by comparison with many owners of many other brands). They've mostly done warranty work required, but only after fighting a dealer who counts every penny like it's his own, today was a welcome surprise.

I bought a K12s last year 'approved used' and after 3000 miles I asked them to have a look a a clutch that didn't always do it's job.

Hey ho, with no delay they've authorised replacement but due to a mix up it's being kept overnight. My concern about taking a new K1300s home in current conditions (snow yesterday has left residual ice over most of the UK) after sliding a couple of times on the way up to the dealership 80 miles away must have read all over my face, particularly when he warned me it only had 10 miles on the bike/tyres.

"No GS's available. Would you prefer a car?"
"YES".

So there we go, 120d convertible demonstrator whilst they put a new clutch in my bike. Reminds me of the service I've had in Europe, but so far absent in the UK. They'll definitely be getting my servicing £££ at this rate.

[johncrosby]

Which dealer is it?

[PhotoBoy]

CoopersBMW @ Sunderland.

Just picked her up this morning. 1st still clunks into place as if Isambard Kingdom Brunel forged it himself, but the rest slip in smooth like Victoria Coren into a cocktail dress.

[johncrosby]

Funny thing about good engineering - it gets better with age and use. My quickshifter didn't work at all until 100 miles in, then supremely smooth and wonderful. Don't always run to the dealer, ride your bike more and you'll be amazed how mechanical parts bed down and the bike becomes more than the some of the parts. This isn't Lego. (Apologies to our Danish friends.)

[Bernardo]

.... but the rest slip in smooth like Victoria Coren into a cocktail dress....

Wow... I can imagine that

vicky_coren.jpg (63.39 KiB) Viewed 721 times

[slacker]

[googles Victoria Coren + Cocktail Dress]

I've got a feeling that part of the engineering falling into place involves us falling into line too - it takes time to learn new skills. I decided to ride my K1200S like a light sportsbike on Tuesday. It aced every manoevre. A week before, and with terrible fuelling issues, I was losing confidence quicker than I'm hoping that dress slips off.

[PhotoBoy]

it takes time to learn new skills. I decided to ride my K1200S like a light sportsbike on Tuesday. It aced every manoevre.

That was my exact experience on my Ksport test ride (1300). Took it out for an afternoon and spent 2.5 hours thinking well it's nice but a bit mechanical and a bit dull. When I realised I was over an hour away from the dealership with only 40 miuntes to finishing time it suddenly all gelled.

As for living with it a bit, I agree, but I was 3500 miles in as of yesterday on a bike with 15k on the clock (now) and I'd got tired of bailing out of gear changes because I could feel through the shifter that the crunching metallic peal of my gearbox was starting to get annoying. The quickshifter definitely takes some coordination.

[johncrosby]

I find the quickshifter works every-time with almost no co-ordination from the rider. I can shift up with almost no throttle open, when lazily pulling away in heavy traffic because I still can't ride around in 1st for more than a few seconds. (Habits die hard). With quarter, half, or full throttle or anything else in between, the quickshifter just slicks the gear up with no hassle or mechanical gremlins. I'd say it's silky smooth every-time. My bike is still very new, but I would hope that shifting should stay like this for many thousands of miles and years to come. Any performance that is not like I describe above is surely a fault that can be addressed?

John

[PhotoBoy]

Like you said, habits die hard.

I'm happy clutchless shifting, but needed to get out of the habit of rolling off the power with the quickshifter. Perhaps that's why the first 100 miles weren't peachy? I found the first hour took concentration, no doubt it becomes second nature.

As for my 1200, the technician did try to explain what had gone wrong with it but my grasp of mechanics is poor. The short version was "it's screwed" so they've put in the clutch from the 1300. Only now do I realise just how bad it was.

[johncrosby]

You're right. My first 100 miles with the quickshifter were terrible. I was convinced it was faulty - I was of course wrong. It's amazing how little mechanical sympathy we have sometimes. I have a new car - Land Rover Discovery 4. It's a great car, but there are some small things that I can either take to the dealer immediately - the odd sound here or there, lower fuel economy than was normal on my LR3 etc... My new attitude is just ride or drive out anything minor, especially on a new bike or car. Engineering does bed down and gel with use. Anything persistent gets addressed in time, but I do think we can be rather like a hypochondriac who rushes to see the doctor at the slightest hint of a cold.

I'm not at all suggesting others overreact to faults - but I humbly admit that it's all too easy to do. Now I just relax, enjoy the 99% of things that do work. There are very few flawless things in life, so my little bit of wisdom is to tell myself to learn to love the whole - faults and all. Apologies for rambling - it's 4am here and I can't sleep. I blame Vancouver 2010 - GO CANADA in the woman's bobsleigh!!!!