[Richard230]

Another entry into the small single-cylinder market and more competition for Royal Enfield's new 400cc single.  Be sure to read the section of the article regarding quality management: 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/BMW-motorcycles/2016-bmw-g-310-r/preview.htm

[malky]

Thank you for a most interesting post. It is amazing the lengths they have gone to elaborating the quality standards and the country of manufacture, compared to Genuine Scooter 400cc in another post in this section. It's a BMW so people will buy it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope the release of the Himalayan isn't an anticlimax.

[ace.cafe]

To my way of thinking, it is a strong contender for ugliest motorcycle ever produced.
 

[phoenixt]

To my way of thinking, it is a strong contender for ugliest motorcycle ever produced.
 

Ace, we are too old. The people that design and ride these bikes played with these types of toys.

[ace.cafe]

Ace, we are too old. The people that design and ride these bikes played with these types of toys.

Gosh durn whipper-snappers!!
Fetch me my cane, son, and I'll teach 'em a thing or two!
 

[Farmer_John]

I don't know,I kind of like it. I'd like it better if it was closer to a half liter...

[Arizoni]

While reading about the high German quality that BMW is going to insist on with these Indian built motorcycles I could't help but remember a Quality Report ConsumerReports magazine printed about a year ago.

BMW rated at the very bottom of the list in terms of quality.

That list included Harley Davidson (but not Royal Enfield).

[Richard230]

Of course Royal Enfield wasn't even mentioned in the CR article.  No doubt the four RE owners who responded to the survey were not counted.

I agree that it was surprising that both BMW and HD were at the bottom of the reliability survey, but it was also interesting that their owners were the most loyal customers and were likely to purchase a new BMW or HD, compared with all of the other brands. 

Oddly, Yamaha had the fewest problems yet their owners were the least likely to want to purchase another of that brand.  Go figure.  None of it makes any sense, but neither does owning a motorcycle in the U.S.

[malky]

I think brand image plays a big part in the HD, BMW thing. The HD/BMW owners I come across have the full matching corporate outfits from the ground up. Perhaps the cost of new matching gear for a different brand is to much.

[Richard230]

I think brand image plays a big part in the HD, BMW thing. The HD/BMW owners I come across have the full matching corporate outfits from the ground up. Perhaps the cost of new matching gear for a different brand is to much.

I think you are on to something there, malky.   

[ace.cafe]

I definitely agree.

[Chasfield]

I have ranted here before about modern bikes being over styled.

If that BMW had simpler lines and weighed under 320 pounds I would be impressed. All that power ranger/transformer styling, with its functionless bolt on trim peices, costs weight and money.

All modern bikes are lead sleds, with a built-in pillion passenger's worth of useless kerb weight. Big sports bikes fix this with 100 HP at the back wheel, so you don't notice. The same excess weight makes small capacity machines stodgy.

The shame is that BMW were once masters at building cleanly styled, efficient roadsters. Look how strong prices are on their  1950s and 60s machines.

[malky]

I dread to think what the matching outfits for this bike will look like. Good thing about owning an Enfield is I can get away with wearing a 30 year old Belstaff jacket, and without realising it myself, I am deamed to be cool.

[tooseevee]

...... image and lifestyle marketing than anything else. That wasn't always the case ..... I've often thought that many of my HD and BMW friends from years past must be spinning in their graves. 

             I've been spinning since the early '80s when all that I hold holy started really turning to shit    I have reached a state of perpetual dizzyness   

[ace.cafe]

I suppose it should not come as a surprise.
After all, the whole world has gotten pretty well fucked-up, so it wasn't likely that motorcycling would escape unscathed.