BMW Takes a New Tack

[redbirds_imp]

BMW's new take on the ADV market, more in line with it's Italian rivals and the Triumph Tiger Sport.

http://www.motorcycle.com/features/2015-...spied.html

[the Ferret]

Good night..how much HP do you need in an ADV bike? Lol

[The Spaceman_imp]

Or follows a tack taken by Kawasaki:

http://www.kawasaki.eu/en/products/dual_...FZXV5aX1ld

The manufacturers might as well admit that 95% of "ADV" bikes never see anything but pavement. Mine never did (VStrom 1000). I bought it because it was roomy, carried a buttload of gear and/or a passenger comfortably, and I loved the high, SUV-like visibility. BMW has a lot of catching up to do with the MultStrada though, which I believe is their target for this bike.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I have owned 10 BMWs, latest one a 2011, sold it, and I wouldn't buy another one manufactured in the past 5 or 7 years due to all the added electronics and computer controlled this and that thay have been adding. Makes it impossible to diagnose or repair almost anything on your own. And extremely expensive to repair. Are they adding this stuff just to show they are technologically advanced? No one I know is asking for all this.

[The Spaceman_imp]

I have owned 10 BMWs, latest one a 2011, sold it, and I wouldn't buy another one manufactured in the past 5 or 7 years due to all the added electronics and computer controlled this and that thay have been adding. Makes it impossible to diagnose or repair almost anything on your own. And extremely expensive to repair. Are they adding this stuff just to show they are technologically advanced? No one I know is asking for all this.

Time for a new take on an old joke:
"80% of the BMW motorcycle sold since 2008 are still on the road. The other 20% made it home."

I tend to agree with your comment on nobody asking for some of the newer features. I rode a MultiStrada for a couple of days with all the E-Tronics; power modes, suspension, etc. I put it on Fast and Hard and left it there; any time I went to another setting it felt like I'd simply hobbled the bike. ABS is the big exception, even I can figure out I can't threshold brake at the perfect limit of tire adhesion on a wet or slick surface. Luckily that's the one E-Toy Honda chose to put on our bikes.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I completely agree about the ABS brakes. It also takes no input or effort from the rider to perform its job.

[Ack-CB11_imp]

ABS is great on-road but it needs to have an off switch for off-road.
Mine does some funky things off-road. The ABS doesn't like the rear tire off the ground while braking, happens alot and takes getting use to over the bumps.

[The Spaceman_imp]

ABS is great on-road but it needs to have an off switch for off-road.
Mine does some funky things off-road. The ABS doesn't like the rear tire off the ground while braking, happens alot and takes getting use to over the bumps.

Apparently there are off-road specific ABS units now. I know the common practice has always been to switch ABS off immediately upon leaving pavement so you can lock the rear etc. But I've read some recent reviews of ADV bikes (KTM in particular) that were very complimentary on the ABS off-pavement. Obviously your bike was NOT expected to be turned into the island-hopper you've made it into.