Faults:

No major repairs required.

Radio/stereo LED has turned opaque, making it difficult to read the display.

There is little protection for the twin cooling radiators. Many dings visible.

Cheezy gas cap cover.

General Comments:

Though I enjoy the unusual styling and performance, many little things aggravate me. Here are a few:

For instance a stock oil filter costs me 25.00.

The side stand is poorly designed. It is too long. If the ground isn't perfectly level, the bike doesn't lean enough to be stable.

The center stand isn't much better. I am 6' and 200lbs. It takes all I have to roll it up onto the center stand.

Heavy to handle at slow speeds. It takes some getting used to.

Checking the oil level is a pain. You need a light to see the sight glass. If the oil is at the top of the window, it is very difficult to determine if there is too much or none.

Adding oil is equally difficult. You need to manufacture a custom funnel to reach the filler opening.

But, and it's a big but, when you hit the open road, move over HD.

Faults:

Fuel gauge malfunction. If the charcoal filter (canister) becomes clogged, the fuel tank cannot breath. As the fuel pump draws the fuel from the tank, it collapses. The plastic fuel tank makes contact with the cylinder that the float travels in and dents it. If the dent occurs above the float, you are relatively safe. If the opposite occurs, you will most likely run out of fuel and not know why. It is a minor repair, not necessarily requiring new parts. If you do not live in California, it is recommended that the canister be removed or by passed.

The antenna contacts can be lost resulting in poor reception. Again, this is an easy fix, but rather annoying.

General Comments:

Although some owners have complained about moving the bike around parking areas, I have found the bike to feel light and very agile (I should mention that I am younger and taller than the usual owner).

For a touring bike, it is very quick and handles like a dream. It takes turns like a sport bike, and stops on a dime with linked ABS front and rear.

The bike has every feature you can imagine. Heated seats and hand grips. Cruise control. Trip computer. An amazing sound system with optional 6 CD changer. Loads of cargo space. Even reverse. But the greatest feature of all is the adjustable wind screen. With the touch of a button you can adjust the screen up to block the wind and rain, down to give you a blast of fresh air, or anywhere in between to send the wind over you and your passenger.

The bike gets great gas mileage. I average 45 MPG. Maintenance is simple and figure about $35 if you change the oil yourself. BMW does recommend dealer service every 6,000 miles to the tune of $200-$300.

One minor complaint is the speedometer. It is off by an average 5 mph. Research indicated that it can be corrected, but it is a major operation that in this rider's opinion isn't that crucial.

Faults:

Gear linkage corroded & snapped.

General Comments:

This motorbike is very heavy to handle at low speeds.