[Tattoodles]

It's coming up starting Saturday- the John Valk BMW Grandeur Ride - Vancouver to the Grand Canyon and back via the Oregon Coast. 6000km over 2 weeks.

Anyone else besides me on BCSB signed up for this one?

 

[elevation]

When I get my K1200S I will be in for sure. Ray was telling me about it and it sounds pretty amazing. Do they allow non-bimmer riders?

 

[J_Scott]

I would be down for sure... but timing/ride being full didn't help.

However, Sav and I are doing the Spain trip next year. You in on that one Adam?

 

[Tattoodles]

When I get my K1200S I will be in for sure. Ray was telling me about it and it sounds pretty amazing. Do they allow non-bimmer riders?

Any make of motorcycle is welcome. Are you getting your K1200S before this Saturday :laughing We leave in 3 days.

 

[elevation]

It's on order should be here in 2-3 years. Can you postpone until then? :coffee

 

[VTwinVince]

Sure, I'm some RUB who wants to give Valk more money so I can hang out with a bunch of Euro-Poseurs.

 

[Tattoodles]

This is 400+km a day ride for 14 days. I guess we'll be posing to the cacti and tumbleweeds of Arizona and Utah if it makes you feel any better. I only hope the cayotes have refined taste in german machinery, or else it'll all be for naught.

 

[J_Scott]

Sure, I'm some RUB who wants to give Valk more money so I can hang out with a bunch of Euro-Poseurs.

Always so bitter Vince.

I think it's great they put these things on. It's just like the track days with my car dealership. It shows that the dealership is close with their customers and goes the extra mile to organize events for them. Also, 6000km is hardly a poser ride.

Vince, as the idyllic example of what a pure motorcyclist is, why don't you share with us your experiences? What and how to ride, which dealership to shop at, and be an example by sharing with us your rides this year.

I mean, since I'm obviously labelled as a poser/RUB in your book based merely on WHAT I ride, I'm sure I could learn something from you.

I'll be back to read your response later, I'm going to go take my Boutique bike to starbucks for a while... :rolleyes

 

[Guest]

Sure, I'm some RUB who wants to give Valk more money so I can hang out with a bunch of Euro-Poseurs.

What does a RUB mean? Let me guess a person who gets spat on wearing full gear and doesn't do a thing about it... No that doesnt sound like a RUB to be me, must be something else.:flashy

 

[Deuce]

What does a RUB mean?

Rich Urban Biker. Usually associated with all the Hogly Ferguson poseurs clogging up the highways and backroads. If these idiots want to ride at 80kph all day why don't they join the bloody Shriners :jerkoff
With the price of BMW's these days RUB's are the only ones who can bankroll these German wonders of over-unreliable-engineering. My '04 GS needed a tranny, clutch and new rear shock in 30,000kms (the only good thing about Beemers is the warranty) Needless to say I now ride something more reliable.

These catered and pampered rides do nothing for me either. If I want to ride to a schedule I will go to work. And 400km days are only 5-6 hrs of riding per day. What is the fun in that. Some days I ride 200kms and some days I will do 5-700. That is where the fun is when on a road trip. Stopping and camping where and when you want. Having beers and food with strangers in strange places. :drinkbeer
Have fun anyway. It is a blast being able to ride at speed with a group of fellow riders and not be looking over your shoulder or finding a Mountie hiding in the bushes as you whiz by.

 

[Tattoodles]

Rich Urban Biker

Meaning someone buying into a motorcycle lifestyle they haven't earned. This term was first coined by Harley-Davidson owners who were upset that Harley ownership was the new status symbol of aging yuppies.

 

[Thumper 8]

Sure, I'm some RUB who wants to give Valk more money so I can hang out with a bunch of Euro-Poseurs.

Hey Vince, Valk is going to need all the money he can get 'cause he is going to have to move into new digs soon. There is a honking big re-development sign in front of the store now.

Gotta finance the move somehow, eh?

Oh yeah, real men (i.e., on reliable Hondas) ride at least 1,000 km per day! 400 kms should be done by lunch.

 

[Tattoodles]

400km per day is the average. Some days we do 600+km's, some days we do >300km's, depending on what parks we're in at the time, as we're also going through Monument Valley and other destinations.

The route is actually not planned. Each rider is left to their own devices to pair off, make their own smaller groups or whatever they like. The only organization is the prepaid hotel waiting for you at the end of the day. If you want to bugger off and ride your own ride, you're welcome to it. So no one's holding your hand.

And if I'm a RUB for deciding on riding a BMW after owning 25 motorcycles over a riding career of 18 years, then so be it. I've owned Jap, Brit, Italian and several BMW's and I love the bike I have, with no need to justify it to anyone.

I paid only $3K more than my last Yamaha (R1). So it's not like I got to be Donald Trump to walk in the front door of the dealership.

Sure there's guys who've had BMW's with probs, just like there's guys with Kawasakis or Ducatis or Hondas with probs. One lemon bike doesn't damn a whole brand.

Hey, if I'm a RUB now, then great. I'll wear a RUB t-shirt if you like. Alls I know is that I'm going to be riding around the Grand Canyon next week, on the saddle of my motorbike. If I'm a wimp because I'm only clocking 400km a day, stopping and enjoying the local scenery and taking my time enjoying each day, than ya'll are more man than me. Taking 2 weeks to go to Arizona and back on a bike sounds like heaven.

 

[Deuce]

I paid only $3K more than my last Yamaha (R1). So it's not like I got to be Donald Trump to walk in the front door of the dealership

Our local dealer, SM Cycle, has 4 K1200R's collecting dust on the floor. Rumour has it that BMW is going to offer some incentives to get rid of them.
The average Joe cannot afford these bikes any more. Plus the service costs are double what the Jap dealers charge. My Thruxton cost $200 for a 10k service. My GS was over $500 at John Screw You in The Ass Valk. My GF paid over $400 for a 10k service on her CS 650 there and had to get the bike towed to SM and serviced again. They had to replace the battery, air filter and spark plugs cause JV's useless machanics don't know how to do a proper tune-up.
Like I said, have fun on your trip. We were down there in April of this year and it is awesome territory to explore on a bike. You will love Monument Valley. Grand Canyon is a bit of a yawn. Big hole in the ground with thousands of rubber neckers ooing and awing. Nice roads though. It will be very hot though so make sure you drink lots of fluids. Camel back would be a good investment for you.

 

[Thumper 8]

Hey, if I'm a RUB now, then great. I'll wear a RUB t-shirt if you like. Alls I know is that I'm going to be riding around the Grand Canyon next week, on the saddle of my motorbike. If I'm a wimp because I'm only clocking 400km a day, stopping and enjoying the local scenery and taking my time enjoying each day, than ya'll are more man than me. Taking 2 weeks to go to Arizona and back on a bike sounds like heaven.

Just buggin' ya Adam - I am actually jealous... a 2 week ride, and 2 weeks away from work! I know someone who did the Cabo ride w/ Valk a couple of years ago and loved it.

When I get a chance through, I like to rack up the km's. At a recent VFR meet in Oregon, one day it got to be a lot of starts and stops, so I piddled off and did my own thing - joined up with the crew for dinner and swapped lies - great fun.

One of my best days ever on a bike was delivering an RC 51 to Calgary, left Vancouver in the morning, lunch in Nelson and dinner in Calgary. About 1,200 km's essentially non-stop... except for frequent gas stops (RC's have shitty range when pushed hard). Mind you, I could barely walk the next day... luckily I flew home a couple of days later.

Have fun and ride safe - and take lots of pictures - the scenery there is absolutely amazing!

 

[Tattoodles]

Our local dealer, SM Cycle, has 4 K1200R's collecting dust on the floor. Rumour has it that BMW is going to offer some incentives to get rid of them.
The average Joe cannot afford these bikes any more. Plus the service costs are double what the Jap dealers charge. My Thruxton cost $200 for a 10k service. My GS was over $500 at John Screw You in The Ass Valk. My GF paid over $400 for a 10k service on her CS 650 there and had to get the bike towed to SM and serviced again. They had to replace the battery, air filter and spark plugs cause JV's useless machanics don't know how to do a proper tune-up.
Like I said, have fun on your trip. We were down there in April of this year and it is awesome territory to explore on a bike. You will love Monument Valley. Grand Canyon is a bit of a yawn. Big hole in the ground with thousands of rubber neckers ooing and awing. Nice roads though. It will be very hot though so make sure you drink lots of fluids. Camel back would be a good investment for you.

The Grand Canyon is a yawn? Is this the same Grand Canyon I've been to? If'n you're jaded by one of the greatest wonders of the world, then I'll take the rest of your opinions about motorcycles and other opinions of life with a super sized salt shaker.

The service department at JV have always been tops with me. 13,000kms on my K12R and going strong. Reasonably priced service and lots of custom additions from the staff with extra care and attention to make sure I'm happy. They've bent over backwards to satisfy me, actually. Maybe Big Bubba's Chopper Hut and Taco Emporium on the Island is a tad cheaper but I don't have an issue to pay just a little bit more for quality service.

 

[Tattoodles]

K, just dug up my invoice for my 10K service on my K12R at John Valk's...

$175 + $24 for filter and $29 for oil = $228.

As for a 'regular joe' not being able to afford a BMW...

Base price for a K12R = $19200 (I actually bought my bike from Pac Yam/BMW for $18.5K)

MSRP for a similar Jap bike, say a ZX14 = $16000

A whopping $3000 difference.

And what do you get for $3000? BMW comes standard with a 3 year warrenty and road side assistance, whereas the Kawi comes with a 1 year warrenty and no road side assistance. BMW also has a greater residual value.

I'm not knocking other brands. I love me some Jap bikes. But compared to other price points, BMW is hardly 'out of reach' to most riders who can afford to purchase a new motorcycle.

 

[Deuce]

K, just dug up my invoice for my 10K service on my K12R at John Valk's...

$175 + $24 for filter and $29 for oil = $228.

As for a 'regular joe' not being able to afford a BMW...

Base price for a K12R = $19200 (I actually bought my bike from Pac Yam/BMW for $18.5K)

MSRP for a similar Jap bike, say a ZX14 = $16000

A whopping $3000 difference.

And what do you get for $3000? BMW comes standard with a 3 year warrenty and road side assistance, whereas the Kawi comes with a 1 year warrenty and no road side assistance. BMW also has a greater residual value.

I'm not knocking other brands. I love me some Jap bikes. But compared to other price points, BMW is hardly 'out of reach' to most riders who can afford to purchase a new motorcycle.

When I say "Regular Joe" I mean the target market BMW is aiming for. Go to a BMW rally and you see no one under the age of 35. There new bikes are out of reach for most riders financially, even when you throw in their 3.95% loan schemes. Have you ever tried their roadside assistance? Good luck getting a tow from Bumscratch Idaho when your final drive decides to go for a dumper on you. Resale values are dropping also because of the reliability issue being pretty well non existent anymore. Even the old 'airheads' (pre '93-94) had issues with spline lube maintenance and tranny bearings going south after 80,000 kms. I had Beemers for over 15 yrs and they have their 'quarks' like any other bike. Their traditional buyers are swapping brands in droves and the newer younger riders are sticking to their better performing more reliable choices.
The Grand Canyon is no longer a 'wonder'. It will be wall to wall tour buses and tripping over Hansel and Gretel as you try to get a decent photo. I am going back some day anyway as they say the North Rim is the better option for viewing and hiking the canyon. It was still closed in April while we were there. We had a great night camping on the South side anyway. One of the biggest wind storms I have ever camped in. :eek Try to get to Zion or Bryce in Utah.
As for my experience with JV's serice department, everyone has a different view. I was warned by a couple friends but we chose to go anyway 'cause SM at the time was not too well run either. There are various threads here about different peoples opinions on different dealers. I am glad they are treating you well so far.:coffee

Ride safe and keep the rubber side down :rockon

 

[Tattoodles]

Obviously it's impossible to bring up the name of any motorcycle dealership on this forum without it turning into a love / hate fest. Everyone has different experiences with dealerships, some negative, some positive. So be it.

My wife and I were at the Grand Canyon in 2002 in April. We found out the hard way that the north rim was closed, so we lucked out and got a room at the hotel in the south rim. Yeah, there were tour busses and we were tripping over Japanese tourists everywhere we went but it was still an amazing experience.

 

[VTwinVince]

OK Scott, you want to know what I really think? I'm pretty well acquainted with Valk's dealership, as I even did some work for him years ago. However, after being treated like crap by him, and humiliated in front of numerous friends, I wouldn't give a rat's ass for him or his dealership. In fact, I'm not the only one with this opinion, as many other former customers of his have complained about his looney behaviour to BMW, who hopefully will pull his dealership. I've heard Carter is pretty interested in landing that one. So, if it's mindless pretense you want, then by all means, hang around that place until the arrival of the wrecking ball.