Ok so after testriding etc etc finally the Harley sportster 48 is out of the picture and I've decided to get a new BMW R1200R. I want to order it this week, am thinking about going to the dealer in Schlieren, Arragoni sport. Anyone have experience with this dealer, please spill the good, the bad and the really ugly so I can make an informed decision.... Thanks !

So what was the issue with the sportster ?
Haven't dealt with either of those BMW dealers - only Muller and Jussel

The one in St. Gallen is a good shop, very fair and has helped many times.

I recommend Moto Mader in Aarau Ost. Big dealer, will give you a loaner for free during service and has clothing and othe bikes too (Yamaha, KTM).

The R12R is a nice bike with the alu block rather than the heavy old iron block.

I have bought a few spares from Schlieren, good service & sales speak good English.

There's not really an issue with the sportster, its more that the R1200R was simply the best bike I've ever riden (in my 21 yrs of motorbiking)...

I bought my F800R from the importer in Dielsdorf. The price was ok, not as great as I'd hoped, but the service was great, and the mechanics there are very friendly and willing to help with a variety of topics.

Why not buy a low-mileage used bike? Save yourself the money you're going to lose as soon as you sign the paperwork on a new one. There's about 50 R1200R's listed on comparis right now. See you on the road. :-)

I have a BMW (for sale... if anyone is interested in a 650 GS...).

So I have been to Arrigoni several times for services and buying my gear. I can only highly recommend them: I went to many shops in Zurich before I bought my bike and simply had a look around and informed myself. Arrigoni was the ONLY shop where somebody would be interested in me and show me whatever I was interested in. Explained me the differences of the various helmet models, tried them on with me and gave me excellent advice. In other shops the guys put some brochures in my hand and said "come back when you know what you want!" Literally! That's what you call "selling" here...

So: You pay a BMW price, but if your alternative is HD you are aparently not afraid of that Otherwise I can only recommend them to the fullest.

I bought a used BMW 1100 GS from Arrigoni a few years back. Nothing to complain about, sales guys in particular were pretty great.

However... for the past year we have been taking the bike to Motocenter Seetal (http://www.motocenter-seetal.ch/) for servicing, and the support there has been outstanding. We had a couple of last minute service emergencies and they always accommodated us and helped as much as possible to get us back on the road asap. Would absolutely recommend them.

Have you considered a GS, instead of a RS. They handle almost as well as the road version, but just give a bit more flexibility, when some of the mountain roads are less than smooth tarmac.

The GS is about 4000 chf more expensive than the R..... plus I never really liked the looks of the GS thoug it improved a bit the last few years

Sooooo much? Wow, didn't realise (never having bought a new one).

Must be a superior spec. - maybe worth considering a nearly new.

[I have the older 1000cc model from '88 - not too much sophistication with this; runs like a tractor - but it keeps on running]

EDIT: but now you've added more - so not relevant.

Ah, the joys of BMWs:



Tom

Even my "tractor" sometimes requires oil.

There was no problem with the oil, the bearings were actually in good shape.

The crank, not so good. Nice, clean break.

Tom

Arrgh! Snuff porn! Bad JuJu you got there.
BMW 1100LT, running since 1994, a rear spring, front fork gaskets (once a year) Tires, oil, petrol.
She now has 218000 K´s on the clock, not gonna get that on a Harley.

You were trying for a 90 degrees crank ? Cause that would be a big improvement on the current boxer design... does someone make after-market 90 degree cranks ? ...

Actually, it's from my friend's bike (R90S motor in a 750/5 frame). He heard/felt something go wrong last fall, and immediately shut it down. We (mainly I) took it apart last month to find out what happened, and that's what I found!

My LeMans, bought new in the US in '85, and brought here in '86, has 94k miles (~150k km), my other LeMans has 115k km, and I have 130k km between my 3 Ducatis.

Tom

I had my R1150R serviced at arragoni last year. I cannot complain about the service. Personally, if I were to upgrade my bike, I would go for the K series