You want a nice reliable BMW, you do

so people say - I had no problems with mine (only owned it for a year/
8000 miles, mind)

oxymoron alert! If this kind of bike were in fact "popular", more
manufacturers would make this kind of bike.

again, Pan Euros don't fit my definition of "popular".

now I've no idea what you're on about.

 

what, because someone told you this was the case?

as per my reply to Timo - why is this, do you think? Do you think no
bike manufacturer does any market research?

reasoning from a single datum - like it, captain.

 

the new one of which didn't break down, and the old one did - do you
get my point yet?

 

Because I've read it consistently here and in other places.

No, I'm sure they do but people don't generally buy relatively expensive
bikes as utilitarian transport which is what I want. I think the
market's moved on and the needs of people like Timo, myself and TOG
haven't.

It was a throw away comment. Anyway, haven't you got a Gannt chart to
stare at?

 

You bought a knackered old bike which broke down?

 

not today - today is "panic recruitment day". Hopefully mind, I'll be
able to fob the problem off to Paris, as I'm theoretically on holiday
after today until next month[1]

[1] sadly it's unlikely I'll actually manage to stay out of the office
for the entire 2 1/2 weeks :-/

 

fewer. fewer miles.

kids these days

 

Kids? I'm one of the illiterate elders.

 

You responsible for recruiting people in Paris? I've employed someone
in Germany recently and it's a fucking eye-opener. The fucking union
has to effectively sign off my 'recommendation'. I'm still bristling
with resentment about this; my French director doesn't understand my
irritation here.

Welcome to my life. On leave and staring intermittently at my
Blackberry; something it's useful for.

 

No. What you don't need is another crap unreliable piece of shit bike.

Bearing in mind you know all too well the downfalls of BMW ownership,
wtf do you keep buying the fucking things?

Bedfordshire Police have stopped buying BMW because of their
unreliability, they can't buy police kitted 1300 Pans from Honda any
more so they're now moving over to FJR1300s.

Ffs, forget your two-wheeled potato-mashers and buy something else.

 

The coppers I was talking to loved the FJR, said it was a revelation
after riding the BMW and only marginally less comfy than the Pan and
cetainly more stable.

 

Our plod and gendarmerie are using 'em too..

http://tinyurl.com/37o9c3
http://tinyurl.com/2or2hz

But they're using BMWs, too (new ones, that is), as that website shows.

D.

 

Wasn't there something about a nasty brake fade problem on the FJR's? FWIW
they still seem like badly overweight POS.

 

850 T3 with a Vetter fairing?


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tigtona 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

wrote in

I was pulled over a few weeks ago by a French moto-cop who wanted to know
what I thought of my R1200RT. He had previously been on a R1150RTP, and
they had moved to the FJR - he said they liked the power of the FJR but
preferred the chassis of the RT. He didn't comment on reliability, but the
reason he asked was because he was thinking of getting a R1200RT privately.

 

yes, but...

....this is a contractor, so not quite as difficult as a permie -
basically, I've just unloaded my spec to a member of my virtual team
in Paris, and they'll do the interviewing/dealing with HR - I just get
to suggest which people they see based on the CVs I'll get sent.

My boss is the worst - he books holiday, because HR insists that he
does, and then he just comes into the office and does 12 hour days
anyway. At least if I have to come in for the odd 1/2 day, I will book
it as working time, not holiday.

Indeed.

I will leave mine behind on the week I spend in the Algarve, mind.

 

Well TBF you only need to fit a BMW R100RS fairing to any bike to have
incredible weather protection. I always wondered if the design was copyright
in some way. If not it would be nice if someone like ARD could start
churning them out!

 

It's fucking hideous.

 

Indeed but try telling this to WUN

 

Ah, lucky git. I needed to employ a team leader.

Er... I've done that in the past. I always insist that everyone *books*
at least 20 days leave per year. I'm pretty certain most of them don't
work it.

Problem is, I get 30 days a year plus I'm carrying about five days over
(the maximum I can). 35 days is just too much, I'd much rather take 20
days and sell 15 back to the co. Actually, I'd rather take 15 and get
another 8% given the choice...

I'm a poor manager, I need to maintain control.

My French boss seems pretty switched on though, works like a dog and
then drops it all when the weekend comes and disappears when it's
holiday time. It's a point of pride for him that throughout his career
he's taken every piece of Holiday he's entitled to. Hasn't held him
back; I must learn this from him.