The “BMW rider” is almost its own class of rider in the United States. You know the type: usually white, male, greying or white hair, maybe a pair of glasses and a sweet $1,000 Schuberth flip-up helmet to top it off. Ah, and don’t forget the well-worn-in Roadcrafter in blue with fluorescent yellow accents. As for the bike, it has got to the venerable GS.
Of course we are speaking generalities here, but as it turns out, that stereotypical demographic is also BMW’s most lucrative. The latest sales statistics from BMW Motorrad USA show the BMW R1200GS to be the company’s best selling motorbike in the states with over 2,000 sold.
With BMW Motorrad USA selling 14,100 motorcycles in total for 2013), the R1200GS has thus unseated the S1000RR as the best selling BMW motorcycle in the USA.
For 2014 BMW has some exciting new offerings on its plate, including the much hyped and awkwardly named R nineT, in addition to the S1000R, R1200GS Adventure, and K1600GTL Exclusive. However, noticeably absent are any entry-level offerings in the pipeline to compete with the likes of the Yamaha FZ-09, Honda’s 500cc bikes, or the upcoming KTM 390cc bikes.
While the R nineT has demonstrated the potential for wide appeal, it remains to be seen if it will enjoy the same kind of mass-market adoption that other modern classics have garnered like the Triumph Bonneville, Thruxton, and Scrambler. Perhaps the entry-level standard is simply not a concern for the brand, but we see as a missed opportunity.
Will BMW sustain its appeal and sales when the Baby Boomers shelve their helmets for good?
Source: BMW Motorrad USA
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