BMW conversion contest: What is your score?

[rspennachio]

2 years ago I rode my brothers 1150 RT. I had to get one. Once I bought it he told me that he now has 3 points and that I had better hurry and catch up. What? I asked, he replied, I have convinced two other guys to switch brands and buy a Beemer and you are the third. Ok, game on!

Here are the rules: You get one point for every person who bought or buys their first BMW (new or used) where you either encouraged or manipulated them in any way that resulted in them buying a Beemer. You cannot count yourself.

So far I have zero points but I do have two hot prospects.

What is your score?

[jdmetzger]

I guess that puts me at 1 - I got my dad riding, and of course he rides a BMW. :)

[AKBeemer]

I'm at one as well; got my bride riding and she's on a F650. She's thinking about a second bike. If she buys another BMW, then will I have 2 points?

[SIBUD]

1 point. My ridding buddy switched from a Honda Shadow to a R 1200 RT

[rspennachio]

I'm at one as well; got my bride riding and she's on a F650. She's thinking about a second bike. If she buys another BMW, then will I have 2 points?

The council says no, only one point per convert. The council does recognize that the benifits of having such a bride far outway the benifits of gaining one extra point and that by your good deeds you are already being rewarded!

[wezul]

I'm at -1. Somebody else talked me into buying one.
Then I bought another on my own. :german

[MCMXCIVRS]

2 points that I can confirm.

But I think I should get bonus points cause one of them was my wife.

[108625]

Manipulate? I think I'll let my friends make their own choices.
I never cared for all the folks trying to talk me into "brand X" (just like they all bought) so why would treat others in a manner I wouldn't want to be treated? Few things in life are more annoying than someone trying to talk you into something.

[1aretea]

I have 3 pionts. First point, friend who rides many different brands, showed him the light and has had an R1100RT and K1200LT. Second point met a guy in the MSF experenced course, was on the fence about K1200LT VS. Gl1800. Thrid piont, I let my brother ride my R1150RT, you know him. Rider Rob (the Council)

[tourunigo]

one point that I know of: friend (who,at the time was my Physiotherapist) rode a HD Sportster. Within a few months I convinced him to flog it (it was giving him some problems) and start looking for a BMW. He found a K1100LT but I thought he jumped too fast because it had some 'issues'. Anyway, he liked it and rode to Alaska. Too tall for him really and now that he remarried (she's a tad round) they find that balance and some stopping stabilities occur. No more Beemer now. Bought a convertable. So.... +1 and then -1. Does that zero me out? -Bob

[AKBeemer]

The council says no......

Dang council, always keeping a good man down! ;)

[brentde3]

I'm at one. My dad, a lifetime Harley rider, has converted to an r1100rt. Of course, I count a converted Harley nut for at least two.

[rspennachio]

one point that I know of: ... (she's a tad round) So.... +1 and then -1. Does that zero me out? -Bob


No way! Earning even one point is a great honor. You are still at +1.

Maybe one day your friend and his wife :hug can be rehabilitated?

LT with a side car maybe??

[osbornk]

I only have one but I did it the hard way. I sold him one of mine and they don't make K75RTs any more.

[henzilla]

I claim 2, but Helen is near 10... me being one of them. She should have gotten a finders fee from local dealer!But they do give her great deals on our bikes when she :stick reminds them of the folks she sent their way.

[jobee58]

Manipulate? I think I'll let my friends make their own choices.
I never cared for all the folks trying to talk me into "brand X" (just like they all bought) so why would treat others in a manner I wouldn't want to be treated? Few things in life are more annoying than someone trying to talk you into something.
I agree with the first line of this, but...
I think if you truly think something is of superior quality and provides an outstanding experience, then there is nothing wrong with urging friends, family, whatever to giving that a try. I could easily have stayed on Japanese motorcycles forever and missed out on my k-bikes, if it weren't for the urging of a friend. It would have been my loss!

[108625]

If someone asks me about them I'll candidly discuss it as much as they want to. I'll just never be the one to bring it up.
Our local Beemer club has the same attitude; you don't need to own a BMW to be a member, we don't care what you ride. I wouldn't be surprised if that friendly, open minded outlook may (silently) be more effective than all the verbal suggestion anyone can make. Stop for coffeee or lunch, park your bug-spattered bike next to everyone else's, regardless of brand, smile, say hello, show some interest in and respect for someone's other brand of bike, talk about riding.
When you part ways, they may think you're a crackpot, but they'll also think "those Beemer riders sure are friendly". Leave the rest up to them.

[john1691]

I'm at 2, once my son is out of college and can afford a real bike, I'll be at 3 (or more by then)

[MCMXCIVRS]

If someone asks me about them I'll candidly discuss it as much as they want to. I'll just never be the one to bring it up.
Our local Beemer club has the same attitude; you don't need to own a BMW to be a member, we don't care what you ride. I wouldn't be surprised if that friendly, open minded outlook may (silently) be more effective than all the verbal suggestion anyone can make. Stop for coffeee or lunch, park your bug-spattered bike next to everyone else's, regardless of brand, smile, say hello, show some interest in and respect for someone's other brand of bike, talk about riding.
When you part ways, they may think you're a crackpot, but they'll also think "those Beemer riders sure are friendly". Leave the rest up to them.

I fully agree with that approach. My two converts were in no way manipulated or coerced to buy BMW. My wife wanted something more sporty and aggressive than her Triumph Bonneville and the F800ST was the best fit, bonus that its a BMW. My other convert was a co-worker who fell hard for my F650GS. He tried one out, then test rode an R1200GS and bought it instead as he liked the higher power than what the thumper offered.

FWIW, in my immediate family there are 5 other riders with 6 other bikes aside from my wife and I. None are BMWs and I'm OK with that as they have the right bikes for them.

[BeemoKat]

Zero for me!

[rspennachio]

Are a few of you being a little too sensitive about the word "manipulation?" Its usage was intended to be more humorus then insidious.


.. but Helen is near 10... me being one of them. She should have gotten a finders fee from local dealer!But they do give her great deals on our bikes when she :stick reminds them of the folks she sent their way.

At this point nobody even comes close to Helen :bow A gold star for sure!!

Maybe you could ecourage Helen to reply and share the stories???

[henzilla]

Are a few of you being a little too sensitive about the word "manipulation?" Its usage was intended to be more humorus then insidious.

At this point nobody even comes close to Helen :bow A gold star for sure!!

Maybe you could ecourage Helen to reply and share the stories???


I may have to "manipulate" her to post:laugh :laugh :laugh She read this and is thinking about it

[edwarddieck]

3. 1, Childhood friend. My first motorcycle ride when I was 9 yrs. old, (1954), on his Dad's Harley. The three of us. Me sitting in front of his Dad on the seat. About 10 blocks to my house, When I got off my legs were shaking so much I didn't think I could walk up the steps. After several Harleys my friend bought a K1200LT.

2, My cousins son. After several Harleys went to a Buel. Decided to trade in on another Harley. After being transferred to San Antonio went to HD dealer to try new bikes. No demo rides but he could rent one and if he bought it the rental would be applied to the price. Very high interest also, basically no trade in value for the Buel and no consignment sales. Went to BMW dealer and test rode all the bikes. Bought the first K1200GT sold in San Antonio.

3, My co worker. Another Harley rider who couldn't keep up with me on the twisties. Bought an R1200RT.

Ed

[kgadley01]

I've bought two myself,but I guess that doesn't count. I had a guy on the fence between a RT & Honda ST. The ST won out because of valve adjustment intervals. I will have a hard time getting any points, because of FD failures and the new Canbus wireing system. plus our closest Dealer is 110 miles away...:banghead

[Rod Sheridan]

Two for me...........Rod.

[AKBeemer]

Are a few of you being a little too sensitive about the word "manipulation?" Its usage was intended to be more humorous then insidious.


Hey, are you trying to manipulate my opinion? :scratch

[535is]

It's a really tough sell trying to convince someone they ought to buy a 30-year-old Airhead ... :whistle