Was the Rockster considered a sales failure?

Grey Thumper · Post by **Grey Thumper** » Sun May 24, 2009 11:39 pm

Just wondering. After all, they dropped the variant in 2005, yet kept on making R1150Rs until 2007. And they didn't develop a Rockster version of the R1200R.

Post by **MikeCam** » Mon May 25, 2009 5:02 am

The last R1150R models were produced in February 2006 while the final Rocksters were produced in July 2005. BMW had planned to replace the entire Oilhead 1150 line with the R1200 series since 2003. The Rockster was a design excursion with a specific start and end plan. Certainly not a failure.

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Tue May 26, 2009 4:18 am

MikeCam wrote:The last R1150R models were produced in February 2006 while the final Rocksters were produced in July 2005. BMW had planned to replace the entire Oilhead 1150 line with the R1200 series since 2003. The Rockster was a design excursion with a specific start and end plan. Certainly not a failure.

hmm - I think I'd have to disagree slightly. Yes it was planned as a short production run (I daresay, I've not heard anything different), but as a for sales - I really don't think they sold very many - the deals offered to get rid of them seems to show that. They were too "weird" for BMW regulars, and too "BMW" for the younger riders at which they were aimed.

They were also slated in the press - they looked like they were supposed to be a "factory steet-fighter", but lacked the power or light weight to back that up - in comparison to other bikes in the same category - Aprilia Tuono (stripped Mille), Ducati Monster (stripped 900ss), 900 Hornet (tamed Fireblade engine); and they didn't really qualify as a "muscle-bike" (ZXR1200/XJR1300/CB1000R/Fazer1000) either.

Post by **MikeCam** » Tue May 26, 2009 6:07 am

Nicely put.

Post by **OU812** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:39 am

I will say the gearing on the Rockster was lower then the R1150R which made for a quicker out of the turn/hole acceleration.

Post by **MikeCam** » Tue May 26, 2009 1:33 pm

Not quite.

All transmissions were the same for both models with the option of the higher 6th offered. But in August 2002 (which represented the start of Rockster production and the period of dual spark Roadsters) the tranny gears were changed. Pre 8/02 models (essentially all 2001-2003 sales models) will feel different than post 8/02 models in that area.

Post by **OU812** » Tue May 26, 2009 4:33 pm

All I know is I drag raced 2 different Rocksters and they both had my 04'(03' production) off the line.

Grey Thumper · Post by **Grey Thumper** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:28 am

riceburner wrote:hmm - I think I'd have to disagree slightly. Yes it was planned as a short production run (I daresay, I've not heard anything different), but as a for sales - I really don't think they sold very many - the deals offered to get rid of them seems to show that. They were too "weird" for BMW regulars, and too "BMW" for the younger riders at which they were aimed.

I guess it was too "ahead of it's time". The Rockster and the R1150GS seem to be incredibly influential on BMWs current range (especially in the headlight department

). The styling of the K1200R and F800R in particular seem be evolutions of the Rockster's look. Maybe time has mellowed out the weirdness and made it more acceptable to BMW traditionalists.

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:57 am

Grey Thumper wrote:
riceburner wrote:hmm - I think I'd have to disagree slightly. Yes it was planned as a short production run (I daresay, I've not heard anything different), but as a for sales - I really don't think they sold very many - the deals offered to get rid of them seems to show that. They were too "weird" for BMW regulars, and too "BMW" for the younger riders at which they were aimed.
I guess it was too "ahead of it's time". The Rockster and the R1150GS seem to be incredibly influential on BMWs current range (especially in the headlight department ). The styling of the K1200R and F800R in particular seem be evolutions of the Rockster's look. Maybe time has mellowed out the weirdness and made it more acceptable to BMW traditionalists.

Perhaps - but the current line up (I think) isn't really targeted at "traditional" BMW owners - the R1200RT/K1200GT/R1200R bikes ARE, the rest - the ones that have distinctly different looks, aren't, (K1200R, F800GS/R ).

strat10 · Post by **strat10** » Wed May 27, 2009 11:02 am

I tend to gravitate towards vehicles that are strange, or un-popular. I dont like going with the crouwd, so a limited edition bike with weird potrusions out the side is right up the alley for me!

Grey Thumper · Post by **Grey Thumper** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:12 pm

strat10 wrote:I tend to gravitate towards vehicles that are strange, or un-popular. I dont like going with the crouwd, so a limited edition bike with weird potrusions out the side is right up the alley for me!

Man, I hear ya. My first bike was an F650CS. Talk about strange, unpopular, and a sales failure

Post by **rockstercliff** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:15 pm

The "citrus" color, the slightly wierd look, great ridability and handling, and an excellent year end deal. I traded my older bike, BMW of course, and have never looked back. Love the Rockster.

Post by **sweatmark** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:13 pm

They were also slated in the press - they looked like they were supposed to be a "factory steet-fighter", but lacked the power or light weight to back that up - in comparison to other bikes in the same category - Aprilia Tuono (stripped Mille)

Just that first comparison is enough to make me laugh, Burner. You're right about the initial Motorrad posturing, portraying Rockster as streetfighter, and it's laughable considering the definition of streetfighter per the UK roots (you're an expert by default of course): lightweight, high power, simple. No, can't describe the Rockster that way.

The Rockster and the R1150GS seem to be incredibly influential on BMWs current range (especially in the headlight department). The styling of the K1200R and F800R in particular seem be evolutions of the Rockster's look

The squinting headlight thing is supposedly a theme implemented by David Robb:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/columns/0606profile.html

rockster_57 · Post by **rockster_57** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:30 pm

strat10 wrote:I tend to gravitate towards vehicles that are strange, or un-popular. I dont like going with the crouwd, so a limited edition bike with weird potrusions out the side is right up the alley for me!

Right on the nail strat, me too - just like my lifestyle i suppose - but this isn't that sort of forum so i'll just leave it there i think

daveysew · Post by **daveysew** » Fri May 29, 2009 11:32 am

My first thought was that David Robb stole the off set headlight design from KTM, it looks just like the set up on the 2000-2001 640 Adventurer. That being said I like the design and am happy I ended up with one, but they sure don't have the traditional higher residual resale value that other BMW models do. Good thing I have no interest in selling it

dave

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:22 am

daveysew wrote:My first thought was that David Robb stole the off set headlight design from KTM, it looks just like the set up on the 2000-2001 640 Adventurer. That being said I like the design and am happy I ended up with one, but they sure don't have the traditional higher residual resale value that other BMW models do. Good thing I have no interest in selling it

dave

When was the 1150GS introduced?? that's the first BMW with the "Patrick Moore" headlight layout.

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