Elsa

I'm due to pick her up from the dealer this afternoon. The clutch was totally shot at. I have had the bike from new April 2006. No one else has ridden her. The mileage is 25000. The repair bill over £1030. I am upset (huge understatement). The bike is out of warranty which would not cover a clutch anyway.

The dealer asked for a contribution towards costs from BMW. BMW declined. My riding style is blamed. In all of my years of motorcycling I have never burnt a clutch out. My riding style now is calmer and more gentle with my machine than ever before. I am a 53 year old tourer.

Apart from the horrendous repair bill, the dilemma I face is this. I believe that the bike arrived with a bad clutch. That is actually the best scenario, because if that is the case I can hope that the new one will last more than the joke 25000 I have had from this one. I am an international tourer likely to do large mileages going forward. I cannot support a machine no matter how gorgeous and well loved, if I face a £1000 repair bill every three years. The worst case is that the RT eats clutches and therefore despite its fantastic ergonomic design and great handling, is not fit for purpose.

It is with a very heavy heart, and in a grumpy mood that I go to fetch her.

I will ride out again next year. In the mean time I have some serious thinking to do. BMW dealers are also thin on the ground in Sweden.