I know that some EV owners have had reliability issues with their bikes, but I think you will agree that is something that logically might happen when the vehicle is designed and manufactured by a small start-up that doesn't have a lot of experience manufacturing vehicles and is working with new state-of-the-art technology. But, to put things into perspective, some large manufactures, such as BMW, have a lot more problems than any that we have heard about here. (I mention BMW because I frequent some websites devoted to their motorcycles and have owned 8 of their vehicles over the years.)
BMW has been making high-priced motorcycles since 1923 and with all of those years worth of design and manufacturing experience that should logically result in a vehicle that is pretty reliable. But hardly a day goes by when I don't hear relatively new owners complaining about failed wheel bearings, failed steering bearings, defunct alternators and voltage regulators, bikes that won't start when hot, bikes that won't start when cold, bikes that stall on the highway, wheel axle recalls, brake disc bolt recalls, fuel pump failures, bikes that won't shut off when removing the ignition key, fuel tanks cracking, fuel gauges not working, chains prematurely wearing out, water pumps leaking, coolant hoses falling off - and on and on. All this on new bikes that are still under warranty. Some people have never had a reliability problem, but other people have bikes that have suffered many of these issues.
All of which leads me to believe that the real problem with motorcycles (of any type) can be found mostly in either the assembly process or issues with the components provided by outside suppliers. If the design was at fault, then logically all of the vehicles would suffer the same problems. But when a relatively small percentage suffer particular issues then it sounds to me like what manufacturers need to do is to not rush assembly to such an extent that proper construction is compromised and to provide increased quality control of both supplier components and of the finish product. It seems to me that this would be the best way of preventing, or at least reducing, expensive and time-consuming warranty problems. That would not only make for happy customers and the brand's retailers, but also would establish a reputation for a quality product that would justify a premium price.
In the case of BMW, they have apparently established their reputation to an extent that they can afford to spit out motorcycles of a build quality that does not match their premium price.
Consumer Reports performed a motorcycle owners survey last month that claimed that something like 76% of all BMW motorcycle owners had experienced reliability problems with their new vehicles. But oddly, BMW owners were the most likely to say that they would buy another BMW motorcycle in the future. Go figure.
However, I think EV manufacturers can't get away with the sort of marketing plan that can accept a substantial number of warranty claims. They really have to be step up to the plate and take extraordinary steps to make sure that their product leaves the factory as close to 100% perfect as humanly possible. And when there is a reliability issue, they have to have the staff, parts and procedures required to resolve the problem much faster than an established IC manufacturer can get away with.
So goes my thoughts today that are the result of hearing about more reliability problems being discussed on BMW motorcycle forums.
