Bike porn

anyone wanting to ride on the road (a lot) wouldn't look twice at that bmw, just because they build 'interesting' dh and street bikes does not guarantee that it's an awesome riding road bike.

I would. :]

Lets not forget that regardless of what people think about BMW and the recent hype which surrounds them, Joe learnt to build bikes a long time ago with Yellow Jersey cycles here in London, building road bikes etc...he's not lacking in experience.

I'm not trying to claim for one minute that BMW are master road bike craftsmen, but in my opinion they simply make bikes that ride very well, and last a long time.
In the case of BMW hype followed long after their reputation was earned.

I agree that the only people that would splash cash on that frame though would likely be diehard fans of BMW or people who want to own a 'name'. But then it was just a one off. :]

Speaking of BMW history...here's a pic of their first bike from the thick end of 2Oyrs ago...thumbshifters , glow in the dark paint and all. :]
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/kiddcougar/bmwgalloproper-2.jpg