On the Level — Intel & Intrigue

 

December 5, 2006

  • The HP 2 Megamoto is here, after making its debut to great acclaim at the recent INTERMOT in Cologne. The Megamoto is not just an HP 2 with street tires, though new 17s are indeed used. The bike also has a new fork and rear shock, making the whole machine lower. Up front is a 160mm upside down Marzocchi 45 and out back we find a 180mm Ohlins shock.
    • New, shorter suspension
    • New wheel rims
    • An added front Brake disc
    • HP2 looks and cost
  • The Boxer puts out 113 hp, making it the second most powerful Boxer after the R1200 S. The muffler is an Akrapovic system.
    The resemblance to the off-road HP 2 is unmistakable, notwithstanding the distinct small fairing and headlight. The bike also makes use of the lot of special hand labor at the factory, assuring that the bike won't be cheap (c. $20,000).
    Will they race this bike against the new KTM in the same class?
  • The K1200 R Sport adds a lot of plastic and screen to the naked K1200 R, but it is its mechanical twin. That means the motor is 163 hp and torquier than the K1200 S, and that the Sport has the handlebars up a bit and forward.
  • K1000 RS rumor:  Germany's  MO magazine is positing the possibility of a true “RS” version of the K line. By that they seem to mean RS in more or less the Rennsport sense. The bike is supposed to be just 1000cc (!)  and oriented toward serious sport riders. Such a bike would fit CEO Dr. Herbert Diess's prognostication of a more sporty BMW stable.
  • BMW has been collaborating with KTM on a neck protection collar for motorcycles. The “Nackenschutz” system is ready to make its debut as early as 2007.
  • More on these topics and more in currents issues on ON THE LEVEL, BMW RA's magazine.

New for 2007!
(10/11/06)

xChallenge
xMoto
xCountry
xChallenge

From Intermot, the biggest BMW news is obviously the GX650s. BMW's a little late getting on the bandwagon with the xtreme xcitement, but here they are. Three distinct models: an enduro, a scrambler, and a supermotard. They are emphasizing low weight, coming in spring of 2007, and they seem to be aiming at younger (and also ~the "young at heart" in an attempt not to scare away the elderly base) riders. Although we've seen that before. The price would be interesting in this regard.

All are using an optimized 53HP version of the 650 motor from the F-series, which they are NOT replacing.

Oddly enough these bikes seem to be relatively alone in their market classes.

xCountry

On the oh-so-established 650cc dirtbike front... well, actually there is such a class but the rest of the world builds them as dual-sports while BMW is framing the xChallenge squarely as an enduro. Basic dual-sport competitors include the long-in-the-tooth XR650L, street-legal for $5849, and the $5099 Suzuki DR650SE. The XR650 specifically is a long-time Baja favorite and BMW isn't indicating that the xChallenge with its HP2-type rear air shock and bling wave rotor is anything but well-suited for Baja. Will we see one in Mexico next month?

Supermotards are booming but for the moment BMW's xMoto seems to be alone in this displacement class. KTM doesn't list the 640 platform for 2007 and the Yamaha XT660X doesn't appear here either.

xMoto

The xCountry scrambler is also somewhat alone in the market with Triumph's offering being in the 900cc class. Of course the F650 started out as a scrambler, functionally, but without the classic headlight that seems required for this category.

The #1 feature of the new series? "Sporty and emotional design" they list, but we see the extra power, upside-down fork and chain drive as BMW's main weapons in their assault on the marketplace, helped by the long (for the class) 6000-mile service interval which will keep you riding while the KTM owners change oil again. Available ABS is also an interesting prospect on bikes meant for these applications. A heavy emphasis on leichtbau throughout. The 2-channel ABS is new (Bosch) but is also used in the R1200S and in the 800s. The foot brake pedals can be moved as with the HP2. A cool thing: the license plate and signals are apparently designed to be quickly and easily removable for non-street use. For new models, BMW lists a surprisingly large amount of available accessories.

K1200R Sport

Lastly, the K1200R Sport appears as a minimally faired bike, much as the FZ-1 with the bikini fairing comes in with less plastic than the R1. With a frame-mounted fairing and the headlight from the R1200S it certainly seems closer to the K12S than to the K12R, but it retains the drivetrain and less-extreme ergonomics of the R. Sport and comfort, in one package. And luggage, from the looks of it.

More to come in OTL.

New brakes
(7/14/06)
OTL has been confirming that the Continental Teves ABS is now a sure thing, as is traction control THIS year. Only the R1200 S will retain Bosch ABS. The FTE ABS III is history.

Meanwhile, hard copy pictures on the R1200 R are emerging, as is what looks to be an HP version of the Boxer S. It has intriguing air intakes up front.

New Single
OTL is hot on the trail(s) of the all-new "G650" BMW single. We say trails (plural) because our moles say there are three of them, and none is a replacement for the current three F650 thumper models. Read that again. That's right. We are talking about not one but three new singles.
Our sources say the new motor will probably come from Rotax and the bike will be built by Aprilia in Noale, Italy but that said, it will be “something completely new.” But what? OTL has its notions (see next month). Moles say the bikes will be far more dirt-biased than the current F650s (which will continue in production). A Beemer scrambler is "not out of the question."

Second hint of R900
(4/11/06)
The new TSD (Technische Servicedaten) CD from BMW mentions an R900RT as a new K2 model. It gives technical specifications (oil levels, tightening torques, etc) but no pictures or parts fiche info. An OTL source observed that the R900RT uses the same amount of oil as the R1200RT, suggesting that it may be a de-stroked cylinder in the same case.
The prime use of such a machine would be for German insurance purpose, and very possibly for police authority machines.

T-800 First Impressions
(4/7/06)
Motorrad says it is a little buzzy but others disagree. Motorrad says it sounds like a Boxer, but others say it evokes a British twin. By all accounts the T800 S is a great handling bike, with a seat that feels lower than advertised — a good thing in a parallel twin. Reports say the bike is quite fast, and very easy to ride. The 86hp comes with a lot of mid-range torque.

RH on the BMW "Race Bike":
(4/6/06)
Mystery Bike Addendum : Roadracingworld , good as it is, is way out there on the supposed BMW three-cylinder MotoGP bike. Neither the photo of a l o o n g bike nor the copy persuades us that this is happening. In a recent Motorrad magazine interview CEO Dr, Herbert Diess says the "race bike" was probing smart suspension and that conforms to mole reports. OTL intel knows they are working on ABS in corners (not for nest fall though).

It would be interesting, of course, if we discover the mystery bike is a triple. Then we might be ready to believe they once intended to race IT—meaning the motor. Both MO and Motorrad always said a 3cyl racer was in the works, but the mystery bike is way too long and tall.

Dr. Diess sounds unequivocal in the aforementioned interview. MOTORRAD editor Pfeiffer asked the question every which way ( the Dorna angle etc) and got a firm no on everything. The new OTL discusses this (before the Diess interview). There will be more later.

RH on ABS:
ABS Addendum : As I've said, the FTE ABS will be phased out after the August changeover. The new secret Continental-Teves is coming. Whether it will be power-assist we don't know. Please note that The R1200 S has a BMW-Bosch system, adapted and improved from the F650. There is a recall in Germany of the FTE ABS to fix the failure in extreme training school use. This is a two hour job at the dealer. There is also a new third clip fix to better hold the sensor during tire changes. Keep in mind that there is an ominous legal proceeding in Munich about alleged failures, though they may just mean riders lost power-assist and freaked out. I think the issue is how riders react to the (rare) loss of power brakes. The residual brakes have been beefed up, but the riders panic. One guess (Phil Marx) is that they would need a back-up reservoir like Bimmers, and very good warning of failure. Maybe the Conti-Teves will have that— or no power assist at all.

OTL will have an extensive article on current Beemer ABS brake systems soon. For purposes of review, the three types are:

FTE Automotive : Integral power-assist brakes now on most Beemers.
BMW/Bosch : On the F650 and new R1200 S.
Continental-Teves: New secret system coming out this fall.
NB: FAG-Kugelfischer made the first BMW ABS— the first in the MC world.

Again, the FTE bikes have been recalled in Germany to fix a power-assist loss in extreme (e.g., riding school high-speed repeat stopping).

Much more in OTL soon. Time to roll em out back east!

Latest OTL Intrigue
(4/4/06)
Strange, whispered tales have reached OTL that the new KLT may be a V6 (with and outsourced motor). OTL moles are on the trail of this story. Dr. Curve floated a related story three years ago.
Meanwhile, first ride reports are coming in on the K1200 GT.
Impressions:

• Incredible torque
• Comfortable, narrow seat
• Improved range
• Looks and feels slim
• Many ergos adjustable
• Good weather protection
• Tranny just so-so
• Not the new Continental-Teves ABS

Testers liked the tire pressure and brakepad warnings. Testers were not impressed with the Xenon headlight.
R1200 GS Adventure reports are very positive. There are some quibbles about mediocre carrying capacity.

T800 and T800S accounts confirm that the motor has the unique solution to vibration suggested in the last OTL— a third dummy rod/piston. Sources say the bikes have superb mid-range punch. OTL expects to eventually see a Supermotard version of this bike.

The R1200S is proving to be wicked fast and very light. Sole complaints center around a turbo-like lag upon quickly opening the throttle. there is no "hunting" problem at steady speeds.

BMW Motorrad CEO Dr. Herbert Diess has yet again squelched rumors of a BMW GP bike, most especially the much-rumored triple.

Hot Rumor
(4/1/06)
OTL moles, based on internal information from German motorbike journalists, now say that after the usual production break in August we shall see all BMW Motorbikes formerly equipped with Integrated Brakes will be delivered with the long-rumored Continental Teves Brakes. OTL has been on this story for a very long time.

This follows upon the news of German BMW dealers recalling the integral brake bikes for a fix in the hydraulic line. More in the next OTL.

BMW RA has archived OTL Intel material from 2003, 2004, and 2005.