After debuting the 2010 BMW R1200RT and 2010 BMW R1200GS ahead of EICMA, BMW left some of for today at EICMA. Called Concept 6 (6-Pack internally), BMW released a concept bike that features an in-line six-cylinder motor, and takes its design cues from a futuristic cafe racer ethos.
Just like the 2010 BMW R1200GS series, the 2010 BMW R1200RT features BMW’s new 1,170cc flat-boxer motor with a DOHC head arrangement. This also means that the RT will make more power across the power band, with peak power making 5hp 3lb•ft more over last year’s model. Unlike the GS though, the RT comes along with more than just a new motor. More on that with photos after the jump.
BMW released this week its next evolution of the R1200GS & R1200GS Adventure motorcycles. Both bikes, along with the entire R-Series range, will feature BMW’s revised 1,170cc flat-boxer motor, which has increased horsepower and torque and a DOHC head design. Beyond this the bike is pretty much unchanged, sans some other minor updates. Details and photos after the jump.
After a reasonably successful World Superbike debut, BMW is ready to take their S1000RR racing in the World Superstock class for 2010. The team will officially wear the BMW Motorrad Italia banner, but will have full factory support from Bavaria. Heading up the new team will be Serafino Foti, of Ducati WSS Championship fame…three years running.
The rumors appear to be true, and the BMW R series is getting an update to its motor for 2010. Maintaining its existing 1,170cc displacement, the most notable change to BMW’s flat boxer motor is a dual-overhead camshaft (DOHC) cylinder head setup, which was previously only seen on the HP2 Sport.
With the bore and stroke staying the same for 2010, the R lineup will continue to use the same 101 x 73mm cylinders, making a total of 1,170cc’s. The real changes and improvements come from the new cylinder head design. The DOHC design features two chain-driven camshafts, with each camshaft controlling both an intake and exhaust valve in the radial four-valve head.
A lot of time has gone by since Wayne Gardner won the 1987 500GP World Championship or the 8 Hours of Suzuka, but that didn’t stop the Austrialian motorcycling icon from doing the rounds at the WSBK Portimao testing paddock this past week. Hoping on a variety of bikes, Gardner got a chance to see what WSBK riders were dealing with this past season, and gave GPone his thoughts on how each bike performed around the Portuguese track. Click past the jump for his thoughts and a video.
Before BMW officially unveiled its S1000RR superbike, it teased us with a series of shots with fashion models backed up by helicopters and cheetahs, making for high-fashion meets German stoicism in a delicious pairing of opposites. In a return to these roots, German photographer Markus Hofmann has once again introduced BMW to Haute Couture for a photo shoot. Video after the jump.
Stepping out of the A&R office briefly today, we noticed a slight nip in the air, which in California means that the weather has dipped below 70°F. For the rest of the country though rain, ice, and snow have already begun to rear their ugly heads, and two-wheeled enthusiasts have already begun to put their motorcycles in the garage for winter’s cold freeze.
But these actions are not necessary, and BMW has sent Chris Pfeiffer with a modified BMW G450X “Snowcat” to remind us of that. Video after the jump of some quality snow-filled hooliganism.
BMW is recalling certain 2009 K1300GT and K1300S motorcycles for faulty switches on the handlebars for both the direction indicator and the emergency engine off/engine-start functions. Failure of these switches could cause BMW riders to have to manually hand signal their direction changes, which could expose the fact that dentists don’t know how to signal right-hand turns.
Tuner house AC Schnitzer is known well for its work on BMW automobiles, making the Ultimate Driving Machine just that much more…well, ultimate. Every now and then though, AC gets their hands on a BMW motorcycle, usually with hit or miss results. This time getting the AC treatment is the BMW F800, the black sheep of the ugly ducklings. While we like where AC Schnitzer is going with this look, we still can’t fathom why a tuning brand has yet to do really any tuning on their motorcycle works bikes. Pictures and more after the jump.
Former World Superbike Team, FB Corse, looks to be poised to enter the MotoGP Championship series for 2010 with race bike that uses a proprietary chassis and a 3-cylinder motor that was originally designed for BMW’s MotoGP effort.