Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitro
I just don't get it. What's wrong with the R1 with the CBR 1000 and ZX1000R? I guess BMW has what it takes to make another I4 that's just another Japanese clone: Regular forks, I4, chain, etc. Seriously what is the point?
Porsche was ready to drop the 911 thing thinking that it was time for a change. Look what happened to the almighty 944, 928, etc. The Carrera is still what they are all about, in the real-world market. Finally the sons-of-*****es saw the light and took the boxer 6, made it "modern" and got ahead of the game once again.
Hopefully BMW will see the light and steer the company in a wiser direction. Every time they get ADD on the boxer, they introduce some grand-fix for the decade, be the longitudinal 4, in-line 4, parallel twins, and singles. Now they got 100% Japanese on the twist, fantastic!
I guess they have the financial power to take any venture as they wish.
***** all you want but one of the reasons Harley still sells well is because they stay true to their heritage, as ****ty and juvenile as it might be: "Look at me I'm a bad boy, and you will hear me 10 miles away!".
BMW can really build anything with any number of wheel, no question about it.
I just wish they would build a real 21 century boxer just like Porsche did it when they revised the 911 concept, their true heritage.
This S100RR might be the **** but to me it's just another Japanese I4 made in Germany this time. It's funny to finally see who's copying who.
Too bad Honda dropped the ball on their RC51, helluva machine and engine they had there. Also too bad Suzuki dropped the TL project, lots of potential there as well.
Me now liking the Buell partially made in Austria!
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I'm a twin fan and wish BMW had built the R1 (liquid cooled boxer). That would have been a no-brainer purchase for me.
But all reports said that the BMW R1 was a 140 bhp bike. The boxer configuration simply wouldn't support more, at least at this time, and at least to be in line (no pun intended) with BMW's goal of opening new markets which will require lower prices. The HP2S as wickedly cool as it is, can you imagine the cost of a liquid cooled boxer? Could BMW have made it and kept costs low. Could it have provided the cylinder head clearance necessary to allow WSB riders to scrape elbows through corners? Probably not.
BMW learned its lesson years ago when they dropped the boxer for the flying brick. That's why we enjoy the variety of models while BMW still refines the boxer.
BMW has said that in order to expand its share of the motorcycle market it has to expand into new areas and price competitively. BMW is conspicuously absent from the supersport and superbike stakes. The R12S and HP2S simply do not compare when power/weight and lap times come into play. The I4 as "Japanese" as it is, provides the best bang for the buck in terms of performance per dollar. The Japanese certainly aren't losing money on these models and MV certainly didn't lose anyone when the MV went on sale. Sadly the new S1000RR isn't as gorgeous as the MV, what is
, but its still a BMW and will still be distinctive from the Japanese, just as an R1 is from a CBR and GSXR.
RC51 is still my benchmark for supersports despite owning a few of the latest generation ZX10R's. But if you look you will see the R12S is right there with the RC51 o BMW has provided your bike. RC51 was 489 wet and 119 bhp. R12S is 470 wet and 105 - 110 bhp, power/weight is near identical. This is pretty much why the R12S is still on my radar despite the S1000RR. Buell 1125R. Bang for the buck what a hell of a deal.
HD,
HD has a liquid cooled engine developed with Porsche. Yes it's not their top seller but even HD has moved the goal posts. IIRC didn't HD buy MV?