R1200S in T.W.O. Magazine?!?!?!

themarsman2k · themarsman2k's Garage

Picked up August issue of TWO mag and saw this pic. Article is somewhat confusing as to release dates & bike specs. Anyone knows anything different?
Is that the new engine? Check out handlebar, are those plastic brake and clutch fluid reservoirs? Top section of tank, toward riders, seems to be a tad pointier. GRab handles for passenger?These are the new wheels, alright, but the paralever seems to be the old style.
Is this photoshop + bs?

Tried but was not able to post a larger picture. I will gladly e-mail it to whomever is intereted.

BMW Atlanta · 08-18-2004, 05:47 AM

Please send me whatever you have, very interesting. BMWBOBB@Bellsouth.net or Supra101@aol.com

Thanks

Anton · 08-18-2004, 06:07 AM

I saw the article too. It looked to me like they just photochopped a GS swingarm and a few other things onto our bike. Personally I like the current(old) style, and hope they don't ugly it up good when(if) they build a R1200S.

I could be wrong, hopefully there is a 1200cc test mule running around Germany.

repoe3 · 08-18-2004, 06:29 AM

we already talked about this. the article is crap, the rendering is a joke and half the info is hit or miss...nothing we havent already seen.

anyone seen this?

repoe3

BMW Atlanta · 08-18-2004, 06:48 AM

ahh, one of the many fine discussions I missed out on while abroad in Germany. Definitely a few things not adding up about the article. But it totally defies what I was hearing in Germany two weeks ago as far as what to expect in the near future.

captainasty · 08-18-2004, 06:53 AM

Bobby,
What might we see in the future?

themarsman2k · themarsman2k's Garage

Sorry guys, I was not aware this issue had already been disscused.
Thank you,

BMW Atlanta · 08-18-2004, 07:39 AM

I have the impression that the R1200S will come, but to give it time. Will not have a duolever as the motor configuration will not allow for it. It should of course be lighter and more power when it comes. However other bikes are higher up on the food chain such as maybe a couple new offerings/models and the R1200RT is probably already in pre production and I bet we get to see it on display at Intermot, but noone would commit to such a tale.

repoe3 · 08-18-2004, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMW Atlanta
such as maybe a couple new offerings/models

anything we might like?

how about a new R1200GS ADV?

repoe3

jduke · 08-18-2004, 09:25 AM

Bobby, stopped in your shop a few weeks ago and had some service work done. I believe they said you were in Europe. Nice shop and friendly, helpful people. Service department went out of their way to make sure the bike was taken care of. Thanks!

BMW Atlanta · 08-18-2004, 09:43 AM

Thanks JDuke,.............glad to hear our shop didnt slack off too bad while we were away, lol

Dr. Curve · 08-18-2004, 11:01 AM

Bobby, where in heavens name did you get this "way too simple" idea.........."Will not have a duolever as the motor configuration will not allow for it." ??

Contrary to this I would suggest that BMW is well into a project to update the twin S units and further that it won't be that far away before we see spy shots of concealed units.

The Boxercup series is being dropped because BMW plans to update the S engine straight away and therefore a new type of twin class must emerge oweing to the fact that the new GS 1200 basic engine will offer so much more than is now possible with the currently offered engine. BMW is facing a choice right now..........make a statement on some type of organized track event that shows the advance of the new Hossock front end. They must show it works on the track as well as the open road.

Their main decision will be as to whether they make this "Hossock statement on the track" with a four cylinder or a two cylinder.

I believe that a Hossock twin S is well in the works.

hass · 08-18-2004, 11:28 AM

Dr. Curve. Sorry I have to finally disagree with you but:

The new GS engine has mounting brackets for telelever suspension. As BMW build modular I find it unlikely they won't reuse their production for the S engine meaning it will have an "old" style telelever and not hossack front end.

Also: I beleive the Boxercup is dropped as an engine for MotoGP is in the pipeline (much like their F1 venture).

Finally: the picture sucks as it doesn't even have the new hex-cylinder heads! I could do a better photoshop image!

ErricZ · 08-18-2004, 11:49 AM

Hass, I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the Dual Spark head vs. the Hex head.

I'll just wait for BMW to tell me when the next models are coming out, not 4 year old pictures of the "next generation Triple Boxer!"

BMW Atlanta · 02:02 PM

Well the good researcher that I am, I cant divulge my sources. But none the less we shall see. You also thought the F650CS was something to write home about to put things in perspective. Haas is right on the money with the "packaging" and mass production of a single R1200 block. Its not like I saw the K1200S in its most naked form or got to spend anytime evaluating possibilities of the duolever. I am not claiming to be the expert here, just have some insight that will show its value in time. As for the GP speculation, it really makes you wonder why they signed a GP rider to race in the Boxer Cup Series that they are now dropping a couple months after his contract started, hmmmmmmm. I am not holding my breath for a kick ass one liter production bike, but I would love it if it came. However they could campaign a one off GP chain drive version of the K1200S and not offer it for sale to the public, what good would that do us in the real world???????

BMW Atlanta · 08-18-2004, 02:08 PM

Now that I think about it, who here paid attention to the R900GS Paris Dakar bikes which were highly modified R1150GS's with telescopic forks. Did you ever see this bike offered as a production model on the dealer's floor????? What if they develop and campaign some kind of 4 or 2 cylinder and it never becomes available to the public??? Not gonna wait on maybe or even on spoken official word until I see the VIN number on my allocation.

Anton · 08-18-2004, 02:18 PM

I'm hoping Dr. Curve is right. I'd like to see a doulever front end S. Why doulever, cause its cool, and I already own a telelever one. I've read a couple places that a Hossock front wouln't fit on a oilhead, but it seems to me that the lower A-arm is already in the right place, all they need to do is mount an upper A-arm 6-8" above it off of the bracket that holds the steering head.

lemec · 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Curve
BMW is facing a choice right now..........make a statement on some type of organized track event that shows the advance of the new Hossock front end. They must show it works on the track as well as the open road.

Their main decision will be as to whether they make this "Hossock statement on the track" with a four cylinder or a two cylinder.

That would be so cool, but I believe it's a no-go. BMW is trying to be all things to all bikers right now, except the real sport bike crowd. If they get into MotoGP, their chances of winning in the near to mid future are abysmal. Given that contention of mine, what would entice them? Image? R&D? Possibly, b/c it won't be bragging rights.

Who is their target market? What are they chasing? I think at this point, they just want to grow, it's as simple as that, but I don't see a coherent strategy coming from them regarding their cruisers, tourers, sport tourers, uber-hyper-missiles, dual purpose things... they are trying to be the German Honda (but on a relative micro-scale). I think they have a lot of geniuses in their engineering and marketing departments, but the challenge now is for their management. How do they grow beyond the quirky, durable image they have built? Ah, yes, maybe racing, but on who's terms? Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Ducati?...

They have copied (yes, COPIED) the Japanese philosophy for their latest engine design. Arrived late to the party. This, with an unconventional front suspension and *lower* power-to-weight ratio, will give them nothing on a race track. They have no proven bike racing tech to leverage, no data, no experience (recent, anyway). It would be years of pain before they would be competitive. From a racing perspective, their engine has done nothing to stand out from its oriental inspirations.

Having said all that, why did they take a radical (for them) approach to this new powerplant? Hmmm... could be to race it, but maybe (as has been mentioned) not by themselves; but I think it's more a new way to keep up in the market place.

roger albert · 08-18-2004, 03:01 PM

I'm not even sure I hope Dr. Curve is right. It's not clear that that Duo lever is a particularly large advantage in all areas, and it lacks in suspension travel.

Also, it seems ludicrous to think that an R12S would have a different motor casting than the R12GS. Of course, it's possible, and BMW may believe that the short travel duolever is as adequate for the R-S, and the new K-S, and the telelever was only retained on the GS because THAT bike COULDN'T work with less travel. Still, it would be a radical break from BMW's normal modularity in the boxer series, or indeed, overall.

ErricZ · 08-18-2004, 03:02 PM

BMW probably figures, "Who cares? It's only money." It's not like the motorcycle divison actually MAKES the Mother Company any money, they lose out on every bike they sell. What would it be for them to dump tons of money into the next technology and not give it to us? That would be very crazy for them. It's always in their best interest to sell it because if people buy it, they know they have something worth investing more time into.

Is it true that they are going to cease all Cruiser production soon?