BMW K46 Impression

[bikpaintr]

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

They don't need to. All they need to do is make something very fast and is very competitive. The price is irrelevant. They are building an image with this thing. BMW doesn't want to, nor is able to compete in sales numbers (or pricing) with the J4. If it is able to beat the snot out of the WSBK establishment, exorbitant prices will only add to the hype, luster and high-end image they aspire. Think something like 1098S is for the masses, real exclusivity means BMW. Think M6 on two wheels.

If thats their plan then the bike better appear wearing completely different bodywork then anything we've seen so far. There's nothing exclusive about a chain drive, inline 4 with usd forks that looks like a Jap bike.

Personally I think they'd like to sell as many of these as they can build. Currently there isn't much motorcycle product selling well in the BMW world outside of a couple R12 models.

[throttlemeister]

They can't produce bikes fast enough as it is. They're not waiting for something to mess up their already cramped production capacity even more. They just want people to think sport when they think of BMW motorcycles.

[OSM62]

Here some pics of K46 - the S 1000 RR:

[SergioK]

Oh, CF body panels... cha ching!

[HugoVW]

I can only say "wow" :-)

[RC51DRAG]

Originally Posted by peter f

Well a Blade/R1/Gixxer/ZX10 = ~14.5K (euro), a HP2S = 23.5K (EURO), a RC8 = 17.5K (euro). Don't tell to anyone but the Blade (and the rest) makes circles around RC8 that makes circles around HP2S...People who claim that Blade is bland...well maybe they are Valentino's cousins.

IMHO : surviving in the SuperSport Market segment appears unthinkable to me (unless name's SuzaHondaKawaYam and/or Ducati).

I hear you > what about KTM? ...

I agree the Japanese own the supersport market but Triumph have done an admirable job of beating the Japanese with the 675 and Aprilia and Ducati have brought out products that are great alternatives to the Japanese.

Blade and other I4s, yes they are the best but who can really use all of it? I've noticed a trend in motorcycle magazine test reports that favour using ex-club racers and in some cases ex-GP, WSB/WSS riders to test the latest crop of superbikes. That seems to be the benchmark. BIKE magazines 2008 I4 Superbike test tagline reads something like 'are you good enough, we aren't.'

Given the ever increasing policing of the roads, crap roads to ride on, the track is the only place to explore these bikes. Most track day riders seem to benefit more from a 600 class bike than a 1000 anyway. So there is room for alternatives despite lower bhp/t and less ideal engine platforms for max power.

RC8. I love it. Great looking bike and for me, as a twin fan, a great alternative to the Japanese. Componentry is top notch but the Japanese stuff is far from pedestrian even if it does not have the bling bling name of Ohlins or WP.

If buying tomorrow I can safely say it would be the ZX10R on looks alone; it looks like the GP bike. Unfortunately it makes stupid bhp and the Ninja tag will see my insurance double over my HP2, despite my perfectly clean record and 38 y.o.a. body. It's utterly useless on the track I ride on since it's really a 600 track.

But that won't stop me from buying a used 2008/9 ZX10R, or HP2 Sport or R12S, if the BMW superbike proves too expensive.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by HugoVW

I can only say "wow" :-)

+1

[bikpaintr]

Originally Posted by throttlemeister

They can't produce bikes fast enough as it is. They're not waiting for something to mess up their already cramped production capacity even more. They just want people to think sport when they think of BMW motorcycles.

Right. Thats why they shut down the K12 production to clear out the backlog, stopped importing the R12ST, R12S, F800S & some of the singles. They were all just selling too well.

Its bad enough that they are sourcing engines out of China, I don't want to see BMW start selling Jap sport bike clones. MV can build unique looking inline 4's & so can BMW.

[peter f]

Originally Posted by RC51DRAG

BIKE magazines 2008 I4 Superbike test tagline reads something like 'are you good enough, we aren't.'

Given the ever increasing policing of the roads, crap roads to ride on, the track is the only place to explore these bikes. Most track day riders seem to benefit more from a 600 class bike than a 1000 anyway. So there is room for alternatives despite lower bhp/t and less ideal engine platforms for max power.

RC8. I love it. Great looking bike and for me, as a twin fan, a great alternative to the Japanese. Componentry is top notch but the Japanese stuff is far from pedestrian even if it does not have the bling bling name of Ohlins or WP.

If buying tomorrow I can safely say it would be the ZX10R on looks alone;
But that won't stop me from buying a used 2008/9 ZX10R, or HP2 Sport or R12S, if the BMW superbike proves too expensive.

Well, you know ... 1L missiles are solely for track ...but that's not stopping us using them in public roads for reasons...well you know... he he.

ZX10R tried "a bit" here in Greece > LETHAL in every respect (had an Oops moment "like" the one that Simon H had in BIKE mag...), I'll suggest the "bland" Blade (better safe than sorry) instead and/or the Incredible RC8 (OK for your living room as well). Consider the R12S (my bike) option as well (+RB3 +full pipe system > not that bad).

BMW took the wrong decision here > applying the "known" arguments (quality, support, niche brand, upmarket stuff, high class motoring, ultimate riding machine bla bla bla) to hardcore people buying Jap/Duke stuff (yours truly) > 120% pointless - at least according to my humble opinion (and my humble experience with 1L missiles).

Anyway, only Time could tell...(hope that 190/190 is made in Germany)

[YellowRacer]

I just saw those pictures on MCN!

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by SergioK

Oh, CF body panels... cha ching!

Forget the CF. That's $13,000 worth of Ohlins TTX20 race forks in there. CHA CHING!

[Fenring]

There's almost nothing original about it, but I like it. Beauty and the beast all in one little neat package. I suspect the road version will drop the fancy equipment to achieve reasonable price, because in this form it would be too expensive. After all, they are required to build 1000 of the road going version and I don't think even the mighty BMW can afford to have a 1000 ultra-expensive bikes lying on the show-room floor collecting dust. Wouldn't do much for the image of the company either, even if that were their only goal.

[throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by bikpaintr

Right. Thats why they shut down the K12 production to clear out the backlog, stopped importing the R12ST, R12S, F800S & some of the singles. They were all just selling too well.

Like the US market is representative for all of BMW.

[Stampertje_35]

And a small movie of the "thing"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g73dp9JZy_c

[peter f]

Originally Posted by Fenring

There's almost nothing original about it, but I like it. Beauty and the beast all in one little neat package. I suspect the road version will drop the fancy equipment to achieve reasonable price, because in this form it would be too expensive. After all, they are required to build 1000 of the road going version and I don't think even the mighty BMW can afford to have a 1000 ultra-expensive bikes lying on the show-room floor collecting dust. Wouldn't do much for the image of the company either, even if that were their only goal.

Well, there's good news around

1. Motorrad is 2% of the whole Empire (they have the luxury to do some silly things without hitting the red in their books).

2. Troy is out next year (WSB) > so there's a theoretical chance that Rennsport couldn't replicate some Toyota F1 stuff (zillions gone, no podium(s)).

3. Blade is ugly (that mass centralization thing maybe?).

Bad news:

you can imagine, I guess...

He He

[chewie]

Anyone heard more of Max Neukirchner's future steed? Has he indeed been tapped on the shoulder? That's the goss I got today (thanks to BMK12 @ tar-max).

[RC51DRAG]

Originally Posted by peter f

BMW took the wrong decision here > applying the "known" arguments (quality, support, niche brand, upmarket stuff, high class motoring, ultimate riding machine bla bla bla) to hardcore people buying Jap/Duke stuff (yours truly) > 120% pointless - at least according to my humble opinion (and my humble experience with 1L missiles).

Anyway, only Time could tell...(hope that 190/190 is made in Germany)

I agree but that is a different market altogether. Now BMW are moving into a hardcore market that buys primarily based on bar room and coffee shop BS stats and to a lesser extent world titles. The most successful bikes, based on sales, out of the World Super Bike series are the GSXR750 (no titles) and the ZX7R (no titles). If BMW can price correctly, 1098 or RC8 pricing, then just being on track, winning the occasional race, will produce results. A world title really isn't necessary but BMW are entering at a good time, before the sleeping giant, Honda, re-enters a factory team.

I think BMW wants to compete more with the European marks on price while producing something that is more comparable on the performance numbers to the Japanese, unlike the current euro superbikes.

[mkletecka]

My opinion? BMW is going to have to address a new marketplace & buyers or they might end up like Harley (I feel Harley is at the beginning of their end and will face greatly reduced sales from here on out, regarless of the economy) for they core buyers are a bunch of dedicated aging riders, with fewer younger buyers interested in following in there footsteps. Go for it BMW, but just keep making a few real world bikes for your/me group of aging riders that appreciate your current product and how it is being developed.

Mike K.
gray/silver12S
Dana Point, CA

[markjenn]

I had always assumed BMW would make this new bike in boutique-bike numbers, far fewer than 1000, for the homologation requirements and as a halo bike. I'd be flabbergasted if they could get the price into std 1098/RC8 territory, let alone CBR/ZX/GSXR/YZF territory. Anybody know off-hand the planned production numbers on the 1098R?

Of all these new supersports, the one that has me the most intrigued is the RC8 because the unique styling and the adjustable ergos - this seems to me to be a much more innovative bike than this beemer. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of a US price.

- Mark

[peter f]

Originally Posted by mkletecka

Go for it BMW, but just keep making a few real world bikes for your/me group of aging riders that appreciate your current product and how it is being developed.

Erm...what do you mean "aging"? (mature, talented, experienced maybe?)

He He