BMW K46 Impression
 

First CGI has appeared:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1208246691.jpg
http://www.fastbikesmag.com/page/fastbikes?entry=news_bmw_s_sexy_superbike

"Spy shots of black-suited Germans efficiently caning the pistons out of prototypes on dusty Spanish circuits have been on the internet for months now. Above is how we think it might look on release. Hopefully BMW will have the balls to build the radical road superbike we’d all love to see from them.
Codenamed ‘K46’ and known internally at BMW as ‘Project 190/190’, it’s likely to leave traditional BMW fans a little cold. But the unapologetically Jap-looking superbike should open the door to the lucrative sportsbike market for BMW.
It’s about time too. Previous BMW ‘sportsbikes’ have always suffered from family constraints. The K46, or K1000RR as we hope they’ll label it, will have no room for compromise. There appears to be none of the idiosyncratic brand mainstays present too. The frame, fork, shock, engine, and even design, all break with BMW convention.
The mass production version is likely to use traction control and a quickshifter as standard, and doubtless BMW will fit ABS and their Electronic Suspension Adjustment too. Tyre pressure and temperature sensors, and an anti-wheelie device are also distinct possibilities, as is a slipper clutch.
“The intention is to race the bike in ’09, so the road bike will be ready by then,” said Scott Grimsdall from BMW GB’s press office. “It’s being built to win races, and BMW are serious about succeeding. The road bike’s price is likely be between the cost of a Japanese litre bike and the current HP2 Sport model.”

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1208246691.jpghttp://bp0.blogger.com/_J9bnnRgW4f8/...6blackedit.jpg

...BMW versus Yamaha R6...
...let us say, they photoshopped that BMW together...
...the seat looks like a Suzuki GSXR seat BTW...



...and somewhat bigger...
http://www.bikeintro.com/wp-content/...zf-r6black.jpg

...Yamaha R6...

Well everybody says the K46 looks Japanese ;) The guy who made the photoshop needs to use some motorcycle as a base for his photoshop; that's why I said impression, not the real deal ;)

...blimey ; he just copied that Yamaha... :)

looks like crap, not BMW at all =(

I saw the BMW, and was like... That looks a lot like a R6, then I see the pictures of the R6..

Guys, it's an impression :) And when you see certain parts (like the seat) it looks very similar.
The fact they will compete with Japanese brands probably means it will look more like those bikes.
They guy who made the impression probably used the R6 because they used that fairing for test purposes meaning the BMW must be very compact in dimensions. Let's see what they have in store for us

It is not worth getting excited about these pictures. Let's wait for some spy pics.

Apparently BMW was testing a "new superbike" in South Africa earlier this year/end of last year. Someone spotted them close to Kuruman and followed them for a while. The bikes were then loaded into a panel van. Many car manufacturers test their vehicles in this remote, very dry and hot area during product testing. December to February is normally the warmest time of the year.

They're likely basing it off the test mules which have been using R6 bodywork.

Spy pics there are already and that's why this impression may be relative close (they made it based on the spy pics:
http://moto-images.caradisiac.com/IM...-low-res-2.jpg

Guys, the bike will be Very compact and Very fast and Very competitive.

Any news on who the potential riders will be?

Erm...I'm Very curious about how on Earth BMW could manage to do it and bill the thing with some Reasonable Price ...

I mean...something...not exceeding 2 Blades (+ KTM EXC as a free bonus).

Idiot's question > why HP2S (a far "lesser" thing) is billed that way?

He He

What do blades go for in Greece? A blade is $18K OTD here, a HP2 Sport is $30K OTD...:confused:

It is a fair question and one I've been wondering. Which is cheaper to produce an air/oil cooled boxer with performance on par with an RC51 (actually superior performance if you consider power/weight ratios of the R12S, HP2 Sport and RC51) or a new from the ground up I4, assuming the K series motors to date have been too heavy and too wide, to compete directly with the latest generation of 30 plus years of Japanese I4 dominance?

front runners are Max Neukirchner and Alex Hofman but its waaay too early to tell.

BTW, got the bag today... looks like new, thanks

Ant West might be available.
He is not setting the world on fire in MotoGP, but was very fast on the 600s.

I think they should produce it just as it looks.
Personally, IF they build that, as someone else here has said recently:
"I just might have one more sportbike in me"

Me likes:) lots.

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? ...

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.

Might be available, but most likely not considered. He's about to be fired and is building himself a reputation.