BMW's new mid-range bike

Many blog entries ago I ran some spy photos of what was destined to become BMW's new mid-range 800cc bikes.  Well here it is, in all of it's glory.  Twin cylinders, and with a belt driving the rear wheel, rather than a chain or the traditional BMW driveshaft.  The initial comments online have been pretty positive.

Actooly, what I had meant to do at the time that I ran the spy photo of the F-800 was to run commentary on all the other bikes that BMW is bringing to market -- the super fast K1200S and the all conquering off road R1200HP ("HP" standing for either high perfomance or high price, depending on your perspective).  BMW is rapidly changing their entire lineup, which is quite a contrast from the days that us olde phartes well remember well there was basically one bike available and you could get it in black or white.  Sometimes.

And then there's my latest obsession.  The K1200P.  A bike that was never imported into the USA and which few know that it even exists.  Stay tuned, because that may become an epic tale if I take the plunge to get one.

So for you gearheads keep watching this space.  If the creek don't rise maybe I'll get around to writing a bit about the tools of adventure traveling ;)

   --PirateJohn--

 

BMW's press release on the F-800 follows:

PUSHING INTO THE MID-RANGE: The new BMW F 800 S twin-cylinder
     09/29/2005

  Munich. With its completely new mid-range sports bikes, BMW Motorrad is ringing in the next round of its model offensive. In the first half of 2006, the F 800 will be the fourth model series to come off the Berlin assembly lines and it is sure to stir up the middle class. The F 800 S is an 800-cc twin which offers lots of character, an excellent suspension and typical BMW properties.
The athletic F 800 S sports bike has a dry weight of under 419 lbs. (approx. 441 lbs. ready-to-ride) and is the first model of the new and separate model series. The precise suspension is designed for high directional and cornering stability as well as optimum handling.   The classic BMW qualities such as safety, compliance with the highest environmental standards, ergonomic seating position and comfort also for the passenger define the new standard in the mid-range bike. A closed-loop three-way catalytic converter, state-of-the-art digital engine electronics and optional ABS are also a matter of course for this motorcycle.   With regard to the drive-line, BMW Motorrad is continuing with the innovation introduced on the F 650 CS and makes use of the low-maintenance and quiet-running belt-drive. It is lighter than shaft drive and represents the optimum combination of weight, space requirements, efficiency and service life in this performance class.   The engine is also a completely new design. It was developed in cooperation with Bombardier-Rotax GmbH. It is manufactured in the Austrian Rotax plant and is delivered to the Berlin production line ready-for-assembly. The first two-cylinder inline engine in the history of BMW Motorrad features a four-valve design. High 12:1 compression and a combustion chamber designed similarly to the one used in the new K-engine ensure effective and low-emission combustion, as well as efficient fuel consumption which will be considerably lower than that of the competition. Mass compensation for the crankshaft balances unwanted vibrations without foregoing the vigorous characteristics associated with two-cylinder engines. The compact engine unit with integrated 6-speed gearbox has been designed for
balanced power delivery and uncomplicated riding pleasure. A peak output exceeding 80 bhp with respective torque will also satisfy a sports-rider's needs.   The new BMW F 800 S will be presented to the international press and then the public for the first time at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan on 15 November 2005.
The price has not yet been set.

Benefit for a fallen friend

Every so often something happens that shakes us back to our very roots.  Something that makes us realize either how lucky we are, or else fundamentally changes our own existence.

On Friday, July 8th at 9:45PM my friend and very popular local radio DJ Richard Langlois (Rick Baron to his audience) was riding his motorcycle on Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville when someone made an illegal U-turn in front of him.  Exactly how Rich got hit is the matter of a some speculation because the police report doesn't jive with witnesses' accounts, but the upshot is that Rich was thrown from his new bike.  He is now a quadraplegic with very limited use of his arms.

Our favorite local vintage motorcycle club, of which ol' John is proud to be el Presidente of, hired a private detective when it became obvious that the local Sheriff's ossifers weren't going to be able to energetically look for the person that struck Rich.  Even more frustrating when you realize that the Sheriff's brother is a club member and that the Sheriff Himself attends our meetings every so often!

So far, alas, no luck in finding the person that struck Rich, despite canvassing all of the auto glass and bodywork places in town.

So we held a fund raiser for Rich.  A poker run.  And a good chunk of the Jacksonville riding community came out to help, despite threatening thundershowers from Huricane Katrina.  Considering the devastation that Katrina was to cause in New Orleans a few days later we were very, very lucky.

Also very lucky was the last minute participation of none other than John Lennon's widow, Yoko One, who arranged for an exhibit of John's artworks.  That show ran in loose coordination with our motorcycle event and frankly raised quite a bit more money for Rich and his family than our bike ride did by itself.

We need to count our blessings each and every day.  Things could be much worse.  And as I write this Rich has been transferred from a rehabilitation center in Atlanta to a VA hospital in Augusta, GA.  We are cautiously optimistic that he will be home in a few more months.  He's making noises about getting a three wheeled motorcycle and with any luck at all Rich will be back out on the road, hangin' with his friends.