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| BUILT FOR ROAD AND TRACK: Just announced by BMW Motorrad is a radical new R1200 S - way more powerful than the previous R1100 S and said to be just as comfortable on the track as commuting. |
BMW puts much more punch into its top Boxer
November 18, 2005
BMW Motorrad has just launched the most powerful production Boxer the world has yet seen. It's stripped for the sports end of the market and has a badge that pretty much tells it all – R1200 S.
This new sports Boxer, which BMW says shares little with its predecessor the R1100 S, should fill the gap between the four-cylinder K1200 S and twin-cylinder F800 S sports bikes and will be on sale in the first quarter of 2006.
The engine has been designed to run 90kW – way up on the 70kW of the R1100 S - and the 112Nm of torque makes a mockery of the previous bike's 97Nm. BMW says its higher than any other bike in its class to give instant acceleration with fewer gear changes – "vital for quick track and road riding"
This superior performance and sporting power is matched by a quest for less weight and with the exception of the specialist HP2 Enduro, the 190 kg
The R1200 S, at 190kg and 18kg lighter than the 1100, is the lightest and most agile of all BMW’s Boxer machines except for the specialist HP2 Enduro. Fully fuelled and with all operating fluids, the R1200 S weighs 213kg or 35kg less than the K1200 S.
BMW says it fully expects the new bike to tempt riders away from Japanese and Italian "Supersport" machines that are too closely modelled on factory race bikes to be used for everyday riding.
Despite the R1200 S’s undoubted track prowess an overwhelming number of owners will only ever ride their S on the road.
BMW says the bike has "a sporty but relaxed riding position" but more important is what the company calls its "practicality and versatility over other machines of the sports genre".
It comes with a catalytic converter, single-wire system for the network, an electronic immobiliser, maintenance-free shaft drive with a single-sided swinging arm, and Telelever front suspension but there's also a wide range of option.
For instance, a special anti-lock braking system that can be deactivated for track work has been developed for the bike - it weighs only 1.5kg. There's also a option of an extra-wide rear wheel and a fully adjustable, high-performance Öhlins sports suspension system.
The wide range of other BMW factory options and accessories is also available for the R1200 S.
BMW R1200 S at a glance:
- Air-cooled flat-twin 1170cc engine with balance shaft.
- Maximum power increased to 90kW at 8250 rpm.
- Electronic BMS-K engine management with dual ignition, knock control, two oxygen sensors and a fully controlled, three-way catalytic converter.
- Light and stable, three-piece frame made of steel and aluminium tubes.
- Extra-stiff Telelever with sensitive response and superior steering precision.
- EVO Paralever with extra-light driveshaft.
- Dry weight 190 kg, weight in road trim with full tank 213 kg.
- Front fairing support of extra-light, pressure-cast magnesium.
- Tail light with 18 LEDs.
- Silencer with tailpipes one beneath the other directly under the rear fairing.
- Aerodynamically optimised, extra-slender body.
- Sports suspension with superior steering precision.
- High-performance brakes.
- New, extra-light ABS (optional).
- Wide range of accessories.
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