The German firm’s Blackbird-beater is thought to make around 170bhp and is powered by an all-new four-cylinder 1157cc engine.
It has lapped the world-famous Nurburgring in 7.57 ( the lap record is 7.49) with two film cameras bolted on it. The rider reckoned he could have gone 15 seconds faster without the cameras…
The unusual ‘Hossak’ suspension is apparently electrically adjustable...
THE SUPERLIGHT FOR THE SUPER-RICH: THE K1200S (5/17/04)
by Midnight Moles in Munich
Synopsis of current Info on the K1200S
Under the sexy title “BMW lifts the veil” (Schleier) BMW Motorrad has made official what OTL readers have already known for a good while. This summer BMW will reveal “a fully new, fascinating high-performance motorcycle in the sportbike segment.”
In what is internally known as a “teaser,” BMW will show a press picture of the K1200S along with some attributes of the new bike — most of them, however, gleaned by our moles some time ago. Ditto for the photo.(Click images for larger view.)
Styling
David Robb disagreed with us when we suggested that the angular-looking R1200GS owed something to the “flame-surfacing” profile of the Bimmer Z4 sport car. Maybe it is what Robb calls “surface tension,” but we see lot of dynamic angles at play in the “tank” area of this K1200S.
We also see is a little GS in the looks of this bike, in a way Euclid would have admired.
The extensive black lowers/belly pan make a good part of the bike vanish beneath the waves, including the new motor. The rear end looks (as is) very light, so reducing the visual footprint of the front end is probably part of the plan. Peering through the rear axle is way cool.
Note that the Roundel is handled much the same way is on the KLT, which in turn took its cue from the Bimmer M Z3.
The final use of color(s) is sure to be different. One of our moles spotted several on a photo shoot in Nevada—none of them Canyon Red. The rest of the bike, however looked just like this. Much more in the upcoming OTL.
What BMW admits
Having worked on the English editing of BMW’s Road to Formula 1 we know better than to entirely trust BMW’s translations, so we shall give our own renderings of what they will post on the press site. We shall also provide a little commentary (with much more, and a riding impression to follow in OTL).
“From the very start the K1200S was conceived as a sportbike, and is a stand-alone motorcycle within the K family: radically new and with an unprecidented wealth of innovations. It is a sportbike that offers the highest riding precison, a unique agility, and overabundant power.“
Wealth of innovations
The key phrase here is “wealth of innovations.“ There had to be these — lest the K1200S be seen as just another UJM-like tranverse four. The bike will be chock full of tech goodies from top to bottom. For us, however, the Hossack fork will be the heart of it. That and weight loss. Other details — many of them significant — will have to wait for the press kit.
“The bike leaves nothing to be desired visavis the competition, with power-to-weight almost 50% better than the K1200RS.“
Our sources had us expecting this, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. One mole told us it feels “like a bicycle.” In the upcoming OTL we write: “The R1200GS had a water-filled bucket symbolizing the 66 lbs that needed to be lost. With the K1200S they must have needed a rain barrel.” When R&D boss Dr. Marcus Braunsperger said the focus would be on Leichtbau (building light) he meant what he said.
“The chassis set-up, along with low weight, makes for “spielerisches” [child’s play] handling. Both result in secure and total command of the power package under all conditions.”
Our mole report in the next OTL raves about the gossamerlike feel of the S. Easy to ride, and “wicked fast.”
“Powered by a transverse 1157 cc in-line four with integrated gearbox this machine attains a unique spot among the sportbikes through its perfect overall concept in concert with Leichtbau shaft drive.”
A true sportbike with shaft drive
Shaft drive on a sportbike! The R1100S has it, but the Boxer S isn’t really sporty enough to be a dedicated sportbike. This K1200S is way sporty enough, and has a very light cardan drive. This was no small feat for BMW R&D.
“The extremely forward-angled (55 degree) cylinder block provides a low cg. This, along with the geometric layout, allowed for an ideal 50-50 weight distribution.”
David Searle at MCN always preaches about a 50-50 weight balance; this bike has it. This, along with little unsprung weight, should work wonders.
“By means of a host of finesse measures in construction, the engine emerged unusually small. The width near the crankshaft approximates that of a 600cc motor. That permitted not only a low motor placement while retaining good cornering clearance, but a small, sporty profile.”
This is key. The engine could not have been placed so low unless it were narrow, lest cornering clearance be compromised. And our moles say it corners like champ.
The engine also dictated moving the shaft and everything else over to the other side, much like the three cylinder (code K3) prototype machine back in 1980.
Over 160 horsepower
There is also the admission that the horsepower is “over 160 (117 kW)” and that the “newest generation motor management such as on the R1200GS, with knock suppression is employed on the K1200S.”
Our moles say the motor can be uprated a number of ways for the future — necessary for a machine that is expected to be around a long while. Even this one as is, can probably be chipped up another 10-15 hp.
All-new fork a la Hossack
The chassis is “supremely innovative,” by which they mean the Hossack fork (though it is not referred to as such here). It is: “A revolutionary front wheel steering by means of two parallel links — without Telescopic direction — most precise, with remarkable stiffness and light weight.”
We have worked this issue to death, so wait for OTL to refresh your memory. Then there is the matter of an “electronically adjustable chassis,” mentioned before, but moles have yet to report on how well it works.
Improved partial integrals
To the regret of some, the bike is “Selbstverständlich mit Teilintegralversion ausgerüstet” (equipped with the Integral version of ABS as a matter of course); but we had hoped, and now indeed hear, that the power brakes engage much less abruptly. Our Moles say the ABS is now as good or better than Honda’s.
The new BMW K 1200 S will debut to the drooling public at the INTERMOT in Munich in September and emerge on the market “a bit later.” We think the bike press will already be riding it in Austria in July — on a race track. We also think there will be a K Cup series down the road. This bike cries out for it. Indeed, in certain curvy, lumpy tracks will outperform the fastest sportbikes.
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Originally Posted by White trash
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