BMW in MotoGP...it's real!

[Toast]

Well, if these guys are to be believed:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/13june06_bmwinmotogp.htm

They're not really a sensationalist pubication either.

No official release from BMW that I know of, but these dudes seem pretty sure that it's going to happen.

Can't wait to see it. BMW is a company that tends to put their all in to most things that they do, and I'm sure they'll find a way to put some of their F1 tech in to the bikes eventually...

Already a blinder GP season...could get better soon

[Devil]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[Finn]

Here's something...

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/i...ix-motorcycle/

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yeah and their race bike will have the telelever front end, ABS and shaft drive.
Cause they'll all such a shit hot idea on a motorcycle!
NOT.

[nudemetalz]

Interesting pic, I'm sure I see a telescopic front end there........

[Crasherfromwayback]

Interesting pic, I'm sure I see a telescopic front end there........

No doubt. Whilst they're limited and far from ideal.....no-one has come up with anything better yet!

[UrbanMyth]

I heard bmw was trying to get into the gp next year when its 800cc but i dunno...

[Kickaha]

No doubt. Whilst they're limited and far from ideal.....no-one has come up with anything better yet!

there have been several ideas superior to tele forks but complexity, manufacturing costs and the fact motorcyclists are a conservative lot work against them

Yeah and their race bike will have the telelever front end, ABS and shaft drive.
Cause they'll all such a shit hot idea on a motorcycle!
NOT.

That would depend entirely on what kind of market you were aiming the bike at, personally I think shaft is far superior to chain for a touring application, sport bike it might be a different story though

[TwoSeven]

I thought they were going to have a go at sbk next year or am I thinking about someone else

[Burger]

Yeah and their race bike will have the telelever front end, ABS and shaft drive.
Cause they'll all such a shit hot idea on a motorcycle!
NOT.

Ohhh oohhh change! Must resist! Lets not make things different! All the things you listed are smart ideas, very smart, and are innovations in motorcycling.

But I doubt you would see any of that on a GP bike, it's all way too heavy, save maybe the suspension.

[Crasherfromwayback]

there have been several ideas superior to tele forks but complexity, manufacturing costs and the fact motorcyclists are a conservative lot work against them

I agree there are some ideas that are better in some areas.....BUT....the very clever people that build Moto GP bikes have no cost contraints, are certainly NOT conservative, and love complexity.
Yet ALL Moto GP bikes to date have telescopic forks.
Hard to argue that fact.
How many races did the Elf Hondas win with Rocket Ron on board?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Ohhh oohhh change! Must resist! Lets not make things different! All the things you listed are smart ideas, very smart, and are innovations in motorcycling.

But I doubt you would see any of that on a GP bike, it's all way too heavy, save maybe the suspension.

Shaft drive for tourers used to have me believing.....but then I chatted with a customer who's done over 80,000km's on the ORIGINAL chain and sprockets on his 900 Trophy. A properly adjusted Scott Oiler.....end of need for the weight and torque affects of shaft.
ABS? Belongs on a car. More likely to kill you on a bike.
Forks/front ends?
Alternative front ends have been round for years, and while in theory they read better on paper ....no-one has yet bettered the telescopic fork for use on a sports bike.
They (the race engineers for the 'Big Four') would love to be the first to use something that gave them the edge on a race track, but it's yet to happen.
I'm not anti change/new technology, fuck, I've been in the motorcycle industry for 20 odd years and have seen some amazing andvances (thank fuck!)....
But for now we're stuck with the good old telescopic fork!

[imdying]

If they're more complex and more expensive to manufacture, then perhaps you're placing too much weight on their other properties when you label them as 'superior'. It's arguable that their being more complex and expensive makes them 'inferior'.

[Bonez]

Shaft drive for tourers used to have me believing.....but then I chatted with a customer who's done over 80,000km's on the ORIGINAL chain and sprockets on his 900 Trophy.

Did 52,000kms on my old GSX750EZs oroginal chain and sprocket in 3 years usage without a Scottoiler, just regular lubing with gear oil then on sold it.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Did 52,000kms on my old GSX750EZs oroginal chain and sprocket in 3 years usage without a Scottoiler, just regular lubing with gear oil then on sold it.

Yeah mate...that's the way.
I admit that for lazy cunts like me (ex car mechanic see), shafts seem attractive, but I simply hate what they do to motorcycles!