The BMW R 1200 RT is new for 2010 and apart from the prettier face, the German tourer can now brag about being powered by a DOHC engine, which puts down 110hp and 88lb-ft of torque while revving no more than 8,000 rpm. This means the bike has two of the necessary premises to be a wonderful touring, but comfort completes the triangle.
Although features such as the second generation updated Electronic Suspension Adjustment system (ESA II), a generous fairing and windscreen as well as an audio system with MP3, iPod or USB sticks position the 2010 BMW R 1200 RT on the touring side of “sport-touring,” the new motorcycle has plenty of potency to compete with sportier motorcycles such as the Triumph Sprint ST 1050 and Moto Guzzi Norge 1200.
Very satisfied of the BMW S1000R superbike teaser showing the machine in the presence of supermodels and cheetahs, German photographer Markus Hofmann has decided to play the same card once again, this time to present Haute Couture.
Hofmann explained:
“There are so many motorcycle manufacturers that combine motorcycles and women in an artless and sleazy way, that I thought there just had to be a better way of doing it. I had no intention of putting a naked woman on a bike, and it was very clear to me that the bike had to be the S 1000 RR Superbike in the same colour that people have seen on the racetrack in 2009. I didn’t want the bike to fade into the background either; showing the name of the manufacturer was also very important for me, because it made the feeling of a pit stop and racetrack environment much more authentic”
To us, this is the same scenario, only that the cheetahs were probably released in the wilderness meanwhile because they’re nowhere to be found. Video is attached after the break.
BMW has hooked up their professional stunt rider Chris Pfeiffer with a special pair of wheels for winter activities. Actually, improper said wheels as this BMW G 450 X was specially modified for winter riding and now features a front ski and a snowmobile-like track at the back for perfect grip. As you can see in the attached video, the "snowcat" is not so easy to ride and the three times stunt riding world champion even happens to meet the snow once, although we reckon he did that just for fun.
Urban traffic studies show that the city is precisely the environment where most crashes happen due to obvious reasons and BMW Motorrad is aware of that. What we’re interested in is the ingenious concept bike they’ve come up with as a solution to reduce the big number of motorcycle crash victims. Referred to as a “single track vehicle for city traffic”, the BMW C1-E concept is the electric version of the BMW C1 scooter, meaning that it protects riders with a safety cell made of roll-over bars and keeps them in the actual cell with the use of a seat belt.
Everything that rolls on wheels is green nowadays, so the BMW C1-E concept is powered by an electric motor made from Vectrix components and supplied with energy by a lithium-ion battery. Still, the thing could turn into a hybrid, but there’s no official word about production at this time. That is because BMW worked their magic with this concept to contribute at the European Safer Urban Motorcycling campaign. Read the press release after the break.
Nowadays, in order to bring a motorcycle industry icon back in the attention of public you might just go ahead and restore the thing to its former glory, but people often also have their very own interpretations regarding to how that wallpaper should look like and they go ahead with the respective changes. So is this case in which the BMW R65/7 gets a BMW R80 engine, the source of 55 hp, instead of the original much smaller and less potent powerplant. WM’s megatron mufflers are present and so is the heat wrap on them.
While the stock fork, swingarm and rims are retained, only that these lasts are now wrapped in Firestone Deluxe Champion rubber, the whole difference is created by the parts made in house. These would be the rearframe, seat and fenders as well as the handlebar, levers, grips and lights. This thing also features Gazi Gas rear shocks for enhanced comfort, but in the end it is nothing more than a rider’s bare necessity in order to connect itself to the open road. The WM custom paint helps at identifying this BMW as being tricked out by WrenchMonkees, the Copenhagen-based custom builder.
BMW has released a video that shows the German car and motorcycle manufacturer’s stuntman Chris Pfeiffer stunting his way to the top of the BMW building in his own characteristic style. See the video after the break.
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BMW never designed the F800R to be a scrambler, but that didn’t stop Touratech, the touring and parts specialists, to build what they call The Streetline F800 ScrambleR by only making use of a few styling tweaks.
By using clip-ons, a round headlight, bash guard, scrambler-style tyres and a numberboard among others, Touratech achieved what BMW never thought at and they even plan on selling a kit with all the parts, enabling BMW F800R owners to build their own scrambler.
With the occasion of its 80th anniversary, BMW Motorrad has released a timeline video in order to point out just how much BMW’s motorcycle department managed to evolve along the decades. Taking the viewers as back as 1922, this official video shows the German manufacturer’s iconic models and it ends beautifully with the amazing S1000RR superbike going up a sinuous hill.
At the beginning of 2010, BMW will sell a limited number (only 68 units, to be precise) of BMW F800R Chris Pfeiffer replicas for the old continent only.
Based on the standard F800R, the bike will come with a blue/white/red paintjob and a sticker kit to be fitted by the rider itself. Also, the rear wheel is painted black and the front one white, just like on Pfeiffer’s bike. Given the fact that this is a stunt bike replica, there is no need for a headlamp mini fairing, while the Akrapovic street legal end-can is a must. LED items complete the package.
How’s that for a way to honor a four time world and European stunt champion?
BMW’s tuner, AC Schnitzer, presents their latest intervention on a motorcycle. The BMW F 800 Reloaded, as it is called, has suffered multiple changes and upgrades, the sportier look being valued through the infinity of accessories. The mid-sized naked known as the F 800 R now drifts away from its origins and actually looks very similar to its bigger sibling, the K 1300 R, which was also tuned by AC Schnitzer.
Thus, in the list of replaced parts and accessories we find: new front spoiler, which covers the engine almost entirely, Stealth silencer with EC approval and removable DB-Killer, WP central shock, WP fork, crash pads, high performance air filter, wider handlebar and adjustable brake and clutch levers. Also, the F 800 Reloaded was fitted with a new headlight fairing and is covered in a color called Titanium.
So this is how you turn an average F 800 R into a much more aggressive two-wheeler if you’re an experienced German tuner working with both cars and motorcycles.
BMW motorcycles
