I was surprised at new BMW K, though I've not being surprised at a new motorcycle in these days.
There's a rumor that BMW's going to release new "across the frame type 4 cylinder bike" like Japanese, but that appeared with the ancient garter fork!
Honest BMW believer may be angry at this description, actually, it's the newly developed system over the tele-lever of new flats.
The another point that surprised me is the height of joint point of the body and that suspension system, it was positioned so low.
And the engine mounted very low too. It's laid over 55 degree towards the front wheel. (That reminds me the old architecture of Yamaha named GENESIS.) Its crank shaft was placed at the almost middle of both wheel axle, which expected fine dynamic balance.
Low gravity center and low joint point of body and front suspension, which reminds me the possibility feeling I've felt with Bimota Tesi.

It was for a while after that the test ride articles were appeared on the magazines.
I saw one written by Mr. Yamada, he is accustomed to take BMWs.
His cornering photograph surprised me.
He took slightly standing position on the deeper rolling bike, which appeared exactly the same balance of old K.
Boy, it's back...

At that time, BMW reduced K series behind the development of new flats.
I don't like new flats.
It makes everyone possible to touch such a high performance. It's superior. But that high gravity center is creepy.
Old flats had gentle character which is based on the low gravity center, that was one of the most important originality of BMW.
High gravity center doesn't put the bike gentle. What makes the new flats gentle is the high level technology like tele-lever etc., which coaxes physical phenomenon under our view. It seems the BMW does not understand nor take over the advantage of old flats, i'd say. There's no necessity to make the new bike with flat twin. I saw the renewed BMW forgot his father's goodness.
And here comes the new-K.
It was splendid, it reproduced vividly the BMW's policy of low gravity center.
BMW has strict policy standing on long history and evidence, and he's now back on it.
I don't think the Japanese bikes show such kind of faith. I felt a little bit of envy.

The test riding cars were prepared soon.
Its body is big, but it has recess for rider shape, so fitting is fine. Low seat is good too, it doesn't reminds that garbage one of old-K. Low gravity center makes rolling light, but put and pull is not easy because it's heavy.
When you push the handle bars to sink, it doesn't move linearly like the other bike with normal fork, it moves on the shape of arc. It's a character of newly developed duo-lever front suspension system. Idling sound of the engine is rough, it's very similar to old-K.
OK, let's start. It so easy to ride, from the slight rolling it shows low gravity center. The balancing manner is gentle, and you can feel the bike very near, because the rider positions low too, which differs much form the old-K, that separated the bike and human low and high.
Its right grip is so light but be careful, the bike provides sudden and unexpected high power if you twist it roughly. Its a typical sense of the fuel injector at these days, but soon you can be familiar with it and you will manage it smoothly. But this power is terrible. At full acceleration,my neck bent backward. Boy!
Its cornering characteristic is calm. You can clean the corners naturally, that can't be believed it has so long wheelbase. It may because the fine weight distribution and prominent movement balance, rather than the new feature like duo-lever, etc.
All the components of the body stays low and works fine, which makes the feeling stable and natural avoiding the irritating twisting movement. Its sliding characteristic would be also fine, just a expectation though.
New duo-lever shows its advantage at braking. You can control surface load on front tire and its traction directly, dynamically, and powerfully. It's controllable, but not so strong. Recent upside-down bold forks with wide twin tube frame would have higher absolute stopping power.
It is very sporty compared to the past BMWs, but I've felt its the fruit of excessive margins on the advanced tire, engine, body, etc. So it would be better another sporty descended bikes if your object is challenging.
New-K's nature is a touring bike with excess margin for sports. It's familiar, fun and exiting. It's super rather than just for the fellows on public road. Now I feel that the BMW came back as a real choice for fine adult riders.
Moreover, this price is low for such a high performance with many new features. However, I can't manage the profit for such a high performance on road. And I also worry that the high power may shorten its life time as a machine.

Well, my favorite is K1200R of no cowling. It has narrower tire and light body. It may be familiar for cozy rider like me. It also shapes so cool, quite new and attractive.
I'd say it may be selling more if the MI6 adopt it !


They say that triumph sold much, but this bond-bike could not be seen at all, huh?

I will wait for several years if I get new-K. It is because the BMW would make hidden developments for a few years, like I'd described on the page of old-K.
Well, I'd like to evaluate this bike on the full day rental system. It needs some pay, but it would pay for it.
It's better if rains.

Ombra.
Dec. 2005

-- return to the site top --

Copyright(C) 2005-2009 Public-road Motorcycle Laboratory All rights reserved.