News, reviews and articles about BMW bikes on the ‘net

[Arne Rohde]

#18493

One of the first 'first ride' reviews of the new BMW G310R has been published in MotorcyclistOnline, written by Alan Cathcart.

2017 BMW G310R First Ride Review

The bike is built in India by TVS, who will also sell the bike under their own brand name. Rumours are that a sports version with fairings is being developed. The single-cylinder bike differs from all other road bikes by having the inlet on the front of the cylinder and the exhaust at the back, with the cylinder tilted backwards. BMW, of course, claims a number of advantages with this layout. The bike should be available locally before the end of the year.Alan Cathcart's verdict: "BMW joins the small-displacement learner-bike ranks with a credible, good-performing, well-built bike that deserves to be called a BMW."Read the full review at: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/2017-bmw-g310r-first-ride-review

[Arne Rohde]

#18494

Motocycle.com has a 6-way comparison test of wire-wheel adventure bikes, including the BMW R1200 GS Adventure written by Tom Roderick.

2016 Wire-Wheel Adventure ShootoutThe Wrong-Turn Gang goes on an adventure ride

"The introduction of Honda’s new Africa Twin has the potential of re-racking the pecking order in motorcycling’s hottest category, so we gathered five of its likely competitors that are either top-rated or recently updated. The Honda bridges engine displacements, ranging from Triumph’s 800cc Tiger XCx to Yamaha’s 1199cc Super Ténéré ES, and we also included ADV icons like KTM’s 1190 R Adventure and BMW’s what-will-they-think-of-next R1200GS Adventure, plus Ducati’s radical A-T entrant, the new Multistrada Enduro."The BMW does not come home near the top in this shootout, partly because it wasn't fitted with knobbly tyres, and partly due to its price.Read the full story, and view dozens of photos, at: http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2016-wire-wheel-adventure-shootout

[Anonymous]

#18495

Interesting article and you wonder why they didn't shod all the bikes with similar tyres to give a fair comparison? KTM might have scored better on the road, or the GS and AT score better off road on knobblies.I'm still not drawn to the new GSA, despite delivering mine to Experience today because the final drive has massive play... <20k after rebuild  :'(

[Arne Rohde]

#18496

Wow, someone actually reads these posts!  🙂Presumably they had informed the distributors of the type of test they wanted to conduct, and left it up to them to fit appropriate tyres. If not, then it does seem to be a strange choice. The article is probably not online, but UK Bike magazine has just selected the Honda Africa Twin as their bike of the year.Sorry to hear of your final drive problems, Gremlin. Presumably the rebuild was not done correctly if it wears out or fails so soon.

[Anonymous]

#18497

I don't read all the articles, like the 310 for example but the others I do  🙂  My only other guess is that whatever the factory supplies is what they ran with?

Sorry to hear of your final drive problems, Gremlin. Presumably the rebuild was not done correctly if it wears out or fails so soon.

Unfortunately the news was worse. It's the spline and flange, not what was worked on the last time... and the spline is not available for ordering so it's a whole new final drive... Quoted over $3300 (my head kinda stopped listening to numbers after three thousand three hundred)  :'(Now I'm trying to figure out a cheaper option  ???

[Arne Rohde]

#18498

Motorcycle.com has reports from the Intermot Motorcycle Show in Cologne, with introduction of new motorcycle models. Including new versions of the BMW R NineT and the S1000 series (R, RR and XR).

2017 BMW R nineT Pure and R nineT Racer Previews2017 BMW S1000R, S1000RR and S1000XR Previews

Read the full preview reports and view all the photos at:http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2017-bmw-r-ninet-pure-and-r-ninet-racer-previews.htmlhttp://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2017-bmw-s1000r-s1000rr-and-s1000xr-previews.html

[Arne Rohde]

#18499

Not exactly the sort of media coverage that most manufacturers strive for, but a sequence of pictures on morebikes.co.uk shows how not to handle a BMW RnineT Scrambler on its US launch. The technical editor of a magazine does a wheelie in front of a photographer, and gets it slightly wrong.

Ouch! When a wheelie goes so, so wrong. On a BMW launch. In front of a photographer. Who gets a BRILLIANT sequence of shots.

View the full sequence of 21 photos at: http://www.morebikes.co.uk/ouch-when-a-wheelie-goes-so-so-wrong-on-a-bmw-launch-in-front-of-a-photographer-who-gets-a-brilliant-sequence-of-shots/

[Arne Rohde]

#18500

A new variant in the K1600 series, specifically for the US market, has been launched in the USA – the K1600B. A cruiser known as a bagger, presumably due to the fixed side cases.

BMW K1600B Official Debut Today In Los Angeles

From the BMW press release:"As a high-performance, highly emotional and exclusive motorcycle, the new K 1600 B with the familiar 6-cylinder in-line engine and supreme 118 kW (160 hp) output, like the “Concept 101” study that preceded it, already embodies the motto of the “Spirit of the Open Road”. It is synonymous with elegance, power and luxury on two wheels and transforms every road, every tour and every moment into a particularly intense experience."Several online motorcycle sites have stories about this, including motorcycle.com at: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/k1600b.html

[Arne Rohde]

#18501

A flurry of press releases from BMW with new variants of existing models, and announcement of new models. One out of left field, but one that probably shouldn't be left out in the field, is a Lego Technic version of the R1200GS Adventure. It will be available from January 1, 2017. As someone who has built a few complex Lego Technic models this one could well be on my 'must have' list.

The motorcycle season sees an early January start with the LEGO® Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure.

Read the press release at: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265476EN/the-motorcycle-season-sees-an-early-january-start-with-the-lego®-technic-bmw-r-1200-gs-adventure(that ® seems to break up the URL, so copy and paste the whole line to get the correct address. Or go to https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global and use the link to the press release found there).A new model seeing the official light of day for the first time is the G310GS, based on the not yet released in New Zealand G310R. Manufactured in India.

The new BMW G 310 GS.

Read the release at: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265624EN/the-new-bmw-g-310-gsThere is also an update R nineT and a new R nineT Urban G/S.

The new BMW R nineT and R nineT Urban G/S.

The press release is at: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265047EN/the-new-bmw-r-ninet-and-r-ninet-urban-g/sThe F800R and F800GT have been revised, there is a K1600GTL, a new R1200GS, and the most exclusive BMW of all time, the HP4 RACE.

BMW Motorrad revises the F 800 R and F 800 GT. Sporty riding pleasure and dynamic touring in enhanced form.BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW K 1600 GTL. The luxurious performance touring bike has been further refined and optimised.The new BMW R 1200 GS.

The most exclusive BMW motorcycle of all time: the BMW HP4 RACE. Advanced prototype with full carbon fibre main frame and carbon fibre rims presented at the EICMA in Milan. Serial production vehicle announced for 2017.The press releases for each of these can be found at:https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265342EN/bmw-motorrad-revises-the-f-800-r-and-f-800-gt-sporty-riding-pleasure-and-dynamic-touring-in-enhanced-formhttps://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265343EN/bmw-motorrad-presents-the-new-bmw-k-1600-gtl-the-luxurious-performance-touring-bike-has-been-further-refined-and-optimisedhttps://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265048EN/the-new-bmw-r-1200-gshttps://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0265684EN/the-most-exclusive-bmw-motorcycle-of-all-time:-the-bmw-hp4-race-advanced-prototype-with-full-carbon-fibre-main-frame-and-carbon-fibre-rims-presented-at-the-eicma-in-milan-serial-production-vehicle-announced-for-2017

[Arne Rohde]

#18502

Another first ride of the new G310R, this time from the USA, where it apparently won't be delivered for another 6 months or so. The event was an international press launch in Hollywood.

2017 BMW G310R First Ride ReviewBMW gets serious about the entry-level market

"Don’t be fooled by its low price point and where it’s made, as it’s still every bit a BMW in terms of fit, finish, and quality. And unlike some other small-displacement motorcycles, this isn’t one you’ll get bored with quickly."Read the full report at: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2017-bmw-g310r-first-ride-review.html

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