subaru lover's motorcycle

[BoxerFanatic]

Originally Posted by 92_LSL

exactly how much horsepower dose the r1100s have. the boxer cup that i saw at the bike show had an ass-load of carbon fiber instead of the red white and blue paint .

The R1100S (boxer cup, 1100 oil-cooled head OHV 4-valve engine, lower left on the picture) is listed at about 96hp (engine, not at the wheel)

The R1200S stock motorcycle ("hex-head" OHV 4-valve engine, tuned higher than other R1200x OHV bikes) is rated at ~122hp. Pictured lower right, with a plastic guard over the valve cover.

The HP 2 Sport, with the hand-build DOHC engine, is rated at 130hp, with a broader torque delivery band than the OHV R1200S, or other BMW boxers, and stands as the most powerful BMW boxer twin ever produced. Stock fitted with a carbon-fiber valve cover shield, which the previous HP2 photos show.

A mass-produced version of this DOHC engine, slightly de-tuned from the HP2 Sport's engine specification, is starting to be sold in the 2010 BMW R1200GS, and R1200RT motorcycles. The head looks much like the "hex-head", but with a different spark plug lead path, up from underneath the head, shown here on the 2010 GS, with a rubber contact pad integrated with the spark plug lead cover. RT models don't have the rubber contact pad.




Just FYI, on the basic lineage of the 70s-to-current BMW boxers... The valve cover in the upper left of the above picture is an old air-head 2-valve per cylinder engine, from the 60's and 70's. The 80's era R65, R80, R100 air-heads had a flatter valve cover casting, on much the same air-cooled engine design, like this:


The upper right, with the black plastic filler across the whole valve cover, is a 90's-era, early R1100 single-spark-plug version of the 4-valve per cylinder "oil-head" boxer.

The lower left without the black band across the whole valve-cover is actually the later dual-spark oil-head, a later (~2004 introduction, IIRC) development of the same R1100, R1150, and R1200C engine family, although the look of the spark plug boot is counter-intuitive. There are actually two spark plugs per head under that valve cover, even if it only appears to be one from the outside. These later dual-spark heads supposedly smoothed out the engine response, and solved some engine-surging issues with the fuel injection, although the power output stats remained nearly the same. "Oil-head" of course is nick-named for having engine oil passages in the cylinders and heads, and an engine oil cooler, to stabilize the thermal operating range of the engine, but still not having the added complexity of a water-coolant system, which none of the BMW motorcycle boxers have to this day. (although I believe there may have been one prototype that had a water-cooled square head design, that looked kind of like what a Subaru flat twin might have looked like. )

The late mid-to-late 2000s-era, and next successive generation "Hex-head" engine obviously is nicknamed for the six-sided shape of the valve-cover, is still air and oil cooled, with revised valve-train angles, and a displacement increase to 1170ccs, thus rounded up to 1200, rather than previous 1100 and 1150, and the 1200cc "cruiser" versions of the "oil-head". All BMW R-bikes eventually were upgraded from oil-head to hex-head engines, except the R1150RS, which was an aging but somewhat iconic BMW bike design from the 1990s era. It was dropped and somewhat replaced by the controversially styled R1200ST, which was cancelled in 2008.

The R1200S, which replaced the R1100S, was discontinued after slow sales and just two model years, 2007 and 2008. and no true replacement has yet surfaced. Although, the 2008-2010+ HP2 Sport bikes remain, but are expensive, faster, and limited production bikes, and much more track focused than the non-HP2 regular-R1200S was.

R-GS, -RT, and -R continue. -ST, -S, and -C have been dropped from the lineup. BMW's focus seems to have shifted toward the K1200 and now K1300 line of tranverse inline 4 bikes, and the S1000RR inline 4 super-sport bike that is making big waves.

They just announced the upcoming K1600GT and GT-L touring bikes with a transverse inline 6 engine, and a very cool adaptive angle and level-adjusting headlight. The first ever on a motorcycle. Think of the adaptive steering headlights on new luxury cars, but then add to that a compensating leveling beam cutoff that counter-acts the effect of the motorcycle leaning through corners, which usually tilts, and hinders the beam cutoff.
YouTube - BMW Motorcycle Adaptive Headlight

[92_LSL]

the bike was a newer model hp2 with clear coated carbon fiber. seeing the exposed carbon fiber was almost pornographic . next time i see the guy i'm going to talk to him and ask him where he got the bike.

[benebob]

Enough with the plastic that is more fitting on a Kia then a BMW cycle. Then again they both buy their plastic bits from the slave labor state of China so I guess it is okay. Bimmer bikes stopped being made in my mind around the time hair bands cutting their hair. As much as I like the new inline with insane power I simply won't buy a product that was built in China.

[BoxerFanatic]

Originally Posted by benebob

Enough with the plastic that is more fitting on a Kia then a BMW cycle. Then again they both buy their plastic bits from the slave labor state of China so I guess it is okay. Bimmer bikes stopped being made in my mind around the time hair bands cutting their hair. As much as I like the new inline with insane power I simply won't buy a product that was built in China.

Funny, this bike looks like it has a lot of plastic on it... and it is a 1985. The other is a 2010 R1200R... with fairly minimal plastic.



While I agree with your stance on exploitation, I am not so sure that BMW bikes are made in China, and plastic parts can be built anywhere, including Germany. Not all of them are de-facto made in china.

Although, unfortunately, or necessarily... there are a billion people in that country, and some of them are employed, under a communistic government that manages industry, building pieces and components that go into just about everything, regardless of where final assembly takes place. Boycotting every molecule out of china would be a forced fast against pretty much everything aside from locally grown food.

What I don't get is why people think it is so fantastic to start implementing central planning, and eviscerating equal individual rights and freedoms in the US, trying to take us politically, and economically toward china's direction. But that is a discussion for another thread in another forum.

BMW bikes are still BMW bikes. Anything can be parsed down to find a point of contention, or otherwise taken with a grain of salt and pragmatic reality.

[benebob]

Originally Posted by BoxerFanatic

Funny, this bike looks like it has a lot of plastic on it... and it is a 1985. The other is a 2010 R1200R... with fairly minimal plastic.



While I agree with your stance on exploitation, I am not so sure that BMW bikes are made in China, and plastic parts can be built anywhere, including Germany. Not all of them are de-facto made in china.

Although, unfortunately, or necessarily... there are a billion people in that country, and some of them are employed, under a communistic government that manages industry, building pieces and components that go into just about everything, regardless of where final assembly takes place. Boycotting every molecule out of china would be a forced fast against pretty much everything aside from locally grown food.

What I don't get is why people think it is so fantastic to start implementing central planning, and eviscerating equal individual rights and freedoms in the US, trying to take us politically, and economically toward china's direction. But that is a discussion for another thread in another forum.

BMW bikes are still BMW bikes. Anything can be parsed down to find a point of contention, or otherwise taken with a grain of salt and pragmatic reality.

BMW has invested heavily in China. That's where their new flagship crotch rocket engine is made. Sure there were some platic atrocities in the 80s under the bimmer name but overall they were still building nice, solid performing standards that looked like motorcycles, not something that looks like it came from German designers who thought that since they slept with an Italian hooker they understood how to design a pretty bike. BMW has always been about engineering not about design. Now they think they can design too.

[subbieatnz]

Originally Posted by BoxerFanatic

Yeah, BMW has thought that for almost 90 years now.

The Max Friz-designed 1923 R32 was genius, and they've stuck with it ever since. It had some of the radial engine benefits, and fit well in a motorcycle chassis with only two opposed cylinders, exposed to air cooling.

Karl Benz had patented the flat engine design in 1896. BMW Motorcycles, and Ferdinand Porsche's designed VW later adopted the general engine layout.

BMW motorcycles continue to use it to this day, as do Porsche cars.

Citroen, Chevrolet Corvair, Lancia, Alfa, and Subaru followed on later, as did Lycoming, and other aviation piston engine producers. A helicopter-sourced flat 6 was used in the Tucker Torpedo, as well.

Oooh you missed one company that used the flat twin and flat 4 in every model of car/lorry production from 1910 to 1953.
That was the the car make Jowett.
They also produced the most techniqually advanced post war production cars in england.



Are there any modern flat twin motorbikes that are 250cc and under?


Im also quite kean to get a velocette or was it a dougless? flat twin bike.



Also I Just brought something that is as close to Subaru bike as you can get... another FHI Rabbit scooter sadly its only 50cc one cylinder boxer lol

[benebob]

Originally Posted by subbieatnz

Are there any modern flat twin motorbikes that are 250cc and under?


Im also quite kean to get a velocette or was it a dougless? flat twin bike.



Also I Just brought something that is as close to Subaru bike as you can get... another FHI Rabbit scooter sadly its only 50cc one cylinder boxer lol

I don't think there are any modern "250cc" and under motorbikes out there at least in the US

Douglas made a flat twin. It was quite pretty.

50cc rabbit? I didn't know they had any less than the Rabbit 90. My Rabbit had a 250cc 4 stroke. It will eventually sport a 250cc Elite motor and suspension. Send me some pics of your Rabbit.

[K_Dub]

I know I caught this thread just past it's prime, but here's my idea of a Subaru lover's motorcycle.

Ural Motorcycles



During WWII the Russians knew that they'd need a way to keep their troops mobile when fighting the Germans through the long winter. So they stole a pair of BMW bikes, reverse engineered them, and started production. They're still building them the same way today...

Highlights; a locking rear axle going to the sidecar for part time 2 wheel drive! 40Hp 749CC boxer twin. Olive drab paint.

I saw one of these filling up at a gas station just outside Yosemite. The owner had ridden it from Montana with his daughter as ballast in the sidecar. I complemented his ride, and he said that they were having a blast touring the country on 70 year old technology. If I ever get back on a bike, this might be the one.

[subbieatnz]

Originally Posted by benebob

I don't think there are any modern "250cc" and under motorbikes out there at least in the US

Douglas made a flat twin. It was quite pretty.

50cc rabbit? I didn't know they had any less than the Rabbit 90. My Rabbit had a 250cc 4 stroke. It will eventually sport a 250cc Elite motor and suspension. Send me some pics of your Rabbit.

In NZ for your learners and Restricted Liences your only allowed to ride the maxium for 250cc motor bike.
Im still on my learners I actually dont have a propper bike to do the tests on. I would have loved to use a 250 flat twin bike if they had one.

I know I saw a flat twin classic bike a little while ago. I would have one if I could afford it.

I put up another thread on the rabbit in Not Exactly SVX section

[92_LSL]

those damn russians reverse engineer everything. the mig... ''cough''

Originally Posted by K_Dub

I know I caught this thread just past it's prime, but here's my idea of a Subaru lover's motorcycle.

Ural Motorcycles

[IMG]http://stylecrave.frsucrave.netdna-cdn.com/wp-

content/uploads/2009/03/ural-gear-up-sahara-1.jpg[/IMG]

During WWII the Russians knew that they'd need a way to keep their troops mobile when fighting the Germans through the long winter. So they stole a pair of BMW bikes, reverse engineered them, and started production. They're still building them the same way today...

Highlights; a locking rear axle going to the sidecar for part time 2 wheel drive! 40Hp 749CC boxer twin. Olive drab paint.

I saw one of these filling up at a gas station just outside Yosemite. The owner had ridden it from Montana with his daughter as ballast in the sidecar. I complemented his ride, and he said that they were having a blast touring the country on 70 year old technology. If I ever get back on a bike, this might be the one.

[K_Dub]

Originally Posted by 92_LSL

those damn russians reverse engineer everything. the mig... ''cough''

If I could pick up a MIG for $13000 I'd be all over that too. Besides, they're built in USA now, so no worries.

[92_LSL]

13,000 ???

for a JET ???

[RSVX]

Urals are the awesome.

[RSVX]

Originally Posted by benebob

BMW has invested heavily in China. That's where their new flagship crotch rocket engine is made. Sure there were some platic atrocities in the 80s under the bimmer name but overall they were still building nice, solid performing standards that looked like motorcycles, not something that looks like it came from German designers who thought that since they slept with an Italian hooker they understood how to design a pretty bike. BMW has always been about engineering not about design. Now they think they can design too.

Originally Posted by BoxerFanatic

Funny, this bike looks like it has a lot of plastic on it... and it is a 1985. The other is a 2010 R1200R... with fairly minimal plastic.



While I agree with your stance on exploitation, I am not so sure that BMW bikes are made in China, and plastic parts can be built anywhere, including Germany. Not all of them are de-facto made in china.

Although, unfortunately, or necessarily... there are a billion people in that country, and some of them are employed, under a communistic government that manages industry, building pieces and components that go into just about everything, regardless of where final assembly takes place. Boycotting every molecule out of china would be a forced fast against pretty much everything aside from locally grown food.

What I don't get is why people think it is so fantastic to start implementing central planning, and eviscerating equal individual rights and freedoms in the US, trying to take us politically, and economically toward china's direction. But that is a discussion for another thread in another forum.

BMW bikes are still BMW bikes. Anything can be parsed down to find a point of contention, or otherwise taken with a grain of salt and pragmatic reality.

All BMW motorcycles are "assembled" in Berlin.

[benebob]

Originally Posted by RSVX

"assembled"

Nuff said

Triumph is going the same way too opening up factories in the far east.