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pauljones
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Somehow, Wes, I just can't imagine you enjoying a big touring bike like a K1200LT replacement, which is my guess as to what this engine is going to wind up in.

I somehow see the Honda DN01's CVT transmission technology coming into play here, too. The pioneered with the DN01, will almost certainly use it in the next Goldwing, and I doubt BMW will let them get away with advertising that they are the only company with the "advanced, new technology CVT motorcycle transmission." #bmw
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FordTuffMcgruff
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Give me a chain drive and maybe I'll be interested. #bmw
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area_educator
11/12/09

@FordTuffMcgruff: Why? What particular disadvantage do you imagine shaft-drive to have in this application? #bmw
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FordTuffMcgruff
11/12/09

@area_educator: I own both, it's a personal preference mostly, but I do have other reasons. Shaft drive robs power, a chain robs almost none. It also does not allow me to pull wheelies as easily as a chain. Chain drive is much higher maintenance of course, but they are not that hard to replace and if you clean and oil them every 300 miles like you're supposed to you can get 20K miles out of a quality unit, and most people don't put that many miles on a bike anyways. Now I understand they are talking 175 hp, but still, shaft drive just flat out does not feel as good to me, and I have ridden numerous shaft drive bikes. Also, shaft drive is worthless for those of us who like to modify frames later on, unlike a chain that can be lengthened for any purpose.

Belt drive is a good alternative, if you like having to remove the rear swingarm every time it needs to be replaced. #bmw
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area_educator
11/13/09

@FordTuffMcgruff: For frame modders, yeah. And with the bike they're showing as a concept, I can see the interest there.

Shaft drive feels fine to me, but it's what I've mostly ridden from the start. And my chain driven bike differs from the others in so many other ways, that it's hard for me to tell how much is down to the final drive.

You're right that chain maintenance doesn't need to be a huge headach. On the other hand, when I hop on the bike I'm usually going to put at least 100 miles on it before I get home, even if I'm just doing normal running about, vs taking a "trip" #bmw
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rickerbr
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
1.6L inline-6 sounds like an early '60s Triumph Vitesse #bmw
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Elhigh
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
The year: 1978
The maker: Honda
The engine: 1024cc, 24v I6 generating over 100hp. For the day, it is a bruiser cruiser, a mighty superbike, a factory crotch rocket.
Welcome to the party, BMW. You're late, but we're glad you're here. #bmw
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hypnotoad
11/10/09

@Elhigh: Bingo. Funny thing; I think Honda marketed it as a 1000cc for two years, then as an 1100 without changing the displacement of the engine. Here's a pic since no-one else has posted one yet.
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weatherman
11/10/09

@hypnotoad: I remember looking at one when shopping for my first bike. That engine is a work of art, but it scared me. I ended up buying a CB550. #bmw
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weatherman
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Honda has been doing 6-cylinder bikes for more than 30 years, and they've even toyed with putting one in a sport bike, but I guess it's good to see BMW considering it as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they put it in a sport bike, but I agree that it's probably destined for a tourer - they already have a 175HP engine in their K1300S and the only reason I can think of to engineer a 6 cylinder is to provide for a smoother ride at the expense of extra weight. #bmw
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Clown Shoe Pilot
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
So what you're saying is that I need to NOT buy a new motorcycle QUITE yet.

I was considering a Speed Triple. This looks TWICE as good! #bmw
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Bullitt417
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Have fun trying to pick up a 6-cylinder bike when you fall down*

*disclaimer... This was said by someone who knows jack shit about bikes so just take it with a grain of salt. thank you #bmw
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Wes Siler
11/10/09

@Bullitt417: It's actually really easy to pick up even a super heavy bike. Just a question of getting the leverage right. #bmw
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TR3-A
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Ok, I'll say it: HAYABUSA!! #bmw
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area_educator
11/12/09

@TR3-A: Why would you say it? The K1300 S is already a Hyabusa beater. #bmw
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TR3-A
11/12/09

@area_educator: As a joke. Ha ha. #bmw
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oddfish
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
It's a BMW without iDrive. To me, the rest is gravy. #bmw
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snapoversteer 'bout to get told promoted this comment oddfish was starred oddfish was unstarred

that ain't the way to have fun, son
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
CBX V2.

So, because of the engine's width, is it going to four water-cooled cylinders flanked by one air-cooled one on each side? #bmw
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Mr.choppers - Delenda Carthago Est
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
Oh yum. This would be perfect in a Caterham. Or a KP81 Starlet. #bmw
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HammSammich
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
An epically cool motor, but it lacks the Jalopnomaniacal 6-synchronized carbs that were on the Honda CBX. #bmw
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that ain't the way to have fun, son promoted this comment HammSammich was starred HammSammich was unstarred

that ain't the way to have fun, son
11/10/09

@HammSammich:

As the owner of a four-carb mercury syncrhonizer, I'm having unpleasant flashbacks. #bmw
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HammSammich
11/10/09

@that ain't the way to have fun, son: @TR3-A: You Honda riders have my respect. Synching the carbs on my paralell twins is relatively easy, if a bit tedious, but the 4+ carb set ups look really daunting. #bmw
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ThreeLitre
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
I don't like bikes as a general rule, but I do like this one. My current car only has 150 hp. It weighs about 3300lbs. It also only has about 150 lb-ft of torque.

This is insanity barely held together by a few bits of titanium. And I love it. #bmw
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Clown Shoe Pilot
11/10/09

@ThreeLitre: I know how you feel. I used to have no interest in bikes whatsoever but 3 years ago, all that changed.

I was driving to work and a guy pulled up next to me at a light, and he was riding some sort of Triumph. The moment I saw the machine, something in my brain went *pop!* - all of a sudden, I understood the appeal.

I got to work and hit the Triumph website and discovered that the object of my newly discovered moto-lust was a Speed Triple - an 1050cc inline 3 cylinder. I had to have one. Some friends intervened and talked me out of a maniacally powerful bike as my first-ever, so I got a used Triumph Speed Four instead.

Maybe this is the bike that will do it for you! #bmw
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Franzouse
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle

I'm sold. A bike like the K1200 RT with this engine would deserve a Nobel prize. #bmw
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KeyserSoze
11/10/09

@Franzouse: In physics.... #bmw
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Franzouse
11/10/09

@KeyserSoze: Zing! #bmw
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Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria
11/10/09

@Franzouse: That exact bike in the picture is actually an R1200RT, based on the heads obscuring the cop ankles.

And for further pedantic whiplashing, there hasn't been a K1200RT since the 2004 model year...
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area_educator promoted this comment Edited by Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria at 11/10/09 1:51 PM

area_educator
11/12/09

@Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria: Even further pedantic whiplashing, I'm pretty sure there's _never_ been a K1200RT. The longitudinal K12s were available as RS, LT, and GT only, the transverse K12s were R, S, and GT (and maybe the half-faired R-S mashup).

I believe the only K series RTs were the k75/k100 RTs, which I don't think were made past 1995. With the K1100 it became the LT. #bmw
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Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria
11/12/09

@area_educator: Damn, out-nerded. You're right - I was thinking of the K1200RS, which I always thought of more as "touring" than "sport" considering that everyone who owns/owned one is 50+ and only takes out on weekends for a jaunt to the lake house. #bmw
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area_educator
11/13/09

@Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria: Heh. Yeah, the RS isn't as _sport_ touring as a lot of other sport-tourers out there. But, in the context of BMW's lineup, it makes sense (well, made. The R1200ST sort of took it's place, until America collectively couldn't get over the headlight.).

Before the transverse K bikes:
R: standard
S: sport(ish)
RS: sport touring
RT: basic touring
LT: luxo touring
etc.
The RS was certainly sportier than the contemporary RTs and LTs. #bmw
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Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria
11/13/09

@area_educator: Yeah, no doubt about that. The most similar BMW was the RT and 120+hp compared to that was a big step up. Something about it still looked over-inflated though, enough that it was hard to call it "sporty." FJRs and ST1300s have that problem too.

I wanted so badly to love the R1200ST, and in fact would have bought one, but that headlight killed it entirely. I even made my peace with the Multistrada's headlight, but I couldn't do the R1200ST. It just looks too much like a drunken robot from a '50s B-movie. The weird notch taken out of the top of the fairing makes it even stranger. #bmw
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SpdstrME07001
11/10/09

In reply to BMW Finally Acknowledges Inline-Six, Sticks It In A Motorcycle
The CBX was the first thing I thought of too... and always thought it looked too ungainly b/c of the amount of motor sticking out the sides, and huge number of exhaust pipes. However, on a bigger touring bike, it could work a lot better.

Another point... the 96 ft-lbs of torque is most likely the maximum, since torque does not necessarily increase with engine speed... Power does, since it is torque multiplied by engine speed.

In response to another comment, mazda's smallest V6 was 1.8L, so this nips it for the title.

This would be a very entertaining engine in something like a Miata #bmw
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Wes Siler
11/10/09

@SpdstrME07001: their 1300 four-cylinder makes 103lb/ft, so look for more torque than 96lb/ft. #bmw
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