Re: Recent list discussions

[Steve Makohin <wateredg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 1/16/04 12:44 PM, Kenneth Ahrweiler Ken_Ahrweiler@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>It seem that the recent posts to the list have been mostly about how
>antiquated BMW's designs are and there is no reason for many members to
>buy another etc,etc,etc. It seem to me this has been going on for weeks. 
>
>Member Andrew Johnson sent a post to the list about a new BMW GS. It was
>all about a RADICALLY new boxer engine, transmission and all kinds of
>new design features. BMW usually introduces new designs on the GS model
>and then incorporates them on other models. I'm guessing that I must be
>the only list member to read the post. I would have thought by now that
>would be the only subject on our list. I've cut and copied the text and
>am posting it below. It's VERY,VERY long and VERY interesting. There is
>always the delete key for those not interested.

Just a little clarification in your use of the word "radically" within 
your phrase "RADICALLY new boxer engine, transmission and all kinds of 
new design features":

 o The engine is clearly an evolution of the previous, horizontally 
opposed
   air/oil cooled, fuel injected, inhead-cam (with pushrods), 4 valve,
   engine. Welcome changes were made, such as increasing the displacement
   to 1200 cc (for more torque), increasing power to around 100 crank hp,
   while increasing fuel economy (unclear if this can be attributed in
   whole or in part to the engine or to the significant over-all weight
   loss). Nothing "radical" was done with the engine. The new GS power-
   plant will still deliver less power that the "old tech" Buell XB12R
   pushrod V-twin with similar displacement (107 hp), or the Ducati
   ST4S sports tourer (117 hp w/1 liter). The counter-balance shaft should
   make the updated boxer a smoothie, though.

 o The transmission improvements sound like they will produce smoother,
   surer shifts, and may possibly be quieter. First rides will tell.
   Again, these changes, though welcome, cannot be typified as "radical".
   In Asian bikes, a clunkless, smooth-shifting transmission is taken for
   granted while we rejoice. Go figure :-) No complaints, though.

 o A significant change for BMW is the weight loss on the order of
   around 60 lbs! No doubt, this contributed in (at least) part of the
   fuel economy increase, and quicker 0-60 mph numbers. Still, the
   R1200GS will be the heaviest "dual sport" in production as well as
   the biggest displacement one, which begs the question, just how heavy
   can a dual-sport be while claiming dual-sport utility with a straight
   face. Comparatively speaking, even the Trim-Spa'd GS is on the "heavy
   side."

Other non-trivial changes were also made, such as a nicer swing arm and 
the "single wire" (more accurately called a "bus architecture") dash 
board with some added niceties like a "distance until empty" readout, 
textual diagnostics, and such. Ducati has stepped into the bus 
architecture arena with their 999 for reduced weight, simpler 
construction, and alleged cost controls, so BMW isn't the first to do 
this. Improvement? Yes. Welcome? You bet! Radical?

If we can put the difference of opinion aside as to what you feel is 
"radical" versus what I feel is radical, I find myself asking how these 
changes will be received. If one is a BMW Motorrad fan who likes the GS, 
I can see riders salivating in the wings. On the other hand, if one is 
Joe Bikerider, he may see things differently. While BMW fans rejoice that 
the R1200GS now delivers a bit more power than the R1100S (BMW's 
sportiest boxer yet, at that time), Joe Bikerider will likely not be 
impressed with 100 hp from a 1200 cc bike, so the "conservatively 
powered" reputation will not dissolve as this bikes becomes known to 
consumers. The weight reduction puts the GS roughly in line with 
standards and sports tourers, though it still remains portly by 
dual-sport standards, so the reception will be mixed using this measure, 
at least until the weight reduction starts showing up on other models.

If this is an interim step for move such improvement over the next year, 
it'll raise some eye-brows for sure. But if this is "it" for BMW boxers, 
and the innovations just spread through the lineup and are "it" for the 
next few years, well, we're familiar with that approach.

I'm tickled pink that BMW Motorrad is making some real changes, aside 
from giving us new colors, this bike's wheels now available on that bike, 
or a new body style on a familiar platform (Rockster). But I don't 
believe that the motorcycle-buying consumer will get nearly as excited by 
these incremental changes as us BMWistas. I would _love_ to be wrong on 
this.

- -Steve

 Oakville, Ontario, Canada
 2000 R1100S/ABS, Mandarin

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