Deja Vu

["Tom Brown" <tbrown@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don:

>The one thing I'd take exception to is the notion that the sportbike
market isn't profitable.  The big four doesn't make them for
amusement!

Let me say that a different way... For BMW to change their model lineup and
factory around to produce inline 4s with low weight and mega HP and sell
them for less money they they're getting for a roadster now, would be a poor
business decision.  The track they're on has a nice sized following world
wide and they feel they can run the company in their niche without loosing
their shirts trying to conquer the world with the fastest and latest race
bikes.   They're racing money is going into F1 now.  They are no longer
chasing the German Touring Car championship with a vengeance.   Audi is
pretty much sweeping that with their TT coupes.

ON RACING:  I have no doubt BMW have the technology to make winning GP race
bikes within a few years.  It's possible that a really high powered BMW
sport bike could command very high dollars...in excess of 20K, but I'm not a
potential customer for a bike like that.   They do pretty well in F1 and a
lot of that technology would transfer to race bikes.  They decided to do
Boxer Cup instead, which is very popular in Europe and is gaining in the
States.  It's a pretty nice race class...  It's very competitive with really
ace international riders.

WHAT'S MISSING ON THE NEW BOXER:  I've felt and expressed for a long time
now that new boxer engines should use the electronic servo valve system
that's currently on the 7 series cars.   This system has a variable intake
valve opening instead of a power robbing throttle butterfly.  NO throttle
bodies, just intake tubes going straight from airbox to engine, NO timing
chains, NO cams or rockers.  How much weight would that save?   How much
headache would it remove for owners and dealers alike?   An oilhead like
that would be nearly maintenance free.  BMW could sell many more bikes per
dealer and still have happy customers.  Performance would be further
improved as well.  Maybe this will come on the next iteration of the boxer
in several more years?

- -TB

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