Is BMW working on a Grand Prix motorcycle?
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Unlike BMW automobiles, Bavarian motorcycles carry a rather stodgy reputation. Basically, they're the two-wheeled equivalent of Red Wing work boots - comfortable and well-suited to all-day wear, but not necessarily ideal for track use. Ever since BMW dominated the rather obscure World Sidecar Championship some thirty-plus years ago, on-road victories by factory-supported machines has been virtually non-existent.
This may be about to change, however, as rider Jeremy McWilliams has been spotting testing what is said to be a 990cc GP bike. The cycle's speed are said to not be competitive with the current frontrunners, and it's just as well since the engine size limit drops to 800cc after next season. This leaves BMW's intentions a bit unclear - is this simply a science project, a step towards an effort in 2008, or will the boys from Munich actually field a ride this year or next?
Regardless of the timetable, a GP entry would go a long ways towards establishing BMW as a bona fide contender in the sport bike arena.
[Source: Motorcycle News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bogey 7:02PM (6/01/2006)
First post? Woot!
Anyway... not AFTER next season. FOR next season. The 2007 MotoGP seaosn will be 800cc max for MotoGP class.
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canis scot 7:09PM (6/01/2006)
BMW motorcycles are out of Berlin not Munchen. By the way BMW has won more Paris-Dakar rallys then you can shake a stick at.
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Howard Kerr 7:36PM (6/01/2006)
I agree. If I had to chose between a car, or in this case a motorcycle, who's rep comes from racing on-road or off-road, I think I'd consider the off-road more of a punishment. And as the first poster points out, GP racing, like many on-road races, requires machines that fit into a narrow specification. For this reason, I consider the wins of ANY brand in a NASCAR or NASCAR-like race, to be somewhat irrelevant to my buying decisions.
It's great that BMW will be competing on-road, but don't belittle the brand's off-road successes.
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Steve 7:45PM (6/01/2006)
BMW relies too much on propaganda and too little on product.
Look at their record. Their contributions to auto-industry and society:
Quality and Reliability: zero
craftsmanship and Love: zero
fuel economy: zero
performance: zero (except M3)
luxury: zero
heritage and antique value: zero (Remember it was Alfa Romeo and Maserati who introduced SPORT-SEDAN to the world NOT BMW)
beauty: zero
environmental commitment: zero
innovation: zero (lot of useless gadgets, thats all)
safety : zero
Its all zero zero zero.
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felonious monk 9:04PM (6/01/2006)
"BMW relies too much on propaganda and too little on product.
Look at their record. Their contributions to auto-industry and society:
Quality and Reliability: zero
craftsmanship and Love: zero
fuel economy: zero
performance: zero (except M3)
luxury: zero
heritage and antique value: zero (Remember it was Alfa Romeo and Maserati who introduced SPORT-SEDAN to the world NOT BMW)
beauty: zero
environmental commitment: zero
innovation: zero (lot of useless gadgets, thats all)
safety : zero
Its all zero zero zero."
Just because you can afford one, doesn't mean it sucks.
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Gunnar Heinrich 10:27PM (6/01/2006)
I may not like the styling direction that Chris Bangle has taken the Roundel, but the marque's enormous contribution to the automotive world is beyond reproach.
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/06/video-bangle-explains-his-concept.html
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gbh 11:30PM (6/01/2006)
God, sidecar racing. One of the only reasons to ABC sports on Saturday when I was a kid. Seeing someguy hanging off the sidecar, just about dragging helmet at 100+. The choreography was so fluid, it was beautiful.
I don't know that they will ever carve like a Ducati or an RC51, but if you ever want to cover (and enjoy!) 1000+ miles a day on a bike, the only other choice is a 'Wing.
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CAM 11:31PM (6/01/2006)
WOW, Steve!! Maybe stamp collecting is your "thing". Obviously, when it comes to cars, YOU ARE CLUELESS!! RESEARCH before you start banging keys on your keyboard and posting nonsense. You just might learn something. Imagine that?!?! Better yet, start an ant farm, or dig for Jimmy Hoffa. Anything! Just forget about cars.
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Asher 12:16AM (6/02/2006)
Shaft drive might hurt their chances ;)
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Brendan 1:23AM (6/02/2006)
BMW .. the "Sony" of motorcycles.
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G. Snyder 8:01AM (6/02/2006)
Steve - I think we are all a little dumber for having read your post. Thanks, though, for exposing all of us to the conspiricy mounted by all automotive journalists and safety administrations.
I wonder if you have ever driven a BMW car or ridden a BMW motorcycle, let alone know enough to understand finer engineering points.
Good work though. Really.
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G. Snyder 11:06AM (6/02/2006)
Brendan - what do you mean by the analogy? I think of Sony as generic but solid and reliable and often a default, safe choice for someone who needs to get the job done without the need to research every little nuance.
BMWs are pretty odd ducks as far as motorcylces go, particularly the flat boxer variants. Their suspension systems are also very different from anything else in the motorcycle world.
I would say Sony=Honda
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Brendan 1:51PM (6/02/2006)
Sony products are overpriced and mediocre.
So are BMW bikes.
Sony introduces new technology - then screws it up .. ex : mini disc, beta,
So does BMW ex: power brakes, telelever suspension.
Sony does things their way .. no matter what the market wants .. ex : their mp3 players don't really play mp3 files
BMW sticks with their ludicrous 3 button turn signal set-up while the rest of the world uses one button.
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Howard Kerr 2:52PM (6/02/2006)
Wish we could put Steve and Brendan in a locked room together.
As has already been pointed out, Steve...you don't know jack about BMW.
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RacetrackOwner 10:14AM (6/07/2006)
MotoGP is cool and all, but why does this warrant coverage in AutoBlog?
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