BMW R1200R 2011 Motorcycles, page #51

Moto blog

BMW Lo Rider Concept at EICMA

BMW Motorrad has unveiled a bold new concept bike at the EICMA show in Milan which they call a study in design and engineering. Using the words purist and powerful to describe the concept, BMW has left nothing but the essentials present in a truly naked motorcycle. One of the goals of this concept is to custom fit man and machine.

EICMA 2008: First Impressions

I have had a little walk around checking out the preparations for the show. I haven’t seen anything that I haven’t already seen or heard about previously, but here’s a selection from three of the halls. Yamaha are the only manufacturer to use an industrial crane to place some of its bikes up on high rise stands.

OEMs Plug into Electric Bikes

KTM introduced its prototype electric motorcycle earlier this week, and electric bike manufacturer Zero Motorcycles almost immediately responded by opening sales on its 2009 Zero X dirt bike (look for our review of the 2008 model next week!). But these two companies aren’t the only ones exploring the possibilities of electric-powered motorcycles. In September, Japan’s largest industrial information journal Nikkei Business Daily reported that both Honda and Yamaha have set target dates for launching their own electric-powered motorcycles.

BMW Standardizes Switches

Whenever you throw your leg over a bike that isn’t your own, there is always a few minutes needed to become familiar with the proportions and controls of the foreign machine. Getting a sense of the clutch release point, brake feel, throttle response and riding position may all differ from what you have been accustomed, but they slowly become second nature after enough seat time is logged. One such control that strays from this rule of thumb is the turn signal operation of many BMWs.

Mmmmm, Toasted

While some fortunate souls who live south of the Mason-Dixon line are able to ride their beloved beasts all year long, some are forced to put their hogs into hibernation by mother nature come winter time. Although most motorcyclists have little use for wintry weather, autumn is a truly beautiful time of year to ride. Granted, the days become shorter and the wind colder, but navigating your way through winding roads amid the vibrant colors of changing leaves is enough of a reward within itself.

New: BMW Streetguard 2 Jacket

BMW clothing offer an array of sizing, not just ‘small, medium and large’ of other manufacturers. They will let you pre-order a choice of size combinations to try with no obligation to purchase. As for the quality you’d think you were on a visit to Nasa with everything they’ve thrown into their textiles – Gore-tex laminated with Armacor provides abrasion and heat resistance.

Used Review: Clover GT3 jacket

I’ve been wearing this waterproof textile jacket since March and it’s performed very well. The silver colour shows up dirt something rotten, there’s a stark lack of useful pockets and the cut is quite square, but as a jacket to keep the cold and water out it’s been right up to the job. It’s my daily commuting top, one of those jackets you throw on without thinking about it, and now that it’s summer I can’t see the point in getting a replacement anytime soon.