blue BMW K-Series Motorcycles, page #39

Moto blog

2012 BMW C600 Sport and C650GT Scooter Preview

While Japanese OEMs persist in their cautiousness, BMW continues its assault on new markets, most recently with its incredible S1000RR literbike. Over the past four years, the German company has nearly doubled its 500cc-plus market share from about 7% to 13%, and the 2011 model year is on pace to set a sales record of more than 103,000 motorcycles. For 2012, BMW enters the lucrative scooter segment with a pair of twin-cylinder maxi-scoots claimed to combine the agility and comfort of a scooter with the riding qualities of a motorcycle.

BMW Reports Q3 2011 Results

The BMW Group reported a 14.8% increase in motorcycle revenue and a 6.5% increase in unit sales during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011. The German manufacturer sold 28,862 units over the quarter, including 26,312 BMW-branded motorcycles and 2,550 units from its Husqvarna subsidiary.

EBR 1190 Wins 2011 European Superbike Championship

Harald Kitsch and the Pegasus Race Team has won its second championship on the EBR 1190RR, capturing the 2011 European Superbike open race class title. The championship follows Kitsch’s win in the 2010 Sound of Thunder V-Twin Championship on the Erik Buell Racing racebike. While the Sound of Thunder championship was won against other V-Twin machines, the European Superbike class included sportbikes from the Japanese Big Four, BMW, Aprilia and Ducati.

BMW GS Rider Rescues Cow Calf From Canal [Video]

As a motorcyclist I’ve made it my duty to stop and lend assistance any time I see a fellow rider that looks like they’re in need, a sort of paying it forward mentality for the many times I found myself in need of a hand. In most instances the rider stopped on the road’s edge had pulled to the side temporarily to resolve an innocuous issue, but occasionally a rider genuinely needed my help. In either case the riders were grateful that a fellow motorcyclist was checking up on them.

French Moto Website Anticipates Versys 1000 at EICMA 2011

Musings of a liter-size engined Kawasaki Versys have circulated the web for a few years now, as loyalists of the likable Versys 650, as well as displacement-driven riders waiting in the wings, have pondered the potential of a more powerful adventure bike from Kawasaki that’s in the same league as BMW’s R1200GS and Yamaha’s Super Tenere. Alas, nothing of the sort has ever left the lips of Kawasaki, let alone go into production. Recently, however, the French motorcycle website, Moto-net.com, has produced convincing images that appear like photos of a complete Versys 1000, including matching hard luggage.

EICMA 2011 Preview: BMW Maxi-Scooters to Debut in Milan

BMW will present its 2012 lineup at the upcoming EICMA show in Milan, Italy, but the centerpiece will be the company’s first maxi-scooters. The German manufacturer is expected to reveal two scooter models, both derived from the Concept C BMW unveiled at the 2010 EICMA show. The two scooters are expected to be powered by a version of the parallel Twin engine used in the F800R, but with a lower displacement in the 500cc-650cc range.

Ridden: BMW R1200GS Adventure

My first meeting with a BMW GS was an unfortunate one. It was going back a few years now (certainly pre-Charlie McGregor era) Having just picked up this new model, I’d ridden 100 miles on a warm summer’s evening to reach my house by dusk. Mindful of the fact that said house contained two frenetic, bark-happy border collies and a small, sleeping child, I cut the ignition, whipped the clutch in and planned a gentle coast up to the area outside my front door.

Steve Jobs: Rest in peace

Like me you probably discovered the news of Steve Jobs' death on an iPhone, an iPad or iMac. Years before turning Apple into the cool brand that it is today, Steve Jobs rode round on an old BMW. Apple said his "brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives.

2012 BMW G650GS Sertão Announced

BMW has unveiled a new more off-road oriented version of the G650GS. Named for a dry backlands region of northeastern Brazil, the 2012 BMW G650GS Sertão adds longer-travel suspension and wire-spoke wheels to make it a more capable machine for off-road adventure riding. The Sertão’s 41mm fork offers over 210mm of travel compared to the regular G650GS’ 170mm.

BSB Superstock Championship Winning BMW S1000RR Stolen

British Superbike racer Richard Cooper’s BMW S1000RR racebike was stolen mere hours after winning the 2011 British national Superstock title. Thieves reportedly broke into the Buildbase BMW race team’s truck after it returned to the team’s base in Leicestershire, England, from the series-clinching round at Britain’s Silverstone circuit. According to the team, thieves optained the keys to a van holding Cooper’s winning motorcycle and Superbike class racer John Laverty’s BMW S1000RR Superbike.