With the new 2013 BMW R1200GS now launching worldwide, it really should be no surprise BMW is working on more models using the GS’s new liquid-cooled boxer engine.

A contributor to French site MotoMag happened upon a crew of test riders on heavily camouflaged test mules of what appears to be the 2014 BMW R1200RT. The swirly camo pattern does little to hide the new “precision cooling” liquid-cooled engine, easily identified by the pipes exiting from the bottom of the cylinders.

The fairing appears to be new, with a different nose and front air intake ducts. The headlights have also been updated to resemble the K1600GT‘s headlight. It’s appears the 2014 R1200RT may inherit the K16′s Xenon adaptive headlight with dynamic leveling. Continue Reading »

BMW reported sales of 12,057 motorcycles in the U.S. in 2012, representing a 14.0% increase on the 10,572 units sold in 2011.

Leading the way was the S1000RR, with BMW selling 1,934 of the sportbikes this year. That represents a 20.9% growth over the 1,600 S1000RRs scooped up by American consumers in 2011.

Also performing well for BMW are its six-cylinder K series bikes in their first full year on the market. Consumers clearly preferred the GTL over the GT model, buying 1,601 of the K1600GTL compared to just 697 units of the K1600GT. Continue Reading »

BMW announced it will mark the 30th anniversary of its K series with a special edition K1300S. The 2013 BMW K1300S “30 Jahre K-Modelle” will be presented at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan, Italy in a couple of weeks’ time.

Though perhaps not as popular as BMW‘s R series boxer models, the K series served as a platform for a number of technologies that were either new for BMW or new for the motorcycle industry.

The K 100 was introduced in 1983 as BMW’s first liquid-cooled Inline-Four motorcycle, following the pattern of the popular Japanese models of the time. To separate it from the Japanese competition, BMW arranged the K100′s 987cc engine longitudinally, with the cylinders lying horizontally. The K100 was also one of the first production motorcycles equipped with electronic fuel injection. Continue Reading »

BMW announced eight models returning for 2013, all receiving new colors and ABS as standard. Beyond that, the most notable news is what models have not been announced.

The returning 2013 BMW models include the F800R, the G650GS, the R1200R, the S1000RR, the K1300S, the K1300R, the K1600GT and K1600GTL. These eight models join the previously-announced F800GS and F700GS as well as the C600 Sport and C650GT maxi-scooters.

Noticeably absent are BMW’s top-selling R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure and the R1200RT. We already know BMW is developing a liquid-cooled replacement for the R1200GS so its absence from the 2013 lineup announcement is not a surprise. The R1200RT’s absence may mean it too is getting an update, likely using the same liquid-cooled engine. Also not mentioned are the naked version of the S1000RR or the other boxer engined roadster recently spotted by spy photographers. Continue Reading »

David Robb, the man responsible for BMW‘s split-face motorcycle design, has left the German manufacturer.

A native of Boston, Mass., Robb joined BMW as its design chief in 1993, and over the ensuing 18 years expanded the company’s product line to include the top selling R1200GS, the six-cylinder K1600GT and GTL, and the S1000RR superbike (that’s him on the far right in the picture above).

The 56-year-old’s latest design to enter production are the C600 Sport and C650GT maxi-scooters. It was under Robb’s hand that BMW motorcycles developed their signature split face and asymmetrical headlight designs. Prior to joining BMW, Robb was a designer for Audi and Chrysler.

Robb’s departure was somewhat of a surprise and comes with a bit of mystery and controversy. According to a report by AshOnBikes, Robb abruptly left BMW shortly after the EICMA show in Milan in November after an internal dispute, and the departure was only officially announced now.

Continue Reading »

The BMW K1600GT has been voted International Bike of the Year 2011 by a panel of motorcycle magazine journalists representing 25 publications from around the world.

The six-cylinder BMW K1600GT received a score of 41 points from the jury to top all contenders. Second place went to the Ducati Diavel at 32 points. The Aprilia Tuono V4 APRC came in third at 22 points followed by the BMW K1600GTL at 18 points. Tying for fifth place with 16 points each was the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and the BMW S1000RR. That gives BMW three models in the top five in the International Bike of the Year selections for 2011.

Continue Reading »

BMW Motorrad sold a record 60,580 motorcycles over the first six months of 2011, a new record for the German manufacturer.

First half figures were 6.3% higher than the 57,015 units sold in the same period in 2010. BMW reports strong demand across all its models, with the Boxer engine R-series models leading the way.

BMW says sales of the new six-cylinder K1600GT and K1600GTL touring models have exceeded expectations with 1,255 units sold worldwide.

[Source: BMW]

Every year in the motorcycling world there are a few new motorcycles that gather the collective interest of enthusiasts across the country. This year those two models included the new entry-level sportbike from Honda, the CBR250R, and the new luxo-touring bike from BMW, the K1600GT and K1600GTL.

While enthusiasts are gearing up for delivery of their new bikes there is a place for them to enthusiastically discuss their new purchase, or perhaps, for those who have not yet purchased, a sounding board for their thoughts.

Motorcycle.com owns and operates the largest network of motorcycle forum sites online, and we are proud to have dedicated sites for these two new platforms. Please be sure to take a look at how new owners are receiving their new machines at:

Honda CBR250R Forum

BMW K1600GT and K1600GTL Forum

Stop by and hope you can meet some new friends, share some adventures, and detail your technical aptitude!