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 announced it will introduce an all-new Boxer to celebrate its 90th year of motorcycle production, but you didn’t think the German manufacturer would stop there without a couple of other special edition models, did you?

To mark the anniversary, BMW revealed special edition “90 Jahre BMW Motorrad” versions of its R1200GS adventure bike, R1200R roadster and R1200RT tourer in Milan at the 2012 EICMA Show.

All three models come in a Sapphire Black Metallic color with matte black engines, gold anodized suspension and brakes, and asphalt gray metallic swingarms, trailing arms and rear frames, and granite gray metallic cylinder head covers, and a nickel-plated polished brass plate on the upper fork. Continue Reading »

Over the summer, we came across spy photos of a new naked version of the BMW S1000RR and a new air-cooled boxer roadster and hoped at least one of the two would be unveiled at either Intermot or the EICMA. Intermot came and went without a word and now EICMA is upon us we have … well, several words but no new model. Yet.

BMW announced in Milan it will introduce a new air-cooled boxer sometime in 2013 to mark the 90th year of BMW Motorrad. Formerly an aircraft engine maker, BMW first started producing motorcycles in 1923 with the R32, a 486cc Boxer Twin mounted longitudinally with a shaft drive.

That engine configuration has remained a fixture in BMW’s lineup in the last 90 years including the company’s top-selling model, the R1200GS. Continue Reading »

Bloomingdale‘s has partnered with BMW with a new campaign promoting its motorcycle-inspired autumn fashion line.

A BMW R1200R Classic is prominently featured in Bloomingdale’s fall men’s catalog and in stores including the store windows of the department store’s flagship location on 59th St. in New York City.

Bloomindale’s will also hold a draw on Sept. 17 to give away one of the BMW roadsters.

As for Bloomingdale’s fall collection, the men’s line follows the theme “On The Road” featuring a lot of denim, leather and boots and a heavy emphasis on black and other dark  colors. The women’s line also features a moto-inspired boot and jacket. 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 »

[Ed.: The original spy photos have been taken down by request. Instead, here is a picture of the current R1200R model.]

BMW is preparing to launch the ground-up redesign of its iconic R1200GS in a new 1250cc-or-so liquid-cooled Boxer powerplant, a speculative profile of which you can read about here.

But there’s more Boxer-oriented news to come from BMW for 2013. Pictures have now surfaced of a roadster-styled naked in the same vein as the existing BMW R1200R but with a tidier rear end reminiscent of a café racer or streetfighter. More notably, the bike includes several big updates, including what looks like a new and lighter Telelever front end and possibly a new engine.

The chassis appears to be a complete departure from the current R1200 series, led by what seems to be a much lighter front end. It at first appears to be a traditional (although not for BMW) inverted fork, but there’s more than meets the eye. Continue Reading »