BMW new small bike

[pyoungbl]

So BMW < 34 hp (@9500 rpm) and > 350#dry  vs. Ninja 250 26 rwhp & 383# wet

There might not be much of a difference at all.

the way I read it the 348 lb weight is road ready...ie wet.  Now that might only be 1/2 a tank of gas but with only 11 liters of fuel the gas is not going to be a deal breaker.  This sucker better get 80 mpg or better with that light a fuel load.

[Lcarlson]

I have never liked the feel of single-cylinder street bikes, just too buzzy. And I don't like chain drive. I don't care how much better modern chains have become; you still have to apply some messy goop to them every 300 - 500 miles if you want them to last. No thanks....

[Triple Jim]

Spray chain wax isn't too bad.  I prefer the shaft on my Guzzi, but I'm not selling my other motorcycles just because of their chains.

[Lannis]

Did I read the article right when it said it's "BMW's first roadster under 500cc"?

They made a 250 single for years that thousands rode, as well as the 450cc R45 that was the basis for the R65 that many of us owned .....

Lannis

[Arizona Wayne]

KTM seems to be doing well even though their bikes are more expensive than the Japanese bikes.  The 390s are made in India as well, but have had some teething problems (broken wheels and stuff).  When I look at the BMW ads, I wonder where they found all the 4'6" models/riders...

Models are all women, who these bikes are made for.

Water cooled, single cylinder, exhaust out the rear instead of the front, DOHC, horizontal split engine case, definitely different.

[Lannis]

Models are all women, who these bikes are made for.

I've noticed that on most of these new small bikes, there's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusion, they chatter constantly at high speeds, most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble too much,  the intake is placed way to close to the exhaust, and the maintenance costs are outrageous.   Hmm, that ought to tell us something ....

Lannis

[boatdetective]

I've noticed that on most of these new small bikes, there's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusion, they chatter constantly at high speeds, most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble too much,  the intake is placed way to close to the exhaust, and the maintenance costs are outrageous.   Hmm, that ought to tell us something ....

Lannis

Once again, my deduction that Lannis is at heart a bad person proves on the mark.... 

[balvenie]

              They call 31" a low seat Depends on the individual I suppose but it's way too high for me.

[Arizona Wayne]

I've noticed that on most of these new small bikes, there's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusion, they chatter constantly at high speeds, most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble too much,  the intake is placed way to close to the exhaust, and the maintenance costs are outrageous.   Hmm, that ought to tell us something ....

Lannis

On this motor I believe the  intake is on the front, opposite of normal.
Yamaha has made a w/c 450 single MX  motor w/rear exhaust for a few years now.

[Triple Jim]

              They call 31" a low seat Depends on the individual I suppose but it's way too high for me.

Wow, my 5'-3" daughter finds my Ninja 250 to be a good fit, and can easily get both feet down at at stop.  Not flat footed, but not straining to touch.  Its seat height is about 31".

[Lannis]

On this motor I believe the  intake is on the front, opposite of normal.

I hate to say it, but in the current context, I could keep rolling on that foreEVer, but I won't .... !    

Lannis

[Kev m]

20+% more HP and 8% less weight , hmm , I think that will be noticeable .

  Dusty

More than likely your math is faulty.

No common denominators. 

As I said BMW's quoted figures are likely DRY and CRANK.

MEANING IT WILL BE HEAVIER AND MAKE LESS POWER.

So I'm guessing the difference will be much smaller than your math suggests.

[Kev m]

the way I read it the 348 lb weight is road ready...ie wet.  Now that might only be 1/2 a tank of gas but with only 11 liters of fuel the gas is not going to be a deal breaker.  This sucker better get 80 mpg or better with that light a fuel load.

Is that what DIN standards require?

Is that relatively recent?

There was a time no manufacturer gave you road ready weight.

[oldbike54]

More than likely your math is faulty.

No common denominators. 

As I said BMW's quoted figures are likely DRY and CRANK.

MEANING IT WILL BE HEAVIER AND MAKE LESS POWER.

So I'm guessing the difference will be much smaller than your math suggests.

 My math is waaaayyyy better than your spelling 

  Dusty

[Kev m]

My math is waaaayyyy better than your spelling 

  Dusty

Way
Easy
Wart
What?

That icky room ugh, only ton, argh, only took four tries to get the phone to type!

[oldbike54]

 

  Dusty

[SmithSwede]

Kev:

I'm inferring that BMW is referencing a wet weight based on the spec sheet which says "DIN unladen weight, road ready." 

Of course, we really need to wait for a competent review that tells us the true weight, how that was measured, the wheel vs. crank HP, whether it buzzes on the highway.   

I'm intrigued, and happy that more manufacturers are working on these little small bores.   But it wouldn't surprise me at all if the price is too high, and it's too buzzy for my tastes.

And as other posters have mentioned, BMW quality control is a bit iffy, and this would be a brand new model they want beta tested.   

[Yukonica]

Way
Easy
Wart
What?

That icky room ugh, only ton, argh, only took four tries to get the phone to type!

 :1: 

[LongRanger]

Thank goodness they didn't shove a dramatically detuned 800cc twin in that thing and call it an F300...

[Kev m]

Kev:

I'm inferring that BMW is referencing a wet weight based on the spec sheet which says "DIN unladen weight, road ready." 

Of course, we really need to wait for a competent review that tells us the true weight, how that was measured, the wheel vs. crank HP, whether it buzzes on the highway.   

I'm intrigued, and happy that more manufacturers are working on these little small bores.   But it wouldn't surprise me at all if the price is too high, and it's too buzzy for my tastes.

And as other posters have mentioned, BMW quality control is a bit iffy, and this would be a brand new model they want beta tested.   

I see what you're saying.

All good points.

[jas67]

That icky room ugh, only ton, argh, only took four tries to get the phone to type!

I thought that the swipe input stuff on the Android phone was so great!

[M0T0Geezer]

Rather than give my $$$ for a "BMW" made in India, I'd far rather own a Royal Enfield made in India.





'Geezer

[rtbickel]

Whatever happened to clean, flowing lines and engines that look like their designers took great pride in making works of art instead of the praying mantis ass-in-the-air look with the motive unit so ugly it has to be hidden behind plastic?  If I want 'edgy' I'll drink 6 cups of coffee.  Ok so I'm an old fart.  Get off my lawn!

[LongRanger]

Thread drift alert, my apologies... I have yet to see a single Royal Enfield Continental GT on the road. Anyone else?

On second thought, no need to respond. Just making an observation.

[krglorioso]

My 1965 R-27 has only 18bhp, but it certainly LOOKS like a motorcycle, not an insect..

Ralph

[canuguzzi]

All you need with a chain driven bike is a can of lube and less time than it takes to read this post to maintain it. Don't touch a belt drive or shaft drive at all and see how long it lasts.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 My R 26 had about 16 HP and with Earles forks was well over 400 pounds weight but it was a handsome motorcycle
 and unmistakably airhead BMW.
  I couldn't win a drag race but could hold 120 on the Kilometer speedometer, which is 74.5 MPH. 
 And I could hold it wide open all day with no problems.

[akhileshb@hotmail.com]

Guys, the Indian market is HUGE for motorcycles.
USA market is not even a drop in the bucket. Neither is Europe (maybe 2 or 3 drops in the bucket).
People in India use Motorcycles as a daily transportation and there are LOTS of people in India.
Bikes sold in India HAVE to be made in India. Importing a bike is very expensive because of duty.

There are lots of bikes available and  there is a pecking order for these bikes. Royal Enfield, which was a niche company for decades has now become the number one prestige bike in India. There is a long waiting list to buy a 350 cc enfield.

In India, there is also a pecking order for cars, with BMW and Mercedes being at the top.

350cc is about the top that Indian roads, traffic and speed can take. Fuel economy is very very important.

There is a well developed infrastructure in India to build quality  bikes.

Given these facts, it makes total sense for BMW to make this bike in India, where it can compete for top prestige bike in India. Its name alone will carry weight for those looking to drive a BMW.
If it sells a few in the USA, that is just icing on the cake. I don't think BMW cares either way, they want the Indian market prestige segment.
Just my cents. I did grow up in India and I did ride scooters there growing up. 
 

[Kentktk]

Well, technically it's Jenn's, and it's my least favorite bike in the fleet.

Now that you mention it, I texted Jay last week after I got home from a spirited ride on the Stone.

Seems right before a favorite road that leads through some of the few curves we have around here I came across a Duc 796.

He quickly charged to a position just off my tail and stayed there UNTIL WE HIT THE CURVES.

At the end I pulled over and waited for him. 

Yeah, I'll take my slow shaft-drive smallblock thanks. 

Do you think maybe he is just not as talented a rider as you and couldn`t keep of up with your near MotoGP star like speeds?

[blackcat]

Guys, the Indian market is HUGE for motorcycles.
USA market is not even a drop in the bucket. Neither is Europe (maybe 2 or 3 drops in the bucket).
People in India use Motorcycles as a daily transportation and there are LOTS of people in India.
Bikes sold in India HAVE to be made in India. Importing a bike is very expensive because of duty.

There are lots of bikes available and  there is a pecking order for these bikes. Royal Enfield, which was a niche company for decades has now become the number one prestige bike in India. There is a long waiting list to buy a 350 cc enfield.

In India, there is also a pecking order for cars, with BMW and Mercedes being at the top.

350cc is about the top that Indian roads, traffic and speed can take. Fuel economy is very very important.

There is a well developed infrastructure in India to build quality  bikes.

Given these facts, it makes total sense for BMW to make this bike in India, where it can compete for top prestige bike in India. Its name alone will carry weight for those looking to drive a BMW.
If it sells a few in the USA, that is just icing on the cake. I don't think BMW cares either way, they want the Indian market prestige segment.
Just my cents. I did grow up in India and I did ride scooters there growing up. 
 

This makes sense.  And I find the snob appeal for BMW's to be humorous.

When I was in India in 1990, all I saw was cheap Tata? scooters and a few Enfields with the 350 being the biggest bike.