BMW new small bike

[Triple Jim]

True, it did help him back out at the very end. But you saw the video, it dug itself straight up and off the axles first, and THAT had nothing to do with the slope. I still think it could be pretty impressive.

I think it had a lot to do with the slope.  The slope gave him a rearward helping force equal to the weight of the truck times the sine of the slope angle.  If that was a 9 degree grade, he had somewhere around 800 lbs. helping him back up.  When I watched, I was hoping he'd try getting out uphill, but I was disappointed.  At least I'd like to see the test done on level sand.  Maybe chain the bumper to a fixed object and spin the wheels until it gets buried to the axles.  Then unchain it and see if it digs itself out.

[oldbike54]

 Some interesting drift , we started from BMW's new little bike and ended up talking about some new fangled 4 wheel drive system  We might need a program 


  Dusty
 

[Lannis]

Mahindra tractors sell all over the world too now, including here in the good ole USA.
You can buy them in Oklahoma. Lots of farmers here use them.
Regarding your comment that Americans are not Indians (contrary to what Columbus thought  )  and that Indians should try to figure out what Americans want, I have the following observation. I have lived in the USA more than half my life, and I regret to say that we need to get off our high horse and come to terms that we don't matter as much anymore in the world as we did say 20 years ago. All the growth in the worlds economy is in Asia and Africa.
 

IF Indians want to figure out what Americans want to support 10% of their manufacturing output, they'll be able to do it.   But if they don't care, that's OK too.

To be honest, I (and most Americans) are not on any "high horse" regarding what Indians and Africans think of us, or what we need.   We've never needed Indian products for the highways, and I doubt that we ever will.   

What India might produce for their home market, or for Africa, has little or no relation to what Americans want (or need) for THEIR highways.    Asian needs (cheap beaters for horrible traffic, horrible roads, and no professional servicing) are not the same as American needs.    As far as the "fast-growing African economy", we'll see.   I don't think that's the way it's going, long term.

And I know people who bought (to their everlasting regret) Mahindra tractors.    Suffice it to say that I won't be buying one for my little operation here ... !

Lannis

 

[Aaron D.]

My Indian built scooter still runs great with absolutely no trouble after 11 seasons.

[akhileshb@hotmail.com]

IF Indians want to figure out what Americans want to support 10% of their manufacturing output, they'll be able to do it.   But if they don't care, that's OK too.

To be honest, I (and most Americans) are not on any "high horse" regarding what Indians and Africans think of us, or what we need.   We've never needed Indian products for the highways, and I doubt that we ever will.   

What India might produce for their home market, or for Africa, has little or no relation to what Americans want (or need) for THEIR highways.    Asian needs (cheap beaters for horrible traffic, horrible roads, and no professional servicing) are not the same as American needs.    As far as the "fast-growing African economy", we'll see.   I don't think that's the way it's going, long term.

And I know people who bought (to their everlasting regret) Mahindra tractors.    Suffice it to say that I won't be buying one for my little operation here ... !

Lannis

Yes, the reason I posted earlier was because there seemed to be some sense that BMW may be trying to produce an entry level bike for aspiring motorcyclists here in the USA and Europe. My take on the situation was that BMW is likely trying to produce a LUXURY bike for Asia and perhaps Africa. I doubt if they are bothered with attracting entry level riders here or in Europe. Anyway, just my opinion.
 

[ajwood]

35 year old memories of carrying a can of PJ1 chain lube in a separate pack then buying a thumper BMW in today's dollars - no thanks.

[Dogwalker]

I'm interested, but then, I really like light bikes.  Love, love, love my 2012 Ninja 250.   This little BMW would have less weight, more horsepower, and probably better suspension than the two-fiddy.    Sounds good to me. 

The KTM Duke 390 is hardly beatable in this respect.

[blackcat]

.But it's still an interesting feature and a great sales gimmick...

Yep. And at $42,000 for a new Tacoma I can easily keep clear of those bury the axles situations in a regular 4X4.

[Lannis]

Yes, the reason I posted earlier was because there seemed to be some sense that BMW may be trying to produce an entry level bike for aspiring motorcyclists here in the USA and Europe. My take on the situation was that BMW is likely trying to produce a LUXURY bike for Asia and perhaps Africa. I doubt if they are bothered with attracting entry level riders here or in Europe. Anyway, just my opinion.
 

My opinion too.   

[Kev m]

Yep. And at $42,000 for a new Tacoma I can easily keep clear of those bury the axles situations in a regular 4X4.

Yes, cause you're perfect.  Well, I guess the difference is that I'm not. 

Look, it's a NEAT FEATURE. You don't want it fine.

But I'd sure like to have something like that if I hit the dunes on the way to the OBX house at 3:00 am with a truck full of sleeping toddlers. It sure would beat pulling them out into the cold sand and waiting for a tow truck SHOULD I GET STUCK.

Now I haven't gotten stuck yet, the Jeep has been fantastic. But this summer I saw more stuck 4x4's than ever before and I got close a couple of times (once trying to pull someone else out). Sure some might have been the drivers, but the sand was so dry and loose I bet some of them couldn't have been saved just by driver savvy.

In the end I didn't buy the Taco for other reasons, but I spent more on the Wrangler than I priced out the loaded Taco with crawl control so that wasn't a consideration.

[blackcat]

Yes, cause you're perfect.  Well, I guess the difference is that I'm not. 

Look, it's a NEAT FEATURE. You don't want it fine.

But I'd sure like to have something like that if I hit the dunes on the way to the OBX house at 3:00 am with a truck full of sleeping toddlers. It sure would beat pulling them out into the cold sand and waiting for a tow truck SHOULD I GET STUCK.

Now I haven't gotten stuck yet, the Jeep has been fantastic. But this summer I saw more stuck 4x4's than ever before and I got close a couple of times (once trying to pull someone else out). Sure some might have been the drivers, but the sand was so dry and loose I bet some of them couldn't have been saved just by driver savvy.

In the end I didn't buy the Taco for other reasons, but I spent more on the Wrangler than I priced out the loaded Taco with crawl control so that wasn't a consideration.

I owned a house on the Outer Banks (Frisco) for over ten years not including the years that we rented. I also road on the beach's of Long Island, NY where the sand was even less forgiving than the OB. Never got stuck, but then I wasn't hot dogging it in the trucks like I was racing down Baja.

Some guys buy 4X4's and believe they are invincible in both sand and snow, then they end up sliding in the snow when they can't stop or burying the axles in the sand because they were too lazy or uninformed about removing some air from their tires.

This feature is a nice gimmick, good for Toyota.