K 1200 S		K 1200 S
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New 2005 BMW K1200S Unveiled

(More information added below 6-3-04)
The K 1200 S high performance sports bike. (5-17-04)
Munich. The time for speculation is over. Now it's official: this year BMW Motorrad will introduce the K 1200 S, a completely new high performance motorcycle in the sport segment.
The K 1200 S was designed as a sport bike and is a completely separate motorcycle within the K family. It is radically new, featuring an unprecedented number of innovations. It is a high-precision sport bike offering unique agility as well as enormous output. Its power to weight ratio is on the level with the competition and almost 50 percent better than the K 1200 RS, thus leaving no wishes unfulfilled with regard to performance.

The low weight and extremely agile chassis helps the K 1200 S deliver excellent handling in any situation. The K 1200 S is powered by a transversely mounted 1157cc four-cylinder inline engine with integrated transmission and is unique among sport bikes due to its overall concept in conjunction with the lightweight construction shaft drive.

The extreme forward tilt of the cylinder bank (55°) ensures a low center of gravity. In this way it was possible to achieve an ideal wheel load distribution of 50:50 percent in combination with the overall geometric layout. The engine has an extraordinarily narrow design achieved by a series of special design features. The engine width at the crankshaft level is approximately the same as a 600cc engine. This not only allows for very deep engine installation and maximum lean angle, it also gives the bike a narrow and sporty silhouette.

The engine can rev up into the five-digit regions and output exceeds 160 hp (more than 117 kW). Environmental compatibility is safeguarded by a closed-loop three-way catalytic converter and digital engine electronics, which have been standard features on all BMW motorcycles for years. The engine of the K 1200 S is based on the latest generation as presented at the beginning of the year in the R 1200 GS. It also features integrated knock control and in this advanced four-cylinder engine, it represents the most sophisticated engine management system currently available for motorcycles.

The K 1200 S is also highly innovative on the suspension side. A revolutionary front wheel suspension using two parallel links, without telescopic forks, ensures extremely sensitive response together with excellent precision. In addition, this provides outstanding overall rigidity and low weight. The electronically adjustable suspension also represents a world first in production motorcycle manufacturing.

The new K 1200 S is of course also equipped with the unique BMW Motorrad Integral ABS in the partially integral version. In conjunction with the EVO brakes, this system ensures maximum deceleration and the shortest of braking distances in all road conditions.

The new BMW K 1200 S will be presented to the international public in September of this year at the INTERMOT motorshow in Munich. It will be launched onto the market soon after. The price has not yet been set. All familiar models of the K family, the K 1200 RS, the K 1200 GT and the K 1200 LT will remain part of the model range beyond 2004.

Additional information added 6-3-04

BERLIN PLANT READIED FOR THE NEW BMW K 1200 S (06/03/2004)
The preparations for the start of production of the new K 1200 S high performance sports bike are running at full power in the BMW motorcycle plant in Berlin. On the 1st of June, in the presence of the head of BMW Motorrad, Dr. Herbert Diess, the official go-ahead for the series production was given. The aim of starting production at this early stage is to train the staff and to perfect all processes to ensure the highest level of quality when the model is officially launched.
The sporty potential of the new K 1200 S can be seen from its technical specifications. The 4-cylinder inline engine generates an output of 167 bhp at 10,250 rpm from a capacity of 1157 ccm. The highest torque of 130 Nm is achieved at 8,250 rpm. More than 70 percent of maximum torque is already available from 3000 rpm. The overriding target for the engine developers was to achieve sports type characteristics offering rideable and fully controllable performance.

The valves of the dual camshaft engine are operated by light and rigid cam followers. With a bore/stroke ratio of 59 x 79 mm the engine is a short-stroke unit. Two balancing shafts in the horizontally divided cylinder crankcase made of light alloy ensure the balancing of masses and low-vibration running.

In order to achieve the flat design of the crankcase, the K 1200 S was fitted with dry sump lubrication. This permits an especially low position of the engine (due to the fact that there is no oil sump) and in conjunction with the cylinder bank angled forward at 55° contributes to a low center of gravity.

What is unique for a production bike in this class is the type of construction of the integrated 6-speed gearbox: it is a cassette transmission.

As far as the suspension and chassis are concerned, the technical highlights are the "Duolever" and the electronically adjustable suspension. The Duolever, seen from a kinematic point is view, resembles a link square made up of two virtually parallel longitudinal links which are mounted in the frame so they can swivel and thus permit a precise up-and-down movement of the front wheel. This is mounted in an extremely rigid component, the so called wheel carrier. The wheel carrier, a light component cast from high strength aluminum alloy, is connected to the longitudinal links via two ball joints and can thus also carry out a steering motion at the same time. A longitudinal link connected to the central spring strut is responsible for suspension and damping. The benefits of this system are extremely high rigidity combined with low weight and an ideal wheel and lift curve.

With the ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) option a further innovation is entering production. The spring preload and damping can be adjusted at the press of an electronic button on the handlebars.

This vehicle electrics are also very progressive. A whole series of functions is facilitated on the basis of the so-called CAN bus technology which is simpler then conventional systems and also offers full diagnostics capability.

Together with the catalytic converter (a self-evident equipment feature on BMW motorcycles) , standard ABS (partially-integral version of the Integral ABS) as well as the maintenance-free shaft drive, the K 1200 S represents a unique premium offer in the sport segment which will be available from BMW Motorrad dealers after the public premiere at the INTERMOT Motorcycle Show in Munich next September. Apart from the two non-metallic paint finishes (indigo blue metallic and granite gray metallic) there will also be multi-colored variants.

Pricing has not been announced by BMW Motorrad USA at this time.

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