160-Horse BMW Revealed

After some merciless teasing, BMW has finally revealed a full picture of its new sports machine, the K1200S. Here's what the company has to say about it...

"The waiting is over and the speculation can stop. It's official, BMW Motorrad will release the K1200S later this year. It's a completely new, high performance motorcycle aimed at the sport segment. The K 1200 S was designed as a sports bike and is a completely separate model within the K family. It is radically new, featuring a hitherto unprecedented number of innovations. It is a high-precision sports bike offering unique agility as well as enormous output. A highly competitive power to weight ratio is almost 50 per cent better than the K 1200 RS answering all desires with regard to riding performance. The low weight and extremely agile K1200 S chassis ensures safe and superior handling under all conditions.

The K 1200 S is powered by a transversely installed 1157 cc four-cylinder in-line engine with integrated gearbox and is unique among sports bikes thanks to its perfect overall concept, which includes lightweight shaft drive. The extreme forward tilt of the cylinder bank (55¡) ensures a low centre of gravity. In this way it has been possible to achieve an ideal wheel load distribution of 50:50 front to rear.

The engine has an extraordinarily narrow design, achieved by a series of special design features. The engine width at the crankshaft is approximately the same as for 600 cc engines. This not only allows for very deep engine installation and maximum lean angle, but it also gives the bike a narrow, sporty silhouette. The engine revs well into five-digits 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 several years.

The K1200S engine also features integrated knock control and in this advanced four-cylinder engine it represents the most sophisticated engine management system currently available for motorcycles. It 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, 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 on all road conditions.

May 21) In a not altogether surprising move, Ducati is set to launch an exclusive, road-going, version of its V4 MotoGP bike in the next couple of days - probably at the World Ducati Week owners rally, which winds up in Italy this weekend. According to UK Motorcycle News (pictured), the machine will initially be launched as a limited-run model, possibly priced as high as $70,000-plus. Whether a cheaper mass-production version becomes available at a later date is open to speculation, but you'd have to say it's odds-on. Very little is known about the machine at this stage, though it would be worth keeping an eye on the company's website at www.ducati.com

Victoria Debacle for Speed Cameras

The Victorian Government's love-affair with roadside speed cameras has resulted in a debacle where fixed cameras on Melbourne's Western Ring Road have been proven to be inaccurate, and that there is doubt about cameras in other locations. Around 165,000 illegal fines have been issued or held in limbo as a result, and the government is now bracing itself for a $26 million exercise to refund fines, reinstate license points and compensate those who were robbed of the license (and perhaps livelihood) as a result of the blunder. "It is unacceptable that the Ring Road system has deteriorated to the point of unreliability.

The Government will repay motorists," said the Premier, Mr Steve Bracks. Victoria's dependency on cameras as an enforcement tool which pulls in a spectacular amount of revenue (budgeted to be over $300 million in the current financial year) has been the subject of considerable controversy, particularly since an unusually harsh 3km/h 'tolerance' or margin for error was brought in. Victoria's fixed speed camera network recorded a staggering 979,384 'offences' in 2003 - about one for every three vehicles on the road. The government says it will be sending letters to the people affected, who will have to apply for restitution. See www.justice.vic.gov.au/speedcameras for more details on the process.

Triumph Mega Cruiser Confirmed

Triumph Motorcycles' monster 2.3 litre three-cylinder cruiser - the Rocket III- is confirmed for the upcoming Sydney Motorcycle Show at Darling Harbour, on May 13-16. A show bike is being flown out from the UK specially for the event. The Rocket III has scored unusually strong sales for a new model, with over 170 of the $25,000 machines finding a new home before anyone in the country has clapped eyes on one. "We're both stunned and delighted with the response," said Triumph events co-ordinator Phil Hudson, "Our favourite character on the waiting list is a 70-year-old from Western Australia who asked to be moved up the list on the basis he might not have much time left to ride it!"

Basic stats for the Rocket III include 140 horsepower and 200Nm of torque from the 2294cc three-cylinder inline engine. It feeds a shaft drive (Triumph's first) through a five-speed gearbox and wears a massive 240 section low-profile rear tyre.