BMW''S NEW K1200 S
15 July 2004 - BMW Motorrad GB

By launching the K1200 S, BMW Motorrad enters new territory - and there is good reason.

For many years, BMW has been well represented in most market segments, including the entry-level single-cylinder F650 range, and the flat-twin and four-cylinder touring, sports touring, cruising, adventure sport, and roadster categories.

However, the high performance sports aspect of the market never saw a true representation from BMW. This presented an exciting challenge and also offered tremendous growth potential for Motorrad designers and engineers to realise - especially in the UK with its high percentage of sales of sports and super-sports bikes.

Several years ago, a logical decision was made to enter the sports segment of the market and create a machine that would serve as a prestigious and exciting top-end addition to the current model line-up. The aim was for this motorcycle to attain the same level of desirability and reputation that has always been enjoyed by BMW''s M-division performance cars.

It was never BMW Motorrad''s intention to create a super-sports motorcycle designed and engineered for the racetrack rather than the road - or to produce a hyper-sport machine with the highest possible top speed. The latter is no longer an important selling point among riders. BMW Motorrad''s intention has been to design a machine that complements and straddles both categories - and also attracts customers from the high performance sports touring sector of the market.

With the launch of the new K1200 S, BMW are introducing a motorcycle that is lighter and more agile than a hyper-sports machine - but just as fast - as dynamic on the track as a super-sports machine but far more usable in everyday riding situations.

Superiority in suspension design, with electronic adjustability options, should firmly establish the K1200 S as the most technologically advanced motorcycle available today.

Clear market positioning of the K1200 S attempts to persuade many riders who are tired of riding motorcycles that only perform at their best on a race circuit - or in a straight line - to realise that it is possible to have immense but usable horsepower, significant high speed capability, and unquestionable ergonomic efficiency without compromising BMW''s legendary comfort levels, fuel efficiency and distance capability.

BMW expects the majority of K1200 S purchasers to be conquest sales from other manufacturers and will therefore make demonstrator machines available at every BMW Motorrad dealership. The UK market launch of the K1200 S is 25 September 2004 and the on-the-road price for this model is £9,750 for the standard version or £10,545 for the sports integral ABS version. This year''s production will feature Indigo Blue Metallic/Alpine White, and Sun Yellow non-Metallic/White Aluminium Metallic/Dark Graphite Metallic colour schemes. Single colour variants will follow in early 2005.

www.worldofbmw.com

More News
  For July 2004
  From BMW Motorrad GB
  For Motorcycles
  Biker247.com Home Page